15 Side Dishes That Might Not Make It to the Main Course

Some side dishes just don’t know how to stay in their lane. These 15 recipes are so good, they might be gone before the main course hits the table. Packed with bold flavors, easy prep, and crowd appeal, they’re built to steal the spotlight. If you’ve ever watched people skip the roast for seconds of a side, you’ll know exactly what this is about.

A baking sheet with garnished parmesan crusted potatoes on it. — Parmesan Crusted Potatoes. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans bring a bold, savory punch that coats every bite with deep flavor. Quick to cook and packed with umami, they’re far from your average green bean side. They’re the kind of dish that draws attention before the main course ever leaves the kitchen. If you blink, you might miss the last serving.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

A bowl of roasted brussels sprouts. — Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta hit all the right notes with crunch, creaminess, and tang. The mix of textures makes this feel bigger than a typical vegetable dish. It’s fast, simple, and the kind of side people ask about before they’ve even grabbed their fork. Once these hit the table, they don’t last long.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions turn a standard side into the one everyone reaches for first. Crisp onions and punchy garlic make each bite memorable without much work. These are quick to pull together and hold well, even if you prep early. Just make sure to set some aside—or risk missing out entirely.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts roast into tender bites with just the right amount of sweetness and tang. The glaze sticks perfectly and brings a richness that sets them apart. They’re easy to prep and vanish almost as fast as they cook. These are the kind of vegetables that leave the serving dish empty well before the main appears.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes are so flavorful, they don’t wait politely for the roast to arrive. Roasted garlic and nutty brown butter give this side unexpected depth and richness. They’re creamy, comforting, and always disappear too fast. You might need to double the batch if you plan to share.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Roasted cabbage steak topped with tomatoes, bacon, goat cheese, and more. — Roasted Cabbage Steaks. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Cabbage Steaks crisp up at the edges and turn tender in the center, making them anything but boring. A little seasoning and high heat turn humble cabbage into something worth stealing from the tray. They’re simple to make and hard to resist. Most won’t even wait for a plate to start picking at them.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Red, yellow, and orange honey glazed carrots on a slate board. — Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots are sticky-sweet with just enough caramelization to make them crave-worthy. The glaze bakes right in, making each piece shine on the plate and on your fork. They take little effort and work with just about anything. Odds are, they’ll be gone before the serving spoon even hits the bowl.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Greek Lemon Garlic Potatoes in a black dish with lemon in the background. — Greek Lemon Potatoes. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Greek Lemon Potatoes bring bold flavor and crispy texture that keep you reaching for just one more. The lemon, garlic, and herbs soak through every bite while the edges get golden and crisp. They roast up easily but steal the spotlight fast. Don’t be surprised if they’re finished before the carving knife comes out.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Potatoes

Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta

A hand dips a fried zucchini fritter into a small bowl of white cream sauce on a gray plate. Other fritters and lemon wedges are arranged around the bowl on a marble surface. — Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta are crisp on the outside and tender inside with just enough salt from the cheese. They’re quick to make and disappear even faster, whether served as a side or a pre-dinner snack. Stack them on a tray and watch them vanish. You’ll wish you made a second batch.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters With Feta

Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

A baked dish with a large serving of cheesy cauliflower in a glass baking dish is next to a white plate holding a portion of the same dish. The background is a light wooden surface. A fork is visible beside the plate. — Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole brings in creamy sauce and crispy topping that make you forget it’s even a vegetable dish. It bakes fast and stays firm enough to serve easily without falling apart. This isn’t a side that hides behind the main—it holds its own. You’ll be lucky to snag a scoop once it hits the table.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Spring Onion Potato Salad

Spring Onion Potato Salad keeps things fresh and creamy at the same time, with sharp onion cutting through tender potatoes. It holds flavor well and works hot, cold, or room temp—making it perfect for any meal. This isn’t the potato salad that gets passed over. It’s the one people ask to take home.
Get the Recipe: Spring Onion Potato Salad

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Small baking dish with scalloped potatoes. — Easy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Easy Scalloped Potatoes layer thin slices and rich sauce into something that looks fancy but takes very little effort. Baked until golden, they’re creamy and comforting without being too heavy. People always scoop more than they mean to, and they’re never left behind. Don’t be surprised if the dish comes back scraped clean.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Easy Squash Casserole

A glass baking dish filled with baked squash casserole. — Easy Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Easy Squash Casserole bakes soft squash under a crisp, buttery topping that gets everyone’s attention. It’s quick to assemble and holds up well on the table. It pairs with anything but might not even make it that far. Once folks see that golden crust, it’s game over.
Get the Recipe: Easy Squash Casserole

Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

Air-fryer-glazed carrots are hard to pass up because they balance sweet, tender, and crisp. They cook quickly and go straight from fryer to fingers without much delay. The glaze clings perfectly, making them great for snacking even before the table’s set. By the time you say “dinner,” they’re already gone.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes come out of the oven golden, crisp, and too tempting to wait for the rest of the plate. The salty cheese crust is the kind of thing people go back for seconds—and thirds—before they sit. They don’t take long to make, but they’re gone in even less time. These might be the reason your guests hang around the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes