Move over, boring old mains! These 19 side dishes are ready to take the spotlight and become the real MVPs of your meal. It’s like they’ve been hitting the gym, bulking up on flavor, and now they’re flexing their tasty muscles. Your dinner guests might start ignoring the main course and asking for seconds of the sides instead.
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Everyone expects regular sides, but this one always stands out. Mexican Street Corn Salad has that mix of bold flavor and texture that pulls people in for seconds. It gives the table something fresh that doesn’t feel like an afterthought. Once folks try it, it’s usually one of the first things to go.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad
Sourdough Bread
Sometimes, all it takes is something simple that’s done really well. Sourdough Bread brings a chewy bite and just enough crispness to hold up next to anything else on the table. It’s not trying too hard—it just works. Watch how fast people go back for another piece without saying much.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Bread
Potato Salad
You’d think people would skip this one with so many other options around, but they never do. Potato Salad somehow keeps getting scooped up until the bowl’s empty. It’s cool, it’s comforting, and it balances out anything heavy. It may seem basic, but it never gets ignored.
Get the Recipe: Potato Salad
Jamaican Red Beans and Rice
Once this hits the table, plates start getting loaded fast. Jamaican Red Beans and Rice has that deep flavor that feels like it belongs next to every main dish. It’s filling without being heavy and brings a whole lot of comfort. People don’t even wait for seconds—they just pile it on from the start.
Get the Recipe: Jamaican Red Beans and Rice
Mississippi Mud Potatoes
Nobody expects this to be the favorite, but somehow it always ends up that way. Mississippi Mud Potatoes are rich, warm, and packed with flavor that gets noticed fast. It’s the kind of side that makes people want to skip the main dish altogether. They’ll keep asking who brought it and hope it shows up again next time.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Mud Potatoes
Sheet Pan Roasted Root Vegetables
Not every side has to be complicated to impress. Sheet Pan Roasted Root Vegetables bring in that earthy, simple flavor that balances out the rest of the meal. It’s colorful, filling, and a welcome break from heavier options. People tend to grab more once they’ve had their first taste.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Roasted Root Vegetables
Hot Honey Chicken Salad
It usually starts with someone grabbing a small scoop just to try it. Hot Honey Chicken Salad is sweet, bold, and brings just enough kick to make people pause and go back for more. It pairs well with everything else on the table but still stands out on its own. By the time the meal wraps up, the bowl’s almost always scraped clean.
Get the Recipe: Hot Honey Chicken Salad
Mexican Street Corn
If you want something that gets attention fast, this is it. Mexican Street Corn hits that mix of flavor and fun that turns heads right away. It’s easy to share, easy to enjoy, and doesn’t need a main dish to back it up. You’ll probably see it disappear faster than anything else on the table.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn
Macaroni Salad
People always act like they’re skipping it, but their plates say otherwise. Macaroni Salad is cool, creamy, and shows up in almost every round of seconds. It’s familiar in the best way and adds a break between all the heavier stuff. There’s always someone asking for the recipe by the end.
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad
Mashed Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with a classic that always gets cleaned out. Mashed Potatoes bring comfort to any table and have a way of pulling everything else together. People heap it on their plates like they’ve been waiting for it. It’s one of those sides that always hits just right.
Get the Recipe: Mashed Potatoes
Red Cabbage Coleslaw
Everyone expects it to sit untouched, but that never really happens. Red Cabbage Coleslaw adds just the right kind of crunch and color that helps balance everything else on the plate. It’s fresh without being boring and makes heavier dishes feel more complete. People usually end up taking more than they planned.
Get the Recipe: Red Cabbage Coleslaw
Mac and Cheese
No matter what’s on the menu, this one pulls people in every time. Mac and Cheese hits that warm, cheesy note that makes it hard to resist, even for the second or third round. It doesn’t fight for attention—it just gets picked first without fail. It’s usually long gone before dessert shows up.
Get the Recipe: Mac and Cheese
Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies
You’ll catch people going back for this without even thinking about it. Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies adds a mix of texture that stands out in the middle of the table. It’s light but still holds its own with the heavier plates around it. There’s never much left at the end, and people always ask about it.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies
Southern Mash
This one shows up quietly and becomes everyone’s go-to comfort on the plate. Southern Mash is smooth and rich without being over the top, and it rounds out the meal like nothing else. It fits in next to anything and never feels out of place. Most people take one bite and decide they want more.
Get the Recipe: Southern Mash
Italian Pasta with Salami
Some sides just bring a little more fun to the plate. Italian Pasta with Salami gives off a bold bite and makes people feel like they’re getting something special. It’s a nice switch-up from the usual options and always gets scooped up faster than expected. Don’t plan on leftovers if this one’s involved.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pasta with Salami
Southern Cornbread
Even when people say they’re skipping bread, this still ends up on their plates. Southern Cornbread has that soft, crumbly texture that works well with everything else going on. It never feels like too much and always makes people go back for one more piece. It’s simple, but no one ever leaves it behind.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread
Potato Casserole
When comfort is what people want, this one always hits the mark. Potato Casserole comes in strong with a rich, creamy bite that feels like it belongs next to everything. It’s filling but never heavy in the wrong way. People usually finish their serving before even looking at the mains.
Get the Recipe: Potato Casserole
Seven Layer Salad
Everyone likes to pretend they’re just adding a little bit of green, but this one gets people hooked. Seven Layer Salad feels more complete than most salads and works well with heavier dishes without clashing. It gives a bit of crunch, color, and flavor all in one. You’ll see more forks in it than you’d expect.
Get the Recipe: Seven Layer Salad
Scalloped Potatoes
Plates start filling up fast as soon as someone lifts the lid on this one. Scalloped Potatoes bring that soft, creamy texture with just enough bite to keep people reaching for more. It’s one of those sides that feels like a meal in itself but still plays well with everything else. This dish always ends up empty way too early.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes
