31 Easy Side Dishes That Will Go With Pretty Much Any Meal
If you’re always on the lookout for versatile side dishes, we have gathered a great collection for you. These sides are easy to make and will complement any meal, whether it’s a weekday dinner or a special occasion. Each recipe in our collection offers a unique blend of flavors that are sure to enhance your main dish.
Best Ever Easy Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Unlock the secret to making the creamiest Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes. Our recipe is perfect for casual weeknight dinners as well as Thanksgiving Dinner.
Get the Recipe: Best Ever Easy Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Cucumber Salad
This creamy Cucumber Salad is based on a classic German recipe. It’s made with crispy cucumbers and a fresh herb dressing.
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Cilantro Lime Slaw
This Cilantro Lime Slaw is a fresh, flavorful addition to any meal. Its vibrant colors and tangy-sweet dressing make it a standout side dish that’s both easy to prepare and delicious.
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Quick and Easy Air Fryer Zucchini
Whip up crispy and golden zucchini in just 15 minutes with this air fryer zucchini recipe, combining simple spices for a flavor-packed dish.
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Crispy Air Fryer Garlic Bread
This Air Fryer Garlic Bread is a quick and easy way to enjoy the classic flavors of homemade garlic bread with a crispy and golden exterior. We use slices of French baguette, generously slather them with perfectly seasoned homemade garlic butter, and finish it off with cheese.
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Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Savor the comfort of creamy potatoes, crispy bacon, and cheesy goodness in our delectable Twice Baked Potato Casserole.
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Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes are packed with flavor and ready in less than 30 minutes. Simply the perfect side dish.
Get the Recipe: Easy Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Pea Salad Recipe
This classic, creamy pea salad is both a perfect side dish during the week or a perfect party buffet table.
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Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Discover a new favorite with our Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with Honey-Thyme Glaze recipe – a simple yet flavorful addition to any meal!
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Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
Enjoy our easy recipe for Roasted Potatoes and Carrots, seasoned perfectly for a sweet and spicy side dish delight.
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German Spaetzle
Spaetzle is one of Germany’s most popular side dishes. This classic egg noodle has only five ingredients and takes just 30 minutes to make.
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Honey & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Candied Carrots are tender, sweet, and versatile. Perfect for a holiday dinner or enjoy them on a weeknight when time is tight.
Get the Recipe: Honey & Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
This delicious and cheesy mashed potatoes recipe is the perfect side dish to make for any dinner or festive occasion.
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The Best Creamy Shrimp Salad Recipe
Shrimp Salad is delightfully light and refreshing. It’s made with perfectly cooked shrimp, onion, celery, cucumber, dill, and mayonnaise.
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Sauteed Green Beans With Bacon And Onion
Perfectly blanched fresh green potatoes are cooked to perfection in a simple bacon and onion sauce. Based on German Speckbohnen.
Get the Recipe: Sauteed Green Beans With Bacon And Onion
German Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer)
Reibekuchen’ are delicious crispy fried German Potato Pancakes made from freshly grated potatoes. Perfect with a side of apple sauce!
Get the Recipe: German Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer)
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
This may be the best Mac and Cheese recipe. The butternut squash makes the already creamy Mac and Cheese even creamier.
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Roasted Frozen Broccoli
Try our easy recipe for delicious Oven-Roasted Frozen Broccoli – crispy, flavorful, and perfect as a side dish or snack!
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German Bread And Bacon Dumplings
These traditional Knödel are classic German bread and bacon dumplings. Perfect as a side dish with Sauerbraten or Goulasch.
Get the Recipe: German Bread And Bacon Dumplings
Creamy Broccoli Slaw With Apples And Almonds
This easy Broccoli slaw is made with crispy broccoli, apples, and almonds and tossed in a deliciously creamy dressing. Perfect for summer.
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Roasted Broccoli And Cauliflower
Roasted Broccoli Cauliflower is a simple, healthy side dish that is made with just a few ingredients but packs quite a punch!
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The Best Egg Salad
This high protein, creamy egg salad combines perfectly hard-boiled eggs with crunchy bits of celery and onion in a zesty dressing,
Get the Recipe: The Best Egg Salad
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
This creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes recipe is easy to make, perfectly textured, and brimming with sweet and nutty flavors!
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Bourbon & Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots And Parsnips
Roasted Carrots and Parsnips shine in a sweet bourbon glaze – a comforting side dish that’s simple to prepare and packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Bourbon & Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots And Parsnips
Easy Cheese Spaetzle (German: Käsespätzle)
This deliciously decadent German cheese spaetzle recipe, also known as Käsespätzle, is sure to become one of your favorite German recipes!
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheese Spaetzle (German: Käsespätzle)
German Potato Dumpling
Potato Dumplings are easy to make and a delicious German side dish. Made with tender potatoes, egg yolk, butter, potato starch, and nutmeg.
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Candied Sweet Potatoes
Candied Sweet Potatoes are an excellent side dish to any meal and are known as best known as a delicious holiday dish.
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Creamy Coleslaw
Crispy, crunchy, and creamy coleslaw is the perfect side dish. This foolproof recipe beats any store-bought coleslaw. It’s simple to make.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Coleslaw
Classic German Sweet & Tart Red Cabbage
Braised Red Cabbage (or ‘Rotkohl’) is a classic German side dish. Tender sweet and sour cabbage with a bit of crunch.
Get the Recipe: Classic German Sweet & Tart Red Cabbage
Crack Green Beans
Celebrate Thanksgiving with a hearty blend of green beans, bacon, and cranberries, a dish that’s both simple and memorable.
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Mushroom Pie
Nothing beats a slice of freshly baked Mushroom Pie to ward off the cold and the blues! Make a whole pie in less than one hour.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Pie
Maike Corbett grew up in German kitchens learning to cook and bake alongside her Omas before spending over a decade running full-service restaurants in the US. She founded Cheerful Cook in 2017 to share practical, tested comfort food recipes that actually work on busy weeknights, drawing on both her American restaurant experience and her German home-cooking roots. Her work has been featured on MSN, Yahoo, the Associated Press, and other major media outlets.