These vegetable side dishes can be a perfect pair for your main dish that you are serving up. Who says a side dish has to come from a canned vegetable or right out of the freezer? Simply serve up sides that your family will be reaching for in minutes. With fresh ingredients and perfect seasonings and sauces these recipes are not ordinary at all. Packed full of rich flavors these are game changers! Give your weeknight meals a makeover and your family will be thanking you.
Groups of easy to follow recipes are top searched on my blog, so make sure you check out these 10 main dish recipes ideas and 20 easy party side dishes to serve.
Each link leads directly to the recipe so you can see if you have the ingredients on hand and print. Each image belongs to the respectful blogger and is used with permission, just click to go to the recipe of each image.
Salads
When you think of salads, you may think of ordinary lettuce and ranch dressing. But push that aside! Here are a few amazing salads that make incredible side dish otpions when you need an upscale dish to serve
Mediterranean Shrimp Salad– Mediterranean Shrimp Salad is a lovely and light fresh salad that combines avocado, tomatoes, bits of purple onions, and cooked shrimp with a light homemade lemon vinaigrette.
Tri-Color Pasta Salad – Tri Color Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing is an amazingly beautiful and delicious homemade cold pasta salad that makes every bite count.
Fiesta Corn Dip – Maybe not exactly a side dish and more like an appetizer, but its beautiful and the bowl is empty EVERY time we make this one for a party.
Brussel Sprout Side Dishes
I didn’t try brussel sprouts till about a year ago. I didn’t eat them growing up and I didn’t know much about them. My husband introduced me to these little balls of salty goodness and I have never looked back. We eat them on the menu about once a week.
Here are some great ways you can enjoy them and if you have never tried them- give them a real chance. Delicious!
Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts| Trial And Eater: These Brussels sprouts are packed full of flavor, and a little heat. You can add more or less spice to fit the heat factor you want!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes with Tahini Sauce| The Forked Spoon: Healthy, light and delicious side dish that is rich in flavor. It has a creamy lemon tahini sauce that really completes this dish.
Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon| Finding Zest: She shares a recipe that teaches you how to cook brussels sprouts that will turn out great and delightful every single time. The salty aspect from the bacon paired with the hearty brussels sprouts really makes this a home run recipe.
Cider Glazed Roasted Brussels Sprouts| Tikkido: Flavor bomb explosion is what you will get. They are slightly sweet but offer a salty factor and tender brussels sprouts that are cooked to perfection. This recipe is one to serve when the guests arrive to impress.
Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad| The Kitchen Is My Playground: Raw brussel sprouts, a tangy salad dressing that helps hide any harsh flavors from the raw sprouts, dried cranberries, bacon, this salad is unique and very crave-worthy!
Brussels Sprouts With Pancetta and Onions| I Was Born To Cook: This dish is great because you get a little salty factor along with the onions and brussels sprout that makes it a hearty side dish.
Carrots
Nothing beats baby carrots and dip until you try these amazing ways to prepare and enjoy carrots. Not just for holidays, you can grab a dish and dive in tonight! Carrots pair well with oven roasted lamb, chicken or beef. Its one of those all knowing veggies!
Honey Glazed Carrots| Salty Side Dish: Just 5-ingredients you probably have in your pantry you can whip these up. They offer a slightly sweet flavor to the carrots that make them seem like a treat.
Orange Juice Glazed Carrots| With a Blast: Dress up your carrots with this sweet and slightly sticky recipe. The flavors really work together and give you a whole new style of carrots to try.
Carrot Fries| Bites of Wellness: You may have never thought to eat a carrot in a fry form before, but trust me it is worth trying. They are Whole30 approved if you are looking for recipes that are okay to eat. Indulge and don’t feel guilty after.
Roasted Garlic Butter Carrots| As For Me And My Homestead: Looking for a more savory style of carrots to serve up, try this recipe. Roasting really helps bring out the rich flavors in the carrots and garlic.
Orange Ginger Carrots| Reuse Grow Enjoy| If you are looking for a sweet carrot recipe but don’t want the added sugar, give this recipe a go. It is slightly sweet, has the deliciously cooked carrot texture, and is a change from the basic steamed carrots your mom served up.
Carrot Salad| Salty Side Dish: Looking for a spring-inspired dish? Try this carrot salad with a light sweet flavor combined with raisins and pineapples.
Broccoli Side Dishes
My kids call broccoli “trees.” They are a great way to add some greens into your diet and if your kids get scared of them, I find covering in cheese always helps! Here are some great side dishes to find just the right one for your family.
Classic Broccoli Salad| Peas and Carrots: Cranberries, broccoli, carrots, cubed cheese, sunflower seeds and a homemade dressing will bring this salad together. A salad that is loaded with texture and great flavors and easy to make.
Creamy Broccoli Salad| Ally’s Sweet and Savory Eats: This creamy salad is great for the summer months when you are having barbeques, and don’t want to heat your house up. It offers that crunch factor and creamy textures that leave you wanting to lick your bowl clean!
Broccoli Edamame Salad with Peanut Sauce| The Forked Spoon: I love the variety of flavors and texture that are used in this dish. You have the crunch from the peanuts and broccoli, with a creamy sauce, and the edamame adds a whole new dimension of flavor to the dish. Unique but totally worth whipping up.
Roasted Broccoli| Salty Side Dish: Straight from the oven with this wholesome and healthy side dish. Once you make it, you will get addicted, and have to make it all the time. It is that good!
Grilled Broccoli| Eating on a Dime: If you plan to grill out a lot when the weather is nice, consider tossing your broccoli on the grill as well. This is a very easy way to serve up some veggies with that juicy hamburger.
Squash Side Dishes
Double Cheese Baked Spaghetti Squash| A Mom’s Impression| Spaghetti squash gives you that feeling you are eating pasta because it has a similar texture. This double cheese bake is really savory and a perfect side dish. 
Pear and Walnut Stuffed Acorn Squash| A Mom’s Impression: This is a stunning side dish to serve up and packed full of delicious flavors and the walnut gives it a perfect crunch factor. 
Roasted Summer Squash with Pesto and Parmesan| Kayln’s Kitchen: If you are a fan of squash this recipe is really easy to make and really appetizing. It breaks you out from the classic fried zucchini and gives new flavors and textures to work with. 
Parmesan Zucchini Chips| The Decorated Cookie: I have made these a handful of times during the summer when we have an abundance of zucchini. They are a simple side dish that offers great flavors and the whole family gobbles them right up. 
Squash with Pecans, Shallots, and Blue Cheese| Cooking in Stilettos: Don’t try to say this three time fast, it is a tongue twister, but the dish is a delight. You get the creamy factor from the squash and blue cheese, and the savory from shallots, and the perfect crunch from the pecans.
- You can also learn how to make Roasted Butternut Squash here!
Butternut Squash Mash| I Was Born To Cook: This is similar to a mashed potato but a lot lower carbs and a very creamy texture. This is even Whole30 approved!
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