Tired of the same old vegetable side dishes? Use this collection of simple recipes to try something new!
We love rounding out a family-friendly dinner with a delicious veggie side! Even veggie-haters can learn to love vegetables with some of our off-the-charts delicious recipes. We like these sides because they pair beautifully with many main dishes, are a breeze to make, and taste wonderful.
What vegetable side dish recipes are good for last-minute dinners?
When you’re short on time, these are your speediest veggie side options:
- Garlic Broccoli. Steaming is the quickest way to cook vegetables and get them on the table in minutes. This simple broccoli dish is just so easy!
- Steamed Asparagus. A few basic spices, lemon juice, and butter are all you need to season this quick and easy asparagus dish.
- Herbed Cucumber Tomato Salad. This is one of our favorite recipes for summer when fresh herbs are abundant and tomatoes have the best flavor and texture.
- Cucumber Onion Salad. Like the tomato salad above, this recipe is best in the summer when the raw cucumber is seasoned only with a simple creamy vinaigrette.
- Avocado Caprese Salad. Want something a little more filling or hearty? This avocado caprese salad is your answer!
What is the most popular side dish?
We love all of our veggie side dishes, but these are some of our reader favorites:
- Loaded Roasted Cauliflower. Cauliflower with ranch, bacon, and cheeseโwhat’s not to love?
- Parmesan Roasted Broccoli. A little bit of Parmesan makes every vegetable taste better!
- Sweet and Creamy Coleslaw. This one is great for meal prep and is a summer favorite!
- Grilled Corn on the Cob. Listen, corn on the cob is a classic for a reason, and we’ll show you our favorite way to grill it!
- Crockpot Mashed Potatoes. Once you see how easy these are to make, you’ll never want to cook mashed potatoes another way!
And now, on to the full collection of easy vegetable side dishes!
34+ Simple Vegetable Side Dishes
Tired of the same old vegetable side dishes? Use this collection of simple recipes to try something new!
Broccoli and Cauliflower
Sesame Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
Roasting broccoli and cauliflower intensifies their flavor and brings out their sweetness. You might never go back to steaming your broccoli again.
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
Sometimes itโs easy to forget the simplest dishes are often some of the tastiest. This side dish of Parmesan roasted broccoli is sure to be a hit.
Steamed Garlic Broccoli Recipe
Making a fast side dish for your family can be simpleโand this steamed garlic broccoli is the perfect example!
Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
Never roasted cauliflower before? You should! Roasted cauliflower is sweet, hearty, and insanely deliciousโespecially when seasoned with garlic, paprika, and nutty Parmesan cheese.
Loaded Roasted Cauliflower
Tender, caramelized roasted cauliflower is loaded with tangy ranch, crisp bacon, fresh green onions, and sharp cheddar cheese for an addicting side dish!
Carrots
Grilled Carrots
Learn how to transform carrots into a delicious, savory-sweet side dish with this grilled carrots recipe.
Honey Glazed Carrots Recipe
You can make these Honey Glazed Carrots with just a few ingredients. They are a healthy savory-sweet side dish to serve with turkey, chicken, ham, or vegetarian dishes.
Beets
Roasted Beets with Balsamic Glaze
These bright and colorful Roasted Beets with Balsamic Glaze are a tasty and healthy side dish that will convert even the biggest beet hater.
Cabbage
Sweet and Creamy Coleslaw
This Sweet and Creamy Coleslaw has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. Feel free to experiment with the mix of veggiesโ the real star of this show is the dressing.
Green Beans
Southern Style Green Beans and Potatoes
Southern Style Green Beans and Potatoes just get better with time, so make them now to savor as a side all week. It also makes the perfect contribution for pitch-ins and other parties!
Grilled Garlic Green Beans
Grilled Garlic Green Beans are an easy and simple side dish that pairs well with a variety of grilled meats and vegetarian mains.
Roasted Green Beans Recipe
Green Beans are roasted in the oven to savory perfection with olive oil, fresh lemon, and garlic. This quick and easy side dish is perfect all year long.
Bell Peppers
Grilled Bell Peppers
Fresh, flavor-packed, and colorful, grilled peppers are one of the summerโs great joys. Hereโs how to fire them up on the grill.
Tomatoes
Herbed Cucumber and Tomato Salad
This simple Herbed Cucumber and Tomato Salad is actually probably way too simple to be called a recipe!
Caprese Sticks
These light and fresh Caprese Sticks are a quick protein-packed snack! Theyโre colorful, flavorful and ready for summer.
Avocado Caprese Salad
This Avocado Caprese Salad is summer in a bowl! Use only the freshest tomatoes and basil to add tons of flavor to this healthy lunch.
Cucumbers
Simple Cucumber Onion Salad
A Simple Cucumber Onion Salad is best made in summer, when the vegetables are at their peak freshness and their flavors can really shine through.
Cucumber Salsa
Use your bounty of cucumbers in this crisp, cool, and spicy Cucumber Salsa. It pairs perfectly with lighter fare!
Corn
Fresh Corn and Basil Salad
This simple side dish takes the best flavors of summer and mixes them into one beautiful, flavorful Fresh Corn and Basil Salad that is perfect for picnics and potlucks.
Quinoa Succotash
Quinoa Succotash is a healthy, vegetarian dish that is packed with whole grains, complete protein, and tasty summer veggies!
Black Bean And Corn Salsa
This simple corn and black bean salsa recipe is the perfect addition to your summer potlucks or weeknight dinners.
Grilled Corn On The Cob Recipe
Grilled cornย on theย cobย is one of the summer's best treats. Turning out a batch that's perfectly grilled doesn't have to be a challenge. Follow this advice for easy grilling.
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican street corn salad can be whipped up in no time. Itโs a quick summer side dish with a satisfying balance of spicy, savory, and sweet.
Zucchini and Summer Squash
Sauteed Zucchini Recipe
Zucchini makes a great side dish that goes well with almost any meal. Learn how to make sauteed zucchini in no time!
Grilled Zucchini with Parmesan
This grilled zucchini is great hot off the grill or at room temperature. Learn how to grill zucchini with Parmesan to add a tasty twist to this summer classic.
Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
Cilantro-Lime Sweet Potato Slaw
I know the ingredients in this slaw sound a little unusual (raw sweet potatoes? apples? radishes?), but I promise the end result is a veggierific side dish that is bursting with Latin flavor.
Buffalo Blue Cheese Potato Salad
A little bit spicy, a lot a bit flavorful, this Buffalo Blue Cheese Potato Salad will knock the socks of the guests at your next pitch in!
Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes
These mashed sweet potatoes straddle the line between sweet and savory. They are the perfect alternative to the sweet potato casseroles normally served for Thanksgiving.
Perfect Grilled Potato Wedges
Tender in the middle and crispy around the edges, these Perfect Grilled Potato Wedges are easy to make and go perfectly with whatever else you may be grilling!
Crockpot Mashed Potatoes
By using your slow cooker to make these easy mashed potatoes, you get creamy, flavorful potatoes for any major holiday with barely any effort at all.
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Get rich, creamy, delectable mashed potatoes in an instant with our family-favorite Instant Pot mashed potatoes recipe. Perfect for saving time on Thanksgiving!
Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Make crispy and dippable sweet potato fries right in your oven! Our protips will guarantee perfectly crispy BAKED sweet potato fries.
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
With an Instant Pot, sweet potatoes are ready in 15 minutes. Use your pressure cooker to make tender sweet potatoes that are perfect as a side dish or for stuffing.
Garlic Roasted Potatoes Recipe
These garlic roasted potatoes are equally welcome on the dinner table as they are in a brunch spread.
Instant Pot Potato Salad Recipe
This Instant Pot Potato Salad from Scratch is perfect for cookouts or picnics. It takes just minutes to prepare and is easy and delicious.
Brussels Sprouts
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Apples and Walnuts
This vegan Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Apples and Walnuts is packed full of healthy, in-season flavorโperfect for the cool weather months!
How to Make Perfect Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Perfectly Roasted Brussels Sprouts will convert even the most adamant sprouts-hater. When they are cooked perfectly, sprouts are sweet, a little crisp, and mildly-flavored. Stinky, mushy veggies need not apply!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Apples
Leafy Greens
Kale Caesar Salad
The old-school Caesar salad gets a superfood spin, thanks to the addition of kale and chickpea croutons.
Asparagus
Steamed Asparagus Recipe
A simple recipe for steamed asparagus that gives you maximum flavor and tenderness. This classic side dish is easy to prepare and goes with almost any meal.
Oven Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan
Roasted asparagus pairs well with almost anything. In this oven-roasted asparagus, Parmesan cheese adds a tasty topping to the tender roasted stalks.