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Home » Recipes » Best Of

Vegetable Side Dishes

By Laura Fuentes Updated May 28, 2026

5 from 12 votes

Recipe
When you don't know what to serve with chicken or your favorite protein, one of these vegetable side dishes can come to the rescue! From caramelized roasted vegetables to fresh salads, these side dishes recipes add nutrition and goodness to every bite.

When you need something tasty to serve with your favorite proteins, these easy vegetable side dishes recipes are the perfect match!

In this post, you’ll find recipe options that can be steamed, cooked in the oven, in a pan, or simply tossed and served. There’s something for everyone in one of these side dish recipes below.

Best Vegetable Side Dishes

From caramelized roasted vegetables to fresh salads, these vegetable side dishes ideas add nutrition and goodness to every bite. When you don’t know what to serve with that delicious chicken you baked, pick one of these yummy sides. You can always click over and pin the recipe for later too!

Winter Salad
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Corn and Tomato Salad
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A refreshing, quick, and simple salad packed with flavor and nutrition: the perfect side for grilling season!
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Roasted Asparagus with Lemon
5 from 26 votes
An impressive and easy side dish with a bright summery flavor of fresh lemon and slightly charred edges from the oven. Spectacular!
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a bowl of savory butternut squash cubes with Parmesan
Savory Butternut Squash
5 from 21 votes
Garlic and Parmesan give this simple recipe a delicious flavor! An easy side that pairs great with chicken, meat, and so much more!
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Roasted Red Cabbage
5 from 21 votes
The scrumptious bits of savory and tender cabbage with crispy edges makes an addictively yummy side dish to serve with everything!
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Asian Kale Salad
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This salad is full of veggies and will satisfy that Asian-inspired flavor craving. Plus, a mouth-watering sesame ginger dressing you will love!
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roasted parsnips in a white plate
Roasted Parsnips
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Bake parsnips in the oven and you'll get a potato-like veggie with irresistibly golden brown exteriors and caramelized flavor. Perfection!
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Cranberry Quinoa Salad
5 from 30 votes
You can assemble this salad in 15 minutes for a fresh and healthy side dish that is also delicious and packed with nutrition!
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Watermelon Salad with Cucumber and Mint
5 from 26 votes
A refreshing salad that screams summer! In less than 10 minutes, you can cut, mix and get ready to enjoy this yummy side!
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Sautéed Cabbage
5 from 39 votes
Turn a simple veggie into a delicious caramelized side dish you'll want to make on repeat. Trust me, cabbage never tasted this good!
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roasted carrots on a sheet pan
Oven-Roasted Carrots
5 from 22 votes
With a quick toss in oil and seasonings, carrots get a savory caramelized flavor. A delicious and healthy vegetable side dish that pairs with any meal!
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roasted curried cauliflower
Roasted Curried Cauliflower
5 from 26 votes
The days of eating plain, steamed cauliflower are over! Try this spiced cauliflower, and it will soon become your go-to side dish!
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side salad with lettuce, tomato, olives, onion, and croutons
Everyday Side Salad
5 from 35 votes
This salad is loaded with fresh veggies and crunchy toppings coated with a tangy vinaigrette. A simple and quick side for any weeknight meal!
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Roasted Broccolini
5 from 31 votes
A terrific healthy side dish with all the flavors of garlic, lemon, and olive oil. A restaurant-style side dish you can cook quickly in the oven!
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Blueberry Spinach Salad
5 from 35 votes
You only need 5 minutes to assemble this side dish. It's healthy, full of flavors, and has a touch of sweetness in every bite!
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Spicy Cauliflower
5 from 30 votes
The sweet Sriracha glaze gives each cauliflower floret a crisp exterior and tender fork center with a flavor that's addicting!
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Easy Peas and Carrots with Potatoes
5 from 27 votes
Ordinary veggies become a terrific side, and you don't even have to turn on the oven! Super simple, delicious, and your next favorite side dish!
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Roasted Acorn Squash Slices
5 from 25 votes
Roast acorn squash on the oven to golden brown perfection and enjoy these delicious tender texture and toasted edges slices.
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Roasted Green Bean with Parmesan
4.97 from 223 votes
Add more veggies to your meals with this quick and easy recipe of cheesy green bean fries that are cooked in the oven for a healthy twist.
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Healthy Zucchini Au Gratin
5 from 30 votes
This crispy, super tasty, low-carb zucchini au gratin recipe is a perfect side dish for any protein. No one will resist!
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Balsamic Roasted Beets
5 from 23 votes
Roasting unlocks the best flavors in any vegetable, especially beets. A simple side dish with tons of flavor!
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image: overhead view of sweet potato salad ingredients in a bowl. Diced sweet potatoes, chopped boiled egg, green onions, purple onion and creamy dressing.
Sweet Potato Salad
5 from 51 votes
A lighter version of the classic potato salad that's just as delicious and much better for you!
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large platter filled with roasted carrots and radishes
Roasted Radishes and Carrots
5 from 29 votes
Let the oven do its magic and you'll see how radishes and carrots become a side dish with a delicious, slightly sweet flavor.
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spicy green beans in a large bowl
Spicy Green Beans
5 from 29 votes
Pair these spicy green beans with your favorite protein, and you'll have a tasty veggie to compliment your meals!
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Roasted Sweet Potato Stacks
5 from 37 votes
Each bite of these sweet potato stacks is laced with cheesy, brown buttery goodness. It looks fancy but it's easy to make!
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roasted zucchini spears in a cooling rack
Roasted Zucchini Spears
5 from 23 votes
Add more veggies to your meals with these crispy, cheesy zucchini that look like French fries! The ultimate trick to make green food kid-friendly!
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a frozen bag of vegetables pouring onto a baking sheet
Roasted Frozen Vegetables
5 from 30 votes
Season, bake and enjoy these super easy recipe that turns ordinary frozen veggies into a great-tasting side dish!
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a bowl of carrot raisin salad with pineapple
Carrot Raisin Salad with Pineapple
5 from 34 votes
Fan of tangy-sweet flavors? Then this epic carrot raisin salad with fresh pineapple and a creamy dressing is one you need to try!
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Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes
5 from 29 votes
These butternut squash cubes are a healthy and delicious addition to any meal and it's so easy to make as cut, season and bake!
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Bruschetta Salad
5 from 29 votes
In takes 5 minutes to combine juicy tomatoes with fresh basil and a dressing and you'll have a crowd-pleaser side dish to enjoy with your favorite protein!
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Roasted Summer Vegetables
5 from 26 votes
Bake a lot of veggies at once for an effortless side dish that is big in flavor and goes great with everything!
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30+ AMAZING Veggie Side Dishes

grilled veggies on a hummus platter
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 9 minutes mins
Total Time: 19 minutes mins
When you don't know what to serve with chicken or your favorite protein, one of these vegetable side dishes can come to the rescue! From caramelized roasted vegetables to fresh salads, these side dishes recipes add nutrition and goodness to every bite.
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Grilled Veggies: 

  • 1 zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch thick slices
  • 1 yellow squash, sliced into ¼-inch thick slices
  • 2 red bell peppers, seeded and sliced into 2-inch thick strips
  • 1 red onion, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch thick rounds
  • 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed
  • 8 ounce container hummus of choice
  • 4 pita rounds

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk the vinegar, oil, honey, mustard, salt, and black pepper. 
  • Place the veggies into a baking dish or baking sheet and brush both sides with the vinaigrette. Allow them to marinate for 10-15 minutes. 
  • Meanwhile, preheat the grill to medium-high heat. 
  • Transfer the vegetables to the grill and cook for 5 minutes on one side before flipping and grilling for another 4 minutes or until the veggies are lightly charred. 
  • Remove from the grill and serve with hummus and pita. 

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Equipment

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 687mg | Potassium: 649mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2108IU | Vitamin C: 96mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg

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5 from 12 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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