Healthy Recipes Side Dishes 16 Quick & Easy Side Dishes 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 August 21, 2024 Close If you need inspiration for some tasty side dishes, you’re in the right place! These recipes come together in just 10 minutes for a quick and easy bite that can be paired with any main course for a filling and nutritious meal. Serve options like our Cucumber Salad with Peanuts & Sweet Chili Sauce or Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado & Walnuts to please everyone's palate. 01 of 16 Cucumber Salad with Peanuts & Sweet Chili Sauce Brittany Conerly Thai sweet chili sauce is a condiment often used for dipping that features a mix of chiles and garlic with a sweet base; it has a texture similar to honey. On its own, it adds balance and a hint of spice to savory dishes, or it can be combined with vinegar and salt as we do here for a punchy drizzle over fresh sliced cucumber. View Recipe 02 of 16 Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado & Walnuts Serve this summery strawberry spinach salad alongside soup or a half sandwich, or top with grilled chicken or roasted salmon for a complete and easy healthy meal. View Recipe 03 of 16 Watermelon with Mint Gremolata This flavor-boosting combo of mint and lime, inspired by the traditional Italian herb-and-garlic gremolata recipe, livens up juicy watermelon. Put a platter out at your next cookout and watch it disappear in an instant. View Recipe 04 of 16 Citrus-Arugula Salad This easy salad recipe makes a stunning side dish for anything you've got cooking for dinner. The bright flavor of the citrus pairs perfectly with peppery arugula and avocado, plus a bit of jalapeño for a slight kick. View Recipe 05 of 16 Fresh Sweet Corn Salad We love fresh summer corn when it's in season, but frozen corn makes a great year-round substitute in this quick and easy side dish. View Recipe 06 of 16 Spicy Cabbage Slaw Sliced radishes add a peppery kick to this 10-minute slaw, which can serve as both a side and a topping for sandwiches. View Recipe 07 of 16 Grilled Asparagus Grilling is a simple and fast way to cook asparagus that yields a delicious result every time. Trimming off about 1 inch of the asparagus yields the best flavor—the ends are tough and hard to chew. View Recipe 08 of 16 Spinach Salad This fresh-tasting, 10-minute salad is a simple mixture of fresh baby spinach and dried cranberries. To save time, we use bottled Italian dressing, but with a few extra minutes you can easily switch up the flavor by making your own dressing—just try our All-Purpose Vinaigrette (see associated recipe). View Recipe 09 of 16 Tomato & Fennel Salad We like to use heirloom tomatoes in this simple salad. They're at their peak during the summer months and worth seeking out at your local grocery store or farmers' market. Which varieties you choose is up to you—any will work well here. View Recipe 10 of 16 Boiled Corn on the Cob Want to know how to boil corn on the cob? This boiled corn on the cob recipe starts with 4 ears of fresh summer corn. View Recipe 11 of 16 Easy Steamed Zucchini How long does zucchini take to cook? This foolproof way to cook zucchini is also the easiest and fastest. Just steam it on the stovetop for a few minutes and you have a healthy vegetable side dish to add to dinner. View Recipe 12 of 16 Microwaved Fresh Green Beans Steaming green beans in the microwave is quick and convenient, helping you to get dinner on the table in minutes. This basic recipe is a great starting point for the seasoning of your choice—a little butter, toasted nuts or a creamy sauce. View Recipe 13 of 16 Herb & Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette This light basil, parsley and arugula salad recipe is tossed with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette. It's great with pizza or as a light side salad. View Recipe 14 of 16 Simple Sautéed Spinach Sautéed spinach (or any greens) with garlic and a squeeze of lemon (or vinegar) is a simple formula that lets spinach shine and will never go out of favor. View Recipe 15 of 16 Vinegary Coleslaw Forget mayonnaise-laden coleslaw. The bright, clean flavors in this version go well with everything from tacos to barbecue. View Recipe 16 of 16 Basic Green Salad with Vinaigrette Make a larger batch of this basic vinaigrette to have on hand for salads throughout the week. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit