Looking for side dish recipes to go with your next dinner? Golden potatoes, colorful vegetables and a bubbling dish of mac and cheese give you plenty to choose from.
These pictures are full of ideas for what to serve alongside your main.
You can keep things simple with greens or go all out with a cheesy potato bake. Start with whatever you’re craving, then save a few ideas for your next menu.
Side Dish Ideas Worth Saving
golden potato halves
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous golden potatoes. I love the browned edges and little green herbs scattered across the tray.
There’s plenty of crumbly topping tucked between the halves too.
If you want a similar finish, try a sprinkle of grated Parmesan over your own roasted potatoes.
carrot sticks with herbs
How pretty are these carrots? The long orange pieces have a glossy coating, with little herb leaves scattered throughout.
That bright red serving dish makes the whole thing even more colorful.
I’d serve a dish like this alongside roast chicken and potatoes.
Read also: 20 Sunday Dinner Ideas for Families, From Pot Roast to Pasta
swirled mashed potatoes
If you love mashed potatoes, this bowl is worth saving. The deep swirls hold a golden topping, with a rosemary sprig sitting right in the middle.
Try making a little well with the back of your spoon when you serve your own. It’s such a simple way to dress up the bowl.
green beans and almonds
Don’t want a casserole and want something a little simpler? These green beans are a lovely option.
I especially love the browned almond slices scattered over the long green beans.
Keep the wide platter in mind if you want to show off the topping rather than hide it in a deep bowl.
browned brussels sprouts
These Brussels sprouts may just be one of my favorite vegetable ideas here. The browned patches and fine pale topping look so good against the green leaves.
Some of the sprouts have opened up enough to show their lighter centers too.
breadcrumb mac and cheese
Who else would go straight for that golden topping? This baked mac and cheese has curved pasta peeking through the sauce and a generous layer of browned breadcrumbs.
I’d pair a scoop with a simple green vegetable. You’ve already got plenty going on in this dish!
rice and black beans
If you’re looking for a rice idea with a little extra color, this one is for you. Black beans and bright green cilantro leaves are mixed through the pale rice.
Try serving a bowl like this with tacos, or put lime wedges on the table for anyone who wants a squeeze.
parmesan roasted broccoli
This is another pretty way to put a green vegetable on the table. The Parmesan and red pepper broccoli has browned edges and a light coating over the florets.
I love that the pieces include plenty of stem rather than just the tops.
a pot of leafy greens
Looking for something a little different from roasted vegetables? Here, long leafy greens are being lifted from a steaming pot, with pieces of meat visible in the cooking liquid.
I’d put cornbread alongside a bowl like this so you have something to dip.
garlic butter corn
I am obsessed with the look of this skillet corn. The short cob sections sit in bubbling garlic butter, with green herbs dotted over the yellow kernels.
The smaller pieces are a nice serving idea if you want room on your plate for a few other sides too.
cheesy layered potatoes
Okay, that golden top is gorgeous. A scoop taken from the front shows the overlapping potato slices underneath, with cheese stretching across the opening.
Save this one if your idea of a good dinner includes a generous spoonful of potatoes.
garlic spinach
Don’t want to add another baked dish to your menu? No problem!
This garlic sautéed spinach keeps things simple, with wilted green leaves and little pieces of garlic throughout. I’d choose it to go beside the cheesy potatoes above.
colorful wild rice mix
There’s so much to love in this rice bowl. Dark wild rice sits among the lighter grains, with dried cranberries, pecan pieces and little orange cubes mixed through.
The chopped green herbs are such a pretty finishing touch. This would be a lovely idea to save for a holiday menu.
wrapped asparagus bundles
How cute are these little asparagus bundles? Thin pink slices wrap around the stalks, leaving the green tips and cut ends showing.
The pale cheese shavings on top make them look a little dressier.
For your own version, try prosciutto with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
golden cubes and pomegranate
I love the colors in this dish. The golden-orange cubes have deeply browned edges, with red pomegranate seeds, white crumbles and chopped herbs scattered over them.
If you want to try a similar combination, roasted squash with feta and pomegranate would be a lovely starting point.
shredded purple cabbage
Want something colorful without a whole tray of toppings? This bowl of finely shredded purple cabbage gives you a simple starting point.
You could turn yours into a slaw with your favorite dressing, then serve it beside sandwiches or grilled chicken.
hasselback sweet potatoes
These sweet potatoes are so pretty with all those thin slices. I love how the orange centers show between the darker skins, with little herbs tucked across the tops.
The rosemary and red cranberries around the potatoes are a lovely presentation idea for a holiday platter.
pearl couscous salad
This is a lovely option if you want something other than potatoes or rice. The bowl has pearl couscous, cucumber pieces, chopped greens and white cheese crumbles, with a golden dressing being poured over the top.
Read also: 20 One Pot Chicken Dinner Ideas With Rice, Pasta and Colorful Veggies
I’d keep the generous scattering of herbs if you’re making your own version.
cabbage with bacon
Here’s another cabbage idea, but it’s quite different from the purple bowl above. Broad pieces of cooked green cabbage sit under a scattering of browned bacon.
Read also: 20 Lunch Box Ideas for Work With Wraps, Bowls and Colorful Sides
Those darker pieces on top are my favorite detail. Try serving a bowl like this alongside mashed potatoes.
golden dinner rolls
Last but definitely not least, we have these gorgeous dinner rolls. I love the shiny browned tops and pale edges where the rolls meet.
Bring them to the table in a basket, or keep them in the pan for that lovely pull-apart look.