21 Side Dishes That Brought Back the Smell of Sunday Dinner

There’s something about the smell of Sunday dinner that sticks with you. These 21 side dishes bring that same feeling back, with flavors that feel like home. They’re easy enough for any weeknight but still carry the comfort of something made with care. If you’ve been missing those big, familiar meals, these sides will bring them right back.

Baked potatoes on a serving dish with sour cream and fresh parsley. — Baked Potato. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Loaded Cauliflower Mash takes about 30 minutes and swaps potatoes for cauliflower without giving up on flavor. It’s made with sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onions, and a bit of butter for richness. The taste is creamy, savory, and salty enough to taste like a classic side. It’s one of those recipes that feels familiar even if it’s not what you grew up on.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans come together in under 20 minutes with fresh green beans, Worcestershire sauce, and a touch of garlic. The sauce adds a deep, savory note, giving this simple side unexpected depth. They’re crisp-tender and tangy with just enough bite to keep you going back. It’s the kind of green bean recipe that earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

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 take about 35 minutes, and Yukon gold potatoes, butter, cream, and salt are used for that ultra-smooth texture. They’re rich and fluffy with a buttery flavor that pairs with just about anything. There’s nothing fancy here—just the kind of mash that tastes like it’s been made the same way for generations. It’s comfort food that doesn’t try too hard.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts take 40 minutes and combine roasted Brussels sprouts with a sticky-sweet balsamic glaze. The sprouts caramelize around the edges while the glaze adds just enough tang to cut through the richness. You’ll taste sweetness, bitterness, and salt in every bite. It’s the kind of dish that surprises people who thought they didn’t like Brussels sprouts.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Honey Garlic Carrots

Honey Garlic Carrots take about 25 minutes to make and rely on baby carrots, garlic, and a honey glaze for flavor. The combination of sweet and savory creates a balanced bite that feels more special than it should. They’re tender with just a bit of glaze clinging to each piece. It’s a side dish that makes carrots the one everyone finishes first.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Carrots

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 come together in 35 minutes and add texture and tang to a classic veggie. You get crispy sprouts, toasted almonds, and creamy feta in every forkful. It’s salty, nutty, and just a little sharp. This is the dish you serve when you want Brussels sprouts to get some attention.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

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 about 40 minutes and use sliced sweet potatoes, butter, and brown sugar. The result is soft, slightly caramelized rounds with that signature mix of sweet and savory. They feel nostalgic without being heavy. It’s a dish that makes you wonder why sweet potatoes ever needed marshmallows.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

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 come together in 30 minutes with just a handful of pantry staples. The honey caramelizes in the oven, giving the carrots a toasty sweetness that balances their natural earthiness. They’re soft inside with edges that go just a little crispy. It’s an easy upgrade that still feels like something grandma would’ve served.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions take about 25 minutes and deliver layers of flavor with minimal ingredients. You get tender green beans, savory garlic, and crispy fried onions on top. The taste is bold without being overpowering. It’s a fast side that tastes like you put in more effort than you did.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts take 35 minutes and turn a basic vegetable into something unexpectedly aromatic. Roasted until golden, the sprouts are tossed with warm Indian spices for a bold twist. They’re crispy, earthy, and deeply flavorful. It’s the kind of side that makes you stop mid-bite and look back at the tray.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes take about 40 minutes and offer a deep, nutty flavor from browned butter and garlic. They’re smooth, savory, and just different enough to stand out. The garlic doesn’t overpower, but adds the perfect mellow finish. It’s mashed potatoes, but with a little extra memory baked in.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Easy Oven Asparagus

Easy Oven Asparagus takes only 15 minutes and uses olive oil, salt, and a hot oven to cook. The spears come out tender with a little snap and a hint of char. It’s clean and straightforward, with no need for extra dressing. Sometimes, the simplest dishes are the ones people ask for again.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

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 take 45 minutes to prepare and combine carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes in one hearty dish. Roasted until golden, they develop a natural sweetness and just enough crunch on the edges. This dish is earthy, satisfying, and built for second helpings. It always smells like someone’s cooking something important.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Screaming Skillet Green Beans cook in just 15 minutes and use a hot skillet, fresh beans, and garlic for big flavor. They’re crisp, seared, and just a little smoky. You get crunch and char in every bite. It’s the kind of fast side that still feels like part of a big meal.
Get the Recipe: Screaming Skillet Green Beans

Arugula Salad With Endive, Mozzarella, Pecans, And Pomegranate Seeds

A salad with leafy greens, endive, pecans, pomegranate seeds, and dollops of cheese is served on a white platter beside a cut pomegranate, pecans, and a knife—a refreshing take on classic sides that sparks kitchen memories. — Arugula Salad With Endive, Mozzarella, Pecans, And Pomegranate Seeds. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Arugula Salad with Endive, Mozzarella, Pecans, and Pomegranate Seeds takes 10 minutes and combines bitter greens with creamy cheese and sweet fruit. Each bite is crunchy, creamy, and bright with a little peppery heat from the arugula. The balance of texture makes it feel more filling than most salads. It’s a fresh counterpoint to heavier dishes on the table.
Get the Recipe: Arugula Salad With Endive, Mozzarella, Pecans, And Pomegranate Seeds

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf

Side view of wild rice pilaf with pomegranate and butternut squash. — Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf takes 45 minutes and brings together tender squash, wild rice, and toasted nuts. The texture is soft and chewy with occasional crunch from the nuts. It’s nutty, subtly sweet, and deeply savory all at once. It tastes like something someone planned ahead for.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf

Indian-Style Okra Curry Recipe (Bhindi Masala Gravy)

Bowl of roasted vegetables including mushrooms, bell peppers, and tomatoes, placed on a light-colored countertop. — Indian-Style Okra Curry Recipe (Bhindi Masala Gravy). Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Indian-Style Okra Curry takes about 40 minutes and features okra in a tomato-onion gravy seasoned with warm spices. The texture is soft with a bit of bite, and the sauce clings to every piece. It’s rich, tangy, and boldly spiced. It’s not a traditional Sunday side, but it sure feels like it belongs.
Get the Recipe: Indian-Style Okra Curry Recipe (Bhindi Masala Gravy)

Pickled Beet Cucumber Salad

A plate of diced cucumbers and beets topped with a creamy pink sauce and fresh dill—one of those classic sides that brings back kitchen memories, served with a spoon on the side. — Pickled Beet Cucumber Salad. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Pickled Beet Cucumber Salad takes 20 minutes to prepare and combines vinegary beets, crisp cucumbers, and fresh dill. The result is a tangy, refreshing dish with just enough sweetness. It’s cold and crunchy and cuts through richer mains like a pro. It’s the kind of side you keep dipping your fork into after the meal.
Get the Recipe: Pickled Beet Cucumber Salad

Eggplant Tomato Stacks

Sliced roasted eggplant topped with tomato, melted cheese, and chopped herbs served on a white oval plate—one of those classic sides that brings back fond kitchen memories. — Eggplant Tomato Stacks. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Eggplant Tomato Stacks take 40 minutes, and the roasted eggplant is layered with tomato slices, herbs, and cheese. The eggplant goes silky while the tomatoes stay bright and juicy. It’s tender, savory, and a little smoky. This side eats like it might have been someone’s main.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Tomato Stacks

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet Potato Fries take about 30 minutes to prepare and are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Made with just sweet potatoes, oil, and salt, their flavor is sweet and nutty. They’re baked but still give you that fried satisfaction. This side never makes it to leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Fries

Baked Potato

Baked Potatoes take around an hour and are made with just russets, oil, and salt. The skins turn crisp while the insides stay fluffy and hot. It’s neutral enough to go with anything but satisfying enough to stand on its own. Sometimes a plain baked potato is exactly what Sunday dinner needs.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato