25 Tasty Side Dishes That Make Dinner Complete

The right side dish can turn a simple dinner into a really great meal. These recipes are all tasty and easy to make, going well with many different main courses. You will find everything from creamy potatoes to fresh vegetable dishes. There are classic choices and others with a fun twist. Each one brings its own great flavor to your table. Everyone is sure to find a new favorite that makes their whole meal better.

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Maple Roasted Rainbow Carrots

A white oval platter holds a colorful dish of roasted rainbow carrots garnished with crumbled feta cheese and pomegranate seeds. The platter rests on a wooden board along with gold-colored cutlery. A green cloth napkin is placed to the side. — Maple Roasted Rainbow Carrots. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

A sweet maple glaze makes these rainbow carrots a colorful and tasty side. They roast up with a nice texture that is both tender and a little bit crisp.
Get the Recipe: Maple Roasted Rainbow Carrots

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

This is a creamy and delicious Mexican Mac and Cheese with a little bit of a spicy kick. The cheesy sauce covers every single noodle for a super satisfying dish.
Get Recipe: Mexican Mac and Cheese

Cheesy Vegetable Casserole

A plate on a wooden table features a creamy vegetable casserole with carrots, broccoli, and mushrooms. A fork rests on the plate, and slices of bread are nearby. — Cheesy Vegetable Casserole. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Packed with fresh vegetables and lots of gooey cheese, this Cheesy Casserole is a family favorite. It bakes until the top is perfectly golden and bubbly.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Vegetable Casserole

Champiñones a la Mexicana (Mexican-Style Mushrooms)

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

These Mexican-Style Mushrooms are cooked with traditional spices that give them a deep, savory flavor. They are a fantastic side dish or a great filling for tacos.
Get Recipe: Champiñones a la Mexicana

Roasted Red Potatoes Recipe

A close-up of a bowl filled with roasted potatoes, halved and seasoned with herbs. The potatoes are golden-brown and garnished with fresh green herbs, creating an appetizing and savory dish. — Roasted Red Potatoes Recipe. Photo credit: Small Town Woman.

These Roasted Red Potatoes are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They are seasoned with garlic and herbs for a simple but flavorful side.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Red Potatoes Recipe

Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes

A rectangular white plate filled with roasted sweet potato cubes seasoned with herbs and garnished with small cilantro leaves. The dish is placed on a light wooden surface, with a sprig of fresh cilantro in the top right corner. — Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

A blend of spices gives these Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes a warm and savory taste. They become perfectly soft and sweet inside when you roast them.
Get Recipe: Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes

Hearty Roasted Vegetable Salad

Three bowls of colorful salad are arranged on a dark wooden table. The salads contain a variety of ingredients, including lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and mixed vegetables, and are accompanied by lemon wedges. Two antique-style forks are placed beside the bowls. — Hearty Roasted Vegetable Salad. Photo credit: The Peasant’s Daughter.

This Hearty Salad is filled with roasted vegetables, salty bacon, and creamy feta cheese. A simple homemade dressing mixes all the wonderful flavors together perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Hearty Roasted Vegetable Salad

Oven-Baked Mexican Potatoes

Close-up of a plate of crispy oven baked potatoes seasoned with herbs and spices. The potatoes are golden brown around the edges and appear tender on the inside. A silver fork is placed on the plate beside the potatoes. — Mexican-Roasted Potatoes. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

A spicy seasoning makes these Oven-Baked Mexican Potatoes incredibly flavorful and fun to eat. They get nice and crispy in the oven for a great texture.
Get the recipe: Oven-Baked Mexican Potatoes

Red Skin Mashed Potatoes

A plate of creamy mashed potatoes garnished with chopped parsley, served with a fork. Fresh parsley leaves and a bulb of garlic are placed beside the plate on a wooden chopping board, and some scattered black peppercorns are visible on the white surface. — Red Skin Mashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Greedy Gourmet.

Leaving the skins on gives these Red Skin Mashed Potatoes a wonderful texture and extra flavor. They are whipped up until they are perfectly creamy and smooth.
Get the Recipe: Red Skin Mashed Potatoes

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

A special seasoning blend makes these Mexican Brussels Sprouts really exciting and full of flavor. They cook up with a crispy-tender texture that everyone will enjoy.
Get the recipe: Mexican Brussels Sprouts

Hot Honey Roasted Carrots

A white bowl filled with roasted carrot slices, sprinkled with red pepper flakes, and a wooden serving spoon resting inside. The bowl is on a table next to a jar of honey and a white cloth napkin.

The mix of spicy and sweet makes these Hot Honey Roasted Carrots a memorable side. The honey glaze becomes beautifully sticky and caramelized in the oven.
Get the Recipe: Hot Honey Roasted Carrots

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 are sautéed with onions and tomatoes for a fresh taste. They keep a nice crispness while soaking up all the delicious flavors.
Get Recipe: Ejotes a la Mexicana

Creamy Chickpea Salad

A close-up view of a chickpea salad featuring cucumbers, red onions, and leafy greens, all mixed in a creamy dressing. The salad is served in a white bowl, with a spoon visible in the dish. The ingredients are fresh and well-coated in the dressing. — Creamy Chickpea Salad. Photo credit: Let Us Munch Lettuce.

This Creamy Chickpea Salad is packed with protein and fresh, crunchy vegetables. A light and tasty dressing coats everything without making the salad feel heavy.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chickpea Salad

Pesto Gnocchi Recipe

A white plate filled with creamy, yellow sauce-drenched gnocchi, garnished with slivers of green onion, sits on a wooden stand. The plate is on a white marble surface, with blurred dishes in the background. — Pesto Gnocchi Recipe. Photo credit: No Fuss Noodles.

Soft pieces of gnocchi are covered in a flavorful homemade pesto sauce for this recipe. It is a very easy side dish that feels a little bit special.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Gnocchi Recipe

Roasted Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

A white oval dish filled with seasoned, roasted potato chunks. The potatoes are golden brown, sprinkled with herbs, and garnished with sprigs of rosemary. A wooden spoon rests atop the dish, set on a light wooden surface with rosemary sprigs scattered around. — Roasted Rosemary Garlic Potatoes. Photo credit: Sweet Tea + Thyme.

The smell of rosemary and garlic on these Roasted Potatoes is amazing as they cook. They have a crispy outside and a soft, fluffy inside.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

Asian Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe

A bowl of charred broccoli garnished with red chili slices and garlic, presented on a black square plate against a dark background. The broccoli appears crispy and slightly roasted, offering a visually appealing and healthy dish. — Asian Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe. Photo credit: Spoons of Flavor.

This Asian Broccoli Stir Fry cooks up quickly with a tasty garlic and ginger sauce. The broccoli stays crisp and vibrant green for a fresh side.
Get the Recipe: Asian Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe

Pasta with Peas (Piselli)

A white plate filled with bowtie pasta and green peas on a marble surface, accompanied by a small bowl of peas, a bowl of bowtie pasta, an onion, and a spoon. — Pasta with Peas (Piselli). Photo credit: No Fuss Noodles.

Sweet peas and a light sauce make this Pasta with Peas a simple, comforting dish. It is a very easy side that comes together in just minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pasta with Peas (Piselli)

Cream Biscuits

A white rectangular tray filled with freshly baked golden-brown biscuits on a light blue textured surface. A small dish with a piece of butter is partially visible in the bottom left corner. One biscuit is cut open at the top left of the tray. — Cream Biscuits. Photo credit: Kitchen at Hoskin’s.

These Cream Biscuits are incredibly fluffy and soft on the inside with a golden top. They are very simple to make and use only a few basic ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Cream Biscuits

Easy and Oh So Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta (Gluten-Free)

Two bowls of creamy pasta are garnished with chopped walnuts, grated cheese, and fresh herbs. Several walnut halves are scattered on the light-colored surface beside the bowls. A fork is poised in one of the bowls, ready to take a bite. — Easy and Oh So Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta (Gluten-Free). Photo credit: Whole New Mom.

This Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta has a rich and smooth sauce made from pumpkin. It is a comforting and gluten-free dish that is also completely dairy-free.
Get the Recipe: Easy and Oh So Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta (Gluten-Free)

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

A rustic bowl filled with creamy pumpkin soup, garnished with a swirl of cream, sprigs of fresh thyme, and a sprinkle of black pepper. A piece of crusty bread lies beside the bowl on a dark wooden tray, accompanied by a cloth napkin and silverware. — Roasted Butternut Squash Soup. Photo credit: Happy Kitchen.Rocks.

Roasting the squash first gives this Butternut Squash Soup a deep, sweet flavor. It is blended until it is completely smooth and creamy.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Blueberry Goat Cheese Salad

A bowl of fresh spinach salad topped with blueberries, crumbled feta cheese, and walnut pieces. The mix of green spinach leaves with the blue of the berries, white feta, and brown walnuts creates a colorful and appetizing presentation. — Blueberry Goat Cheese Salad. Photo credit: Let Us Munch Lettuce.

This refreshing Salad combines sweet blueberries with tangy and soft goat cheese. A sweet and sour maple dressing brings all the flavors together perfectly.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Goat Cheese Salad

Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe

A bowl filled with creamy, bright orange mashed sweet potatoes with specks of black pepper sprinkled on top. The texture looks smooth and slightly chunky. A spoon rests in the bowl, ready for serving. The background is lightly blurred. — Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe. Photo credit: Masala Herb.

This Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe is naturally sweet and whipped until it is very smooth. It is a simple, colorful side that pairs well with many meals.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Sweet Potato Recipe

Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread

A square baking dish filled with golden-yellow cornbread, cut into nine squares, with one piece slightly pulled out. The cornbread rests on a white parchment paper on a marble surface. A white plate and a decorative pumpkin are partially visible nearby. — Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread. Photo credit: My Happy Bakes.

This Buttermilk Cornbread is moist and has a little bit of a sweet taste. The edges bake up with a deliciously crispy and golden crust.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Buttermilk Cornbread

Parmesan Crusted Potato with Onion and Garlic Powder

A close-up of crispy, golden-brown potatoes with a caramelized coating, served in a white bowl. The potatoes have a slightly charred and crunchy exterior, giving them a deliciously rustic appearance. — Parmesan Crusted Potato with Onion and Garlic Powder. Photo credit: Feasty Travels.

A crispy parmesan crust covers these soft Potatoes with amazing savory flavor. The onion and garlic powder make them so tasty you will not need extra sauce.
Get the recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potato with Onion and Garlic Powder

Sweet Maple Banana Cornbread

A stack of four pieces of pecan-topped coffee cake on a round wooden stand against a blurred green background. The cake has a golden-brown crust and a moist, textured interior with visible pecan bits. — Sweet Maple Banana Cornbread. Photo credit: Sweet Tea + Thyme.

Mashed banana and maple syrup make this Sweet Cornbread extra moist and tender. It is often topped with crunchy pecans for a wonderful texture in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Maple Banana Cornbread