19 Simple Side Dishes My Family Never Gets Bored Of
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If dinner’s feeling a bit too routine, switching up the side dishes is an easy way to bring back the excitement, without adding extra work. These easy recipes come together simply, taste amazing, and keep my family happy without any complaints. With sides like these on the table, I can switch things up and make even hectic weeknights feel a little more special.
Baked Potato Soup
Baked potato soup from Chili’s has always been a family favorite, and now it’s even better homemade. Creamy, loaded with tender potatoes, crispy bacon, and melty cheddar cheese, it’s one of those simple side dishes that feels way fancier than it actually is. When I need something hearty that everyone will actually be excited about, this easy soup never disappoints.
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato Soup
Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Rice
Longhorn Steakhouse rice is one of those sides that makes a simple dinner feel complete without any extra fuss. The mix of fluffy rice, sweet bell peppers, and savory onions simmered in broth brings out big flavor in no time. It’s an easy, reliable side dish my family never complains about, and that’s saying something.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Rice
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
These make-ahead mashed potatoes save my sanity every single time a holiday or a hectic dinner rolls around. Rich, buttery, and creamy, they can hang out in the fridge for days and bake up fresh whenever I’m ready. It’s the perfect simple side dish that guarantees smiles from my family without any last-minute scrambling.
Get the Recipe: Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Popeyes Coleslaw
This Popeyes coleslaw copycat brings a crunchy, refreshing side to every meal, and my family asks for it constantly. Cool, crisp cabbage with a sweet and tangy dressing pulls together anything from burgers to BBQ. It’s ridiculously easy and always disappears faster than I expect.
Get the Recipe: Popeyes Coleslaw
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Broccoli rice casserole checks all the boxes: cheesy, cozy, and super easy to pull off. It’s one of those old-school sides that somehow never gets old in my house. A simple mix of broccoli, rice, and cheddar cheese baked until golden is pretty much guaranteed to win everyone over.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Rice Casserole
Potato Fritters
Golden, crispy potato fritters are my go-to when breakfast-for-dinner nights need a standout side. Shredded potatoes, garlic, and onion fry up into crispy little cakes that pair perfectly with just about anything. Top them with a dollop of sour cream, and they’re completely irresistible, my family can’t get enough.
Get the Recipe: Potato Fritters
Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey-glazed carrots are a vegetable side dish that can easily steal the spotlight. These sweet, buttery carrots come together in no time and add a touch of elegance to any plate. They’re the perfect side to level-up a simple chicken dinner into something special, and they’re a total family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Zucchini fries in the air fryer are the crispy, cheesy side dish my family never gets tired of. With a simple seasoning and a sprinkle of parmesan, they crisp up without the mess of deep frying. Perfect for when I want something easy but still a little fun on the table.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
This baked cauliflower mac and cheese hits all the same cozy notes as the boxed stuff, but it’s secretly packed with veggies. Creamy, cheesy, and bubbling out of the oven, it’s a comfort food side that feels both indulgent and fresh. Definitely one of the easiest ways I sneak more vegetables onto my family’s plate.
Get the Recipe: Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Parmesan Potatoes
These oven-roasted parmesan potatoes are straight-up addicting. Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and loaded with cheesy, salty flavor, they never last long at dinner. Simple ingredients, easy prep, and major crowd-pleaser energy, definitely my family’s kind of side.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes
Chipotle Rice
Chipotle rice is the kind of side that instantly lifts everything else on the plate. Light, fluffy, and finished with fresh lime and cilantro, it’s the easiest way to bring restaurant-style flavor to your kitchen, and my family never gets tired of it. Best of all, it’s so simple I can whip it up even on my busiest nights.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Rice
Cauliflower Tortillas with Garlic and Oregano
Cauliflower tortillas are the secret weapon for taco nights when you want a side dish that’s a little different. Soft, flexible, and full of garlic and oregano flavor, they’re perfect for holding all your favorite fillings. They’re surprisingly easy to make from scratch, but they never fail to impress my family.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Tortillas with Garlic and Oregano
Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Mashed cauliflower potatoes are my go-to when I want the comfort of mashed potatoes without the carb crash. Light, fluffy, and creamy with just the right amount of garlic, they’re a family-friendly side that never feels like a compromise. Plus, they’re so simple to whip up on a hectic night.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes
Carrot Raisin Salad
Carrot raisin salad is the sweet, tangy side dish that somehow works with just about any meal. Crisp carrots, juicy raisins, and a creamy dressing come together in under 10 minutes to create something bright, refreshing, and full of flavor. It’s a quick, no-fuss side that makes even the simplest dinner feel complete, and it’s always a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Raisin Salad
Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Parmesan roasted green beans turn a plain bag of frozen veggies into something totally crave-worthy. Tossed in seasoning and roasted until crispy, then finished with a sprinkle of parmesan, they’re the easiest side that actually gets everyone to eat their greens.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Potato and Leek Soup
Potato and leek soup is what cozy dinner dreams are made of. Velvety smooth and packed with buttery leeks and fresh thyme, it’s the ultimate warm-up dish on chilly nights. Plus, it’s hearty enough to double as a side or a main, depending on how hungry my family are.
Get the Recipe: Potato and Leek Soup
Potato Skins
Potato skins are the ultimate crowd-pleasing side that always disappears first. Crispy potato shells loaded with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and fresh green onions, what’s not to love? They’re surprisingly easy to make at home and instantly add a fun, festive touch to even the most ordinary family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Potato Skins
Cabbage Fritters
Cabbage fritters add a tasty twist to the table with warm spices and perfectly crispy edges. A hint of curry and a tangy yogurt drizzle make them feel special, no complicated prep required. They’re the kind of veggie-packed side that surprises everyone and always gets requested again by my family.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Fritters
Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits
Bacon and cheddar biscuits are the buttery, cheesy side that tends to steal the show at any family meal. Loaded with crispy bacon and melty cheddar, they’re easy enough for a weeknight but feel worthy of a celebration. Serve them warm, and there’s never a single crumb left behind.
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits
