21 Sides and Salads That'll Steal the Spotlight at Dinner

Are you ready to change up your dinners with some sensational sides and salads that are bound to impress? I'm sharing delectable recipes that'll steal the spotlight at any dinner table. From crispy air fryer creations to vibrant salads bursting with flavor, these dishes are not only easy to prepare but also promise to add a delightful touch to your meals, making every dinner feel like a special occasion. So, let's dive in and discover a world of delicious possibilities that will have your taste buds dancing with delight!

Bacon-wrapped jalapeños with cream cheese filling on a white plate, garnished with chopped chives. — Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

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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.

Air fryer smashed potatoes with cheese are a delightful addition to any meal, offering a crispy exterior and creamy interior that's sure to impress. Perfectly seasoned and topped with melted cheese, they're a flavorful side dish that will steal the spotlight at dinner. These potatoes come together quickly in the air fryer, making them a convenient option for busy weeknights or weekend gatherings. Whether served alongside grilled steak, roasted chicken, or as a standalone snack, they're guaranteed to be a hit with everyone at the table.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes with Cheese

Vegan Mexican Rice

Bowl of Mexican rice mixed with tomato sauce and garnished with a sprig of cilantro, with a fork inserted into the rice. — Vegan Mexican Rice. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Vegan Mexican rice is a vibrant and flavorful dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering a tasty alternative to traditional rice dishes. With fragrant spices, hearty vegetables, and fluffy rice, it's a satisfying side dish that will steal the spotlight at dinner. This vegan rice is easy to prepare and cooks to perfection on the stovetop, making it a practical choice for any occasion. Whether served alongside tacos, enchiladas, or as part of a colorful rice salad, it's sure to add a delicious twist to your meal.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Mexican Rice

Easy Radish Salad

A plate of radish salad with diced celery and a creamy dressing, accompanied by a glass of water and salt and pepper shakers. — Easy Radish Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Easy radish salad is a refreshing and vibrant side dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering a burst of flavor and color to any meal. With crisp radishes, crunchy cucumbers, and a zesty dressing, it's a simple yet satisfying addition to your dinner table. This radish salad comes together in minutes with just a few basic ingredients, making it a practical choice for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings. Whether served alongside grilled meats, sandwiches, or as part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and leave everyone wanting more.
Get the Recipe: Easy Radish Salad

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

Close-up of creamy scalloped potatoes topped with melted cheese and garnished with parsley in a baking dish. — Easy Scalloped Potatoes. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Easy scalloped potatoes are a comforting and indulgent side dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering creamy layers of potatoes baked to perfection with minimal ingredients. With just potatoes, cheese, and a creamy sauce, they're a crowd-pleasing addition to any meal. These scalloped potatoes are easy to prepare and cook to golden perfection in the oven, making them a practical choice for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings. Whether served alongside roast beef, grilled chicken, or as part of a festive dinner spread, they're sure to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Easy Scalloped Potatoes

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.

Maple glazed carrots in the air fryer are a sweet and savory side dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender carrots coated in a sticky glaze with minimal ingredients. With just carrots, maple syrup, and a touch of seasoning, they're a flavorful addition to any meal. These glazed carrots cook to perfection in the air fryer, with a caramelized exterior and tender interior that's sure to impress your guests. Whether served alongside roast pork, grilled chicken, or as part of a vegetable medley salad, they're guaranteed to steal the spotlight and leave everyone asking for the recipe.
Get the Recipe: Maple Glazed Carrots in Air Fryer

Green Bean Tomato Salad

A plate of green bean and tomato salad topped with crumbled cheese, with a fork on the side. — Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Green bean tomato salad is a fresh and flavorful side dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering crisp green beans and juicy tomatoes tossed in a tangy dressing with minimal ingredients. With just a handful of fresh vegetables and a zesty vinaigrette, it's a simple yet satisfying addition to any meal. This salad comes together in minutes and can be served chilled or at room temperature, making it a practical choice for picnics, barbecues, or weeknight dinners. Whether served alongside grilled fish, sandwiches, or as part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and delight your taste buds.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Tomato Salad

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Close-up of a spoonful of creamy macaroni and cheese topped with chopped green onions. — Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Crock pot mac and cheese is a comforting and indulgent side dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering creamy pasta coated in a cheesy sauce with minimal ingredients. With just pasta, cheese, and a few pantry staples, it's a crowd-pleasing addition to any meal. This mac and cheese cooks to perfection in the slow cooker, with creamy and cheesy layers that are sure to satisfy your cravings. Whether served alongside barbecue ribs, roasted vegetables, or as part of a buffet-style salad spread, it's guaranteed to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite in no time.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole is a classic comfort food that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender green beans coated in a creamy sauce and topped with crispy onions with minimal ingredients. With just a few pantry staples and frozen green beans, it's a flavorful addition to any meal. This casserole comes together quickly and bakes to perfection in the oven, making it a practical choice for holiday dinners or weeknight meals. Whether served alongside roast turkey, grilled chicken, or as part of a festive salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Zucchini Bruschetta

Zucchini bruschetta is a light and flavorful appetizer that's perfect for sides and salads, offering grilled zucchini topped with fresh tomato salsa and minimal ingredients. With just zucchini, tomatoes, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, it's a refreshing addition to any meal. This bruschetta comes together quickly on the grill or stovetop, making it a practical choice for summer gatherings or weeknight dinners. Whether served as an appetizer, side dish, or part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and impress your guests with its vibrant colors and delicious flavors.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Bruschetta

Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon

A white bowl containing a dish of sautéed cabbage topped with crispy bacon pieces. — Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Southern fried cabbage with bacon is a comforting and flavorful side dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender cabbage cooked with crispy bacon and minimal ingredients. With just cabbage, bacon, and seasoning, it's a hearty addition to any meal. This fried cabbage comes together quickly on the stovetop, making it a practical choice for busy weeknights or leisurely dinners at home. Whether served alongside fried chicken, grilled sausages, or as part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite in no time.
Get the Recipe: Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Berry Salad with Blueberry Dressing

A salad with strawberries, blueberries and feta cheese. — Berry Salad with Blueberry Dressing. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Berry salad with blueberry dressing is a refreshing and vibrant dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering a medley of fresh berries tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing with minimal ingredients. With just berries, lettuce, and a homemade blueberry dressing, it's a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal. This salad comes together quickly and can be customized with your favorite toppings like nuts, cheese, or grilled chicken, making it a practical choice for summer gatherings or weeknight dinners. Whether served as a side dish, appetizer, or part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and delight your taste buds.
Get the Recipe: Berry Salad with Blueberry Dressing

Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Grilled cabbage wedge on a plate, partially cut, with a fork and sprinkled with herbs. — Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Roasted cabbage steaks are a simple yet flavorful dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender cabbage slices roasted to perfection with minimal ingredients. With just cabbage, olive oil, and seasoning, they're a satisfying and versatile addition to any meal. These cabbage steaks come together quickly in the oven, making them a practical choice for busy weeknights or leisurely dinners at home. Whether served alongside roast chicken, grilled fish, or as part of a larger salad spread, they're sure to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite in no time.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Aloo Gobi Masala

A pot of vegetable curry with cauliflower and potatoes, garnished with herbs, served with naan bread. — Aloo Gobi Masala. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Aloo gobi masala is a flavorful and aromatic dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender potatoes and cauliflower cooked in a rich and spicy sauce with minimal ingredients. With just potatoes, cauliflower, and a blend of Indian spices, it's a satisfying and comforting addition to any meal. This masala comes together quickly on the stovetop, making it a practical choice for weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings. Whether served alongside rice, naan, or as part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and transport your taste buds to the streets of India.
Get the Recipe: Aloo Gobi Masala

Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Four baked potato halves topped with melted cheese, diced ham, and herbs in a speckled baking dish. — Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Cheesy loaded twice baked potatoes are a decadent and indulgent side dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering fluffy potatoes stuffed with cheese and bacon with minimal ingredients. With just potatoes, cheese, bacon, and sour cream, they're a crowd-pleasing addition to any meal. These loaded potatoes come together quickly in the oven, making them a practical choice for busy weeknights or holiday dinners. Whether served alongside grilled steak, roasted chicken, or as part of a larger salad spread, they're sure to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

Apple Salad

A bowl of salad with mixed greens, air-fried apples, red onions, nuts, and crumbled cheese. — Apple Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Apple salad is a crisp and refreshing dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering a mix of crunchy apples, nuts, and greens with minimal ingredients. With just apples, lettuce, and a homemade dressing, it's a flavorful and nutritious addition to any meal. This salad comes together quickly and can be customized with your favorite toppings like cheese, dried fruit, or grilled chicken, making it a practical choice for lunch or dinner. Whether served as a side dish, appetizer, or part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and impress your guests with its vibrant colors and delicious flavors.
Get the Recipe: Apple Salad

Shrimp Macaroni Salad

A bowl of shrimp pasta salad garnished with lemon slices and diced vegetables. — Shrimp Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Shrimp macaroni salad is a creamy and satisfying dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender shrimp and pasta tossed in a flavorful dressing with minimal ingredients. With just shrimp, macaroni, and a creamy dressing, it's a delicious and comforting addition to any meal. This salad comes together quickly and can be customized with your favorite mix-ins like vegetables, herbs, or cheese, making it a practical choice for picnics, barbecues, or weeknight dinners. Whether served as a side dish, appetizer, or part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and delight your taste buds.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Macaroni Salad

Ratatouille

Close-up of a wooden spoon holding a colorful mix of sautéed vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, and tomato, garnished with chopped herbs. — Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Ratatouille is a colorful and flavorful dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering a medley of vegetables cooked in a rich tomato sauce with minimal ingredients. With just tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and herbs, it's a satisfying and nutritious addition to any meal. This French classic comes together quickly on the stovetop, making it a practical choice for weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings. Whether served alongside crusty bread, pasta, or as part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and transport your taste buds to the streets of Provence.
Get the Recipe: Ratatouille

Seafood Pasta Salad

Seafood pasta salad is a refreshing and satisfying dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender pasta and a variety of seafood tossed in a creamy dressing with minimal ingredients. With just pasta, shrimp, crabmeat, and a tangy dressing, it's a flavorful addition to any meal. This salad comes together quickly and can be customized with your favorite vegetables and herbs, making it a practical choice for picnics, barbecues, or weeknight dinners. Whether served as a side dish, appetizer, or part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and transport your taste buds to the shores of the Mediterranean.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Pasta Salad

Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Cabbage

Bacon wrapped air fryer cabbage is a savory and satisfying dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender cabbage wrapped in crispy bacon with minimal ingredients. With just cabbage, bacon, and seasoning, it's a flavorful addition to any meal. This cabbage comes together quickly in the air fryer, with crispy bacon and caramelized cabbage that's sure to please your taste buds. Whether served alongside grilled sausages, roasted chicken, or as part of a larger salad spread, it's guaranteed to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite in no time.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Air Fryer Cabbage

Green Beans with Garlic Butter

A plate of green beans tossed with herbs and pine nuts. — Green Beans with Garlic Butter. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Green beans with garlic butter are a simple and flavorful dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering tender green beans sautéed in a savory garlic butter sauce with minimal ingredients. With just green beans, butter, garlic, and seasoning, they're a delicious addition to any meal. These green beans come together quickly on the stovetop, making them a practical choice for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings. Whether served alongside roast beef, grilled fish, or as part of a larger salad spread, they're sure to steal the spotlight and become a family favorite in no time.
Get the Recipe: Green Beans with Garlic Butter

Broccoli Slaw Salad

A plate of colorful broccoli slaw with shredded purple cabbage and carrots topped with dried cranberries and pine nuts, next to a red-checked napkin. — Broccoli Slaw Salad. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Broccoli slaw salad is a crunchy and flavorful dish that's perfect for sides and salads, offering a mix of shredded broccoli, carrots, and cabbage with minimal ingredients. With just a few pantry staples and a tangy dressing, it's a satisfying and nutritious addition to any meal. This salad comes together quickly and can be customized with your favorite toppings like nuts, seeds, or dried fruit, making it a practical choice for picnics, barbecues, or weeknight dinners. Whether served as a side dish, appetizer, or part of a larger salad spread, it's sure to steal the spotlight and delight your taste buds with its crunchy texture and delicious flavors.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Slaw Salad