Making quick and easy side dishes that are also healthy and delicious is not only possible but actually very easy. I have here all my favorite easy side dishes plus useful tips that will help you make them happen quickly.
If you're like me, you can think of the protein or the main entree, but the side gets a little tricky.
Technically, the main dish is the complicated part. Technically, but...
I actually think it’s easier to run out of inspiration when it comes to easy side dishes than when it comes to main dishes. The options seem so limited. Especially when you want to cook clean and healthy side dishes.
Rest assured that’s not the case! And I’m ready to prove it to you. On this list of side dishes, you’ll find your inspiration again.
Ready to feel inspired again? Ok, then let’s not waste any more time and jump into the simple side dishes conversation.
TOOLSET FOR RECIPES
First, let's talk about what tools you'l need which will make easy side dishes that much easier. I wouldn’t be able to make these easy side dishes without my trusty tools and appliances. To make it easier for you as well, I’ve made a list of all the tools I use to make these easy sides. Here’s how to do it and what you need:
- roast your favorite veggies and make easy veggie side dishes in a rimmed baking sheet;
- boil your pasta and veggies with a deep pot;
- prep the ingredients for the easy side dishes using mixing bowls, blender, potato masher, and the food processor;
- bake dinner sides in a casserole dish;
- saute veggies and cook ingredients for your easy side dishes in a skillet or a large pan;
- steam veggies with the help of a steamer basket;
- make easy and hands-free easy dinner sides with a slow cooker recipe.
TIPS FOR MAKING SIDE DISHES EXTRA DELICIOUS
Now some tips to help you make the best side dishes:
- if you’re making easy veggie side dishes, use fresh, seasonal veggies – the flavors of the side dishes will be amazing;
- change the cooking method – to make the best side dishes healthy, bake, roast, saute, and boil instead of deep-frying, add spices and herbs for better taste and you’re set;
- think about adding to the overall color or texture of the meal.
THE BEST EASY SIDE DISHES FOR LUNCH AND DINNER
From quick and easy side dishes to slow cooker side dishes to easy veggie side dishes to classic side dishes with a healthy twist, you have my best side dishes gathered in one place. The list of side dishes includes recipe details (prep time, cook time, and calories) for every recipe so you can easily choose the right side dish recipes for you.
Ready, set, GO!
1. ROASTED BROCCOLI
Let’s start with the easiest side dish recipes – roasted veggies. First stop - Roasted Broccoli. A delicious and easy to make classic.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 190 kcal
2. ROASTED ACORN SQUASH
Moving on to How to Make Roasted Acorn Squash. Roasting acorn squash makes easy side dishes that are full of amazing Fall flavors.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 21 kcal
3. PARMESAN BAKES SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI SPEARS
You want to replace fries with healthy dines sides but… you love fries too much? Make these Parmesan Baked Squash And Zucchini Spears. They are a healthy alternative to fries that you’ll for sure love.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 8 mins
- Cook Time: 18 mins
- Total Time: 26 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 171 kcal
4. SAUTEED BABY RED POTATOES
Turn red potatoes into easy sides with this Sautéed Baby Red Potatoes recipe. So tasty, simple, and easy.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 185 kcal
5. HEALTHY MAC AND CHEESE
The best side dishes are the ones everybody loves. Like Mac And Cheese. But you know, Healthy Mac And Cheese is better and possible so replace the classic recipe with this one.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 337 kcal
6. EASY SWEET POTATO HASH
Sweet potatoes make so many easy side dishes like this Easy Sweet Potato Hash. So yum. More sweet potato side dish ideas to come so keep reading.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 157 kcal
7. BAKED CARROT FRIES + HOMEMADE KETCHUP
You know what other veggies can make easy side dish recipes to replace French fries? Carrots! Make this Baked Carrot Fries and, as a bonus, you get my Homemade Ketchup Without Sugar recipe!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 114 kcal
8. CLEAN BROCCOLI TOTS
Do you want to make your kids enjoy easy veggie side dishes? Try these Clean Broccoli Tots! They are tots and kids love tots. But they are also healthy tots so you win!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 24 mins
- Total Time: 44 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 201 kcal
9. CHEESY AU GRATIN POTATOES
And nothing beats the comfort factor of Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes! Nothing! For realz. If you want to impress everybody at the dinner table with delicious side dishes, these Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes should be on your list!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 221 kcal
10. SAUTEED ASPARAGUS WITH GARLIC AND SHALLOTS
Plain steamed asparagus is one of the easiest simple side dishes. But it can be too boring after a while. Make asparagus interesting again with this Sautéed Asparagus with Garlic and Shallots.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 60 kcal
11. HEALTHIER CROCK POT MASHED POTATOES
Make Healthier Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes – the epitome of easy dinner sides since the crockpot will do almost all the work for you. Plus, mashed potatoes are most people’s favorite side dishes for dinner. Including mine, not gonna lie.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 4 hrs
- Total Time: 4 hrs 10 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 132 kcal
12. 10-MINUTE SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH LEMON
My friends who are looking for quick and easy side dishes, don’t worry, I did not forget about you. I think you’ll like this 10 Minute Sugar Snap Peas with Lemon. I mean… snap peas are yum. And this simple side is ready in just 10 minutes. WOOT!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 3 mins
- Cook Time: 7 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 7 kcal
13. THYME ROASTED CARROTS
If you love my carrot fries, you’ll also love these Thyme Roasted Carrots. Carrots are great for easy side dishes. And they make good sides for chicken.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 193 kcal
14. EASY PARMESAN ROASTED CAULIFLOWER
I already said this but I have to say it again – roasting veggies will give you easy side dishes. And delicious ones too. We had broccoli, we had carrots, now it’s time for cauliflower to shine so here’s my Easy Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower recipe.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 142 kcal
15. LEMON ROASTED ASPARAGUS
Another great simple side dish is the Lemon Roasted Asparagus. This recipe makes quick side dishes. When I say quick, I mean very quick. Only 10 minutes.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 118 kcal
16. PARMESAN ROASTED GREEN BEANS
You want more side dish recipes that are both quick and easy side dish recipes? Add this Parmesan Roasted Green Beans to your list!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 123 kcal
17. CAULIFLOWER GRATIN
Transform your favorite gratin recipes into healthy easy side dishes by substituting processed, fatty ingredients with clean, healthy ones. I did exactly that with this Cauliflower Gratin and it’s so yummy.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 378 kcal
18. HONEY BALSAMIC ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
You know what’s the most delicious way to cook brussels sprouts and to turn them into easy veggie side dishes? Roasting them! Try my Honey Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts if you don’t believe me.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 224 kcal
19. EASY SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Sweet potatoes are amazing! You can make so many yummy and easy sides with them. Sides like this Easy Sweet Potato Casserole, which is perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Or any other day when you want to indulge in a yummy, crunchy, sweet, dense but healthy side.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 487 kcal
20. GARLIC PARMESAN GREEN BEANS
More quick and easy side dishes? Sure, no problem! This Garlic Parmesan Green Beans is ready in 15 minutes and you’ll need only 6 simple ingredients to make it.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 81 kcal
21. CRISPY BAKES SWEET POTATO TOTS WITH MAPLE GREEK YOGURT DIP
This Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Tots with Maple Greek Yogurt Dip is one of my favorite easy sides on this list of side dishes. The sweet potato tots are simply delicious. And sweet. And crunchy. And perfect with a yogurt dip.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 1 hr
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 316 kcal
22. BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES 4 WAYS
Starting to like the side dish made with sweet potatoes? Here’s another one. Actually 4! Because you get 4 different amazing flavors with this Easy Sweet Potato Meal Prep – Baked Sweet Potato Fries 4 Ways.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 221 kcal
23. OVEN BAKED ASPARAGUS FRIES
And since we reached the topic of healthy fries as dinner sides again, I have to mention these Oven Baked Asparagus Fries as well. They are totes amazing!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 98 kcal
24. SWEET POTATO FRIES
Also, learn How To Make Sweet Potato Fries from my original sweet potato fries recipe. These are awesome fries too!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 88 kcal
25. CAULIFLOWER RICE
I bet you think rice makes simple side dishes that are easy to make. And I agree with you. But so does cauliflower rice. Learn How to Make Cauliflower Rice for a quick low-carb and low-calories weeknight dinner side.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 85 kcal
26. LOADED CAULIFLOWER TOTS
What type of tots we had on this list of side dishes so far? I think we had broccoli and sweet potato. How do Loaded Cauliflower Tots sound to you? Delicious, am I right? Good news – the Loaded Cauliflower Tots are also healthy!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 51 kcal
27. ROASTED POTATO SALAD
This Roasted Potato Salad makes a simple side that’s perfect for summer. No mayo involved. So this is a classic transformed into a healthy option.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 195 kcal
28. BAKED ZUCCHINI FRIES
When I talked about healthy fries alternatives as dinner sides I almost forgot about these Baked Zucchini Fries! Thank goodness I didn’t cuz’ they are amazeballs.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 224 kcal
29. SPAGHETTI SQUASH NOODLES
We made healthy French fries, healthy rice, what else can we make healthy and enjoy as easy side dishes? How about spaghetti? You can learn How To Cook Spaghetti Squash and Make Spaghetti Squash Noodles and problem solved!
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hr
- Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 47 kcal
30. HEALTHY GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
Green beans casseroles are good sides for chicken. Or for turkey. They are also yummy and easy to make healthy. My Healthy Green Bean Casserole recipe teaches you how to make green bean casserole from scratch with clean ingredients.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 221 kcal
31. 3-INGREDIENT HEALTHY MASHED SWEET POTATOES
Sugar-free and vegan, the 3-Ingredient Healthy Mashed Sweet Potatoes make perfect side dishes for dinner for those who love their sides a little bit sweet. But healthy. And nutritious.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 84 kcal
32. CREAMY PARMESAN CAULIFLOWER MASHED POTATOES
When it comes to simple side dish ideas, mashed potatoes are always on the list. But you can also make Creamy Parmesan Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes if you want an alternative.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 103 kcal
33. SOUTHERN STYLE GREEN BEANS
Side dishes can be healthy comfort food too, you know! Learn How to Cook Southern Style Green Beans and make comfort food healthy.
Recipe Notes:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 50 mins
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: 124 kcal
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