26 Side Dishes So Good, Who Needs a Main?

Some nights, I skip the main course completely because side dishes are just that good. Whether I’m short on time or just not in the mood for a big production, these kinds of recipes make dinner feel complete without the extra work. They’re simple, filling, and honestly, they’re all I really want most of the time.

A fork holds cooked green beans and sliced mushrooms, with more on a plate in the background.

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Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Cabbage

This bacon-wrapped cabbage cooks quickly in the air fryer and comes out crisp on the outside and tender inside. It’s a great option when you want something hearty without having to make a full meal. The smoky bacon adds flavor that makes it more than just a background dish. It easily holds its own on the table next to anything else.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Cabbage

Green Bean Casserole

This comforting green bean casserole is a classic that never goes unnoticed. The creamy base and crispy topping make it feel complete, even without a main. It’s easy to throw together, especially when you’re cooking for a group. You’ll keep coming back to it because it always feels like more than just a side.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Cabbage and bacon in white serving bowl. — Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This Southern-style cabbage is packed with flavor thanks to the bacon and simple seasonings. It cooks fast and tastes like something you'd get at a family get-together. With how rich and filling it is, you don’t need a big main course to go with it. It works well on its own when you want something straightforward but still worth serving.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Green Beans with Garlic Butter

Green beans with pine nuts on a plate. — Green Beans with Garlic Butter. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These green beans are quick to cook and bring bold flavor with minimal ingredients. The garlic butter makes them more than your standard steamed veggie. They add color and texture to any plate without needing much effort. For nights when you don’t want a heavy dinner, this is all you need.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Garlic Butter

Zucchini Bruschetta

This recipe puts fresh zucchini front and center, topped with a mix that brings brightness and crunch. It’s light but still feels like something you can build a meal around. Great for warmer nights or potlucks when no one wants to fuss with a main course. You’ll find yourself reaching for seconds without thinking twice.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Bruschetta

Mushrooms and Green Beans

Mushrooms and green beans pair up in this quick stovetop recipe that’s done in under 30 minutes. The mix of textures and rich, earthy flavor make it feel complete on its own. It’s a solid option when you want something simple that still has depth. This one earns a spot as more than just a filler on your plate.
Get the Recipe: Mushrooms and Green Beans

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Close-up of a cheesy scalloped potatoes dish in a white baking dish, garnished with parsley. — Easy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Creamy, cheesy, and layered, these scalloped potatoes come together without much prep and bake up to a golden finish. They’re rich enough to stand on their own at any table. You won’t miss the main when these are fresh out of the oven. This dish is always the first to disappear at gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Green Bean Tomato Salad

A plate of green beans tossed with cherry tomatoes and crumbled feta cheese, accompanied by a fork, on a white surface. — Green Bean Tomato Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This fresh salad combines crisp green beans with juicy tomatoes for a light and colorful dish. It’s fast to prep and holds up well if made ahead. It’s one of those sides that brings balance and brightness to heavier meals. But it can also hold its own without anything else on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Tomato Salad

Bacon Green Beans

Close-up of a plate with sautéed green beans and bacon pieces, with a fork spearing a few beans. — Bacon Green Beans. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Bacon adds depth and texture to this quick green bean dish that’s ready in minutes. It turns simple ingredients into something bold enough to eat on its own. Perfect for weeknights when you don’t want to do much but still need real food. You won’t be looking around for anything extra with this on the table.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Green Beans

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Sliced and roasted cabbage wedges seasoned with herbs on a white plate, garnished with black pepper and fresh herbs. — Roasted Cabbage Steaks. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Thick slices of cabbage get roasted until they’re browned and tender, with crispy edges that make every bite count. These are easy to prep and don’t need much to taste good. They’re filling enough that a main dish feels optional. This is a side that steals the spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes with Cheese

A spoon lifting a smashed potato garnished with rosemary, with a festive table setting in the background. — Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes with Cheese. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These crispy smashed potatoes are loaded with melted cheese and come together quickly in the air fryer. They’re hearty, fun to eat, and perfect for casual dinners. You don’t need much else when these are part of the spread. They have all the comfort of a main dish without the extra work.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes with Cheese

Teriyaki Noodles

A bowl of stir-fried noodles with vegetables, topped with sesame seeds, placed on a brown cloth napkin. Chopsticks rest on the bowl's edge, and a small dish is visible in the background. — Teriyaki Noodles. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These noodles are tossed in a sweet and savory teriyaki sauce that clings to every strand. They cook fast and bring big flavor without needing meat or extras. It’s a side dish that easily becomes the main event. Great for nights when you're craving something warm and filling.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Noodles

Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

A bowl of mashed potatoes garnished with parsley, set on a pink cloth napkin, with whole potatoes and a grater in the background. — Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These red potatoes are mashed with butter and garlic for a creamy texture and bold flavor. They come together quickly and are just as good as anything served as the centerpiece. When you're not in the mood for a heavy dinner, these do the trick. It’s the kind of side that makes everything else optional.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Red Potatoes

Vegan Mexican Rice

Mexican rice in small oval serving dish with spoon. — Vegan Mexican Rice. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This rice dish is full of spices and color, and it’s cooked in one pot for easy cleanup. It stands strong on its own thanks to its rich flavor and texture. You can serve it with anything, but you won’t feel like you’re missing out if it’s all you’ve got. It’s a dependable go-to that works for any meal.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Mexican Rice

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Air-fried brussels sprouts with grated parmesan cheese on a white plate. — Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These Brussels sprouts get crispy and caramelized in the air fryer with hardly any effort. They’re bold enough in flavor to hold their own on the plate. They come together fast and pair well with almost anything—or nothing at all. This is the kind of side that doesn’t stay in the background.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Ratatouille

This vegetable dish simmers into something that feels more like a full meal than a side. It’s comforting, full of flavor, and perfect for using up produce. Serve it warm or at room temperature, and it still works. You won’t be reaching for anything extra when this is on your plate.
Get the Recipe: Ratatouille

Crab Fried Rice

A bowl of fried rice with vegetables and crab meat. — Crab Fried Rice. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This fried rice gets a big flavor boost from crab meat and comes together in one pan. It’s filling and packed with enough richness to stand alone. Great for busy nights or gatherings where you want something that covers all the bases. This one doesn’t need anything next to it.
Get the Recipe: Crab Fried Rice

Braised Brussels Sprouts

Plate of roasted Brussels sprouts with lemon slices, served with a creamy sauce. A fork holds one sprout above the dish. — Braised Brussels Sprouts. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Braising brings out the natural sweetness of Brussels sprouts and gives them a soft, rich texture. They’re simple but feel like more than just a side. This is a dish that holds up well on its own and doesn’t need anything else to feel complete. It’s one of those recipes that gets people asking for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Braised Brussels Sprouts

Air Fryer Home Fries

Air-fried potato cubes with diced green bell peppers on plate. — Air Fryer Home Fries. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These home fries cook fast in the air fryer and come out golden and crisp. They work just as well for dinner as they do at breakfast. Easy to make and hard to stop eating, they’re great when you want something that fills you up. You’ll barely notice there’s no main course when these are on the plate.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Home Fries

Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Fried potato wedges with ketchup and parsley. — Air Fryer Potato Wedges. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These potato wedges are crisp on the outside and soft inside, all with minimal prep. They make a strong case for skipping the rest of the meal. Serve them with a dip or plain—they’re solid either way. You’ll want to keep these in your rotation.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Aloo Gobi Masala

This spiced potato and cauliflower dish brings bold flavor and warmth to the table. It’s easy to make and holds its own without needing anything else. The texture is comforting and the flavors are layered enough to keep it interesting. It’s a smart pick when you want dinner without the usual main.
Get the Recipe: Aloo Gobi Masala

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

A bowl of macaroni and cheese in front of a slow cooker. — Crock Pot Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

This creamy mac and cheese cooks low and slow in the crock pot until it’s ready to scoop and serve. It’s rich, cheesy, and always hits the mark. When this is part of the meal, you don’t need much else to feel like you’ve had enough. It’s a classic for a reason.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Two halves of baked sweet potato topped with butter and garnished with herbs on a white plate, with a red checkered napkin on the side. — Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Sweet potatoes cook quickly in the air fryer and come out tender with crispy edges. They’re simple but filling, and perfect when you want something warm with minimal effort. Add them to any meal or eat them alone—they work either way. This is one of those sides that can stand alone without feeling like a shortcut.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes

Seafood Pasta Salad

This pasta salad mixes seafood with crisp veggies and tender noodles for a dish that’s light but still full of flavor. It’s great chilled or at room temperature, making it easy to serve anywhere. It can anchor a meal without needing something hot alongside it. This one always draws attention on the table.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Pasta Salad

Maple Glazed Carrots in Air Fryer

Sliced glazed carrots garnished with herbs on a fork, with more on a plate in the background. — Maple Glazed Carrots in Air Fryer. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These carrots cook fast in the air fryer and get a slightly sweet glaze that brings out their natural flavor. They add color to the plate and enough presence to carry a meal. Quick to prep and easy to serve, they work in a pinch. You’ll keep going back for more.
Get the Recipe: Maple Glazed Carrots in Air Fryer

Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Four twice baked potatoes in a small baking dish. — Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

These twice baked potatoes are packed with cheese, bacon, and green onions, making them more than just a side. They feel complete and filling, even without anything else. Great for when you want comfort food without too much work. You’ll be glad to have them as the main part of your plate.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes