21 Simple Side Dishes That Never Get Left Behind

Some side dishes always get passed over, but not these. These simple recipes deliver the kind of flavor that makes people go back for seconds, no matter what else is on the table. They’re easy to make, packed with crowd-pleasing ingredients, and guaranteed to actually get eaten.

Avocado Salad

This avocado salad is a simple side dish that never gets left behind thanks to its fresh flavor and vibrant mix of creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, and crisp cucumbers. Tossed in a homemade dressing, this refreshing and filling bowl works with anything from grilled meats to weeknight tacos. With no fancy prep or cooking required, it’s a crowd-pleasing dish that disappears fast.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Salad

Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Rice

Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse rice is the easy, savory side that somehow always gets polished off before the main. Made with rice, bell peppers, and onions simmered in broth, it’s fluffy, flavorful, and just a little bit sweet with a savory edge. It’s fast, fuss-free, and adds just enough something special to round out any dinner.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Longhorn Steakhouse Rice

Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Baked cauliflower mac and cheese shows that comfort food can be simple and never left behind. Creamy cheese sauce wraps around roasted cauliflower for a low-effort, high-flavor take on mac and cheese that’s baked until golden and bubbly. Whether you’re going light or just want something different, this one always gets scooped clean.
Get the Recipe: Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Parmesan roasted green beans are a no-fuss veggie side that somehow vanishes faster than anything else on the table. Tossed from frozen with a quick seasoning blend and finished with melted parmesan, they crisp up beautifully in the oven. They’re the perfect example of a simple side dish that delivers every time.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

Potato Fritters

These crispy potato fritters come together fast with just grated potatoes, egg, onion, and garlic, and they always disappear before anything else. Fried until golden and topped with a dollop of yogurt, they bring cozy comfort to any meal without requiring much at all. They’re crunchy, savory, and surprisingly versatile, everyone grabs seconds.
Get the Recipe: Potato Fritters

Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits

Bacon and cheddar biscuits are a side dish that disappears as soon as they hit the table. Cheesy, savory, and bursting with ranch flavor, they start with an easy coconut flour dough that comes together in minutes. They’re simple to prep, wildly flavorful, and the kind of biscuit that no one forgets to grab.
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits

Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

Mashed cauliflower potatoes offer that creamy, cozy vibe everyone craves, but with a lighter twist that doesn’t skimp on flavor. It’s an easy side that blends into any meal but still gets totally devoured. Simple, fluffy, and surprisingly good, this dish never ends up as leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Cauliflower Potatoes

Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

Air fryer zucchini fries are a crunchy, cheesy, no-fuss side that somehow always steals the spotlight. With just a few ingredients and quick air frying, they crisp up perfectly without the oil or effort of traditional frying. Light, flavorful, and addictively snackable, these never stick around for long.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Zucchini Fries

Popeyes Coleslaw

This Popeyes-style coleslaw brings crisp cabbage, sweet carrots, and creamy dressing together in a way that’s both refreshing and irresistibly good. It’s a chilled, no-cook side that pairs with almost anything and never gets overlooked. Simple to mix up and perfect for summer spreads or weekday meals alike.
Get the Recipe: Popeyes Coleslaw

Cabbage Fritters

Cabbage fritters spiced with curry and topped with garam masala yogurt sauce bring big flavor with minimal prep. These crispy, savory bites make an easy side that always holds its own next to any main. Whether served warm or at room temperature, they’re a standout that rarely gets left behind.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage Fritters

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges

Air fryer sweet potato wedges are the go-to when a simple, flavor-packed side is in order. Tossed with olive oil and spices, they crisp up in minutes and strike that perfect balance between sweet and savory. They’re easy, crowd-friendly, and one of those dishes that never sees leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges

Mashed Potato Waffles

Mashed potato waffles are a simple side dish that never gets left behind, especially when leftover mashed potatoes transform into something this crispy and golden. With a fluffy, buttery inside and a savory crunch outside, they bring big comfort with very little effort. Toss the batter in a waffle iron and you’ve got an easy win that everyone devours.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potato Waffles

Honey Glazed Carrots

Honey-glazed carrots are the sweet and savory side dish that’s impossible to ignore. Each tender carrot is coated in a buttery honey-garlic glaze that tastes way fancier than the short ingredient list lets on. They brighten up any plate and are always the first veggie to vanish.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots

Parmesan Potatoes

Parmesan potatoes check every box for a simple side that never gets left behind, crispy on the outside, tender inside, and coated in a cheesy, garlicky crust. Baked to golden perfection, these baby potatoes are ridiculously addictive and pair well with just about any main. They’re fast to prep, easy to love, and totally scrape-the-bowl worthy.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes

Savory Pancakes

Savory pancakes are a light, fluffy, and surprisingly good side dish that gets snatched up fast. Inspired by Greek flavors, these work perfectly in place of bread or as a quick bite alongside protein. They’re easy to whip up and somehow always the first to disappear.
Get the Recipe: Savory Pancakes

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Cauliflower mac and cheese takes comfort food to a lighter, easier place without giving up any of the creamy goodness. Made in minutes with just a few ingredients, this side dish always gets scooped clean thanks to its velvety cheese sauce and tender veggie base. This is a crowd-friendly recipe that even mac-and-cheese purists can’t resist.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Carrot Raisin Salad

Carrot raisin salad brings cold crunch and creamy tang all in one easy-to-love bowl that never gets left behind. The sweet raisins, crisp carrots, and zingy dressing make this side dish a standout at parties and potlucks. It comes together in 10 minutes but tastes like you planned it all week.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Raisin Salad

Savory Muffins

Savory muffins are the ultimate grab-and-go side that somehow works with everything and always gets eaten. With hidden veggies tucked into every cheesy, herby bite, they bring cozy vibes without the need for fuss or extra prep. Serve them warm and watch them vanish in record time.
Get the Recipe: Savory Muffins

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower rice is a go-to side dish that feels fresh and familiar all at once, without ever being boring. It’s easy to season, quick to cook, and makes any meal feel a little lighter while still being totally delicious. This one always holds its own and never ends up untouched.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Rice

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Garlic mashed potatoes are a dreamy, creamy side dish that no one can resist scooping onto their plate. With just the right hit of garlic, butter, and fluff, they bring classic comfort that’s simple to make and impossible to leave behind. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or holiday feast, this one never overstays its welcome.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Cheddar Cheese Broccoli Fritters

Cheddar cheese broccoli fritters come together in three simple steps and always disappear faster than expected. The mix of cheesy richness and crisp veggie bits makes them a total side dish win with minimal effort. They’re easy to prep, easy to love, and never get passed over.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Cheese Broccoli Fritters

Coleslaw with Creamy Dressing

Coleslaw with creamy dressing is the cool, crunchy side that shows up at everything from cookouts to dinners and always gets eaten. Made with colorful cabbage and a sweet-tangy dressing, it balances out rich mains with a refreshing bite. Fast, easy, and crowd-approved, this slaw is anything but forgettable.
Get the Recipe: Coleslaw with Creamy Dressing