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Easy Side Dish Recipes for Busy Families

Need the perfect compliment to your main dish? You’ll want to try these delicious side dishes. They’re quick and easy (we wouldn’t want them any other way!) and can definitely make your meal. We have everything from fresh fruits and veggies to perfect breads and potluck pastas.

Trending Recipes

Explore some of our readers’ favorite side dishes.

Funeral Potatoes {Cheesy Potato Casserole} in a casserole dish.

Funeral Potatoes

50

Close-up of cooked pinto beans mixed with chopped onions.

Slow Cooker Refried Beans

8 10

Baked casserole topped with melted cheese, chopped bacon, and green onions in a blue Staub dish on a white surface with a wooden spoon and cutting board nearby.

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

1

Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potatoes

4 16

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Potato Side Dishes

Whether in the slow cooker, stovetop, Instant Pot, oven roasted, or air fryer, enjoy the various ways you can prepare these classic potato recipes.

An oval baking dish of mashed potatoes topped with chopped bacon, green onions, and shredded cheese, placed on a striped cloth and wooden board.

Cheesy Ranch Potatoes

1

Baked smashed potatoes topped with melted cheese and chopped chives on parchment paper.

Smashed Cheesy Potatoes

40

Diced, seasoned roasted potatoes spread on a white tray with a gray cloth underneath.

Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes

28

Bowl of cheesy potato casserole topped with chopped green onions, with a metal serving spoon inside, on a checkered cloth.

Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes

6 10

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes in a white casserole dish.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

1 15

A baked casserole dish with golden, cheesy scalloped potatoes, topped with a wooden spoon resting on the corner.

Homemade Scalloped Potatoes

1 25

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Green Bean Side Dishes

Enjoy this flavorful and delicious collection of green bean recipes, including simple sides and comforting casseroles.

A white oval plate filled with cooked green beans sits next to a gold serving spoon and an orange cloth napkin on a light surface.

30 Minutes or Less

Oven Baked Green Beans

30

Classic Green Bean Casserole baked in casserole dish.

Classic Green Bean Casserole

50

Close-up of a homemade green bean casserole in a glass dish, topped with crispy onions.

Homemade Green Bean Casserole

35

A white bowl filled with cooked green beans and pieces of crispy bacon.

30 Minutes or Less

Brown Sugar and Bacon Green Beans

25

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Baked and Refried Beans

Enjoy a classic recipe made either on the stovetop, slow cooker, oven, or Instant Pot.

A close-up of baked beans with ground meat and herbs in a black skillet, placed on a light wood surface next to a blue and white striped cloth.

Cowboy Baked Beans

25

Boston baked beans topped with strips of cooked bacon in a white rectangular dish—a classic comfort food perfect as a hearty side dish.

Boston Baked Beans

3 15

A bowl of refried beans topped with sliced jalapeños, cilantro, and grated cheese, placed on a blue cloth.

Instant Pot Refried Beans

1 10

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Sweet Potato Side Dishes

Enjoy this flavorful and delicious collection of sweet potato side dishes prepared in the slow cooker, Instant Pot, stovetop, or oven baked.

A white ramekin filled with sweet potato casserole topped with chopped pecans, with a gold spoon inside, sits next to a light blue cloth.

Mom’s Sweet Potato Casserole

45

Baked sweet potato casserole topped with a brown sugar and pecan crumb topping, with a portion removed from the dish.

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

1

A bowl of cubed sweet potatoes with shredded meat on a green tile surface, accompanied by a light gray cloth napkin.

Coconut Pecan Sweet Potatoes

3 40

A white bowl filled with cubed and seasoned roasted sweet potatoes, placed on a light-colored surface with a metal spoon and a partially visible blue and white patterned cloth on the side.

Roasted Parmesan Sweet Potatoes

30

A white bowl filled with mashed sweet potatoes, topped with brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts, placed on a gray and white striped cloth.

Mashed Sweet Potato

35

Oval casserole dish filled with sweet potato casserole topped with browned mini marshmallows, sitting on a blue cloth.

Mom’s Sweet Potatoes

50

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Carrot and Corn Recipes

Combining the natural sweetness of crisp corn with tender, colorful carrots, these side dish recipes offer a vibrant and flavor-packed addition to any family meal.

Top view of a plate of Honey Roasted Carrots with a honey pot next to it.

Honey Roasted Carrots

35

Sliced cooked carrots garnished with chopped herbs and orange wedges on a white serving platter.

Orange Glazed Carrots

18

A square piece of cornbread sits on a white paper atop a blue and white floral-patterned plate.

Grandma’s Corn Pudding

1 5

A wooden bowl filled with cooked corn kernels, topped with shredded cheese and sprinkled with herbs.

Parmesan Ranch Corn

8

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Dressings and Stuffings

Explore our comprehensive collection of savory stuffing recipes and delicious dressings.

A close-up of a bowl filled with cornbread stuffing, featuring chunks of celery, onion, herbs, and pieces of bread.

Slow Cooker Stuffing

5

A white casserole dish filled with seasoned croutons and herbs, baked to a golden brown.

Apple, Onion, and Celery Stuffing

55

A large round pan filled with cornbread stuffing containing cubed bread, chopped celery, and onions, resting on a beige cloth.

Homemade Cornbread Dressing

1 10

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Crispy Hasselback Potatoes in a baking pan.

Crispy Hasselback Potatoes

1 10

Top view of a bowl of Easy Sausage & Herb Stuffing with a wooden spoon.

Easy Sausage and Herb Stuffing

20

A large bowl of Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts drizzled with balsamic glaze with a wooden spoon on the side.

30 Minutes or Less

Air Fryer Crispy Brussels Sprouts

17

A white bowl filled with cooked broccoli florets topped with shredded cheese, placed on a white surface next to a striped cloth.

Oven Roasted Parmesan Broccoli

25

A bowl of fresh broccoli florets with a spoon, placed on a patterned surface next to a blue cloth.

Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli

12

Several smashed red potatoes on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seasoned with herbs and spices, ready for roasting.

Smashed Italian Red Potatoes

45

A pan filled with sautéed mixed greens and cabbage, garnished with sesame seeds. Bowls of soy sauce, sesame seeds, and ginger root are nearby.

Panda Express Super Greens

15

Funeral Potatoes {Cheesy Potato Casserole} in a casserole dish.

Funeral Potatoes

50

Sliced cooked carrots garnished with chopped herbs and orange wedges on a white serving platter.

Orange Glazed Carrots

18

Air Fryer Asparagus on a white serving platter.

Air Fryer Asparagus

15

A white oval plate filled with cooked green beans sits next to a gold serving spoon and an orange cloth napkin on a light surface.

30 Minutes or Less

Oven Baked Green Beans

30

A white baking dish filled with sliced sweet potatoes, cranberries, and chopped nuts, baked and lightly glazed.

Cranberry Pecan Sweet Potato Bake

50

A white bowl filled with cooked green beans and pieces of crispy bacon.

30 Minutes or Less

Brown Sugar and Bacon Green Beans

25

A pot of mashed potatoes with garlic, butter, and parsley garnish, set on a blue cloth with fresh parsley and garlic in the background.

Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

30

A white bowl filled with baked stuffing made of toasted bread cubes, onions, and herbs, garnished with chopped parsley.

Instant Pot Dressing

40

Baked smashed potatoes topped with melted cheese and chopped chives on parchment paper.

Smashed Cheesy Potatoes

40

Cubed butternut squash roasted on a foil-lined baking sheet, seasoned and browned around the edges.

Roasted Honey Cinnamon Butternut Squash

50

A bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts with a wooden spoon, placed on a white surface next to a mustard-yellow cloth napkin.

Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

35

A white plate of herbed rice garnished with chopped herbs and lime wedges, placed on a dark green napkin against a textured green background.

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

25

A close-up of roasted asparagus spears arranged on a sheet of aluminum foil.

Broiled Asparagus

10

A close-up of baked beans with ground meat and herbs in a black skillet, placed on a light wood surface next to a blue and white striped cloth.

Cowboy Baked Beans

25

Glass dish containing roasted asparagus spears topped with breadcrumbs and grated cheese.

Parmesan Crusted Asparagus

30

A plate of cooked green beans is arranged in a pile on a white surface.

Slow Cooker Green Beans

5 10

A baked casserole dish with golden, cheesy scalloped potatoes, topped with a wooden spoon resting on the corner.

Homemade Scalloped Potatoes

1 25

Baked sweet potato casserole topped with a brown sugar and pecan crumb topping, with a portion removed from the dish.

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Casserole

1

A baked sweet potato half topped with toasted marshmallows and chopped pecans is served on a white plate.

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

1 25

Classic Green Bean Casserole baked in casserole dish.

Classic Green Bean Casserole

50

A bowl of cubed sweet potatoes with shredded meat on a green tile surface, accompanied by a light gray cloth napkin.

Coconut Pecan Sweet Potatoes

3 40

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn in a serving bowl with a serving spoon on the side.

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

4 5

A white casserole dish filled with seasoned croutons and herbs, baked to a golden brown.

Apple, Onion, and Celery Stuffing

55

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes in a white casserole dish.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

1 15

Baked casserole topped with melted cheese, chopped bacon, and green onions in a blue Staub dish on a white surface with a wooden spoon and cutting board nearby.

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

1

A white ramekin filled with sweet potato casserole topped with chopped pecans, with a gold spoon inside, sits next to a light blue cloth.

Mom’s Sweet Potato Casserole

45

A close-up of a bowl filled with cornbread stuffing, featuring chunks of celery, onion, herbs, and pieces of bread.

Slow Cooker Stuffing

5

Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potatoes

4 16

A plate of thinly sliced, cooked potatoes garnished with finely chopped green herbs.

Au Gratin Cheesy Potato Bake

50

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