There’s no gold medal for side dishes, but if there were, these would at least get a podium spot. These 29 sides taste like you had a plan, even if you were just winging it between reheating leftovers. Think minimal steps, one-pan wonders, and enough variety to avoid repeating yourself all month. They’re dependable, low-effort, and shockingly good at making any dinner feel like a real meal.
Smoked Cauliflower
When cauliflower shows up like this, it’s clear it’s not just a healthy afterthought. Smoked Cauliflower adds enough depth to hold its own alongside just about anything without turning into a big production. It’s bold without being overpowering, and easy without feeling lazy. If you’re tired of sides that blend in, this one’s got something to say.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds
Brussels sprouts get a bad rap until someone serves them like this. Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds are the kind of side that make people rethink everything they thought they knew. There’s a little crunch, a little richness, and a whole lot of “wait, who made this?” energy. Great for dinner, better when you don’t have to explain how little effort it took.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds
The Backyard Table
Get it NOW and level up your outdoor dining! The Backyard Table - Recipes for Summer Cookouts features 34 of Chef Jenn's BEST recipes for outdoor eating and entertaining.
You'll get ad-free recipes like:
- Grilled Corn Guacamole
- Grilled French Onion Burgers
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Blueberry Grunt
- and so many more!
Every recipe is created, tested and loved by Chef Jenn and her family - there's no AI here!
Get it now, at a special introductory price of $7.99. That's over 50 pages of foodie love at your fingertips!
Buy Now!Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
This side keeps things sharp without being fussy, and that’s exactly the point. Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill brings just enough flavor punch to balance out heavier mains without trying to take over. It’s the type of side that quietly disappears from the bowl while everyone’s distracted. Easy to make, even easier to like.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
Smoked Mac & Cheese
Some sides exist to sit quietly in the background; this isn’t one of them. Smoked Mac & Cheese brings big flavor that tricks everyone into thinking you spent the afternoon on it. It holds its own next to barbecue, burgers, or whatever else is on the plate without stealing the spotlight completely. If comfort food had a cheat code, this would be it: dependable, satisfying, and easy enough to pretend you meant to make it all along.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mac & Cheese
Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots
These might not technically count as dinner, but nobody’s complaining when the tray hits the table. Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots are the kind of side that makes people suddenly forget the main dish exists. They hit all the right notes for a low-effort crowd-pleaser that tastes like something you paid for. No one has to know they took almost zero planning.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots
Grilled Ratatouille
This dish does its job quietly, but it’s one of those sides that rounds out a meal in a way you didn’t know you needed. Grilled Ratatouille walks the line between rustic and polished without ever getting fussy. It’s the kind of thing that looks like you tried harder than you did, which is always a plus. Works for weeknights, potlucks, or the occasional “I need something colorful” moment.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ratatouille
Ukrainian Potatoes
Don’t be surprised when these end up being the thing people talk about long after dinner’s over. Ukrainian Potatoes are simple in theory but taste like they’ve got a story behind them. They bring just enough bite and richness to make them feel like a main character instead of background filler. Throw them on the table and let them do their thing.
Get the Recipe: Ukrainian Potatoes
Mini Flaky Cheese Biscuits
These are the kind of biscuits that make people pause mid-bite to ask if you made them from scratch. The answer doesn’t really matter, because Mini Flaky Cheese Biscuits do all the talking. They’re buttery, cheesy, and somehow disappear faster than anything else on the table. If you’re looking for something that feels homemade without needing a culinary degree, this is your move.
Get the Recipe: Mini Flaky Cheese Biscuits
Sautéed Beet Greens with Pancetta
Most people forget beet greens are even edible, which makes this one a bit of a surprise win. Sautéed Beet Greens with Pancetta pulls off that rare trick of being both low-effort and still worth talking about. It leans savory without trying too hard and fits into a weeknight dinner without a lot of fuss. Nobody expects to love the greens, but somehow they do.
Get the Recipe: Sautéed Beet Greens with Pancetta
Cucumber Salad with Feta
Some sides are made to cool things down without slowing the meal down. That’s where Cucumber Salad with Feta steps in; it’s crisp, clean, and just enough without being boring. It handles bold mains like a pro and disappears fast when served alongside anything off the grill. If you’ve got five minutes and a bowl, you’ve got this ready.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad with Feta
Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes
This isn’t your standard chopped salad; it brings a little more to the table without turning into a whole project. Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes balances smoky and fresh in a way that makes it feel restaurant-ready. It’s great cold, holds up on a buffet table, and somehow still feels light next to a big meal. A good choice when you want flavor without fuss.
Get the Recipe: Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes
Copycat Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots
If you’ve ever wondered why those baby carrots at the restaurant always taste different, now you don’t have to. Copycat Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots taste like comfort without needing any complicated steps. They’re warm, soft, and just the right kind of sweet to balance out heavier mains. People will assume you spent time on them, just nod, and move on.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots
Grilled Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
These look like you put way more time into them than you actually did. Grilled Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes are crisp, soft, and surprisingly good at getting people to reach for seconds. They hold their own next to steaks or sandwiches, no questions asked. Best of all, they don’t ask much of you, just press a button and move on.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Turkey Fried Rice
This isn’t your average leftover hack; it’s the kind of side that feels like a new meal entirely. Turkey Fried Rice brings just enough comfort and flavor to make people wonder why it wasn’t the main dish. It’s great for when you need something fast but don’t want it to taste like you rushed. No extra effort required, just a skillet and some low expectations to exceed.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Fried Rice
Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob
Corn is usually the side people expect to forget, but not this time. Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob turns something basic into something worth commenting on. It’s smoky, sweet, and charred just enough to taste intentional without being complicated. Throw a few on the grill, and you’ve got yourself a crowd-pleaser with almost no prep.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob
Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes
This side has a way of making a dinner feel like it came from a cookbook without actually being difficult. The Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes feels fresh and filling all at once, and somehow works next to just about anything. It’s one of those dishes you throw together and then get asked about repeatedly. Great for warm weather, and even better when you don’t want to heat the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes
Grilled Pineapple with Buttery Lime Glaze
Technically, this could pass as dessert, but nobody’s waiting that long. Grilled Pineapple with Buttery Lime Glaze hits that sweet spot between fresh and indulgent without demanding much work. It’s just fancy enough to make people think you planned it, even if you didn’t. Put it on the table and act like it was always part of the plan.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pineapple with Buttery Lime Glaze
Mexican Rice
When the main dish needs a boost, this side handles the job without complaints. Mexican Rice fits in anywhere; tacos, grilled meats, or just a plate on its own when everything else feels like too much. It’s full-flavored but not loud about it, and it’s easy to make without hovering over the stove. It’s dependable, familiar, and better than whatever was in the box.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Rice
Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad
When you want something that feels filling but not heavy, this one fits the bill. Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad combines crisp and hearty in a way that works for everything from burgers to roasts. It tastes like effort, but doesn’t require any complicated steps. Serve it warm or cold, it’s flexible, easy, and hard to mess up.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
These look like you tried, even if you just threw them on and walked away. Grilled Cauliflower Steaks are hearty enough to stand next to the main dish without looking like a second thought. They pick up just enough char to feel bold, and they work with just about anything on the table. A solid option when you want something that feels a little different.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Mediterranean Couscous Salad
This is the kind of dish that works whether you’re serving grilled chicken or just calling it lunch. Mediterranean Couscous Salad shows up with big flavor and barely any effort, and it somehow feels more impressive than it should. It’s good cold, easy to prep ahead, and hard to mess up. Not bad for something you mostly forgot you made.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Couscous Salad
Grilled Vegetables
It’s hard to beat the simplicity of charred vegetables that actually taste like something. Grilled Vegetables add color and flavor without asking for much time or cleanup. They hold up well next to almost anything and somehow make dinner feel more balanced, even if the rest of the plate is a mess. A go-to side that works whether you planned ahead or didn’t.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetables
Parisian Potatoes
These little guys look fancy, but they’re really just pretending. Parisian Potatoes are soft on the inside, crisp on the outside, and require very little oversight. They’re the type of side that seems fussy but takes almost no effort once they’re in the oven. Serve them with anything and watch them disappear before anyone asks how you made them.
Get the Recipe: Parisian Potatoes
Creamed Corn
There’s nothing subtle about this one; it shows up rich, smooth, and ready to fill up any empty plate space. Creamed Corn manages to be both nostalgic and surprisingly satisfying, especially when you’re short on time. It’s the kind of side you pull out when everything else feels too ambitious. You’ll only need one spoonful to get people asking for more.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Corn
Quick Smoked Tomatoes
These aren’t your usual sliced tomatoes; they show up with a little more flavor and a lot more personality. Quick Smoked Tomatoes go with everything from grilled meat to pasta, and they’re surprisingly easy to throw together. They feel like something you thought through, even if it was a last-minute call. Good warm, good cold, and somehow better than expected every time.
Get the Recipe: Quick Smoked Tomatoes
Grilled Asparagus
This side doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t need much to shine. Grilled Asparagus is quick, crisp, and just flavorful enough to feel like it belongs on a real dinner plate. It works with almost anything, which makes it a reliable fallback on busy nights. Serve it as-is and move on; no one’s asking for a garnish.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus
Greek Green Beans
These don’t shout for attention but still manage to hold their own on a plate full of louder dishes. Greek Green Beans bring a little something extra without turning into a whole production. They’re comforting, easy to prep, and make a solid case for keeping things simple. If your meal needs one more thing, this is it.
Get the Recipe: Greek Green Beans
Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp
If you’re tired of sides that disappear into the background, this one does the opposite. Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp holds attention without trying too hard, and it works hot or cold depending on your energy level. It’s filling without being heavy, and it comes together faster than it looks. A strong choice when dinner needs a little backup.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp
Grandma’s Mashed Potato Casserole
This is the kind of side that sticks with people long after the meal’s over. Grandma’s Mashed Potato Casserole is rich, familiar, and impossible to stop eating once you start. It’s not trying to be modern, healthy, or new; it just works. Everyone’s going back for seconds, whether they admit it or not.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Mashed Potato Casserole