Discover 26 Time-Saving Side Dishes to Simplify Your Weekly Meal Plans

Are you tired of spending hours in the kitchen every week trying to plan and prepare meals? Look no further because we have got you covered! Our collection of 26 time-saving side dishes is sure to simplify your weekly meal plans. Say goodbye to the stress and hello to extra time to relax and enjoy your meals. With a variety of tasty and easy-to-make dishes, you’ll never run out of ideas to switch up your routine.

Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread

Image credit: Dinner at the zoo.

This pull-apart bread is loaded with garlic butter, herbs and plenty of cheese, all baked together to gooey perfection. The ultimate side dish or appetizer option for a crowd! You can never go wrong with garlic and cheese bread, my favorites include garlic knots, cheese bombs, and this super easy pull apart loaf.

Sauteed Mushrooms in Soy Sauce Glaze

These garlicky soy sauce sauteed mushrooms are a quick and delicious side dish that’s perfect for any meal. The umami flavor of the soy sauce and the caramelized garlic make these mushrooms irresistible.

Recipe: sauteed mushrooms

Mashed Potatoes with Celery Root

Mashed potatoes are a must in every household. But when do you say that you made the best mashed potatoes? Well, we say it if it is creamy, fluffy and flavorful. How to do that? A bit of butter, a bit of milk and the addition of other veggies like celery root to make it even more unique.

Recipe: mashed potatoes

Sweet Potato Fries

Image credit: Dinner at the zoo.

These sweet potato fries are perfectly crispy and crunchy, just like you’d get at a restaurant! Sweet potato fries can be deep fried, or oven baked to golden brown perfection. Serve your fries alongside grilled meats or sandwiches.

Candied Yams

Image credit: Dinner at the zoo.

These candied yams are sweet potatoes tossed in brown sugar, butter and spices, then baked until caramelized. Add a sprinkle of marshmallows and you’ve got the perfect holiday side dish with minimal effort!

Find All Thanksgiving Sides Recipes here: thanksgiving sides recipe

Loaded Cheesy Potato Casserole

Image credit: Belle of the kitchen.

A Loaded Cheesy Potato Casserole is a comforting and indulgent side dish typically made with layers of thinly sliced potatoes, cheese, sour cream, and seasonings. Often topped with additional cheese, bacon bits, and green onions, this casserole is baked until bubbly and golden, resulting in a rich and creamy potato dish that’s a favorite at potlucks and holiday gatherings.

Hasselback Potatoes Recipe

Image Credit: Dinner at the zoo.

These Hasselback potatoes are thinly sliced potatoes that are roasted to golden brown perfection, then topped with cheese, bacon, sour cream and green onions. An easy yet impressive side dish that pairs perfectly with chicken and beef!

Cheezy Spicy Spinach Dip

This spinach dip is a creamy and flavorful dip that is perfect for any occasion. Made with whole food ingredients like veggies and spinach leaves, it’s a healthier alternative to traditional cheesy dips.

Recipe: spinach dip

Mac and Cheese

Image credit: My Pure Plants.

Looking for a healthy and delicious mac and cheese recipe? Look no further than this creamy sauce that’s ready in just 20 minutes!

Recipe: mac and cheese

Smashed Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs

Image Credit: Dinner at the zoo.

These smashed potatoes are baby potatoes that are boiled until tender, then smashed flat, topped with garlic and herb butter, and roasted until crispy and browned. A unique and unexpected potato preparation that always gets rave reviews!

Hatch Green Chile Creamed Corn

Image credit: Three olives branch.

Hatch Green Chile Creamed Corn is a simple homemade creamed corn recipe perfect for a BBQ or Southern soul food meal and Thanksgiving side. Corn is cooked with green chile peppers, milk, and butter for a simple side dish.

Find All Thanksgiving Sides Recipes here: thanksgiving sides recipe

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

Image Credit: Dinner at the zoo.

This make ahead loaded mashed potato casserole is full of bacon, cheese, sour cream and chives – it’s the perfect no-fuss side dish for a holiday meal. These mashed potatoes have all the flavors of a fully loaded baked potato in the form of an easy to make casserole.

Sweet Potato Gratin

Image credit: Greedy gourmet.

The golden-orange colors of the sweet potato gratin shine on the dish as you serve it to your guests, tempting them always for getting the largest piece.

Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Image Credit: The gracious pantry.

These sweet potato chips make for a delicious, healthy snack, especially when you’re craving deep-fried chips!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Image credit: Dinner at the zoo.

This recipe for sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is mashed spiced sweet potatoes, topped with both a pecan streusel topping and plenty of mini marshmallows. A holiday classic that’s a family favorite!

Find All Thanksgiving Sides Recipes here: thanksgiving sides recipe

Bacon Green Bean Bundles

Image credit: Dinner at the zoo.

These bacon wrapped green bean bundles are the perfect elegant side dish for any meal! Your guests will be so impressed when you serve them these beautiful and delicious bacon wrapped green beans. Skip the green bean casserole this year for Thanksgiving and serve green bean bundles instead!

Roasted Delicata Squash

Image credit: Posh plate.

Roasted Delicata Squash is a simple and delicious dish that involves slicing delicata squash into rounds or half-moons, seasoning them with olive oil, herbs, and spices, and then roasting them in the oven until they become tender and caramelized. The result is a flavorful side dish with a delightful combination of sweet and nutty flavors, often enjoyed during the fall and winter months.

Dairy-free Sour Cream

It is a 5-minute, homemade dairy-free sour cream recipe for when you need something nut-free and soy-free. 4-ingredients plus a high-power blender and you have yourself a creamy, tangy sour cream without cashews.

Recipe: sour cream

Creamiest Scalloped Potatoes

This scalloped potatoes recipe is the ultimate comfort food and a perfect side dish for any occasion. With its creamy, garlicky, and savory flavors, it is sure to please everyone at the dinner table.

Recipe: scalloped potatoes

Sauteed Julienne Carrots in Maple Thyme Glaze

These maple-glazed julienne carrots are a perfect combination of savory and sweet, with a beautiful golden brown color and a caramelized flavor. With only a handful of ingredients, this easy side dish is a great addition to any holiday table or weeknight dinner.

Recipe: sauteed carrots

Cranberry Jello Salad

Image credit: Dinner at the zoo.

This cranberry jello salad combines raspberry gelatin with cranberry sauce, pineapple and orange zest for a delicious side dish or dessert that’s perfect for the holidays. Jello is a classic side dish at my Thanksgiving dinner and this cranberry version is fun, festive and elegant.

Pesto Vegetables

Experience the delightful combination of vegetables and aromatic pesto sauce in our pesto vegetables recipe. This culinary fusion is sure to satisfy. Prepare to savor the vibrant flavors and enticing aromas as roasted veggies are perfectly paired with a flavorful pesto sauce!

Recipe: pesto vegetables

Grilled Vegetable Napoleon

Image credit: My Pure Plants.

This grilled vegetable Napoleon is a showstopper with vibrant, char-grilled layers of veggies like eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, portobello mushroom, and more. If you want a visually stunning and flavorful side dish, look no further. Served with aromatic basil pesto, it is stunning and flavorful.

Recipe: vegetable napoleon

Funeral Potatoes

Image credit: Dinner at the zoo.

Funeral potatoes are creamy and cheesy potatoes that are topped with buttered cornflakes and baked to golden brown perfection. A super easy casserole that’s perfect for feeding a crowd and always gets rave reviews!

Find All Thanksgiving Sides Recipes here: thanksgiving sides recipe

Southern Potato Salad

Image credit: The Toasty Kitchen.

Southern potato salad is a staple side dish for your next barbecue or family gathering. Served cold, this classic potato salad is filled with potatoes, eggs, celery, red onion, and relish, then coated in a creamy seasoned dressing.

Buffalo Dip

Learn how to make a creamy, cheesy sauce that’s both soy and nut-free using cannellini beans. Pair it with oyster mushrooms for the perfect plant-based alternative to shredded chicken in your buffalo dip.

Recipe: buffalo dip

15 Almost Lost Recipes From the ’60s and ’70s That Deserve a Comeback

Image credit: Depositphotos.

Almost lost recipes from the 60s and 70s

24 Make Ahead Lunch Recipes You’ll Regret Not Trying Sooner

Image credit: Depositphotos.

Make Ahead Lunch Recipes

15 Strange Dishes From Medieval Ages People Had To Eat Back Then

Image credit: Depositphotos.

Dishes from the Medieval Ages

15 Items You Should NEVER Add In Your Sandwiches

Image credit: Depositphotos.

Items you should never add in your sandwiches