45 Vegetable Side Dishes

Welcome to these 45 easy vegetable side dishes that can add fantastic flavor and color to your meals.

These recipes cater to all skill levels, making eating more vegetables and enjoying their flavor a breeze.

Serve these greens with easy pasta recipes, lentil meals, and vegetarian dinners.

Get ready to turn ordinary dinners into extraordinary feasts with these 40 tasty and easy vegetable side dishes.

Vegetable side dishes in a skillet

1. Mashed potatoes

This mashed potato recipe is easy to make, light, and creamy.

The best way to serve this vegetable side dish is with butter and chives or with a generous amount of mushroom gravy.

2. Sautèed eggplant

This easy sauteed eggplant recipe is cooked in a pan on the stovetop in just 20 minutes and is convenient for a last-minute dinner served on pasta.

You can serve it as an Italian side dish, on bruschetta, next to your main dish, or upgrade it to a main dish, similar to a pasta alla Norma.

3. Quick sauteed zucchini

Serve this green vegetable side with pasta or risotto, in a frittata, or on pizza.

It’s a quick vegetable side ready in about 10 minutes, and the sautèed zucchini shines with fresh lemon juice and finely chopped parsley.

4. Caramelized onions

Caramelized onions are excellent as a topping to appetizers and high protein mains.

This vegetable side melts in your mouth and is fantastic as an addition to starters, soups, hummus, vegetable salads, mujadara, and sandwiches.

5. Pan-fried asparagus

Lemon sautéed asparagus is the tastiest and best way to cook asparagus on the stove.

The asparagus turns out tender-crisp in just 10 minutes, and you can use this spring side dish in salads, frittata, and stir-fries.

6. Steamed artichokes

These steamed artichokes are easy to make and delicious, soft, and buttery.

You’ll be able to taste the artichoke flavor fully, and you can jazz them up with chimichurri and egg-free mayonnaise.

7. Sauteed mushrooms

Here’s how to make perfect sauteed mushrooms on the stovetop with a few simple ingredients in about 15 minutes.

They are a delicious side dish on their own and an excellent addition to pasta, salads, and grain bowls.

8. Cauliflower mashed potatoes

Cauliflower mashed potato is a lighter alternative; it’s easy to make, tasty, light, and airy.

You can expect a familiar, comforting flavor, similar to classic mashed potatoes, but with cheesy notes and a mild cauliflower taste.

9. Braised red cabbage

Braised red cabbage requires minimal effort and attention. It’s an excellent recipe to make ahead because the day after will be even tastier.

You can serve it as a delicious side dish to most meals, such as lentil loaf or stuffed butternut squash.

10. Mashed sweet potatoes

Mashed sweet potatoes is an excellent autumn and winter side dish and pairs well with other veggies, stews, mushroom gravy, and lentil Wellington.

Need more sweet potato inspiration? Try our roundup with 25 sweet potato recipes.

11. Fried zucchini

You’ll love this fried zucchini recipe because it is easy to make, has simple ingredients, and has minimal mess in the kitchen.

Plus, you can choose your favorite cooking method; the options are deep-fried in oil, “fried” in the oven, or in the air-fryer.

12. Zaalouk (Moroccan eggplant dip)

You’ll love Zaalouk’s creamy yet chunky texture and rich, aromatic, slightly smokey, and savory taste.

This recipe is easy to make in one skillet in less than 30 minutes and is an excellent Mediterranean side dish.

Roasted Vegetable Side Dishes

13. Roasted chestnuts

Roasted chestnuts are easy to make in the oven, air fryer, or cast-iron skillet; no soaking is required.

Nothing is cozier than a bowl of warm chestnuts on a cold winter night. They are excellent as a holiday side dish or as a healthy snack.

14. Roasted sweet potatoes

Easy and nutritious, these roasted sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish for a light dinner. 

And since they are easy to top with tahini sauce and fresh herbs, they are also ideal for special dinners, holidays, and celebrations.

15. Garlic-roasted broccoli

Oven-roasted broccoli becomes incredibly tasty with garlic, pepper flakes, and parmesan cheese. 

Crunchy, lemony, slightly spicy, and with the perfect twist of garlic, they are ideal as an appetizer or vegetable side dish.

16. Sweet potato wedges

Roasted sweet potato wedges are a quick and easy recipe that takes no time to prepare and only 30 minutes of roasting.

You can peel the sweet potatoes or make these wholesome skin-on sweet potato wedges; they make a wholesome side dish served with marinara sauce.

17. Roasted eggplant

Roasted eggplant is an easy, delicious side that complements a variety of main dishes.

You can easily use it to make other recipes, such as parmigiana and eggplant pizza, or serve it as a side dish with a drizzle of salsa verde on top.

18. Roasted potatoes

These tender and buttery roasted potatoes are perfect as an appetizer or side dish; we eat these a lot as a healthier alternative to french fries.

You can serve them as they are or with a dip like mayonnaise, chipotle sauce, and tahini sauce.

19. Roasted vegetables

These roasted vegetables are colorful, tasty, tender, and aromatic, perfect as an all-year side dish.

Follow our roasted veggie mix recommendations, and serve this colorful vegetable side with your favorite pasta, soup, or pizza.

20. Italian roasted zucchini

Tender, aromatic, and delicious, this roasted zucchini recipe is one dish that is easy to prepare and goes well with any meal.

The breadcrumb topping gives a lot of flavor to the zucchini, and it gets all golden, crisp, and crunchy as the breadcrumbs are gratin in the oven.

21. Roasted bell pepper

Oven-roasting peppers are a simple Italian method for smokey, juicy roasted peppers.

Drizzle with an Italian marinade and serve with focaccia bread for a Mediterranean, aromatic, and flavor-packed side dish.

22. Tomato confit

Tomato confit is the easiest, meltiest, most delicious tomato recipe. 

Soft, juicy, packed with oregano and garlic aroma. Tomatoes made this way can elevate any meal: a starter served with crostini or as a topping to a bowl of pasta.

23. Smashed potatoes

These smashed potatoes are the perfect finger food, similar to nachos, and fantastic when drizzled with chimichurri.

This recipe is excellent for so many occasions: weeknight dinner or Sunday dinner; you can serve them as a side dish and substitute for roasted potatoes.

24. Roasted carrots

Roasted carrots are a lovely side dish, perfect for many occasions, from a simple weeknight dinner to a special celebratory meal.

These carrots are tender, slightly caramelized, tasty, and can be drizzled with green goddess dressing, or chili oil.

25. Roasted Brussels sprouts

Roasted Brussels Sprouts are tender and buttery, but the dressing makes them extra special.

A creamy mustard vinaigrette coats the crevices of the oven-roasted Brussels sprouts with sweet, tangy, acidic, and slightly spicy notes.

26. Roasted butternut squash

Make them sweet or savory; this tender roasted butternut squash recipe is the ultimate fall side dish.

It’s excellent for an everyday or holiday dinner, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.

27. Moroccan carrots

This warm carrot salad is a warming and wholesome side dish for any meal.

To build a beautiful mezze platter, serve the carrots with couscous, falafel, and Moroccan couscous salad.

Easy vegetable sides

28. Pickled red onions

Pickling vegetables is a quick and healthy way to prep veggies.

Make them in 30 minutes without cooking and with four ingredients. Put them on everything, including bowls, tacos, sandwiches, and salads.

29. Vinegar coleslaw

This no-mayo cabbage slaw is perfect for any occasion and is a guilt-free vegetable side dish.

30. Microwave sweet potato

Microwave sweet potato is a quick, healthy, and delicious side dish. 

Eat it as is, as a vibrant vegetable side, or load it with chickpea salad or quinoa salad to turn it into a tasty main dish.

31. Cauliflower rice

This cauliflower rice is lightly cooked on the stove and served as if it were regular rice.

Eat it as a low–carb side dish next to lentil curry, stews, and stir–fry meals.

32. Shaved Brussels sprout salad

This Brussels sprouts salad is a crispy side dish for the fall and winter seasons when Brussels sprouts are in season.

It’s a beautiful and different dish for a quick lunch or everyday dinner, and it’s excellent for a memorable holiday meal.

33. Green bean salad

Green bean salad is easily upgraded with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, slivered almonds, and a creamy mustard dressing.

In about 15 minutes, you’ve got a delicious and super tasty side dish everyone will love.

34. Air fryer asparagus

You can air fry most vegetables, but air fryer asparagus is one of our favorite air fryer recipes.

They are similar to oven-baked asparagus, except that they are faster to “roast,” crispier on the outside, and juicer on the inside, thanks to the quick cooking time.

35. Sautèed green beans

Sautèed green beans are crunchy on the outside and tender juicy on the inside.

They cook in just 15 minutes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and garnish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice.

36. Tomato and cucumber salad

Cucumber tomato salad is a vibrant, crisp, and refreshing dish you can have as a light vegetable side dish or colorful appetizer.

37. Zucchini salad

This raw zucchini salad is delicious, refreshing, and easy to make. Here, we served it on hummus with toasted nuts and cherry tomatoes.

We use a vegetable peeler to slice the zucchini thinly. It’s an easy technique and a super easy side dish that takes 10 minutes to prepare.

38. Sautèed kale

Sautéed kale tastes delicious, and as the kale cooks, it gets flavorful and tender, the chewy fiber softens, and it gains a buttery texture.

This leafy green recipe takes 10 minutes to make. You need extra virgin olive oil, salt, red pepper flakes, and garlic.

39. Air fryer zucchini

Air fryer zucchini is an easy and tasty way of preparing this delicious vegetable.

The air fryer’s hot air and quick cooking time produce a tender-crisp zucchini with minimal use of oil.

40. Coleslaw

You’ll love our homemade coleslaw because it’s easy to make with a few simple vegetables; you can prep it in advance, and it’s light and refreshing.

The secret is all in the reduced-fat dressing with mayonnaise and Greek yogurt.

41. Tabbouleh

This iconic Levantine salad mixes finely chopped parsley, mint, and bulgur wheat studded with diced tomatoes and onions.

The bright lemon-olive oil dressing and abundance of herbs make this a refreshing accompaniment that tastes like summer in every bite.

42. Avocado salad

Creamy avocado chunks tossed with cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro in an Italian vinaigrette.

The buttery richness of ripe avocados contrasts well with the acidic dressing and crisp vegetables. Serve with homemade bread or pita bread for a complete side dish.

43. Creamy cucumber salad

Thinly sliced cucumbers scallions are tossed in a tangy dill–spiked Greek yogurt dressing.

This refreshing salad becomes even more flavorful after chilling for an hour, allowing the cucumbers to soften slightly while retaining their crunch.

44. Shirazi salad

Next on our list is a vibrant Persian salad of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions dressed with lime juice and dried mint.

The uniform chopping of vegetables is key to this light and zesty dish that adds a fresh crunch to any mezze spread.

45. Panzanella

Our final side dish idea is an Italian summer recipe with stale bread: Panzanella.

The day-old bread soaks up the gorgeous tomato juices and olive oil dressing, creating a hearty side dish that celebrates summer produce.

What to serve with vegetable sides

These healthy side dishes go well with protein, pasta, and any main dish. Take your pick here for some easy dinner inspiration:

• 25 easy tofu recipes with curries, soups.
• 45 easy pasta recipes.
• Lentil recipes, recipes with beans, or chickpea recipes.

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