17 Slam Dunk Sides That Make Any Main Course Feel Like An Afterthought
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Sometimes a meal needs a side dish so good it steals the spotlight, and that’s what you’ll find here. These recipes add flavor, texture, and excitement without extra effort. When you’re tired of the usual sides, this lineup gives you easy, crowd-pleasing options that make any dinner feel more impressive.
Broccoli Casserole
Broccoli casserole easily jumps into the spotlight with its creamy sauce, tender veggies, and that irresistible crunchy cracker topping that makes every bite feel extra fun. A dish like this has a way of turning even the simplest dinner plate into something guests rave about. Serve it warm and watch how quickly the focus shifts from the main course to the side everyone keeps going back for.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole
Maple Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Maple Brussels sprouts with bacon bring a smoky, sweet, caramelized flavor that can easily become the star of any dinner spread. A bite of the roasted sprouts wrapped in bacon tends to steal attention from everything else on the plate. Serve them once and they’ll instantly climb the rankings of unforgettable sides.
Get the Recipe: Maple Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Slow cooker mashed potatoes come out so fluffy, garlicky, and smooth that the entrée barely stands a chance. With all the heavy lifting done in the cooker, the results are consistently impressive without any stress. Put them on the table and watch how fast they become the favorite part of the meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey glazed carrots deliver a sweet, glossy finish that brightens the whole table and often outshines whatever else is being served. The blend of honey, butter, and garlic creates a flavor that sticks with people long after dinner ends. Add them to your spread and watch the entrée quietly take second place.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
Buttermilk Biscuits
Buttermilk biscuits often take over the whole meal with their fluffy texture, buttery taste, and crisp edges that make everyone reach for seconds. Even a simple soup or stew feels upgraded when one of these lands on the side. Bake a batch, and the main dish won’t be the only thing people remember.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Biscuits
Potato Fritters
Potato fritters have a way of hijacking mealtime with their crispy edges, tender centers, and that savory mix of onion and garlic. Even the main dish starts feeling secondary once a plate of these comes out hot from the pan. Top each fritter with yogurt and chives, and you’ve suddenly created the side everyone talks about.
Get the Recipe: Potato Fritters
Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Parmesan roasted green beans bring such a punch of garlicky, cheesy goodness that they often steal attention from whatever they’re served with. The way they crisp up in the oven makes them feel like a treat disguised as a veggie. Add them to the table and don’t be surprised when they’re the first thing to disappear.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Roasted Green Beans
Parmesan Potatoes
Parmesan potatoes tend to upstage any main course thanks to their buttery insides and golden, crunchy crust packed with cheesy flavor. They make every dinner plate feel a little more special without adding any stress. Pair them with a dip, and suddenly the entrée feels like an afterthought.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes
Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup
Instant Pot carrot ginger soup brings bright color, cozy warmth, and a velvety smooth finish that can overshadow even the most impressive entrée. The blend of ginger and sweet carrot pops in a way that makes the whole meal feel more vibrant. A bowl of this on the table turns dinner into an occasion.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels sprouts, especially with bacon and a drizzle of balsamic, bring bold flavor that often nudges the main dish out of the spotlight. The crispy edges and tender centers create a bite that people rave about long after the last piece is gone. Put out a tray and watch how fast they become the real centerpiece of dinner.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Broccoli cheddar soup often becomes the real highlight thanks to its velvety texture and rich cheesy flavor that feels like pure comfort in every spoonful. Meals instantly feel more complete when a pot of this is simmering nearby. Pair it with bread or serve it solo and let it take over as the star of dinner.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Slow Cooker Potato and Leek Soup
Slow cooker potato and leek soup brings an effortless warmth that tends to overshadow any main dish served beside it. The tender potatoes and fragrant leeks blend into a bowl that feels incredibly soothing on chilly days. Let it cook low and slow and you’ll have the side everyone keeps coming back for.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Potato and Leek Soup
Mashed Potato Waffles
Mashed potato waffles create instant excitement with their crispy edges and soft, buttery centers that make leftovers feel like a whole new treat. Even fancy mains can lose the spotlight once these hit a plate. Serve them with toppings or keep them simple and they’ll carry the meal with ease.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potato Waffles
Pumpkin Pasta
Pumpkin pasta brings bold fall flavor with its creamy sauce, warm spices, and melty mozzarella that makes every plate feel extra cozy. Even the main dish struggles to compete once this rich, comforting bowl hits the table. Toss it with basil and you suddenly have a seasonal favorite that becomes the center of attention.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Pasta
Cranberry Chicken Salad
Cranberry chicken salad brings a bright, flavorful mix that can outshine whatever else is on the table thanks to the sweet-tart cranberries, crunchy pecans, and creamy dressing. Meals feel more exciting when a side shows up with this much texture and color. Put out a bowl and it instantly becomes the dish people reach for long before they touch the entrée.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Chicken Salad
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
Air fryer sweet potato wedges bring crunch, color, and just the right seasoning punch, making them the side everyone grabs before touching the main dish. Their crisp outside and tender center feel like the perfect balance without any extra fuss. Put out a tray and the entrée suddenly feels optional.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
Baked Chicken Wings
Baked chicken wings have a way of stealing the spotlight with their savory parmesan, buttery richness, and fresh parsley that keeps everyone reaching for more. A platter of wings can turn even the simplest meal into something guests rave about. Serve them hot and watch how quickly the main course fades into the background.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Wings
