Sides often get overlooked, but not these! These 17 mouthwatering dishes are so delicious, they’ll have your everyone forgetting about the main course altogether. Flavor-packed and easy to prepare, they’ll quickly become the highlight of your meal!
Pickle de Gallo
This fresh, crunchy twist on pico de gallo will steal the spotlight before the main dish even gets a chance! The mix of tangy pickles, crisp veggies, and a punch of flavor makes every bite of this Pickle de Gallo impossible to ignore. It’s the perfect way to brighten up rich meals or serve alongside tacos and chips. If you don’t make extra, someone else will grab the last scoop before you do!
Get the Recipe: Pickle de Gallo
Loaded Smashed Potatoes
Crispy edges, creamy centers, and plenty of cheese—these Loaded Smashed Potatoes are the kind of side that outshines anything else on the table! They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and disappear faster than you’d expect. Whether paired with dinner or served as a snack, they’ll be gone in minutes. If you’re cooking for a crowd, doubling the batch is the only safe move!
Get the Recipe: Loaded Smashed Potatoes
Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes
Soft, buttery potatoes slow-cooked to perfection with garlic and parmesan—these Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes are comfort food at its finest! The slow cooker does all the work, so you get bold flavors without lifting a finger. They fit with any meal and always have people reaching for seconds before touching the main course!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Potatoes
Bacon, Cheese and Spinach Tartlets
Buttery, flaky crust packed with melty cheese, crispy bacon, and just enough spinach to pretend it’s healthy—these Bacon, Cheese and Spinach Tartlets are simply irresistible! Every bite is a perfect mix of savory and rich, making everything else on the table feel like an afterthought. These little bites disappear faster than anyone expects, leaving behind nothing but empty plates and regrets!
Get the Recipe: Bacon, Cheese and Spinach Tartlets
Chipotle Copycat Corn Salsa
Sweet, smoky, and packed with just the right amount of heat, this Chipotle Copycat Corn Salsa makes every other dish seem boring! Bright citrus and fresh cilantro bring out the natural sweetness of the corn, while the spice keeps things exciting. It’s the kind of side dish that vanishes faster than the main course, especially when chips are involved!
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Copycat Corn Salsa
Sweet Potato Avocado Toast
Crispy sweet potatoes loaded with creamy avocado and a sprinkle of flavor-packed toppings—these Sweet Potato Avocado Toast are impossible to ignore! The mix of textures keeps every bite interesting, balancing smooth, crunchy, and just a little bit of kick. Whether paired with eggs, soup, or eaten straight off the plate, it steals the spotlight every time. The main course might be good, but this is what people will talk about!
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Avocado Toast
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Juicy, earthy mushrooms overflowing with rich, savory fillings make it impossible to care about the rest of the meal! Every bite of these Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms is packed with deep umami flavor, melting cheese, and just the right seasoning to make things exciting. They’re easy to make but taste like they belong in a fancy restaurant. By the time the main dish arrives, nobody’s even thinking about it!
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Air Fryer Steak Bites
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in buttery garlic goodness—these Air Fryer Steak Bites make everything else seem forgettable! The air fryer locks in flavor without the hassle, giving you perfectly cooked bites in minutes. Whether you serve them as a side, a snack, or a last-minute dinner, they never last long!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Steak Bites
Goat Cheese Flatbread
Crispy flatbread topped with tangy goat cheese and the perfect mix of sweet and savory flavors is a side dish worth fighting over! The contrast of crunchy, creamy, and flavorful toppings keeps every bite as good as the first. This Goat Cheese Flatbread is the kind of dish that gets polished off before the main course even has a chance!
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Flatbread
Lentil Quesadillas
Golden brown, crispy tortillas stuffed with cheesy, seasoned lentils prove that side dishes can steal the whole show! The filling is hearty, rich, and packed with flavor, making these impossible to stop eating. Quick, easy, and ridiculously satisfying, these Lentil Quesadillas Outshine whatever else is on the table!
Get the Recipe: Lentil Quesadillas
Spicy Cauliflower Bites
Crispy, bold, and loaded with just the right amount of heat, these Spicy Cauliflower Bites demand attention! The crunchy coating locks in flavor, making them just as addictive as any fried appetizer—without the heavy grease. Whether you dip them or eat them straight off the pan, they disappear way too fast. The main course won’t even cross anyone’s mind!
Get the Recipe: Spicy Cauliflower Bites
Mushroom Hummus
Smooth, creamy, and packed with deep, earthy flavors, this Mushroom Hummus is the upgrade no one saw coming! The mushrooms add a bold twist, turning it into something far more interesting than your average dip. Whether spread on bread, scooped with veggies, or eaten by the spoonful, it always disappears fast!
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Hummus
Baked Brie with Apple-Ginger Chutney
Warm, melty brie topped with spiced apple-ginger chutney– this Baked Brie with Apple-Ginger Chutney is the kind of side dish that makes people forget everything else! The contrast of creamy, sweet, and slightly tangy flavors is impossible to resist. Whether served with crackers or eaten straight from the baking dish, it’s the first thing to go!
Get the Recipe: Baked Brie with Apple-Ginger Chutney
Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers with Bacon
Crispy, cheesy, and wrapped in smoky bacon, these Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers with Bacon bring the heat in the best way! The air fryer makes them perfectly golden and crunchy without the grease, so they disappear twice as fast. Whether served as a side, a snack, or an appetizer, they always steal the show!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers with Bacon
Mini Pigs in a Blanket
Flaky, buttery pastry wrapped around juicy, bite-sized sausages—these Mini Pigs in a Blanket never make it past the first round of serving! They’re nostalgic, satisfying, and dangerously addictive, making everything else feel like a side dish. Whether dunked in mustard or eaten plain, they vanish faster than expected!
Get the Recipe: Mini Pigs in a Blanket
Tuscan Artichoke and Sundried Tomato
Bold, creamy, and packed with rich Mediterranean flavors, this Tuscan Artichoke and Sundried Tomato makes everything else on the table feel like an afterthought! The mix of sundried tomatoes, artichokes, and smooth cheese creates an unbeatable combination. Whether spread on warm bread or scooped with veggies, it never lasts long. By the time dinner is served, this will already be history!
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Artichoke and Sundried Tomato
Air Fryer Blooming Onion
Crispy, golden, and bursting with bold flavor, this Air Fryer Blooming Onion is the side dish that always steals the spotlight! The air fryer gives it that perfect crunch without drowning it in oil, making every bite just as satisfying as the first. Pulling apart those crispy petals and dipping them is half the fun—the other half is watching them disappear in minutes!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Blooming Onion
Get Dinner Ready In Under An Hour With These 15 Quick And Easy Recipes
These 15 quick and easy recipes are here to save you when you’re short on time. No more stress or takeout—just delicious meals in under an hour. Get ready to eat well, fast!
These 17 Decadent Desserts Are Too Good To Save Only For Special Occasions
Packed with rich flavors and indulgent textures, these sweets are too good to save for just once a year. Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth whenever the mood strikes!
Tamara Tsaturyan is the owner and writer of Thriving In Parenting, a website focused on providing simple tips for busy parents — easy and healthy recipes, home decor and organization ideas and all things P A R E N T I N G.
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