19 Side Dishes To Jazz Up Your Menu
Sneak Preview: Peruse this collection of 19 side dishes suitable for holidays, celebrations, parties, Sunday dinner, or vegetarian entrees.
When you plan your menu, do you get stuck on the side dishes? Or maybe you need to take something to a potluck or celebratory gathering. Look through these side dishes for something to jazz up your menu with fresh color, exciting textures, and valuable nutrition.

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Broccoli-Rice Casserole (No Canned Soup)
Traditional Broccoli-Rice Casserole calls for mushrooms but no canned soup. Look for microwave directions in the notes below the recipe.
Bonnie's Carrot Casserole
Puréed carrots get a company-best treatment with a little butter, sugar and maple flavoring. You'll love the soufflé-like texture. An Instant Pot and food processor make assembly quick and easy but neither are essential.
Spicy Pecan-Crusted Sweet Potato Balls Recipe
These mashed sweet potatoes are formed into balls, rolled in a spicy egg white mixture, and then rolled in chopped pecans. They are a delicious make-ahead alternative to marshmallow, butter, and sugar-laden sweet potato casseroles.
Spicy Squash Dressing with Leftover Cornbread Recipe
This is a spicy mixture of yellow squash, corn, green chiles, and cornbread. Southern cuisine combined with Tex-Mex flavors makes a memorable side dish or vegetarian entree.
Cilantro and Hominy Rice
A side dish of jasmine or basmati rice, cooked in chicken broth with hominy, cilantro, and butter added.
Deviled Eggs the Whole Family Will Eat
These deviled eggs with a mildly sweet and sour twist are the kind of thing husbands and kids pop in their mouth like a Hershey kiss. Nothing fancy or unexpected--just everyday goodness!
Roasted Baby Carrots with Smoked Paprika
Baby Carrots get the oven-roasted treatment along with a sprinkle of smoked paprika.
Colorful Fresh Yellow Squash Casserole
Fresh yellow squash makes a delicious but simple casserole similar to that served at Black-Eyed Pea restaurants in the South.
Squash Patties
Miniature, savory, yellow squash pancakes: fun to eat with Ranch dressing or catsup
Faux Potato Salad: The Carb-Craving-Satisfier
Cauliflower substitutes for potatoes in this modified American classic.
Susie's Crunchy Coleslaw: This Version is One of the Best
Susie's Coleslaw with a sweet-and-sour dressing, almonds, and Ramen noodles is full of flavor and crunch that will have you helping yourself to seconds without guilt.
Kay's Potato Salad
A classic potato salad with homemade cooked dressing (quickly made in a microwave) and combined with mayonnaise. No mustard or raw onions if I'm around, but of course, you are welcome to add them if it suits your fancy.
Hearty Baked Beans
Take well-seasoned baked beans to a new level with the addition of ground beef and hot sausage. This side-dish will seal your reputation as a marvelous cook wherever you take them next.
Roasted Eggplant and Potatoes
Feed your eggplant obsession with roasted eggplant, zucchini, potatoes and mushrooms seasoned with Ranch dressing dry mix packet, then roasted in the oven.
Southwestern Eggplant Dressing
Southwestern Eggplant Dressing uses cornbread as a base with all sorts of veggies added, including green chilies, for a savory side dish or vegetarian entree.
Roasted Edamame and Mushrooms
Frozen edamame combines with sliced fresh mushrooms to make an easy but flavorful side dish.
Microwaved Mashed Cauliflower
Make your mashed cauliflower more appealing and non-soggy by cooking in the microwave--uncovered.
Sweet and White Mashed Potato Swirl
White potatoes and sweet potatoes are mashed, then swirled together to make a satisfying side dish.
Squash and Potatoes: A Side Dish or Soft Taco Filling
Yellow squash, zucchini, peppers, and corn with cheese on top make the most delicious and colorful soft-taco filling ever.
If you have questions or suggestions, email me privately to Paula at saladinajar.com. Hope to see you again soon! Paula
Paula Rhodes, author
I’m a retired home economist, wife, mother, grandmother, and creator of Saladinajar.com. I believe you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Here you’ll find time-saving tips, troubleshooting advice, and confidence-inspiring recipes to make life in the kitchen more fun, appetizing, and satisfying.