Get ready to rethink your meal planning with these 17 sides that are so good, you’ll forget there ever was a main course. Perfect for any occasion, these dishes are easy to make and packed with flavor. Say goodbye to boring meals and hello to sides that can stand on their own, making every bite a memorable one.
Quinoa Chickpea Salad
Perfect for any occasion, this salad is healthy and full of flavor. It’s quick to make, making it great for a fast lunch, light dinner, or potluck side. Cook the quinoa, toss with fresh veggies, and drizzle with a lemon-garlic dressing. It’s so good, you truly won’t miss the main dish.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Chickpea Salad
Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
These Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese are an effortless dish that packs a punch. Layer juicy tomatoes with generous amounts of mozzarella and Parmesan, add a sprinkle of herbs, and finish with a light oil drizzle. Toss them in the oven for about 25 minutes, and you’ve got a side dish that looks great and could easily outshine any main dish. Seriously, why go through the trouble of a complex main when this side dish is already winning hearts? They’re so good that you might just forget you were supposed to make something else to go with them.
Get the Recipe: Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
Parmesan Crusted Potatoes mix comfort with a little flair. Start by coating your potato slices with a delicious combo of garlic, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan, and then bake them until they’re irresistibly crispy. Not only are these potatoes quick to whip up, but they’re also packed with flavor that might lead you to question the need for a main dish. Ready in less than an hour, they’re perfect for transforming an ordinary evening into a standout dinner experience. After all, who needs a main course when these potatoes are around?
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
This Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is here to show you that the side dish is sometimes the main event. Thinly sliced cucumbers and red onions tossed with a creamy, tangy dressing make this salad refreshing and downright bold. Chill it in the fridge, and in 30 minutes, you’re good to go. It’s the perfect pick for those scorching days when the idea of turning on the oven is just too much. Plus, it’s so flavorful that your main dish might feel left out. Who knew a salad could be this much of a crowd-pleaser?
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Baked Sliced Zucchini
Baked Sliced Zucchini is not just easy; it’s a game changer. In just 20 minutes, you get slices of zucchini coated with a mix of Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian herbs, baked until crispy. It’s the kind of dish that makes the rest of the meal look like it’s just there to fill space. Great for anyone who wants to impress without the stress, this zucchini shows that sometimes the simplest things are the best. Just serve these at your next gathering and watch them disappear faster than the main dish.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sliced Zucchini
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is the underdog of side dishes that punches way above its weight class. With finely pulsed cauliflower mixed with onions, jalapeños, and a splash of lime, this dish is ready in about 20 minutes. It’s light, refreshing, and surprisingly full of flavor. This one shows that you don’t need heavy carbs to feel satisfied — just a great recipe. It’s so good, you might forget about adding anything else to your plate. Trust me, it’s happened before.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower
This Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower is not just another veggie on your plate. It’s a full-on show-stopper. It’s simple and sophisticated, simmered first in chicken stock, then slathered in a buttery Parmesan mix and roasted to a perfect golden brown. Great for when you want something impressive but not too tricky, and, let’s be honest, it’s so good that the main dish might feel a bit left out. This cauliflower could easily take center stage and leave your guests thinking about it long after dinner is over.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Fresh Corn Salad
This dish is great for summer gatherings, or anytime you need a light, healthy option. It’s packed with fresh veggies and a lime dressing. Best part? It only takes 40 minutes. Dice cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, and basil. Boil the corn, cut off the kernels, and mix everything with the lime dressing. For extra flavor, add cilantro, avocado, and some feta or cotija cheese. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes, and you’re ready to serve. You might just forget about the main course.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Corn Salad
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms are where it’s at if you want a side dish that acts like a main. Stuffed with a hearty mix of sausage, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and garlic and baked until golden, these little gems are nothing short of show-stoppers. They’re ready in 45 minutes and require minimal effort for maximum flavor. Perfect for those evenings when your main course is just an afterthought. Honestly, with mushrooms this good, who even remembers what they were supposed to pair them with? These might make you ditch your main dish plans altogether.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Loaded Zucchini Boats
Loaded Zucchini Boats are your go-to when you want big impact with minimal effort. Halve and de-seed some zucchini, stuff them with bacon and cheese, bake, and then top with sour cream and green onions. What comes out of the oven 30 minutes later is nothing short of spectacular. These zucchini boats turn a simple side into the highlight of your dinner. With these on the table, who even needs a main course? They’re so filling and flavorful that you might just forget there was supposed to be anything else.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Zucchini Boats
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Meet the Twice Baked Potato Casserole, a side that might make your main course jealous. This dish is all about the rich layers of flavors — fluffy potatoes meet crunchy bacon under a blanket of melted cheese and creamy sauce, all finished with a golden crust from a second baking round. It’s perfect for those times you want to impress without the drama of a complex main dish. And hey, it’s so good that folks at your potluck might start thinking of the main course as just the opening act.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms is the perfect example of a side that could be the highlight of the evening. This dish swaps out traditional rice for cauliflower, adding a healthy spin with a hearty helping of mushrooms to keep it rich in flavor. It’s a perfect pick for those nights when time isn’t on your side, but you still want something more gourmet than takeout. Plus, it’s so packed with flavors that you might just consider skipping the main course and calling it a night with this dish alone.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Halloumi Fries
Halloumi Fries are here to shake things up. Forget what you know about regular fries — these are made from halloumi cheese, which means they hold up under heat without melting away. They come together in just 25 minutes and are just the thing to serve when you want to add a bit of a wow factor without much effort. They’re crunchy and cheesy, and let’s face it, they’re the reason everyone came to dinner. Who needs a main course when these bad boys are on the table?
Get the Recipe: Halloumi Fries
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Fried Cabbage with Bacon is the side dish you didn’t know you needed but won’t be able to live without. It’s quick and easy and mixes the deep flavors of bacon with the crisp freshness of cabbage to create a dish that’s both comforting and a bit unexpected. Ready in about 25 minutes, it’s perfect for those days when you’re short on time but still want to put something great on the table. Plus, it’s so hearty and delicious that you might skip the main course and go for a second helping of this instead.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Golden Baked Jicama Fries
Golden Baked Jicama Fries are here to shake up your side dish routine. You start by boiling sliced jicama, seasoning them well, and then baking them until they’re just the right amount of crispy. They take a bit over an hour but trust me, they’re worth every minute. And with their golden allure, they could easily make you forget that you were supposed to serve a main course. After all, who needs a steak when you’ve got these crispy wonders? Perfect for those who love a good show-stealer without the extra kitchen drama.
Get the Recipe: Golden Baked Jicama Fries
Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon might be the reason you skip the main course altogether. This hearty combination of squash, cauliflower, and bacon is roasted to perfection. It creates a dish that is so filling that you might start wondering why it was ever called a side. Easy to prepare and even easier to love, it’s perfect for those chilly evenings when you want comfort food without all the hassle. Let’s be honest; it’s so good that your main dish might start to get a little jealous.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes is more than just a side; it’s a statement. Whip this up in 25 minutes, and what you get is creamy, rich, and packed with flavor from fresh broccoli and tangy sun-dried tomatoes. It’s the kind of dish that can stand proudly next to any main or, quite frankly, replace it. Who knew broccoli could be this exciting? It’s perfect for those evenings when you want something quick but impressive enough to make guests ask for the recipe instead of wondering what the main course is.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
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