26 Sides That Made Dinner Plates Regret Everything

These side dishes didn’t just complement the main course—they stole the spotlight. From crispy casseroles to bold roasted vegetables, each one came in strong and left nothing behind. These 26 sides are the reason dinner plates felt outshined. If your main dish didn’t get touched, now you know why.

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

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 bring crunch and caramelization to the side dish scene, turning a basic veg into the table’s surprise favorite. They roast fast and plate bold, with edges that grab attention before the first bite. Easy to make and harder to stop eating, they hold their own on any plate. This side didn’t just show up—it made the entrée look nervous.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Steaks

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 pack color, texture, and flavor into a single sheet pan that makes everything else look flat. The roast gives each bite a caramelized edge that punches above its weight. Quick to prep and impossible to ignore, this side leads more than it supports. When these hit the potluck table, mains start fading into the background.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Root Vegetables

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 stack texture and sharp flavor into a side dish that refuses to stay on the sidelines. The crunch from almonds and salt from feta bring out the best in every roasted sprout. It’s balanced, bold, and ready for repeat servings. This dish doesn’t back up the plate—it pushes everything else aside.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Almonds and Feta

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts come in loud with warm spices and roasted bite that make you forget how much you ignored them growing up. Each piece hits with flavor and crispness that keeps forks moving. It’s a bold take that takes over the plate fast. These are the sprouts that get people talking—and refilling.
Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts roast until sticky and dark around the edges, with a sharp glaze that cuts straight through the meal. They’re quick to cook and even quicker to disappear once set down. The flavor hits hard and the texture backs it up. These sprouts don’t just belong—they take over.
Get the Recipe: Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

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 come soft, golden, and edged with spice and caramel that pulls in every fork. The cinnamon and ginger bring warmth, while the sugar crust finishes the bite. They hold the plate without saying much. At the potluck, these are the first thing to disappear without a sound.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Baked Sweet Potato Slices

Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Cranberry Apple Stuffing shows up with color, crunch, and tart-sweet flavor that lifts it far above holiday duty. It’s crisp on the edges, soft inside, and full of enough contrast to make mains feel flat. This side holds its weight year-round. If it lands on the table, don’t blink—it’ll be gone.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Apple Stuffing

Easy Oven Asparagus

Easy Oven Asparagus roasts fast and brings bright, green flavor to the plate without asking for anything in return. The tips stay crisp, the stalks hold their shape, and every bite adds balance. It’s the kind of side that sneaks in and steals attention. This one keeps things simple—and wins anyway.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Asparagus

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes go big on flavor with deep roasted notes and sharp garlic that make every bite memorable. Creamy and bold, this side doesn’t just support the meal—it controls it. It’s rich without dragging and easy to batch for any table. These mashed potatoes walk in like they own the place.
Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Loaded Cauliflower Mash pulls in all the flavor of comfort food with none of the second thoughts. It’s creamy, cheesy, and topped with enough bacon and onion to feel like the main event. Fast to prep and faster to empty, it hits hard with every spoonful. This side starts quiet and finishes loud.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Mash

Worcestershire Green Beans

Worcestershire Green Beans bring tang, salt, and just enough snap to stand out on any plate. They’re cooked just enough to hold structure while soaking up bold flavor in every bite. Quick and punchy, this side plays no supporting role. These beans come in strong—and leave nothing behind.
Get the Recipe: Worcestershire Green Beans

Honey Garlic Carrots

Honey Garlic Carrots show up shiny and bold, with a glaze that sticks and a roast that makes them unforgettable. Sweet and sharp in every bite, they fill the gap most sides leave behind. They cook fast and vanish faster. You’ll notice these carrots are gone before the entrée even gets cold.
Get the Recipe: Honey Garlic Carrots

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions layer crunch and bite in a side dish that doesn’t mess around. The garlic coats every bean, and the crispy onions seal the deal. It’s the kind of fast prep that turns into the first thing gone. These green beans come to play—and they win.
Get the Recipe: Garlicky Green Beans with Fried Onions

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 hit the pan sticky, sweet, and a little bit charred in all the right ways. The glaze locks in, the roast deepens, and the whole thing serves like it means it. Fast, bold, and easy to plate, they never sit out long. These carrots don’t ride shotgun—they drive.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Honey Glazed Carrots

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 roll in rich, soft, and ready to make anything else feel like a side note. Cream cheese gives them depth without the drama, and they hold heat well for any event. They’re classic, but they show up like they’re new. Once these hit the bowl, it’s game over for everything else.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

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

Easy Scalloped Potatoes build up in thin layers of creamy texture and golden tops that go fast at any table. They slice clean, hold flavor, and reheat like a dream. It’s a comfort food classic that still manages to lead the charge. When these hit the tray, the mains start sweating.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Sauteed Swiss Rainbow Chard

Side view of white bean salad in bowl with tongs. — Sauteed Swiss Rainbow Chard. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Sauteed Swiss Rainbow Chard brings color, texture, and quick-cooking ease, making it stand tall next to anything else on the table. The stems add snap while the leaves wilt just enough to hold flavor. It’s fast, bold, and plated with confidence. This green doesn’t play the background.
Get the Recipe: Sauteed Swiss Rainbow Chard

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 go crisp on the edges and rich in the middle, punching above their size in every way. The feta adds bite, and the air fryer makes them fast enough for any last-minute prep. Great as a finger food or plated with sauce, they work the table fast. These are the sides people talk about—and finish first.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters with Feta

Red Wine Glazed Carrots

Sweet and Spicy Glazed Carrots Recipe with Red Wine. — Red Wine Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Red Wine Glazed Carrots bring deep color and strong flavor to the plate, making them more than just a basic veg. The glaze coats every bite, the roast adds texture, and the whole dish feels big without being heavy. It’s quick to prep and hard to forget. These carrots don’t back up—they lead.
Get the Recipe: Red Wine Glazed Carrots

Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

Air Fryer Glazed Carrots hit hot and fast with crisp edges and sweet flavor that cuts through heavier plates. They cook quickly but taste like they took all day. Roasted just right, they stand out without even trying. These carrots go from tray to gone before anyone notices they were vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

A baked dish with a golden-brown crumb topping is in a rectangular baking dish, which has a white and blue checkered cloth nearby. A serving is on a round plate to the right. The surface is a light marble texture. — Cheesy Zucchini Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cheesy Zucchini Casserole shows up thick, rich, and full of the kind of cheese pull that makes people stare. Zucchini never looked this strong, and the bake holds steady even after hours out. It’s comforting without falling flat. This is the casserole that makes mains question their purpose.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

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 come crisp and golden, soaked through with garlic and citrus that crackle in every bite. They don’t need gravy, sauce, or even a second dish to compete. Roasted to perfection, they steal attention every time. This is the side that makes you forget what else was on your plate.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Potatoes

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 Cauliflower Casserole shows up gooey, golden, and louder than you’d expect for a basic veg. The layers come together fast and deliver enough flavor to hold their own without a main. It’s smooth in the middle and crusty on top—exactly what people go back for. The tray won’t survive past the first round.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes come out blistered, cheesy, and just crispy enough to make every bite feel earned. The edges crackle while the inside stays soft, making them perfect for second servings. Quick to roast and fast to vanish, they never last long. This is the side that gets passed around before the mains even make it out.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Easy Squash Casserole

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

Easy Squash Casserole goes golden on top and soft underneath, stacking buttery layers that carry every plate they touch. It’s rich, quick to prep, and sturdy enough to travel without losing form. You don’t need a lot to make this one work. This casserole doesn’t sit beside the star—it becomes it.
Get the Recipe: Easy Squash Casserole

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf

Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf shows up hearty, balanced, and built to hold a plate without dragging it down. The squash goes soft while the rice keeps its bite, giving you contrast in every forkful. It’s meal prep–friendly, but never sticks around. At any table, this dish takes the spotlight and keeps it.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf