Entrées are usually the stars of the show — soaking up all the attention and praise — but those days are over. These sides are here to take center stage and will make your main dishes feel like they’re just there to fill the plate. With flavors this bold and combinations this clever, these side dishes will make your main course look like a backup plan.

Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese

If you’re after something that screams “easy yet impressive,” this Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese is it. Layer the tomatoes with heaps of Parmesan and mozzarella, some herbs, and a drizzle of oil. Pop them into the oven, and in about 25 minutes, you’re looking at a side dish that might cause your main course to sulk in the corner. They’re quick and straightforward and bring just the right amount of flair to your table without overshadowing everything else. Why bother with a complex main when these beauties get all the applause?
Get the Recipe: Baked Tomatoes with Parmesan and Mozzarella Cheese

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Parmesan Crusted Potatoes are what happens when comfort meets chic in the kitchen. Coat the potato slices in a mix of garlic, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan, then bake them till they’re perfectly crispy. These potatoes are so good that they’ll make you rethink why you ever needed a main course. Ready in less than an hour, these potatoes can turn a mundane Tuesday into a potential dinner party.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Potatoes

Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad

Just when you thought a salad couldn’t steal the show, this Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad just did. Simply combine sliced cucumbers and red onions, toss them with a quick 4-ingredient dressing, chill in the refrigerator, and serve. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s perfect for those days when even thinking about firing up the oven feels too much work. Serve this, and you might find your main dish going unnoticed.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

The Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms are a prime example of how a side dish can basically take over the meal. Stuffed to the brim with sausage, cream cheese, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and garlic, they’re baked until golden and delicious. Ready in just 45 minutes, these mushrooms are a low-effort, high-reward kind of deal that can make you forget about the steak you probably overcooked anyway. And if there are leftovers, that’s tomorrow’s problem solved.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Loaded Zucchini Boats

Loaded Zucchini Boats are the answer when you want to impress without the stress. Halved and de-seeded zucchinis are stuffed with crispy bacon and gooey cheese and then topped with a dollop of sour cream and fresh green onions after baking. These bad boys are ready in 30 minutes, turning a simple side dish into the night’s main attraction. On a busy weeknight, they’re perfect when you need something great that doesn’t require four hours or a cooking degree. Because honestly, who has time for that?
Get the Recipe: Loaded Zucchini Boats

Twice Baked Potato Casserole

If you’re looking for a side dish that will upstage your main course, Twice Baked Potato Casserole is your go-to. This dish combines the comforting textures of fluffy potatoes with the crunch of crispy bacon, all smothered under layers of melty cheese and a creamy sauce. It’s baked not once but twice to achieve a perfect golden crust that’s hard to resist. Plus, it’s a great way to impress at potlucks — watch people’s surprise when they ask for seconds of the side dish instead of the main!
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms

Say goodbye to boring sides with this Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms. It’s a dish that shows sides can be the highlight of any dinner. Swapping traditional rice with cauliflower and mushrooms keeps this risotto lighter but doesn’t skimp on flavor. It’s perfect for those busy nights since it comes together in just 30 minutes in a single pan — minimal cleanup, maximum flavor. It’s so good it might just make you skip the entrée and head straight for this delicious plate.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms

Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower

This Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower shows that vegetables can be showstoppers too — it will have everyone at the table doing a double-take. Start by simmering the cauliflower in chicken stock, then coat it in a mix of butter and Parmesan, and roast it to perfection. It’s a dish that combines convenience with elegance and cooks up in just 30 minutes. Don’t be surprised if everyone starts raving about it even after it’s gone.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Halloumi Fries

Halloumi Fries are not your average side dish. Made from uniquely non-melting halloumi cheese, these fries can handle high heat, making them perfect for baking, grilling, or frying. Ready in just 25 minutes, they’re a no-brainer for a quick, impressive side. Serve them with a spicy mayo or a cool yogurt dip to kick things up a notch. They’re so popular that you might find yourself making a double batch next time. Trust us, these cheese fries will steal the spotlight and leave nothing but crumbs.
Get the Recipe: Halloumi Fries

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Fried Cabbage with Bacon turns an ordinary side into the highlight of your meal. This quick fix combines the flavors of bacon with the cabbage, creating a flavorful dish that’s ready in about 25 minutes. It’s the perfect solution for those evenings when time isn’t on your side, but you still want something that tastes like you put in much effort. With a side this good, why would you even bother with a main course? It’s like choosing a nap over a full night’s sleep — sometimes, the shorter option is just better.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Golden Baked Jicama Fries

Let’s talk about Golden Baked Jicama fries, a side dish that could easily steal the show at any dinner. To make them, you’ll boil the fries in water, season them, and then bake them in the oven. Ready in just a little over an hour, these golden fries are crispy, perfectly seasoned, and so much better than any main dish. Who knew a root vegetable could outshine your main course? Definitely not your entrées.
Get the Recipe: Golden Baked Jicama Fries

Baked Sliced Zucchini

Baked Sliced Zucchini is no average side dish. Slices of zucchini are seasoned with Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian herbs and then baked until the edges get nice and crispy. When you serve this up, even the main dishes will start to feel a little insecure. It only takes 20 minutes from start to finish, perfect for those busy weeknights when you’re just too spent.
Get the Recipe: Baked Sliced Zucchini

Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon

Here’s why Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon might just cancel your main course plans. It combines hearty squash with cauliflower and chunks of bacon, all roasted together. Sure, it’s a side dish, but it’s packed with so much flavor and heartiness that you’ll forget why you even thought about adding anything else to the table. Easy to prep and even easier to love, this dish shows that sometimes, the side dish is really the main event.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice is here to change your mind about what a side dish can be. Finely pulsed cauliflower is mixed with onions and jalapeños, then finished with a fresh splash of lime. Ready in about 20 minutes, this dish is light, refreshing, and punches above its weight class in the flavor department. You can pair it with your favorite veggies or protein or nothing at all — it’s that good. Next time you think sides are just fillers remember this cauliflower rice, and it’ll make you think again.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes isn’t just a side dish — it’s a statement. Ready in 25 minutes, this dish combines fresh broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy sauce that’s downright irresistible. It’s quick, easy, and has enough personality to stand on its own. On a night when you’re looking to impress without the stress, this broccoli does more than accompany your meal — it could very well be the “meal.”
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes