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Happy dinner planning, you guys! Side dishes are quietly my favorite part of any meal, lol! The main course gets all the attention but the sides are what people actually fight over at my table.
How could I possibly pick just one potato dish when there are so many good ones? I can’t!
Last year my dish disappeared before the turkey even got carved. The trophy is just a wooden spoon but everyone wants it.
Since the holidays are only a couple of short weeks away, I’ve gathered 20 adorable side dish ideas the entire family will love. Don’t fret if your side dish game feels boring lately.
From roasted potatoes to creamy salads and buttery cornbread, there’s something here for every kind of dinner table. Under each idea I’ve added the little details you actually want to know. There’s also a link to the full step-by-step recipe.
Make sure to double the batch on a few of these because they go fast. Who doesn’t love a table full of good sides, am I right?
SIDE DISH IDEAS
Garlic Butter Roasted Potatoes
We’re starting off strong with garlic butter roasted potatoes. Crispy edges, soft middles, garlic in every single bite.
I toss the potatoes in butter before roasting so the garlic actually sticks. Nobody ever complains, haha! The pan comes back scraped clean every time.
- The Sunday dinner regular
- Crispy outside, soft in the middle
- Garlic goes in twice for good measure
- Roasts while the rest of dinner cooks
Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey glazed carrots bring a little sweetness to the table. The glaze sticks to every piece and turns plain carrots into something people actually ask for.
Not that I’m competitive about carrots, but mine vanish first every holiday, lol! I always make extra just in case.
- Sweet enough for skeptics
- Glaze thickens right in the pan
- Kid approved without any convincing
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
Creamy mashed cauliflower fools people every time. It looks like mashed potatoes but tastes lighter. My neighbors still don’t believe me when I tell them what it actually is.
Blend it smooth with a little butter and garlic. This one disappears fast at low carb gatherings. A little chives on top makes it look extra fancy.
- The potato swap nobody notices
- Blends silky smooth in minutes
- Butter and garlic do the work
Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Are you guys seeing these Brussels sprouts right now? Roasted until crispy with parmesan melted right on top.
This is the dish that converts sprout haters at every dinner party. The edges char just enough to taste almost like chips.
- Converts the sprout skeptics
- Parmesan crisps up in the oven
- Charred edges are the whole point
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
Loaded baked potato casserole is basically a baked potato that decided to feed a crowd. Bacon, cheese and sour cream layered together in one dish.
I finally got it out of her last Christmas. Turns out the secret is extra bacon on top.
- Feeds the whole table easily
- Bacon and cheese in every scoop
- Reheats well the next day too
Southern Style Collard Greens
Southern style collard greens simmer low and slow until they’re tender enough to melt in your mouth. Smoked meat in the pot gives the whole thing depth.
This is the dish my grandmother made every Sunday without fail. She always let it simmer for hours. Honestly, that’s still the only way I make it.
- Low and slow, no shortcuts
- Simmers for a couple hours
- Smoky flavor builds the whole time
Grilled Corn With Cotija
Grilled corn with cotija is street corn energy without leaving the backyard. Charred kernels, crumbly cheese and a squeeze of lime on top.
Who doesn’t love corn on the cob at a summer cookout, am I right? This one just adds a little extra flair.
The cheese sticks to the mayo coating so every bite gets a little bit of everything.
- Backyard cookout showstopper
- Char marks add the smoky flavor
- Cotija crumbles over while it’s warm
- Lime wedge on the side always
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Bake
Cheesy broccoli rice bake is the one dish that gets kids to eat their vegetables without a single complaint. Cheese sauce coats every grain of rice.
It bakes up bubbly and golden on top, which honestly is half the appeal.
- Sneaks vegetables past picky eaters
- Cheese sauce coats every grain
- Golden top after twenty minutes baking
Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad
Balsamic roasted beet salad looks fancy but takes almost no effort. Roasted beets, a tangy dressing and a handful of goat cheese crumbled on top.
This is the dish I bring when I want people to think I tried harder than I did, lol! Nobody ever guesses how simple it actually is.
- Looks fancier than it is
- Roasting brings out the sweetness
- Goat cheese adds the tangy finish
Southern Style Baked Beans
Southern style baked beans simmer with brown sugar and a little smoky bacon. They come out sweet, sticky and completely irresistible.
I bring these to every cookout and the pot comes home empty. This is the category that always disappears first. It never survives past the first hour.
- Gone before the burgers finish
- Sweet and smoky in every bite
- Simmers low until thick and sticky
Creamy Coleslaw With Apples
Creamy coleslaw with apples adds a little crunch and sweetness to the usual slaw. Shredded cabbage, crisp apple pieces and a creamy dressing tying it all together.
I gave up fighting them on it years ago. The apples are the detail nobody expects but everyone loves once they try it.
- The unexpected crunch factor
- Apples add a sweet crunch
- Dressing gets better after resting overnight
Buttery Skillet Cornbread
Buttery skillet cornbread bakes up golden with crispy edges straight from a cast iron pan. Butter melts right into the top the moment it comes out of the oven.
I usually referee and still lose my own slice. The skillet gives it that crackly crust a regular pan just can’t manage.
- Crackly crust, buttery middle
- Cast iron gives the crispy edges
- Butter melts on top while warm
Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
Roasted sweet potato wedges come out crispy outside and soft in the middle every time. A little cinnamon and paprika keep things interesting.
I make a double batch because half disappears before dinner starts. Talk about a side dish that works for both holiday dinners and weeknight tacos!
- Works for holidays and Tuesdays
- Cinnamon and paprika keep it interesting
Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
Garlic parmesan green beans are the side dish that makes plain green beans exciting again. Roasted until slightly wrinkled with parmesan clinging to every piece.
Is it really a holiday dinner without green beans somewhere on the table? Not in my book! I always make a second tray just in case.
- Green beans, finally exciting
- Roasts until slightly wrinkled
Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes Gratin
Cheddar scalloped potatoes gratin layers thin potato slices with cheese and cream until every bite is rich and soft. This is the dish that makes the whole kitchen smell amazing.
My spoon always finds its way back for one more bite. I’ve eaten this straight from the dish more times than I’ll admit, lol! The top layer crisps up while the middle stays creamy.
- Rich, creamy, worth the layers
- Top layer gets crispy and golden
Herb Roasted Root Vegetables
Herb roasted root vegetables mix carrots, parsnips and potatoes with fresh herbs before roasting. Everything comes out caramelized and slightly sweet from the oven.
My fridge decides the recipe more than any plan does. I just grab whatever root vegetables are sitting around that week. It somehow works every single time.
- Uses whatever’s in the fridge
- Caramelizes beautifully in the oven
- Herbs go in fresh right before roasting
Classic Macaroni Salad Bowl
Classic macaroni salad bowl is the potluck dish that never goes out of style. Elbow noodles, a creamy dressing and a little crunch from celery and onion.
I’ve never once seen her switch it up, honestly. This one gets better the longer it sits in the fridge.
- The potluck classic, always requested
- Gets better the longer it sits
Cranberry Walnut Quinoa Salad
Cranberry walnut quinoa salad brings a little texture and tartness to a holiday spread. Toasted walnuts add crunch and dried cranberries add a pop of sweetness.
I make this the night before because my kitchen gets chaotic on the actual day. This one holds up well overnight, so it’s a great make-ahead option.
- The make-ahead holiday hero
- Toasted walnuts add the crunch
- Holds up perfectly made a day early
Fluffy Dinner Rolls Basket
Fluffy dinner rolls basket is the side dish nobody skips, ever. Warm, soft and brushed with butter right out of the oven.
My grandmother always made a double batch because the first one never made it to dinner, haha! These freeze well too, if you can manage to save any. Good luck with that in my house.
- The basket that empties first
- Butter brushed on right out of oven
- Freezes well if any survive
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
Last but definitely not least, we have bacon wrapped asparagus bundles. Crispy bacon wrapped around tender asparagus spears, tied together and roasted until everything crisps up perfectly.
I always claim these take real effort just to get the compliments. These are the fancy looking side that actually takes barely any effort. Somebody always asks for the recipe before dinner ends.
- Fancy looking, barely any effort
- Ready in well under thirty minutes
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Giulia
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