Side dishes often play second fiddle to the main course, but these 31 options will have you questioning why you even bother with the entrée. These side dishes are packed with flavor, bringing enough boldness to steal the show every time. Think crispy, savory, and everything in between—because when your side dish is this good, the main course is just there to fill space. Grab a plate, ditch the main, and get ready for your new favorite side gig.
Sautéed Beet Greens with Pancetta
Think of this as the side that takes the leftovers and makes them irresistible. Sautéed Beet Greens with Pancetta turns simple greens into a smoky, savory powerhouse. You’ll find yourself debating whether to just skip the main dish and go all in on this. The mix of textures and flavors adds a rich depth, making it impossible to ignore these greens. No more bland sides—these are the real deal.
Get the Recipe: Sautéed Beet Greens with Pancetta
Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots
These crispy tots will have everyone forgetting about the main dish. Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots are the side dish you didn’t know you needed. Crunchy, cheesy, and perfectly loaded, they bring all the flavors you crave in one bite. You’ll catch yourself saying, “Main course? Who needs it?” These tots are packed with boldness that demands all the attention.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots
The Backyard Table
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Buy Now!Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Cauliflower takes center stage when it’s grilled into perfectly charred steaks. Grilled Cauliflower Steaks are a satisfying, smoky side that could easily be a main dish on their own. You won’t be able to stop at just one bite—these steaks bring flavor with every forkful. They’ve got that perfect balance of tenderness and crunch, making you second guess why you even bothered with the entrée.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Mediterranean Couscous Salad
This refreshing salad will have you questioning why the main dish even bothers showing up. Mediterranean Couscous Salad is a full-on flavor bomb that adds crunch and satisfaction to your plate. The mix of textures and flavors will steal the show, leaving your entrée wondering what just happened. Every bite feels like it’s the perfect side, but also the perfect meal on its own. You might find yourself filling up on this instead of anything else.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Couscous Salad
Grilled Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Get ready to rethink the way you view side dishes. Grilled Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes turn the humble spud into a crispy, addictive snack that you can’t stop eating. With just the right crunch, these potatoes make the main dish seem unnecessary, because who can compete with this golden perfection? Serve them up, and watch as the side becomes the star of the show. Even the most serious dinner plates will bow down to these.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Copycat Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots
If you love the Cracker Barrel version, you’ll love these even more. Copycat Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots are a sweet, savory masterpiece that brings major flavor to your plate. They’re the kind of side dish that makes you forget all about what’s on the main dish. So simple, so good, it’s hard to believe something this easy could steal the spotlight, but these carrots do it every time.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Cracker Barrel Baby Carrots
Smoked Cauliflower
Cauliflower just found its calling—smoked and full of flavor. Smoked Cauliflower transforms this vegetable into a smoky, tender side that could easily be the star of the meal. It’s one of those dishes where you think, “Who needs the main course?” The natural smokiness takes it to the next level, making every bite a little more satisfying than the last. Your taste buds will forget the main dish even exists.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Cauliflower
Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad
The perfect combo of hearty potatoes and crispy asparagus in this side dish will have you thinking twice about the main course. Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad brings those smoky flavors together in a side so good, you’ll forget all about the rest of the meal. It’s like a mini celebration on your plate—tender, smoky, and filling. Suddenly, the entrée just doesn’t seem to matter when this salad steals all the attention.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad
Mini Flaky Cheese Biscuits
These little biscuits pack a punch, making you question the need for anything else on your plate. Mini Flaky Cheese Biscuits are buttery, cheesy, and flaky—everything you want in a side dish. They’re so good, you’ll forget what the main course even was. Soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, they’re sure to take the spotlight away from the entrée every time.
Get the Recipe: Mini Flaky Cheese Biscuits
Ukrainian Potatoes
Simple yet satisfying, Ukrainian Potatoes bring rich flavor and texture that easily steals the show. These potatoes are a side that can hold their own, quickly becoming the star of the meal. Whether served with meat or just on their own, they bring a depth of flavor that makes the main dish look like a supporting act. Don’t be surprised if everyone ends up filling up on these instead.
Get the Recipe: Ukrainian Potatoes
Mexican Rice
Mexican Rice isn’t just a side—it’s an experience. Fluffy, full of flavor, and perfectly spiced, it’s a side that can stand up to any main dish. Once you try it, you’ll be wondering why you need anything else on your plate. This rice is satisfying enough to take over the whole meal, with the entrée barely making a dent.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Rice
Grilled Vegetables
Fire up the grill and let the veggies do their thing. Grilled Vegetables are all about bringing out natural flavors with a smoky finish that makes every bite memorable. You’ll be so hooked on the caramelized edges and tender centers that the main course will feel like an afterthought. These veggies are simple, but they’ve got a lot to offer, quickly becoming the highlight of any meal.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetables
Grandma’s Mashed Potato Casserole
When mashed potatoes meet casserole magic, you get Grandma’s Mashed Potato Casserole—a side that’s creamy, comforting, and downright addictive. You won’t even care about the main dish when you have a plate full of this casserole. It’s so rich and satisfying, you’ll forget it’s even a side. The texture and flavor combo are enough to keep everyone coming back for more, leaving the entrée in the dust.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Mashed Potato Casserole
Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob just went next level. Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob has that perfect smoky char, making it hard to remember why the main dish was even needed. The smoky flavors bring out the best in the corn, creating a side so flavorful that it might steal the whole meal. It’s that perfect mix of sweet and savory, turning your side into the focal point of the meal.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Smoked Corn on the Cob
Cucumber Salad with Feta
A fresh, crisp cucumber salad might just be what your dinner plate needs. Cucumber Salad with Feta adds the perfect tangy contrast that’ll make you second guess the main course. With every bite, you’ll feel like you’re getting something light yet packed with flavor, leaving the rest of the plate behind. This salad’s simple flavors make it impossible to ignore, and suddenly, the main dish feels out of place.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad with Feta
Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill is a fresh, zesty side that will make you wonder why anyone bothers with the main course. It’s light, flavorful, and perfect as a side that brings something a little different to the table. The brightness of the lemon and the herbaceous dill take the cauliflower to a whole new level. Suddenly, the main dish feels a little too heavy when this cauliflower is stealing the show.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower with Lemon and Dill
Smoked Mac & Cheese
If you thought mac & cheese couldn’t get any better, wait until you try it smoked. Smoked Mac & Cheese has that extra smoky flavor that makes it the kind of side you won’t want to share. The richness and creaminess still shine through, but the smoky twist gives it that unforgettable edge. This is the side dish that will have everyone passing on the main course just to get another scoop.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mac & Cheese
Quick Smoked Tomatoes
These tomatoes are quick, easy, and packed with flavor—Quick Smoked Tomatoes will make you forget about the main dish entirely. The smokiness transforms the tomatoes, creating a side that’s bursting with depth. Serve them up, and watch as the main course takes a back seat. They’re simple, yet so bold, making it clear why they deserve all the attention.
Get the Recipe: Quick Smoked Tomatoes
Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp
Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp is the kind of dish that makes the main course seem unnecessary. Light, fresh, and full of flavor, it brings everything you need for a satisfying meal—all on its own. You might find yourself focusing more on the salad than anything else. This side is packed with bold flavors that leave the entrée in the dust.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Shrimp
Grilled Ratatouille
Grilled Ratatouille is a celebration of vegetables at their finest, with smoky flavors that make it hard to focus on the main course. It’s not just a side—it’s a full-on flavor explosion that can take the spotlight. The grilled texture gives each vegetable its own unique depth, bringing a balance of tenderness and crispness. You might just forget about the main dish entirely when this colorful dish steals the show.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Ratatouille
Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes
Fresh, light, and bursting with flavor, Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes is a side that will have you wondering why the main dish is even needed. The vegetables shine with natural flavor, making every bite a refreshing addition to your meal. This salad is everything you want in a side—crisp, bright, and satisfying. As good as it is, you might just end up filling up on the salad and leaving the main dish behind.
Get the Recipe: Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes
Classic Mac and Cheese
Classic Mac and Cheese is the side that’s always the star of the show. Rich, cheesy, and creamy, it outshines anything else on the plate, leaving the main dish in the dust. Whether you’re sharing it with family or keeping it all to yourself, it’s a side you’ll want more of. Its comfort factor is off the charts, making the rest of the meal feel irrelevant.
Get the Recipe: Classic Mac and Cheese
Grilled Pineapple with Buttery Lime Glaze
Sweet, smoky, and tangy, Grilled Pineapple with Buttery Lime Glaze will have you questioning why you even need a main dish. The glaze adds just the right amount of richness, perfectly balancing the pineapple’s natural sweetness. You’ll find yourself devouring this side and completely forgetting about the rest of the meal. Grilled to perfection, it’s a side you’ll want to keep around, long after the main course is gone.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pineapple with Buttery Lime Glaze
Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds
These Brussels sprouts are not your typical side. Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds are crispy, rich, and bold enough to stand on their own. Once you take a bite, the main dish won’t even matter. They’re so flavorful, you might just forget the rest of the meal exists.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Brown Butter & Almonds
Parisian Potatoes
Parisian Potatoes are small, round, and packed with flavor that makes you wonder why you bothered with anything else. Their buttery richness and perfectly crispy edges make them irresistible. You won’t even want to look at the main dish once you start on these. A simple side that shines brighter than the whole meal, every time.
Get the Recipe: Parisian Potatoes
Turkey Fried Rice
Forget the main dish when Turkey Fried Rice takes over the plate. It’s hearty, flavorful, and so satisfying, you’ll question why you need anything else. The smoky flavors and savory richness of the rice are enough to steal the spotlight from the rest of your plate. Once you’ve tasted this, the main course will seem irrelevant.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Fried Rice
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Asparagus is the kind of side that steals the show without trying. Smoky, tender, and full of flavor, it’s hard to focus on anything else when these spears are on your plate. You’ll forget about the main dish and go back for another bite of this grilled perfection. Every forkful of asparagus brings more depth, making the rest of the meal seem unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus
Creamed Corn
Creamed corn takes center stage with its rich, smooth texture. Creamed Corn is the side dish that makes you wonder if the main course is even necessary. It’s creamy, comforting, and satisfying—everything you want in a side. Whether you serve it alongside something hearty or keep it simple, it’s hard to resist the temptation of this side stealing the spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Creamed Corn
Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes
Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes is a fresh, herby dish that quickly becomes the star of any meal. The smoked tomatoes add a rich depth to this salad, making it impossible to ignore. It’s fresh enough to stand on its own, yet bold enough to leave the main dish wondering what went wrong. Once you try it, you’ll forget the entrée was even an option.
Get the Recipe: Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes
German Yellow Beans
German Yellow Beans offer a unique twist that makes you forget all about the main course. They bring a subtle, earthy flavor that’s satisfying and easy to love. No need for the entrée when these beans are sitting on your plate. With a perfect texture and rich taste, this side will quickly become the star, leaving everything else feeling irrelevant.
Get the Recipe: German Yellow Beans
Greek Green Beans
Greek Green Beans bring bold flavors and simple ingredients together to create a side that demands attention. These beans are packed with savory goodness, making the rest of your meal feel like an afterthought. With a mix of textures and depth, these beans become the star of your plate. The main course? Probably not necessary when you’ve got these on the table.
Get the Recipe: Greek Green Beans