101 Side Dishes That Will Make Weeknight Dinners A Thousand Times Better

You know what’s great? Mashed potatoes. You know what’s even better? Roasted garlic mashed potatoes! That extra-savory flavor from melty, roasted garlic adds the perfect kick to classic mashed spuds. (We also add a splash of tangy balsamic vinegar to kick them up a notch.)

Get the Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

This sweet potato salad is the perfect way to lighten up any autumnal dinner or even your Thanksgiving spread. Feta, dried cranberries, and red onions pair really nicely with the earthy sweetness of the orange super food. Did we mention it's great warm or cold?

Get the Sweet Potato Salad recipe.

If you want to venture into the world of cabbage that goes beyond corned beef or coleslaw, try this fried cabbage on for size. Hearty and flavorful, it only requires 5 ingredients (if you don't count the salt and pepper). Plus, one of those ingredients is bacon! This simple recipe might just convert even the most ardent of cabbage haters.

Get the Bacon Fried Cabbage recipe.

White beans are a great blank canvas, especially for bright, assertive flavors like lemon and fresh herbs like basil. Perfect as a side, or as a meal topped with a poached egg, these beans prove from-scratch really does make a difference.

Get the Cannellini Beans With Herb Sauce recipe.

No matter what the centerpiece of your meal is, this cheesy squash skillet is sure to steal the show. The balance of sweet, salty, and creamy is EXTREMELY addictive.

Get the Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash recipe.

The air fryer works some kind of magic on potatoes. They get extra crispy all over and stay perfectly soft on the inside. Toss them in just a little bit of oil so all of the seasonings stick to make these the most addicting potatoes ever.

Get the Air Fryer Crispy Potatoes recipe.

Slathered in buttery, garlicky goodness, these garlic knots are seriously yummy. They’re also easy and quick to make. Just be sure to plan ahead and take your refrigerated pizza dough out ahead of time.

Get the Garlic Knots recipe.

This quintessential side goes with any main dish in Jamaican cuisine. Fluffy and moist, it has a savory creaminess that comes from the use of aromatics like garlic and onion, in addition to coconut milk. It's a perfect match for classic Jamaican dishes like curry chicken or oxtail stew.

Get the Rice & Peas recipe.

Recipes that require frying are often super-specific. The temperature of the oil must be just so. Not with this method. Turns out you can put *unsoaked* potatoes in a Dutch oven, pour cold oil on top until they’re just covered, then bring the whole thing to a boil. 😋

Get the French Fries recipe.

The one side that everyone will love (and run for seconds). If you have vegetarian guests, feel free to skip the bacon! We're all about the smoky flavor, but for this dish, it's all about the CHEESE.

Get the Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake recipe.

Despite the name, there is no trace of fish in this delicious dish. Originating from the Sichuan province in China, 魚香 (yu xiang) describes a flavor profile that was originally used in preparing fish dishes from the region. Now these pickled chiles, fermented bean paste, green onions, garlic, ginger, and punchy spice blend are used to season vegetables, like this eggplant, too.

Get the Sichuan-Style "Fish-Fragrant" Eggplant recipe.

Pan-fried potatoes are one of life's simplest pleasures. All you need is some potatoes, some fat, and plenty of salt. This French variety elevates the pan-fried potato even FURTHER with the addition of caramelized onions and lots of butter. What's not to love?

Get the Lyonnaise Potatoes recipe.

Perfect for when your garden or the local farmers' market is overflowing with cucumbers and tomatoes, this salad also does surprisingly well with out-of-season produce, due to their year-round availability.

Get the Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad recipe.

Cauliflower is one of our favorites to roast because, flavor-wise, it's very much a blank canvas. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or add a touch of color and zesty flavor with Old Bay seasoning like we did here. Experiment with your favorite spice blend!

Get the Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

Quick, easy, and made with the simplest ingredients, air fryer green beans give you tender, crispy results without having to turn on your oven or light up your stove. This rendition comes with a treat: 8 cloves of creamy, buttery roasted garlic. You can eat them alongside the beans or reserve them for another use, like smearing alongside butter and flaky sea salt on a slice of toasted sourdough bread.

Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.

This is the creamiest, dreamiest mac and cheese, the kind that brings back childhood memories. You can bring it to a friend who is under the weather, to a potluck, make it for a dinner party or for a night in by yourself. It's crazy delicious and versatile.

Get the Creamy Stovetop Mac & Cheese recipe.

If you’ve never made risotto because you didn’t want to stand there stirring forever, then this recipe is for you. It packs all the satisfying flavor of a slow-stirred version into a fraction of the hands-on time. This is all possible because you'll bake the risotto rather than cooking it on the stove (and in just one pot!).

Get the Baked Risotto with Lemon, Peas & Parmesan recipe.

Kimchi is a broad name for a type of Korean banchan—or side dish—that is served alongside most meals in Korea. In fact, it's probably more accurate to refer to kimchi as a method of fermenting and preserving vegetables. Serve it alongside bibimbap, stir it into fried rice, or fold it into creamy pasta.

Get the Kimchi recipe.

Grits might just be the easiest, most comforting dish to make. Taking less than 30 minutes to prepare, they will have you feeling all warm and cozy in no time. Adding cheese only makes them better so we added...a lot. You're very welcome.

Get the Cheese Grits recipe.

Creamed spinach is a simple side dish that is also the perfect way to use up any dying spinach. The creaminess will make you forget you're eating spinach and turn anyone into a fan of leafy greens. It seems like a lot of spinach, but it will boil down into almost nothing so don't skimp on it.

Get the Creamed Spinach recipe.