15+ Quick & Easy Side Dishes to Make Forever

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grilled Asparagus

Grilling is a simple and fast way to cook asparagus that yields a delicious result every time. Trimming off about one inch of the asparagus yields the best flavor–the ends are tough and hard to chew.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.