21 Flavorful Side Dishes to Take Mealtime Up a Notch

Dinner can be delicious, but sometimes those same old sides get boring. What if you could add some excitement to your meals without a lot of hassle? This is where amazing side dishes come in!

This list has 21 fantastic ideas for sides that are easy to make and bursting with flavor. From creamy mac and cheese to roasted veggies with a kick, there's something for everyone. They are perfect for all kinds of main courses, so you can mix and match to create incredible meals that will have your family and friends raving.

Cucumber Red Onion Salad

This cucumber red onion salad is a refreshing, perfect side dish that takes only 5 minutes to make. With its homemade Italian dressing, it's a quick and easy salad recipe that only requires 5 ingredients! Get the recipe.

Rice with Dried Fruit and Nuts

Basmati Rice With Dried Fruit And Nuts - flavorful and delicious vegan side dish for dinner or holidays. It's super easy to make and will turn any meal into a colorful feast. Get the recipe.

Roasted Green Beans and Cherry Tomatoes

Simple recipe for Roasted Green Beans And Cherry Tomatoes is taken to another level with quick Balsamic reduction and a sprinkling of vegan Parmesan cheese. An easy side dish that goes with any meal. Get the recipe.

Dandelion Greens Salad with Couscous

Dandelion Greens Salad With Couscous is a delicious and nutritious dish that can be served as a side meal or hearty main dish. It's easy to make, healthy and yummy. Get the recipe.

Mashed Potatoes with Creme Fraiche and Roasted Garlic

A side dish that goes with everything. These Mashed Potatoes with Creme Fraiche and Roasted Garlic are creamy and so flavorful. Put this recipe in your cookbook, it's going to become your favorite mashed potato recipe ever! Get the recipe.

Asian Beet Salad

A roasted beet salad is prepared by cooking the beets and then marinating them in a few flavorful ingredients. This simple beet recipe is incredibly delicious, healthy, and perfect for any time of the year. Get the recipe.

Asparagus with Balsamic and Pine Nuts

Really easy Mediterranean Asparagus With Balsamic Drizzle And Pine Nuts. Trimmed asparagus spears are baked in olive oil until tender but crispy and then finished with a quick homemade Balsamic drizzle. This healthy vegan recipe is kid-friendly and makes a delicious dinner side. Get the recipe.

Spicy Carrot Salad

Crunchy and Spicy Korean Carrots Salad will win people over at potlucks, picnics, and as a unique side dish in any home. Made with fresh carrots, coriander, garlic, and oil, these Korean-style marinated carrots are easy, quick and always delicious! Ready in 20 minutes. Get the recipe.

Cauliflower Potato Gratin

This Cauliflower Au Gratin, also known as a Cauliflower Bake, is a delightful and satisfying dish that brings together the wholesome flavors of cauliflower and creamy gratin goodness. It's an easy comfort food recipe that has quickly become one of the favorites in my house. It's creamy, cheesy, and such a delicious side dish for holidays as well as for Sunday night dinner. Get the recipe.

Roasted Mediterranean Potatoes

These Roasted Mediterranean Potatoes are fully loaded with lemony oregano, garlic, and olive oil flavors. Plus, they couldn’t be easier to make! No boiling is needed. Try this simple side dish the next time you’re craving something fresh, unique, and flavorful. Get the recipe.

Broccoli and Mushroom Salad

This Broccoli And Mushroom Salad Recipe features some of my favorite ingredients. Shiitake mushrooms, fresh crunchy broccoli, Kalamata olives, and amazing red onion vinaigrette. So healthy, clean, and perfect for a light dinner, a colorful side, or meal prep. Get the recipe.

Southern Fried Cabbage

Southern-fried cabbage cooks up in a jiffy.  It makes a quick, easy, and economical meal or hearty Southern side dish and can be prepared in many different ways.  Try them all then choose your favorite! Get the recipe.

Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

This shaved Brussels sprouts salad with lemon apple cider vinaigrette is made with one part cabbage to two parts sprouts. This summer salad recipe is a great side for BBQ chicken, fish or beef. When you make this Brussels sprouts salad recipe, make lots because it will disappear! Get the recipe.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

This delicious Mashed Sweet Potatoes is an absolutely must-try for the holidays! It’s naturally sweet, incredibly creamy, and absolutely satisfying. In just 30 minutes, you can have it ready using only six ingredients. Get the recipe.

Asian Zoodle Salad

Make this Asian zucchini noodle salad recipe, and you can enjoy a healthy, nutritious dish that boasts incredible flavor in every mouthful. You need to dice and spiralise some vegetables and combine tangy Asian dressing ingredients to make the best Asian zucchini noodle salad you ever had. Get the recipe.

Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinaigrette

These Easy Brussels Sprouts are healthy, delicious and take little time to prepare. Roasted until tender and crispy and drizzled over with a tangy and sweet honey balsamic vinaigrette. This recipe will quickly become your favorite! Get the recipe.

Marinated Zucchini Salad

Perfect for picnics, potlucks or as a quick side dish for any meal, this Marinated Zucchini Salad is easy, healthy and so good! Made with raw zucchini, a touch of garlic and a few more simple ingredients, this quick recipe will freshen up any meal. Get the recipe.

Crispy Skillet Potatoes

This Skillet Breakfast Potatoes recipe brings the classic diner-style home fries right to your kitchen table. Ready in just 25 minutes, these warm, crispy potatoes with perfectly browned edges and a dash of simple seasonings require only 5 ingredients to make. Get the recipe.

Skillet Green Beans with Crunchy Breadcrumbs

This Skillet Green Beans recipe takes green beans to the next level with the savory flavor of anchovies and a hint of spice from red pepper flakes. The garlic and breadcrumbs make it taste even better! Get the recipe

Easy Creamy Couscous

Enjoy this delicious super creamy couscous in well under half an hour. All that tasty risotto flavor without having to stand over the stovetop stirring endlessly! Get the recipe.

Easy Vegetable Chow Mein

Our Vegetable Chow Mein is a vegan version of this classic Chinese take-out dish. This veggie Chow Mein is packed with vegetables and cooked in a delicious homemade Chinese garlic sauce that will make you want to have seconds. This easy noodle dish is perfect for a light meal or a side dish. Get the recipe.