27 Simple And Delicious Vegetable Side Dishes

There’s always been a common misconception that vegetables are boring, especially amongst kids and picky eaters.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth! Cooked and seasoned properly, vegetable side dishes may end up stealing the show. 

1. Crispy Mashed Potatoes 

Potatoes are the unsung heroes of the vegetable world. Comforting and delicious, you can’t go wrong with adding some crispy potatoes to the side of your dinner. Simply par-boiled smashed and then baked it’s a really simple recipe. 

Once you’ve par-boiled the potatoes, brush with a bit of oil and season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Although this is completely up to the individual, adding a little cajun seasoning can put a spicy twist on the dish.

Bake for a delightfully fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside potato side dish (see also ‘Easy Potato Side Dishes You Need To Try‘) . 

2. Best Ever Sauteed Mushrooms 

Mushrooms aren’t for everyone, but if they are for you then try this recipe. Using baby Bella mushrooms is ideal for this dish as they are more mature, adding a more powerful flavor.

You’re going to need to use fresh herbs here, but it doesn’t matter where you get them from. 

Saute with thyme and oregano adds a wonderful herby kick to the mushrooms. Finishing the dish off with a little lemon juice, salt, and pepper help to bring it all together and there you have it; the best-sauteed mushrooms. 

This is such a quick and easy dish to cook, full of flavor and nutrition. Place it on the side of any breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

3. Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots

Who wouldn’t want tenderly roasted carrots, coated in a honey and garlic butter sauce on their dinner table? Roasting vegetables is a great way to lock in all the flavor as well as leave you with a crispy coating.

Once the carrots are peeled, this recipe is fuss-free and simple to do.

Once the sauce has been created by adding all the ingredients to a pan, the carrots are added so they can be completely covered in buttery goodness. Finally, it’s time for roasting. 

Best paired with a roasted chicken or joint of beef (check out our favorite sides to serve with prime beef), you can be sure to impress the family with delicious crunchy carrots. 

4. Seriously, The Best Broccoli Of Your Life

Sometimes vegetables can be an afterthought when preparing a big dinner, they tend to get boiled and served immediately with little love put into them.

This dish is low-carb and keto friendly and you can easily make a portion without cheese for your vegan guests. 

For best results, choose broccoli that doesn’t have any yellow florets and avoid woody stems. 

The nuttiness of the roasted garlic and broccoli paired with the salt from the Parmesan cheese and tang from the lemon is a taste sensation. 

5. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus is a great vegetable to use all year round.

If you’re a little bored of the more traditional vegetables on your dinner table, why not try this garlic Parmesan roasted asparagus? Garlic and Parmesan make just about any dish better and full of flavor. 

Simple and easy to do, you can mix all the ingredients on a foil-lined baking tray using your hands (if you don’t mind) and then pop it in the oven to bake.

It’s that easy! Also, using the one tray means you save on the washing up, which is always a bonus. 

6. Spinach Side Dish (Sigeumchi-namul)

Sigeumchi-namul is a Korean spinach side dish (check out our favorite Korean side dishes) that is seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and toasted sesame oil.

Lightly cooking or blanching the spinach creates a crispy texture whilst remaining soft and tasty, green onion is also added for extra crunch. 

Traditionally this dish is served almost every day at family gatherings, barbecues, and at the dinner table. 

7. Oven-Roasted Cauliflower

Roasting the cauliflower on a high-heat caramelizes the vegetable and turns the florets into flavor-packed bites of heaven.  

Tossing the florets with olive oil and Parmesan cheese before baking turns a plain vegetable into a versatile treat.

Cauliflower has risen in popularity among vegetarians especially as it can be turned into ‘popcorn’ style chicken alternatives, tots, and wings. 

Once the cauliflower is cooked it can be shaped to fit into any dish you desire.

8. Caramelized Broccoli With Garlic 

Slowly caramelizing this superb green vegetable brings out the natural sweetness.

Adding a pinch of crushed red pepper alongside some fresh lemon juice leaves you with a sweet and sour broccoli dish with a hint of garlic and spice. 

This dish does require a little more cooking time than you’d expect, but the little bit of extra effort is worth it. Anyone who dislikes broccoli could have their minds changed with this recipe.   

9. Easy Baked Zucchini

Fresh zucchini can be the perfect addition to any meal, but we love it during the summer months as the juicy vegetable provides you with a lovely refreshing taste.

You can even have these baked zucchini rounds as a healthy snack. 

Grilling or baking zucchini will leave you with the best results. Seasoned with Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper this helps the rounds to become tender and crisp.

Quick and simple, with a guaranteed great taste you can’t ask much more from this versatile vegetable. 

10. Tuscan-Style Roasted Asparagus 

When asparagus is in season, nothing quite beats finding some fresh and locally grown produce. This is the perfect spring side dish for almost any meal and will leave your guests wanting more.

Tomatoes and pine nuts (see also ‘5 Substitutes For Pine Nuts‘) are roasted with asparagus and seasoned with oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. This recipe can be served hot or cold and still taste delicious.

Once baked and tender, the lemon juice, and parmesan cheese can be added. You can easily leave out the cheese if you want to make a vegan or lactose-free dish.  

11. Best Potatoes You’ll Ever Taste

Potato recipes can take up quite a bit of time as they generally take longer to cook. Here is a relatively quick recipe that still leaves you with a perfectly cooked potato. 

Coating the potatoes in mayonnaise, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper makes for a great addition to a barbecue.

Although the coating is simple, it helps to crisp up the outside and add a little crunch and flavor to your food. 

12. Grilled Eggplant With Garlic & Herbs 

Tender in the middle and slightly charred on the outside, these garlic and herb-coated rounds of eggplant are packed full of flavor.

Ideal for all dietary requirements, this dish can be served alongside salads, barbeques, roasts, and pasta dishes (check our out favorite sides to serve with lasagna).

Grilling eggplant correctly can be a little challenging but don’t worry this recipe won’t let anything go wrong.

Salting the eggplant can help them from going too mushy and a quick splash of olive oil, garlic and herbs can prevent them from drying out. 

After the rounds have been grilled they can be drizzled with the oil and herb mixture for a final helping of flavor. 

13. Brown Sugar Baked Carrots

The brown sugar and butter used in this recipe caramelize the carrots to create a sweet and sticky glaze. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth! 

Mixed with a little cinnamon, salt, and pepper this dish can make a great addition to your Thanksgiving or Easter feasts.

This dish can easily be added to any weeknight dinner too, but it does take around 45 minutes to cook, so timing is everything in a busy household. 

14. Mexican Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes 

Sweet potato is another versatile vegetable that is a real crowd-pleaser. This dish is perfect on the side of tacos, fajitas, barbeques, and more. 

Cubes of sweet potato are coated in cumin, lime, paprika, chili, salt, garlic, and olive oil to provide your taste buds with the ultimate Mexican flavors (see also ‘13 Delicious Mexican-Style Side Dishes For Taco Tuesday‘).

Once you’ve finished coating the cubes of potato they are ready to bake on a tray. 

We love this recipe as you can carry on making the other accompaniments for your meal whilst the sweet potato cubes are baking. 

15. Cream Corn Like No Other

Some people aren’t a fan of creamed dishes, but if you serve this at the dinner table you might be able to change their minds. Easy and quick to prepare, this creamed corn recipe is great with chicken or pork. 

This is a one-pan recipe that makes it easy to keep an eye on and saves on washing up. Milk, cream, Parmesan cheese, and butter are used in this recipe so it’s not ideal for anyone with lactose intolerance.

Flour is used to thicken the mixture, quantities can be adjusted accordingly to individual tastes to create the perfect creamed corn (see also ‘Creamed Corn: Top 5 Substitutes‘).

16. Easy Oven Roasted Eggplant 

Eggplant is a nutritious side dish to add to the dinner table and can spice up your midweek meals. Here, the eggplant is cut into chunks and oven roasted to create a slightly crispy outside whilst maintaining a tender inside. 

A spicy sauce containing oil, coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, and chili powder is used to coat the eggplant chunks.

Once baked, you can turn the heat of your oven down and switch to broil to add a little extra crispiness to your chunks for just a couple of minutes. 

17. Indian Spiced Peas

You may think, can you do much with frozen peas? The answer is yes! This is a great side dish to complement a curry. Creating a unique Indian spice blend is crucial for making this dish pop.

Here, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala are used. 

Onions and peppers are cooked and mixed in with the spices and peas for extra crunch and texture. Once everything is cooked, mint is used to garnish the dish. Of course, this can easily be removed for those who dislike mint. 

18. Quick Collard Greens

Collard greens are a quick and healthy side dish that perfectly accompanies springtime meals.

There are many variations of collard greens, here is just a simple and easy recipe that is cooked in a Brazilian style. 

Cooked quickly in hot oil with garlic and chili flakes, this would go nicely on the side of traditional dishes such as rice and beans or a stew with pork. Garlic and sea salt are also included. Serve with fresh lemon wedges for added flavor. 

19. Baked Sweet Potato Cubes 

Adding cheese to food makes everything better, right? These bite-sized chunks of roasted sweet potato are no different. Seasoned with a combination of oil, garlic, butter, salt, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning you can mix however you like. 

Simply bake and serve. It is also suggested that adding parsley and chives or green onions increases the flavor whilst giving a little more crunch and texture to your side dish. 

20. The Best Brussel Sprouts Of Your Life

Many people have a love-hate relationship with Brussel sprouts,  but cooking them correctly can help turn the hate into love! Crispy and golden on the outside whilst being tender on the inside, this recipe makes a great sprout. 

Using a high heat cuts out the bitterness and caramelizes the outside and creates a sweet and nutty flavor.

A few simple ingredients are all that is needed to make this dish, adding garlic, Parmesan salt, and pepper followed by a little oil before roasting. 

Cook until the outside of the sprouts are as crisp and caramelized as you’d like and serve with more grated Parmesan if you wish.

21. Honey-Roasted Parsnips

Parsnips aren’t always a common midweek side dish as they are usually reserved for Christmas time, but don’t shy away from this wonderful autumn vegetable (See Also ‘Christmas Side Dishes To Try This Holiday Season‘).

The right mix of a sweet glaze and earthiness can serve as great comfort food on a rainy afternoon. 

Once the parsnips have been boiled and drained, flour is used to help the honey stick to the vegetable to form a coating. Roast until golden with oil, butter, and a seasoning of your choice, we like using fresh parsley. 

22. The Most Awesome Sauteed Kale

Kale is another vegetable that isn’t always everyone’s first choice but try preparing it this way and see if you can change opinions around the dinner table.

Kale is a superfood, containing a lot of natural hearty flavor and all the vitamins and minerals you need. 

Sauteed kale helps to bring out the natural flavor, especially with the addition of garlic, shallots, and vegetable stock or broth whilst also getting rid of the bitterness.

Try using coconut oil to sautee the kale to mellow out bitterness. 

23. Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Balsamic-Maple Glaze 

With only a few ingredients you can jazz up your Brussel sprouts at dinner time. Creating a sweet and tangy glaze for the sprouts is perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and all dietary restrictions.

For best results, pick vegetables that are bright green, compact, and firm for more sweet and flavorful sprouts. 

The glaze for this recipe combines balsamic vinegar and maple syrup that is simply whisked together on the heat until the glaze starts to form.

Drizzle over pre-roasted Brussel sprouts and enjoy them straight away. 

24. Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables 

Cooking some Mediterranean-inspired vegetables is the perfect way to transport you to a tranquil Greek island.

Not only is the rainbow of colors lovely to look at, but it also tells you you’re going to get all the nutrition you need. 

Simple, yet delicious vegetables such as peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and eggplant are used here. But as this is such a versatile dish, you can add other vegetables you may not want to go to waste such as carrots and squash. 

Olive oil is a key component of this dish, making for perfect roasting. Mediterranean spices such as za’atar, oregano, and thyme compliment the combination of vegetables.

Don’t forget to add as much lemon juice as you’d like for a nice bit of sweetness. 

25. Garlic Green Beans

Another Korean-inspired dish is garlic green beans. These are super healthy and can go on the side of anything, traditionally it’s paired with rice.

Once the beans are cooked, they are stir-fried with oil and garlic to make them crispy and brown. Soy sauce and sesame oil are also added for classic Asian flavors. 

A great thing about this dish is that any leftovers can be saved and refrigerated for up to a week later, preventing food waste. 

26. Mexican Street Corn Salad

Corn is a much-loved vegetable that pleases the whole family. Its versatility is why we love it. This smoky, spicy, and tangy dish puts a delicious twist on regular old corn and could be your new barbeque favorite. 

Once the corn is prepared and charred, you mix the rest of the ingredients such as onions, jalapenos, lime, herbs, and spices to infuse the Mexican taste with the corn. A Mexican-style feta cheese called cotija cheese (see also ‘5 Awesome Cotija Cheese Substitutes‘) is crumbled on the top. 

Overall it’s creamy, crunchy, and everything you could want from a side dish. 

27. White Bean And Broccolini Salad 

A mixture of sweet and spicy, this white bean and broccolini salad is the perfect light and refreshing side dish to serve this summer. Oozing with flavor from the honey mustard and red pepper marinade, you’ll be fighting to get a spoonful.  

Final Thoughts 

Here are the top quick and easy vegetable side dishes that suit all tastes and diets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Easiest Vegetable To Make?

Many vegetables are easy to make as they can be eaten raw. In terms of a lack of preparation and the need to par-boil or cook for lengthy periods, salad vegetables such as leaves could be considered the easiest vegetable to make. 

What Are Popular Side Dishes?

The most common side dishes include garden salads, mashed potatoes, green beans, roasted vegetables, or potato wedges. 

What Veggies Pair Well Together?

Vegetables generally tend to pair with others very easily, but some combinations work better. Onions pretty much go with anything, even in a salad. Carrots pair best with other root vegetables such as potatoes and parsnips.

Corn also pairs well with most other vegetables. Ultimately it depends on the individual and what they enjoy.