19 Budget Sides That Didn’t Stick Around Long Enough to Share

Not every side dish needs a long list of ingredients or a special occasion. Sometimes it’s the simplest, cheapest dishes that get cleaned out first. These 19 budget-friendly sides didn’t just fill space—they held their own and then some. If you blinked, you probably missed the last scoop.

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 take 40 minutes and mix shaved sprouts with sliced almonds and crumbled feta. The sprouts roast up crisp while the almonds toast and the cheese adds a salty finish. The texture shifts from crunchy to tender in every bite. It’s bold, fast, and didn’t stick around for leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes take about 30 minutes and mix Yukon gold potatoes with browned butter, roasted garlic, and sage. They turn out smooth, rich, and nutty with just enough seasoning. The butter adds depth without making it heavy. Everyone had seconds before the main dish even started.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Honey Garlic Carrots

Honey Garlic Carrots bake in 30 minutes and toss sliced carrots with honey, garlic, and a little oil. The glaze turns sticky and sweet while the carrots roast until tender. They land somewhere between savory and candy-like. They might’ve started as a side, but they ended as the first thing gone.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Carrots

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts roast in 40 minutes and come out crisp with a sweet and tangy glaze. The balsamic caramelizes in the oven, clinging to the edges of each sprout. The inside stays soft while the outside crunches just right. The pan was scraped clean before the plates were passed.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts take 35 minutes and blend roasted sprouts with warm Indian spices. The mix of cumin, coriander, and cinnamon adds bold flavor without extra cost. The outside chars while the inside stays tender. The seasoning kept folks guessing—and reaching for more.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

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 cook in 40 minutes and coat carrot rounds in honey, oil, and light seasoning. The outside caramelizes while the centers soften just enough. Each bite hits sweet and earthy with minimal effort. They disappeared while everyone waited on the rest of dinner.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Loaded Cauliflower Mash takes 30 minutes and blends steamed cauliflower with sour cream, cheese, and chives. The flavor lands close to mashed potatoes, but with a lighter texture and a cheesy finish. It’s creamy, savory, and surprisingly filling. Nobody asked where the carbs went—they just wanted more.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans cook in 20 minutes and toss fresh beans with butter, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. The sauce adds a salty, tangy twist without overpowering the dish. They’re quick to make and easy to like. It was one of those pans people circled back to after dessert.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Screaming Skillet Green Beans take 15 minutes and use high heat, garlic, and seasoning to punch up basic beans. The result is a blistered, slightly smoky finish that holds flavor in every bite. They’re sharp, salty, and hard to stop eating. Whatever was left went straight to the lunchbox.
Get the Recipe: Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions take 30 minutes and combine tender beans with crispy onions and buttery garlic. The contrast between soft and crunch makes each bite worth a second. The onions bring texture and flavor that dress it up without much work. It didn’t need cheese or sauce—just a second helping.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of mashed potatoes with gravy and sprigs of thyme and sage. — Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes come together in 25 minutes with butter, cream, and russet potatoes whipped until smooth. The texture stays light and the flavor leans rich without being too dense. Salt and pepper are all it takes to finish them off. You didn’t have to ask twice for another scoop.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

A dish of beets, sweet potatoes, and parsnips roasted in the oven with sprigs of sage. — Oven Roasted Root Vegetables. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Oven Roasted Root Vegetables bake for 45 minutes with carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes tossed in oil and herbs. The edges caramelize while the centers stay soft and earthy. Each vegetable brings a little something different, but they roast up as one perfect tray. Forks kept going back until the pan was empty.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

Easy Oven Asparagus

Roasted asparagus on a white bowl. — Easy Oven Asparagus. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Oven Asparagus roasts in 15 minutes with olive oil, garlic, and a dash of salt. The tips crisp up while the stalks stay firm but tender. It’s fresh, simple, and fast enough to throw in last minute. Somehow the kids even grabbed a second helping.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Baked sweet potato slices on a cutting board with a spoon. — Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices take 35 minutes and use sliced sweet potatoes coated in brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. The edges turn golden while the inside softens just enough. They’re sweet, sticky, and somewhere between dessert and dinner. The tray looked full—then it didn’t.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Sauteed Cabbage With Peppers

A plate with mashed potatoes and meat on it. — Sauteed Cabbage With Peppers. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Sauteed Cabbage With Peppers takes 25 minutes and mixes cabbage, red pepper, onion, and a little vinegar for bite. It’s tender, tangy, and quick to cook on any budget. The flavors mellow into something warm and balanced. It didn’t look flashy, but the pan was wiped clean.
Get the Recipe: Sauteed Cabbage With Peppers

Indian-Style Okra Curry Recipe (Bhindi Masala Gravy)

A black bowl filled with vegetables on a table. — Indian-Style Okra Curry Recipe (Bhindi Masala Gravy). Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Indian-Style Okra Curry takes 40 minutes and cooks okra in a tomato-based curry spiced with cumin, coriander, and garlic. The okra softens without getting slimy, soaking up bold, tangy flavor. It’s rich, filling, and works well with rice or bread. Even those who claimed not to like okra asked for more.
Get the Recipe: Indian-Style Okra Curry Recipe (Bhindi Masala Gravy)

Homemade Smoky Baked Beans

Image shows a white casserole dish filled with homemade baked beans on wooden table with a silver spoon sticking out from it. — Homemade Smoky Baked Beans. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Homemade Smoky Baked Beans cook in about an hour and blend beans, brown sugar, mustard, and smoked paprika for deep flavor. The sauce thickens as it simmers, turning rich and sticky. They’re sweet, smoky, and made the plate feel complete. Not a spoonful made it to the fridge.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Smoky Baked Beans

Creamed Corn

Creamed Corn takes 20 minutes and stirs together corn, cream, butter, and a touch of sugar for a smooth, sweet side. The kernels stay slightly crisp in a thick, rich base. It’s soft, buttery, and hard to stop at one spoonful. Even the picky eaters wanted seconds.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Corn

Popeyes Coleslaw

Popeyes Coleslaw takes just 10 minutes and blends cabbage, carrots, sugar, vinegar, and mayo into a crisp, creamy mix. The flavor is sweet, tangy, and slightly peppery, hitting just right next to anything fried or grilled. It chills fast and scoops easy. There was no container left to scrape.
Get the Recipe: Popeyes Coleslaw