No holiday table—or cozy family dinner—feels complete without the sides. From buttery mashed potatoes and golden brioche buns to vibrant glazed carrots and hearty casseroles, these recipes prove that side dishes can easily steal the spotlight. Whether you’re planning Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just want to make a weeknight meal a little more special, this collection has something for every occasion. With flavors ranging from sweet and savory to herby and indulgent, these easy recipes will elevate any main course and have everyone asking for seconds.
Orange Glazed Carrots Recipe
If you’ve never tried Orange Glazed Carrots, you’re in for a treat! These carrots are buttery, a little sweet, and packed with fresh citrus flavor. The glaze is made with just a few simple ingredients—orange juice, sugar, butter, and a bit of zest for extra brightness. It thickens up perfectly, coating every bite in a glossy, flavorful sauce. Whether you’re making them for a holiday dinner or just trying to jazz up a weeknight meal, they’re an easy way to make veggies way more exciting.
Get recipe: Orange Glazed Carrots Recipe
Delicious Miso Glazed Carrots Recipe
Glazed carrots have only recently been one of our favorites, but when glazed with a miso-maple sauce, they become irresistible! This simple one-pan side dish uses great ingredients that complement the carrots perfectly. We love these delicious easy carrots all year around for weeknight dinners, but they are great to serve for a special occasion, as an Easter dinner side dish, or during the holiday season for Thanksgiving or Christmas with a holiday roast.
Get recipe: Delicious Miso Glazed Carrots Recipe
Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots Recipe
These Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots are the perfect side dish for any occasion—sweet, savory, and irresistibly caramelized. Roasted to tender perfection, the carrots are coated in a rich glaze made from honey, garlic, and butter, bringing out their natural sweetness while adding layers of bold, comforting flavor. Whether you’re planning a holiday feast, a Sunday dinner, or just want to elevate a simple weeknight meal, this easy recipe transforms humble carrots into a foodie favorite dish everyone will love.
Get recipe: Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots Recipe
Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
When it comes to classic comfort food, few dishes hit the spot like a generous scoop of creamy mashed potatoes. And when you add a rich swirl of sour cream, the result is a luscious, velvety side that’s bursting with flavor. Whether you’re planning a cozy weeknight dinner, prepping for Thanksgiving, or building the ultimate Christmas supper spread, this Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream recipe is one you’ll return to again and again.
Get recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream – The Ultimate Comfort Food Side Dish
Brioche Buns
Nothing beats a homemade brioche bun—soft, fluffy, and just the right amount of buttery. But if the thought of making brioche from scratch sounds like a full-day project, don’t worry. This recipe keeps things super simple while still giving you bakery-style results. No complicated steps, no overnight waiting, just fresh, golden buns that are perfect for sandwiches, burgers, or even straight-up with some butter.
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Avocado Kale Salad
Mince the cilantro, and at the very end cut your avocado into cubes. Assemble the salad in a bowl, top with the cranberries, sunflower kernels, salad dressing, and toss! Enjoy!
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Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are loved by all! These Creamy Mashed Potatoes have all the good stuff in them! They’re buttery, comforting, and delicious! Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish for your dinner, and they don’t take a ton of time to make! Plus, nothing compares to real mashed potatoes, they are an absolute classic! I like mine with a little bit of peel and chunk left in them to give the dish more texture!
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Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes
These roasted potatoes and green beans pair well with a variety of main dishes! Serve it alongside grilled chicken, steak, or roasted salmon for a complete meal. It’s also a great side for burgers, pork chops, or a hearty vegetarian spread. Pair these flavorful green beans and potatoes with a creamy main dish like creamy chicken gnocchi for a comforting and well-rounded meal.
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Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
Elevate your holiday table with this savory sweet potato casserole that’s packed with rich, herby flavors! Made with canned yams, this dish comes together effortlessly, while fresh thyme, seasoned breadcrumbs, and a touch of garlic add depth and texture. Unlike the traditional marshmallow-topped version, this casserole is all about the savory goodness. With its perfect balance of earthy herbs and comforting crunch, it’s sure to become a must-try for any gathering!
Get recipe: Savory Sweet Potato Casserole
Easy Green Bean Casserole Without Cream Soup
To reheat small portions, microwave them for 30-second intervals, stirring between heatings. For larger portions, cover the baking dish with foil and reheat it at 350F for 20 minutes or until heated through.
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Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Streusel
An even faster way is to use a food processor and place the flour, brown sugar and butter into the bowl and pulse until the butter is the size of small peas. Then stir in the pecans by hand and you are done!
Get recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Streusel
Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots
These Sautéed Green Beans with shallots are tender-crisp, buttery and bursting with savory flavor. The combination of French green beans, shallots and garlic is simple yet elegant, perfect for holiday dinners or weeknight meals. This easy side dish comes together in under 20 minutes using one large skillet.
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Pumpkin Carrot Soup
This Pumpkin Carrot Soup recipe is cozy, creamy and full of warm fall flavors. Sweet carrots, fresh ginger and pumpkin purée simmer together with coconut milk and a touch of warming spices, creating a silky carrot pumpkin soup that feels like the perfect meal on chilly nights.
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Green Bean Casserole From Scratch
Green Bean Casserole From Scratch: Made with a homemade mushroom cream sauce ,and topped with do it yourself french fried onions. This decadent holiday side dish can even be made ahead!
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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
These creamy and flavorful instant pot mashed potatoes are sure to become your new favorite side dish. They cook up fluffy every time in just 8 minutes!
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Mom’s Sausage Stuffing
Mom’s Sausage Stuffing recipe is a homemade stuffing made with sausage, onion, garlic, celery, hand-torn bread, and plenty of spices. It’s always a big hit and Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without it!
Get recipe: Mom’s Sausage Stuffing
Slow Cooker Herbed Baby Potatoes
This Slow Cooker Herbed Baby Potatoes recipe is a must-have in your side dish arsenal! Made with olive oil, baby potatoes, butter, and dried herbs, this hands-off potato recipe couldn’t be easier to make, thanks to the slow cooker! These tender, seasoned baby potatoes are the perfect side for dinners, holidays, and potlucks!
Get recipe: Slow Cooker Herbed Baby Potatoes
Fluffy Sweet Potato Bread Rolls Recipe
Sweet potato bread rolls are soft, golden brown, and just the right mix of slightly sweet and savory. This recipe is perfect for using up leftover sweet potatoes while giving you a frugal, healthy, and freezer-friendly option for your fall table.
Get recipe: Fluffy Sweet Potato Bread Rolls Recipe
Grandma’s Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe
No one could make a mouth-watering holiday sit-down dinner with all the fixings like my grandmother. If you’re looking for a recipe that brings the flavors of Thanksgiving to life, then Grandma’s old fashioned stuffing recipe is a must-try.
Get recipe: Grandma’s Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe: A Homemade Classic
Skillet Potatoes Gratin With Truffle Cheese
If you’re looking for a simple yet indulgent side for your next family-style dinner or potluck this skillet potatoes gratin with truffle cheese is ideal. Sliced potatoes, creamy heavy cream, and golden brown cheese offer the richness you love without being overly heavy—ideal for pairing with grilled meats or fresh salads. This easy-to-make dish brings all the comforting flavors of a classic gratin. Still, its crispy, cheesy top is perfect for serving alongside your favorite summer BBQ spreads.
Get recipe: Skillet Potatoes Gratin With Truffle Cheese
Brown Butter Sauteed Carrots And Parsnips With Honey
Brown Butter Sauteed Carrots and Parsnips with Thyme and Honey is a side dish that excites you to eat vegetables. The brown butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that perfectly complements the sweet honey. At the same time, the fresh thyme gives it that cozy, herby finish. It’s a simple yet impressive dish for casual weeknight dinners or special holiday meals. With the natural sweetness of carrots and parsnips brought to life by the caramelizing process, this recipe will surely become a favorite on your table.
Get recipe: Brown Butter Sauteed Carrots And Parsnips With Honey
Crock Pot Corn Casserole aka Thanksgiving Corn Pudding
This Crock Pot Corn Casserole recipe puts a simple twist on this traditional Southern holiday season staple. The sweet corn and cornbread mix side dish also goes by the name corn pudding and Jiffy Corn Casserole. This crockpot corn casserole is an easy recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you need a quick and convenient side for the family meal. It is a fabulous Thanksgiving side dish, that you will make year after year!
Get recipe: Crock Pot Corn Casserole aka Thanksgiving Corn Pudding
Smoked Sausage Stuffing Muffins
These Smoked Sausage Stuffing Muffins are a fun side dish for your holiday dinner. They’re also a festive party appetizer or even a quick meal during this hectic season. These easy-to-make, savory muffins really are amazingly versatile.
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Roast Butternut Squash
Learning How to Roast Butternut Squash is quick and easy. Delicious served as a side or tossed in and among all your favorite fall recipes, Butternut Squash is a fall must-have and an easy substitute for pumpkin. Learn how to cook acorn squash and spaghetti squash in these other easy to follow posts.
Get recipe: How to Roast Butternut Squash
Roasted Zucchini with Parmesan
This Roasted Zucchini Recipe is so delicious and so easy to make. Ready in about 20 minutes, fresh zucchini squash is tossed with olive oil, simple seasonings, and grated parmesan cheese then roasted in the oven until tender. The perfect weeknight side dish.
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Savory Rosemary Sweet Potato Mash
A little fresh rosemary makes everything better! My Rosemary Sweet Potato Mash is easy and ready in under 30 minutes. It pairs well with some of our favorite proteins such as such as my Middle Eastern Spatchcock Chicken, my Almond Crusted Cod or my Bison Meatloaf. These savory mashed sweet potatoes are a great addition to your holiday table or as a simple weeknight meal.
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Creamy and Delicious Dairy Free Root Vegetable Mash
Here is a sophisticated twist to your traditional mashed potatoes. My Creamy and Delicious Dairy Free Root Vegetable Mash is the perfect side dish. Made with yukon gold potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and turnip, this is a great addition to your Thanksgiving table or Christmas dinner.
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Keto Brussel Sprout
Brussels sprouts are my favorite vegetable, as they are a great low-carb vegetable! I love that they are an excellent source of vitamin K and perfect for a low calorie diet! When you add some crispy bacon to them, they make an excellent side dish.
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Gluten Free Sausage Stuffing
Gluten Free Sausage Stuffing provides all the comfort flavors of stuffing without the gluten. The savory and deep flavors of sausage, dried fruit, sauteed veggies, herbs and broth come together beautifully to deliver an elevated stuffing experience without the gluten.
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