Healthy Recipes Side Dishes Vegetable Side Dishes 18 New Veggie Side Dishes You’ll Want to Make Forever By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 16, 2024 Close Photo: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman These new veggie side dishes, like miso-garlic squash and roasted Brussels sprouts, are so delicious you’ll want to make them again and again. Packed with tasty vegetables like cabbage, squash, cauliflower and broccoli, there’s sure to be an option that will please everyone. Plus they’re highly rated, with at least four stars from EatingWell fans. Options like our Miso–Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Kimchi Vinaigrette make for flavorful side dishes that pair well with any of your favorite entrees. 01 of 18 Crunchy Chickpea & Cabbage Chopped Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman This chickpea-cabbage salad features carrots and cucumbers, making it a quartet of ingredients that all begin with the letter C! This chopped salad is loaded with fiber and prebiotic chickpeas, promoting a healthy gut. Green cabbage keeps the color vibrant and fresh, though red cabbage works just as well. View Recipe 02 of 18 Miso–Garlic Butter Roasted Delicata Squash Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Breanna Ghazali This delicious, gut-friendly side dish is rich in prebiotics to keep your digestive system running smoothly. Delicata squash has a tender, edible skin, so there’s no need to peel it, making it extra convenient while providing an added boost of fiber. Serve alongside roasted chicken or pork. View Recipe 03 of 18 Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Kimchi Vinaigrette Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman These roasted Brussels sprouts are coated in a spicy kimchi vinaigrette for a high-fiber side that you’ll want to make again and again. Kimchi offers a healthy dose of probiotics to keep your gut happy and healthy. View Recipe 04 of 18 Gut-Healthy Crispy Curried Cauliflower Bites Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman These curried cauliflower bites are paired with a creamy dipping sauce that features kefir—a fermented, yogurt-like drink that’s rich in probiotics that can help support gut health. You can swap out the kefir for plain yogurt thinned with a little water if you prefer. View Recipe 05 of 18 Dolly & Rachel Parton’s Broccoli Salad Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek Dolly Parton opens up about this tasty broccoli salad, saying, "Salads are always good. I’m big on them, especially in the summer. My husband, Carl, likes salads year-round, and I can do a good salad whether it’s using all sorts of vegetables or just one. There’s nothing better than a summer garden salad, and this is a great one. And it’s even better if you can make it the day before, so all the tastes and flavors can combine. Just give it a good stir before serving." View Recipe 06 of 18 Dolly & Rachel Parton’s Southern Green Beans Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek Dolly Parton and her sister Rachel shared their long-lasting love of green beans, "Green beans have always been part of our lives. We grew them, picked them, canned them, and ate them while growing up. A lot of them. The only things we had more of was potatoes! We also cooked our green beans a long time. That’s just the way it was done then, and the way we do it now." View Recipe 07 of 18 Roasted Cabbage with Miso Yogurt Sauce Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel This roasted miso cabbage is a flavorful dish that combines the earthy sweetness of roasted cabbage with the savory flavor of miso topped with the spicy crunch of chili crisp. White miso, with its sweet and mild flavor profile, works well here, but if you want a stronger flavor, red miso can be used in its place. View Recipe 08 of 18 Cacio e Pepe Sautéed Onions Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Abigail Armstrong These sautéed onions with cacio e pepe flavors bring the essence of the classic Italian pasta to new heights. The savory combination of Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly cracked black pepper coating lightly caramelized onions can be enjoyed on its own, used as a topping for pasta and roasted chicken or used as a filling for a toasted sandwich. View Recipe 09 of 18 Roasted Garlic-Butter Sweet Potatoes Ali Redmond Roasting a whole head of garlic brings out its sweetness and mellows its pungency, creating a smooth, caramelized paste that blends beautifully with melted butter. When tossed with perfectly roasted sweet potatoes, the result is a delicious side dish that’s easy to prepare and pairs with almost everything. You can even add a sprinkle of fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to elevate the flavor profile. View Recipe 10 of 18 Crispy Parmesan Bubble Cauliflower Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel These crispy cauliflower bites were inspired by the viral TikTok trend Bubble Potatoes. This version replaces the potato with cauliflower but sticks to the combination of rice flour and potato starch to ensure a crispy outside and creamy, tender inside. Serve these cauliflower bites with your favorite dipping sauce. View Recipe 11 of 18 Smashed Roasted Potatoes Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser These smashed roasted potatoes offer the best of both worlds: the tender, creamy texture of mashed potatoes combined with the crispy, caramelized exterior of roasted potatoes. They make a perfect accompaniment to seared steak or roasted pork tenderloin with roasted veggies on the side. We love the creaminess of baby yellow potatoes, but any baby potato will work well. View Recipe 12 of 18 Parmesan-Crusted Cauliflower Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel This Parmesan-crusted cauliflower is a delicious dish that features tender cauliflower florets with a crispy, golden Parmesan cheese crust. Finishing the dish with lemon zest and parsley adds a nice brightness. Serve this dish alongside roast chicken, pork and more. View Recipe 13 of 18 Garlic-Parmesan Melting Cabbage Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel The tender cabbage in this easy recipe melts in your mouth and picks up the flavors of garlic, Parmesan cheese and a little spice from crushed red pepper as it simmers in a creamy broth in the oven. Serve this easy dish with roasted chicken or pork. View Recipe 14 of 18 Cabbage & Edamame Salad with Peanut Dressing Ali Redmond This colorful salad offers up plenty of fiber and plant-based protein, thanks to peanut butter and edamame. This combination of ingredients creates a nutritious, balanced side that can help support stable blood sugar levels while offering up big, bold flavors. Mint, basil and cilantro all work well here. Choose one or combine them all for a more complex flavor. View Recipe 15 of 18 Broccoli au Gratin Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower Broccoli au Gratin is the ultimate comfort food, combining tender broccoli florets with a creamy cheese sauce and a golden, crispy topping. This easy dish pairs well as a side for holiday meals but is quick enough even for weeknights. We love the combination of savory Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses, but feel free to use just one or the other or, better yet, your own favorite melting cheese for a unique twist. View Recipe 16 of 18 Cacio e Pepe Sautéed Cabbage Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower This cabbage cacio e pepe dish captures the essence of the classic Italian pasta recipe. It features a simple yet flavorful combination of Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly cracked black pepper, coating strips of sliced and sautéed green cabbage. This easy side dish can be enjoyed on its own, or you can turn it into a meal by combining it with cooked whole-wheat pasta. View Recipe 17 of 18 Crispy Caesar-Inspired Potatoes Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Stanfield, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines Creamy, crispy and full of flavor, these roasted potatoes are a delicious side for any entree. Cornstarch helps make the potatoes extra crispy, so don’t skip that step! We love the mix of multicolored potatoes, but you can use one color if you prefer. The yogurt spread is reminiscent of a classic Caesar dressing, packed with cheesy, salty and garlicky notes in every bite. View Recipe 18 of 18 Roasted Honey-Balsamic Cauliflower Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling These tender cauliflower bites are seasoned with a blend of spices and then coated in batter to ensure the sweet and tangy honey-balsamic drizzle soaks into every bite. They make a perfect side dish for grilled chicken or steak, or you can serve them over rice or noodles for a delicious vegetarian main course. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit