60 Healthy Sides That Will Steal All The Attention

You may have seen crisp, anise-y fennel bulbs dotting the famers' market stands, nuzzling up alongside sweet delicata squash and tart apples. The three find their way into this healthy side dish that's perfect for elegant dinner party menus, simple weeknight meals, or paired with richer, holiday spreads.

Get the Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples recipe.

If you want to venture into the world of cabbage that goes beyond corn 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!

Get the Bacon Fried Cabbage recipe.

Rice is maybe one of the best, all-time favorite carbs, and you don't have to limit yourself to just white and brown. There are tons varieties that can bring about different textures and flavors, like nutty and chewy wild rice. Serve it alongside roast veggies or toss in some mushrooms, and you’ll have a hearty meal that comes together in a flash!

Get the Wild Rice recipe.

This classic French recipe turns humble green beans into an easy and impressive side dish you can make all year round. Sautéed with shallots and garlic, tossed with buttery, toasted almonds, and finished with lemon, these green beans are quick enough to serve for a weeknight dinner while also being fancy enough for holiday meals and dinner parties.

Get the Green Beans Almondine recipe.

A quick side dish is always appreciated, especially one as easy as this combo. It goes well with your steak dinners, your rice & beans, or your vegan meatloaf, but if you really love your peas and carrots, you could just eat this in one sitting, as a meal (we have! 😉).

Get the Peas & Carrots recipe.

We love classic sautéed Brussels sprouts, but sometimes we crave something with a bit more kick. These slightly spicy salty-sweet sprouts make for a unique and easy side dish.

Get the Shredded Brussels Sprouts recipe.

If you're on keto, you know there are a lot of no-nos in classic mac & cheese. This version takes out all the trouble children (ahem, PASTA) without sacrificing flavor. The pork rind topping is totally optional, but we think it adds a pleasant crunch.

Get the Best-Ever Keto Mac & Cheese recipe.

Parsnips are sweet like carrots and creamy like potatoes. Instead of mashed potatoes, give mashed parsnips a try. They're just as easy to make and with some roasted garlic, they're even more delicious!

Get the Roasted Garlic-Parsnip Puree recipe.

This simple yet satisfying wintery salad packs a flavorful punch with slightly smoky seared pears, creamy blue cheese, and ultra-crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. Tied together by a sweet-sour honey vinaigrette, it’s the perfect holiday side (or add some protein to make it a main!).

Get the Pear Salad 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 delicious potatoes ever.

Get the Air Fryer Crispy Potatoes recipe.

This easy salad comes together quickly and works as a side dish, a great topping for tacos, or as an appetizer with tortilla chips. Think of this as a medley of the most exciting parts of a vegetarian burrito bowl, unadulterated by rice, and hyped up by a little honey-lime action.

Get the Black Bean And Corn Salad recipe.

Creamy, sweet, and conveniently orange, butternut squash adds extra body and richness to mac & cheese. A little thyme does some heavy lifting, making the homey comfort classic a little fancy, and bringing some fall flavors to the table that are *chef’s kiss*.

Get the Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese recipe.

Kimchi is a broad name for a type of Korean banchan—or, side dish—that is served with most meals in Korea. Serve it alongside bibimbap, stir it into fried rice, or fold it into creamy pasta for extra umami flavor.

Get the Kimchi recipe.

There’s your average casserole, and then there’s this cheesy loaded broccoli cauliflower casserole. Filled with plenty of veggies and feel-good flavors, there’s something in this dish for everyone. Hot tip: This goes over like gangbusters at potlucks.

Get the Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole recipe.

Potatoes au gratin is a creamy decadent dish that no matter how hard we try, we can never give it up. This version made with cauliflower lets us have the decadence without the guilt.

Get the Cauliflower Au Gratin recipe.

Like sautéed spinach, callaloo is a versatile dish. Most often mixed with rehydrated salted cod fish and eaten for breakfast with boiled green bananas, boiled yams, dumplings, and of course, fried plantains, callaloo can be mixed with rice to make a delicious side dish.

Get the Callaloo (Jamaican Spinach) recipe.

Inspired by the popular Chinese takeout dish Kung Pao Chicken, these saucy Brussels sprouts are dangerously delicious. If you want to up the spice level, feel free to add red chili peppers with the garlic.

Get the Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts recipe.

This summer-friendly recipe uses canned chickpeas, meaning it comes together in less than 30 minutes. 😎 Our lemon-parsley vinaigrette here is perfectly tart and fresh with a hint of spice, and you're going to want to put it on everything.

Get the Mediterranean Chickpea Salad recipe.

This low-carb side proves that you don’t always need bread to make an amazing stuffing. Cauliflower is basically a sponge: It’ll soak up the flavor of whatever you cook it with, so we recommend going heavy on the herbs!

Get the Cauliflower Stuffing recipe.

Since this avocado salad is simple and straight forward, it basically goes with everything. Serve it along with some baked salmon, grilled chicken, or keep it all veg with a portobello burger.

Get the Avocado & Tomato Salad recipe.