40 Best Vegetable Sides

Stovetop vegetable sides

1. Mashed potatoes

This mashed potato recipe is easy to make, light, and creamy, and you can adjust its consistency based on your preference.

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

2. Sauteed 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

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 while it simmers for 40 to 50 minutes. 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 and stuffed butternut squash. It’s a cozy, tender, sweet, aromatic, nourishing recipe for your family.

10. Mashed sweet potatoes

Take your pick from 2 variations of mashed sweet potatoes: sweet or savory.

Sweet potatoes are a great autumn and winter side dish and pair well with other veggies, stews, mushroom gravy, and lentil Wellington.

11. Fried zucchini

You’ll love this fried zucchini recipe because it is easy to make, light without eggs, with simple ingredients, and with 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 perfect for meal prep.

Vegetable sides in the oven

16. Sweet potato wedges

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, clean, and healthy way to make 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: as a juicy side dish, a starter served with toasted 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 you can even top them with cheese or dairy-free cheese if you like.

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 chimichurri, 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.

One is with garlic and fresh herbs, The other is with cinnamon and maple syrup. Both recipes are delicious as a side for an everyday or holiday dinner, such as Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations.

Easy vegetable sides

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.

28. Pickled red onions

Pickling vegetables is a quick and healthy way to prep veggies (and add extra zest to your meals).

Make them in 30 minutes without cooking and with four ingredients. We are sure you’ll want to put them on everything, including bowls, tacos, sandwiches, and salads.

29. Red cabbage slaw

This red cabbage slaw is perfect for any special occasion – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more.

The recipe is easy: crunchy red cabbage as a base, shredded carrots to add sweetness, sliced green apples to add sour notes, and chopped walnuts to add a nutty and earthy flavor.

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 and healthy main dish.

31. Cauliflower rice

This cauliflower rice recipe is grated with a box grater or processed in a food processor, then lightly cooked on the stove and served as if it were regular rice.

Eat it as a low–carb side dish when you feel like a little extra green next to curries, 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 special holiday meal from Thanksgiving through Christmas.

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 you can serve them with a garnish of 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 meal, colorful appetizer, or versatile side dish with most mains.

37. Zucchini salad

This raw zucchini salad will exceed your expectations because it’s delicious, refreshing, and easy to make.

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

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, and stir-fry dinner ideas.
• 40 easy pasta recipes with Italian pasta favorites and plant-based pasta ideas.
• Easy dinners with stews, soups, vegetarian meals, and salad recipes.
• Lentil recipes, bean meal ideas, or chickpea recipes.

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