17 Tasty Side Dishes That Will Make Dinners A Thousand Times Better

Try these delicious side dishes that make meals way better. They’re seriously tasty and turn regular dinners into something special. You’ll find fluffy rice options and cool veggie picks that everyone likes. Get ready to make sides that people will notice and really enjoy. There’s a bunch of different kinds to try, all bringing big flavor without being complicated. These recipes are perfect for spicing up your plate any night of the week.

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Table of Contents

1 Tostones
2 Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze
3 Arroz Blanco (Mexican white rice)
4 Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad
5 Ejotes a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Green Beans)
6 Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes
7 Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes
8 Easy Southern Coleslaw Recipe (GF)
9 Champiñones a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Mushrooms)
10 Oven Roasted Carrots
11 Mexican Mashed Potatoes
12 Easy Garam Masala Oven Roasted Carrots
13 Arroz Mexicano
14 Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts
15 Mexican Mac and Cheese
16 Oriental Salad with Ramen Noodles
17 Mexican Brussels Sprouts

Tostones

A plate of crispy, golden fried plantains topped with coarse salt, stacked on a white rectangular dish, with a small bowl of dipping sauce blurred in the background. — Tostones. Photo Credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Tostones are crispy fried plantains that are perfect as a side dish or serve as an appetizers. They go great with grilled meats. So good, you’ll want to make a second batch!

Get Recipe: Tostones

Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze

A plate of grilled asparagus drizzled with balsamic glaze sits on a colorful tablecloth. The asparagus spears are neatly arranged and glistening. — Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze. Photo credit: Dinner mom.

Baking asparagus makes it tender and tasty. That sweet-tangy Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze turns a simple veggie into something extra special everyone will like. It’s an easy way to add a delicious touch to your dinner plate.
Get the recipe: Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze

Arroz Blanco (Mexican white rice)

Arroz blanco served on a decorative blue plate. — Arroz Blanco. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Arroz Blanco tastes amazing beside tacos, beans, or whatever you’re having. It’s Mexican white rice cooked with a special onion sauce, making it different and way more flavorful than regular plain rice you might be used to eating.
Get Recipe: Arroz Blanco

Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad

A bowl of fresh cucumber salad with slices of cucumber, red onion, and cherry tomatoes, garnished with herbs. A serving spoon rests in the bowl. — Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad. Photo credit: My sequined life.

This salad gets its super fresh taste by letting the veggies soak up the dressing. The Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad is packed with flavor, making it a really refreshing choice to serve alongside your main dish.
Get the recipe: Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, and Onion Salad

Ejotes a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Green Beans)

A bowl of Ejotes a la Mexicana served in a bowl next to fresh cilantro. — Ejotes a la Mexicana. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

These Mexican-style green beans, called Ejotes a la Mexicana, are cooked up fast and full of great taste. They go well with almost any dinner and are super simple to make for a quick flavor boost.
Get the recipe: Ejotes a la Mexicana

Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes

A bowl of roasted potatoes seasoned with herbs sits on a blue surface. A small dish containing additional herbs is visible in the upper right corner. A spoon rests on the edge of the bowl, and a green cloth is partially visible on the left. — Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes. Photo credit: Budget delicious.

Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes are easy to prep ahead for trips. Just toss a few things together, wrap them up tight, and they cook great on grills, in ovens, or over a campfire flame for tender potatoes.
Get the recipe: Foil Pack Grilled Red Potatoes

Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes

Roasted sweet potatoes sitting on a white plate. — Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

You get a savory kick with Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes. They’re baked until perfectly soft inside with a yummy seasoned outside, making them a fantastic side dish that pairs well with lots of different meals.
Get the recipe: Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes

Easy Southern Coleslaw Recipe (GF)

A bowl of coleslaw featuring shredded cabbage and carrots, topped with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of chia seeds. Creamy dressing binds the ingredients. — Easy Southern Coleslaw Recipe. Photo credit: Recipes from a pantry.

Easy Southern Coleslaw gives you that tangy, crunchy, slightly sweet taste that’s key for cookouts. It’s a classic, simple mix that adds a cool, fresh bite to burgers, sandwiches, or barbecue plates.
Get the recipe: Easy Southern Coleslaw Recipe

Champiñones a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Mushrooms)

Mexican-style mushrooms served on a round plate. — Champiñones a la Mexicana. Photo By Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Champiñones a la Mexicana brings real Mexican flavor to your table with these tasty mushrooms. It’s a quick side dish loaded with authentic taste that makes your whole meal feel more exciting and delicious.
Get Recipe: Champiñones a la Mexicana

Oven Roasted Carrots

A large bowl filled with grilled baby carrots garnished with chopped parsley. Two hands are holding the bowl, showcasing the vibrant orange carrots with charred marks and fresh green herb accents. — Oven Roasted Carrots. Photo credit: Two healthy kitchens.

Oven Roasted Carrots are super simple but turn out really sweet and delicious. Just baking carrots brings out their natural goodness, creating an easy side that goes well with almost anything you cook for dinner.
Get the recipe: Oven Roasted Carrots

Mexican Mashed Potatoes

A white bowl filled with creamy mashed potatoes, garnished with small pieces of green herbs, placed on a matching white plate. A spoon rests inside the bowl. In the blurred background, there are broccoli florets and a white cloth napkin. — Mexican Mashed Potatoes. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Dig into Mexican Mashed Potatoes for a creamy side with a fun spicy twist. They mix the comfort of regular mashed potatoes with exciting Mexican seasonings, making them a tasty choice beside your main dish.
Get the recipe: Mexican Mashed Potatoes

Easy Garam Masala Oven Roasted Carrots

A platter of roasted carrots garnished with sliced almonds, dried cranberries, and fresh herbs. A serving spoon and fork are placed on the platter. The carrots vary in color, including orange and pale yellow. — Easy Garam Masala Oven Roasted Carrots. Photo credit: Masala and chai.

Easy Garam Masala Oven Roasted Carrots get a flavor boost from warm spices. Topped with crunchy almonds and chewy cranberries, these carrots are a quick, interesting side dish that tastes really special.
Get the recipe: Easy Garam Masala Oven Roasted Carrots

Arroz Mexicano

Arroz Mexican served in a clay bowl and topped with a cilantro leaf. — Arroz Mexicano. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Arroz Mexicano is that classic Mexican red rice that makes Taco Night better. This easy recipe turns simple rice into a colorful, super flavorful side that goes perfectly with all your favorite Mexican dishes.
Get the recipe: Arroz Mexicano

Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts

A white plate holds roasted Brussels sprouts and grilled asparagus. The sprouts are sliced in half, garnished with chopped parsley. A vintage spoon rests beside them, and a small glass jar of olive oil is partially visible on the side. — Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Through the fibro fog.

Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts cook up tender with crispy edges. The veggies get even better with a zippy maple ginger sauce drizzled on top for a healthy side that’s full of good taste.
Get the recipe: Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts

Mexican Mac and Cheese

A close-up of a serving of baked macaroni and cheese being lifted from a rectangular baking dish with a spoon. The dish features a golden-brown breadcrumb topping and gooey, melted cheese. A plate with a portion of the macaroni is visible in the background. — Mexican Mac and Cheese. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Mexican Mac and Cheese mixes creamy comfort with a spicy kick. It’s a super cheesy dish packed with exciting flavors, making it a standout side that people always seem to really love and enjoy.
Get Recipe: Mexican Mac and Cheese

Oriental Salad with Ramen Noodles

Close-up of a fresh salad with shredded cabbage, carrots, green onions, and crumbled ramen noodles, topped with sesame seeds. The dish is vibrant and colorful, showcasing the mix of textures and flavors. — Oriental Salad with Ramen Noodles. Photo credit: Marias mixing bowl.

This Oriental Salad with Ramen Noodles is super crunchy and fresh. Tossed with a yummy sesame dressing, it makes a cool, light side dish that’s really fun to eat and adds nice texture to meals.
Get the recipe: Oriental Salad with Ramen Noodles

Mexican Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts on a foil-lined baking sheet. The sprouts are halved and seasoned, displaying a golden-brown roasted appearance. The background features a rustic wooden surface. — Mexican Brussels Sprouts. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

These Mexican Brussels Sprouts roast up crunchy outside and tender inside. Seasoned just right, they become a super tasty side dish that adds a fun, flavorful veggie option to your dinner table.
Get Recipe: Mexican Brussels Sprouts