Home » Sides » Page 2

Side Dishes

Elevate your meals with side dish recipes that are anything but an afterthought. In this collection from The Kitchen Prep, you’ll find easy, flavorful side dishes perfect for holidays, dinner parties, and everyday family meals.

From fresh, seasonal recipes like Roasted Cauliflower with Romesco Sauce to comforting casseroles and elegant potato dishes like Duchess Potatoes, these sides bring balance, color, and flavor to any menu.

Whether you’re planning a festive entertaining spread or simply want to upgrade weeknight dinners, these recipes are designed to impress without the stress.

A pumpkin cheesecake bar on a white dessert plate.

Seasonal Treat:

Learn How To Make Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Watch The Video →

All Side Dishes Recipes

Overhead shot of Lemon Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts on a porcelain plate surrounded by lemons and a striped kitchen towel.

Lemon Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Sour Cream & Chive Corn Casserole in a skillet on a table with white plates.

Sour Cream & Chive Corn Casserole

Pumpkin-Spiced Roasted Squash & Chickpea Salad! Need something a little different to serve alongside your holiday staples? This warm salad dish is sweet, savory and filled with the flavors and aromas of the holiday season! Delicata squash is having a moment. I noticed its popularity on the rise last fall, and I've continued to see more and more people using it lately. I never jumped on the bandwagon last year, but when I started seeing them piled into pretty mounds at Trader Joe's at the start of autumn this year, I figured it couldn't hurt to toss a few in my cart and experiment with them at home. Now that I've cooked with them several times, I don't know why it took me so long to get on board! If you like squash but dread dealing with prepping it, then Delicata is the perfect variety for you. Unlike its tough-skinned counterparts, there is no need to peel Delicata squash which makes it a huge time saver. Since it's typically smaller than butternut squash and not quite as wide as an acorn squash, it's also much easier to chop, which I deeply appreciate since I can't tell you how many times I've feared for my digits. {This is also the reason butternut squash is one of the only vegetables I buy pre-chopped -- unharmed fingers are totally worth the convenience charge, if you ask me.} Anyway, I bought some Delicata squash a few weeks ago to serve as a side dish when I had my family over for dinner, and everyone raved about how I prepared it so much that I decided I'd work on a Thanksgiving-worthy recipe to share here using the gourd-du-jour. This Pumpkin-Spiced Delicata Squash & Chickpea Salad is what I came up with! I know I throw this phrase around a lot, but it is SO EASY to make, especially since that Delicata squash is so much less difficult than the other kinds. You just chop, drop and toss everything with a mixture of oil, maple syrup and seasoning {salt and pumpkin spice blend to be exact} on one sheet pan, and let the oven do the rest of the work. The maple syrup glazes both the squash and the chickpeas, caramelizing everything as it roasts, and makes them taste like candy. The pumpkin spice pairs like a a dream with the naturally sweet and creamy interior of the squash. Ugh. It's so good. If you want to simplify the prepping even further, you don't need to chop the squash into cubes if you don't want to -- it's fairly quick-cooking even when it's sliced in larger pieces. I thought the cubes worked well with the size of the chickpeas to make it easily "poppable", but you can chop it however you'd like. Finish it off by tossing in some pecans or pumpkin seeds, and maybe a handful of chopped greens for color and freshness, and you've got a new side dish for you Thanksgiving table that will be joining Delicata squash in the highest rankings of supermarket superlatives, taking the "Most Requested Side Dish" category every year. ;)

Pumpkin-Spiced Delicata Squash & Chickpea Salad

Vegetarian Sheet Pan Stuffing! If you've got a family who fights over the crispy parts of the Thanksgiving stuffing, this recipe will ensure everyone gets what they want! Baking on a sheet pan creates extra texture on this wonderful {vegetarian!} twist on a beloved holiday recipe.

Vegetarian Sheet Pan Stuffing

Lemon Basil Shrimp & Quinoa! This fresh and flavorful dish comes together in no time at all, making it ideal for a healthful weekday dinner or packed lunch. Make quinoa early in the week or simply defrost pre-made frozen quinoa to shave off prep time during busy evenings, and this will become a go-to staple for busy evenings.

Lemon Basil Shrimp Quinoa Salad

Close up of Tzatziki Potato Salad in an aqua bowl.

Tzatziki Potato Salad with Kalamata Olives

Baked Parmesan, Asparagus & Mushroom Rice Pilaf. This savory side dish starts on the stove top, then bakes to perfection in the oven, resulting in perfect rice every time. A great complement to spring meals!

Baked Parmesan, Asparagus & Mushroom Rice Pilaf

A tomato stuffed with orzo pasta salad on a white plate.

Cold Stuffed Tomatoes

Lifting a scoop of Irish Cheddar & Cabbage Hash Browns out of a cast iron skillet.

Irish Cheddar & Cabbage Hash Brown Skillet

Mushroom, Spinach & Swiss Brown Rice Patties! A vegetarian approach to a hearty burger; filled with earthy mushrooms, nutritious spinach, melty Swiss cheese and crisp exterior.

Mushroom, Spinach & Swiss Brown Rice Patties

"Nacho" Chickpea Salad. Packed with protein and fiber, and loaded with classic nacho toppings, this salad is an ideal snack for that snacky feeling that tends to creep up while game-watching.

“Nacho” Chickpea Salad

Spiced acorn squash, pears and quinoa cook simultaneously in the oven before being tossed with dried cranberries, pecans, goat cheese, and fresh arugula.

Roasted Acorn Squash & Pear Quinoa Salad

Spiralized Sweet Potato, Apple & Gouda Gratin! A new, delicious way to serve up sweet potatoes at your holiday table. Savory, sweet, creamy & crunchy!

Spiralized Sweet Potato, Apple & Gouda Gratin

Roasted Potato & Spinach Salad! No mayo here, just a bright and tangy vinaigrette that makes this simple potato salad equally scrumptious. Served warm or at room temperature, it's a versatile, crowd-pleasing side dish you'll make again and again.

Roasted Potato & Spinach Salad

Sesame Peanut Brussels Sprouts! If you or your family need convincing that Brussels sprouts can be delicious, this recipe is the ticket to a clean plate! Savory peanut butter sauce with a dash of sweetness and a hint of spice glaze these sprouts for a side dish that will grace your table again and again.

Sesame Peanut Brussels Sprouts

Shrimp Boil Kabobs with Old Bay Aioli -- summer on a stick! Yes, shrimp boils are traditionally casual & messy, but this skewered version adds a touch of sophistication that makes it a fantastic addition to even elegant summer gatherings.

Shrimp Boil Kabobs with Old Bay Aioli