Some side dishes arrive with quiet confidence, knowing they are the secret engine behind a holiday feast. This collection of 35 is bready, buttery, and cheesy enough to tempt even the most devoted main-course fans to risk a food coma. These sides are built for sharing, and someone’s going to need a bigger plate.

Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon

Home cooks often look to Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon for a balance of tang and richness, thanks to crisp bites of cabbage and hearty pieces of bacon. This dish pairs well alongside traditional meats and sets an inviting tone for any shared meal. Not only does it present vibrant hues, but it also delivers a contrast in flavors through its blend of acidity and spicy notes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage with Bacon

Baked Bean Casserole

Many families serve Baked Bean Casserole because of its classic combination of sweet and smoky flavors that tend to complement other dishes on the table. This dish works beautifully when brought together with bold, bready selections or cheesy offerings. Beans baked to softness, mixed with sauce and spices, provide plenty of substance for those who crave heartiness.
Get the Recipe: Baked Bean Casserole

Easy German Potato Salad

A common favorite, Easy German Potato Salad brings together tender potatoes and a vinegar-based dressing with bits of bacon for added interest. Its tangy profile stands out, especially when plated with buttery breads or cheesy casseroles. Warm or cold, this salad captures what people seek in straightforward comfort foods for communal meals.
Get the Recipe: Easy German Potato Salad

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

Families appreciate the convenience of Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes, which offer sweet notes and gentle crispness in every forkful. These cubes take kindly to dipping sauces or can be layered beside bready sides without overpowering the plate. With only a handful of steps required, air-frying preserves the natural sweetness and ensures each piece is evenly cooked.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes

Corn Fritters

Home cooks gravitate toward Corn Fritters because of their mild crunch and gentle sweetness from kernels within each tender bite. These fritters are a pleasing match for buttery breads or creamy mashed potatoes in any shared spread. The batter achieves a golden finish that is both attractive and substantial for group serving.
Get the Recipe: Corn Fritters

Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese

Plates often include Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese, which are known for their smooth texture and delicate richness. Cream cheese blended into potatoes brings a silky consistency perfect for pairing with bready slices or cheesy bakes. Each spoonful retains warmth and body, standing up to hearty mains and making it easy to share among guests. A sprinkle of herbs or simple seasoning highlights the classic flavors in every batch.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes with Cream Cheese

Baked Spanish Rice

Gatherings often feature Baked Spanish Rice as a fragrant and fulfilling rice side, enhanced by tomatoes, onions, and subtle spices. Its gentle heat and depth of flavor work well in tandem with cheesy or bready dishes. Slow baking allows the grains to absorb a flavorful broth, keeping the texture fluffy and inviting for multiple servings.
Get the Recipe: Baked Spanish Rice

Smoked Spaghetti Squash

Hosts who seek something a bit unique might turn to Smoked Spaghetti Squash, prized for its gentle smokiness and noodle-like strands. Smoky undertones pair well with buttery breads or cheesy casseroles, offering a distinct alternative without competing flavors. Cooking over smoke achieves a noticeable aroma and infuses the mild squash with layered flavor.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Spaghetti Squash

Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds

Diners often request Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds for the way nutty, rich butter coats bright green sprouts and becomes enhanced by almond slivers. Textured bites of this side dish complement both bready and cheesy selections effortlessly. Roasted sprouts retain just enough firmness, while brown butter provides subtle complexity in flavor.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds

Sweet Potato Casserole

Family tables find Sweet Potato Casserole important for its mash of sweet potatoes topped with either pecans or marshmallows for a gentle contrast. Creaminess from the base works well alongside bready rolls or cheese-laden sides, providing a well-rounded taste experience. Baking melds flavors and creates a golden finish, attracting guests to its inviting surface.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole

Pickled Yellow Beans

Many households rely on Pickled Yellow Beans for their snappy texture and tangy flavor that stands out among buttery or cheesy sides. Quick pickling allows beans to maintain crispness and a touch of acidity, refreshing the palate between richer dishes. These beans make a convenient addition as they require minimal preparation and travel well as part of shared plates.
Get the Recipe: Pickled Yellow Beans

Sauerkraut with Apples & Bacon

When seeking a blend of tart, sweet, and tangy, cooks favor Sauerkraut with Apples & Bacon for its pleasing combination of ingredients. Apples lend gentle sweetness while bacon adds depth, mixing well with bready and cheesy recipes nearby. This dish has a simple preparation but delivers an intriguing flavor profile sure to spark conversation at the table.
Get the Recipe: Sauerkraut with Apples & Bacon

Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Some hosts take interest in Grilled Elote Corn Ribs, thanks to their smoky character and generous coating of cheese, herbs, and spices. Sliced corn pieces are grilled until slightly crisp and juicy, fitting seamlessly among bready or buttery options. Each rib offers easy handling, making them ideal for passing around the table without fuss.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Elote Corn Ribs

Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin

Comfort seekers enjoy Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin for its velvety texture and gentle notes of pumpkin, finished with a light cream swirl. Quick to prepare, it serves as a smooth foundation to bready focaccia or cheese-laden casseroles on the table. Warming spices blend effortlessly, resulting in a soup that can be ladled out for everyone to enjoy easily.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin

Classic Corn Pudding Casserole

When cooking for groups, Classic Corn Pudding Casserole often appears for its moist, spoonable texture featuring whole kernels and a touch of milk. This dish appeals to various preferences and fits neatly beside both bready and cheesy menu choices. Baking results in a lightly golden surface, inviting diners to scoop generous portions.
Get the Recipe: Classic Corn Pudding Casserole

Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer

Those hosting crowds recognize Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer as a simple way to present bite-sized sweet potato pieces with a light crisp. A gentle seasoning provides versatility, ensuring it matches bready or cheese-rich sides with ease. Air frying retains the potatoes’ natural moisture and color while creating an inviting exterior.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potatoes in Air Fryer

Garlic & Rosemary Braised Potatoes

Many home cooks serve Garlic & Rosemary Braised Potatoes for their fork-tender texture and aromatic flavor, accentuated by fresh rosemary and roasted garlic. Potatoes hold their shape yet become generously infused with herbs during slow braising. This dish pairs well with buttery breads and cheese-based offerings, contributing a subtle complexity to the spread.
Get the Recipe: Garlic & Rosemary Braised Potatoes

Smoked Brussels Sprouts

Groups welcome Smoked Brussels Sprouts for their robust flavor and tender bite, achieved through the process of slow smoking. Smoky qualities complement buttery, bready, or cheese-focused dishes, standing out without being overwhelming. Each sprout retains integrity and soaks up just enough seasoning, making them easy additions to shared platters.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Brussels Sprouts

Mediterranean Rice

Gathered friends often include Mediterranean Rice in shared spreads for its fragrant grains cooked with herbs, onion, and optional vegetables. Rice remains fluffy and blends seamlessly with other bready or cheesy choices on the table. The addition of spices, such as cumin and garlic, brings a balanced flavor that’s neither too sharp nor too mild.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Rice

Smoked Tomatoes

Guests are often intrigued by Smoked Tomatoes, which reveal a depth of flavor and subtle sweetness after smoking over gentle heat. These tomatoes can be served alongside buttery breads or cheese dishes, providing a pleasing variation in taste. Slices are easily portioned and retain enough moisture to complement heavier items at the table.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Tomatoes

Polenta with Mascarpone

Events frequently feature Polenta with Mascarpone for its creamy base and smooth consistency, gently enhanced by mild Italian cheese. This combination projects well on communal tables beside bready slices or rich casseroles. Polenta holds together for easy serving while staying light enough to let other dishes remain prominent.
Get the Recipe: Polenta with Mascarpone

Smoked Cauliflower

Hosts interested in variety turn to Smoked Cauliflower, known for its tender florets and hints of smokiness from wood chips. Slight char on the edges offers a welcome crunch alongside bready or cheese-rich dishes. This vegetable maintains integrity and absorbs seasoning thoroughly during the smoking process.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Cauliflower

German Yellow Beans

When looking for classic vegetable sides, families remind themselves of German Yellow Beans, which combine beans with onion, bacon, and a gentle dressing. Beans stay firm yet take on flavors from the other ingredients, making them suitable for pairing with bready and cheesy mains. Simple to prepare, these beans brighten up the table with their color and flavor.
Get the Recipe: German Yellow Beans

Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans

Shared meals welcome Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans, thanks to their soft texture and flavor depth achieved through slow cooking with bacon and seasoning. Beans absorb the flavorful profile, complementing buttery breads or cheese-layered casseroles on the side. Letting them cook for hours ensures they hold moisture and gather richness.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans

Potatoes & Cabbage (Not Colcannon!)

Large gatherings benefit from Potatoes & Cabbage (Not Colcannon!), featuring fork-tender potatoes and soft cabbage slices gently seasoned. Each bite mixes vegetable sweetness and mild starch, which fits with cheese dishes or bready offerings in a spread. Quick to assemble and serve, this side doesn’t demand complex preparation, yet always pleases.
Get the Recipe: Potatoes & Cabbage (Not Colcannon!)

Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill

Home cooks opt for Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill, which lifts tender cauliflower florets with a tangy dressing and fresh dill. Gentle acidity from lemon juice keeps the dish light and suitable with cheesy or buttery sides. Steaming or roasting maintains texture, while dill brightens the plate visually and in taste. This side dish often becomes a regular part of shared meals because of its simplicity.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill

Smoked Sweet Potatoes

When hosts offer Smoked Sweet Potatoes, guests notice the subtle smokiness and rich flavor that emerges after roasting over wood chips. Sweet potatoes cooked this way can sit beside buttery breads or cheese-focused sides for extra interest. Texture remains soft inside, with a gentle skin crispness that holds up to slicing and plating.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Sweet Potatoes

Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone

Tables often see Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone as a smooth, green addition packed with fresh spinach and mellowed by Italian cheese. Pork tenderloin or chicken gets an excellent partner in this gently creamy side. Mascarpone supports spinach’s mild flavor while thickening the sauce, keeping everything consistent and spoonable. Light seasoning brings out color and taste, making spinach easy to pair or serve in small bowls.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Spinach with Mascarpone

Ukrainian Potatoes

Guests recognize Ukrainian Potatoes for their simple preparation, which often features boiled potatoes, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of sunflower oil. This side matches bready or cheese-based mains, delivering mild flavors that appeal to those seeking uncomplicated food. Potatoes remain whole or halved, making them easy to serve in shared settings. A sprinkle of fresh dill or parsley finishes the dish, providing subtle brightness.
Get the Recipe: Ukrainian Potatoes

Potatoes with Sour Cream & Bacon

Hosts often prepare Potatoes with Sour Cream & Bacon because the creamy topping, crispy bacon, and tender potatoes create a robust combination. This dish stands up well next to cheesy casseroles or buttery bread selections on the table. Potatoes stay soft under a generous layer of sour cream that cools each bite. Bacon pieces add crunch and smokiness, ensuring each serving feels complete.
Get the Recipe: Potatoes with Sour Cream & Bacon

Mexican Black Beans

Mexican-inspired spreads often feature Mexican Black Beans for their wholesome texture and deep flavor, brought out by garlic, onion, and simple spices. These beans fit comfortably with bready sides or cheese-rich dishes, making them both flexible and substantial. Cooking until tender allows the flavors to meld and thicken, creating a dish that ladles well for group sharing.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Black Beans

Pork Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

Guests appreciate Pork Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers for their balance of gentle heat, smoky flavor, and tasty pork filling, wrapped neatly in each pepper. These poppers bring a lively touch to shared tables beside breads or cheese dishes. Smoking lends a pleasant depth that doesn’t overpower, while the pork offers substance and satisfaction.
Get the Recipe: Pork Stuffed Smoked Jalapeno Poppers

Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

Gathering crowds can expect Twice-Baked Potato Casserole to offer creamy layers of mashed potatoes baked with cheese, bacon, and scallions for plenty of comfort. Scooping into this casserole reveals fluffiness with pockets of melted cheese, making it a draw for large groups. Bacon bits and potato skins add texture, enhancing the bready or cheese-rich options nearby.
Get the Recipe: Twice-Baked Potato Casserole

Bacon Fried Corn

Many opt for Bacon Fried Corn as a quick, flavorful side where kernels are tossed with smoky bacon in a skillet for added interest. Each serving offers gentle sweetness and salty crunch, fitting easily with bready or cheesy dishes on the table. Quick frying preserves the corn’s natural color and taste, providing lively contrast in shared settings.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Fried Corn

Greek Lemon Potatoes

Many cooks rely on Greek Lemon Potatoes to bring tender, golden potatoes roasted with zippy lemon juice and herbs to shared tables. Lemon and oregano keep the flavor bright, which works well in combination with bready sides or cheese-centered recipes. Roasting allows potatoes to develop crisp edges while staying moist inside.
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Potatoes