If you’re trying to get your family to eat a little healthier, one of the best (and easiest) things you can do is to start serving them more Healthy Vegetable Side Dishes. Not only are vegetable packed with nutrients, but when they’re tucked into these side dish recipes, they’re also absolutely delicious. And when paired with a piece of lean protein (say chicken recipes or seafood recipes), then you’ve got a perfect meal the whole family will love.
Fortunately, the majority of these plates are simple to put together. With dishes like salt-and-pepper charred green beans, corn cobettes with basil butter, roasted Brussels sprouts, or a spicy lemon cauliflower, you can whip these up while the chicken bakes or the meat roasts.
Of course, the vegetable side dishes don’t stop there. Some of the other crowd-pleasers on this list include fall favorites like roasted butternut squash with cider vinaigrette, marinated mushroom-and-charred broccolini salad, and creamy cauliflower gratin. If you want to get extra healthy you can try skipping meat altogether one or two nights a week, and either make several of these sides, or incorporate them with vegetarian recipes for a full meat-free meal. No matter what kind of side dish you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it here. These recipes are so good, even the kids will be piling their plates with veggies. In fact, you might even have to remind your kids to save room for dessert—and wouldn’t that be a surprise!
Cauliflower Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Here’s a kid-friendly way to sneak some veggies onto the dinner plate. And the puréed cauliflower makes the mac even creamier, so it’s a win-win!
Roasted Mushrooms and Radicchio
Earthy mixed mushrooms and bright, bitter radicchio are tamed with a warm balsamic vinaigrette in this ideal fall salad.
Crispy Brussels Sprouts Salad with Citrus-Maple Vinaigrette
This veggie-packed salad is deceptively hearty, but it’s the dressing your family will be asking for over and over.
Broiled Broccolini and Capers
Looking for a way to make greens more flavorful? Try crushed red pepper and bright, salty capers, then char them lightly in the oven.
Horseradish–Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes pair with meaty mains like, well, like meat and potatoes. Here, a scoop of spicy horseradish adds a bit of an elemental kick.
Cast-Iron Hasselback Potatoes
The trick to making these impressive-looking roasted potatoes? A pair of chopsticks, which help you avoid cutting all the way through.
White Bean and Broccolini Salad
Sweet, succulent, and spicy, this side gets a ton of flavor from a marinade made of honey mustard, red pepper, and olive oil.
Oven-Braised Rainbow Carrots
Rainbow carrots—now found in many grocery stores—are an easy way to make a simple dish into a gorgeous side.
Grilled Summer Squash With Lemon-Scallion Dressing
Break out the grill for this herby, sweet-hot treat. Honey and jalapeños turn mild squash into something else entirely.
Green Beans with Crispy Spiced Chickpeas
The yummy trick to this easy side dish? Crisping the cumin-infused canned chickpeas on the grill, which imparts a smokey flavor that complements the spice.
Charred Baby Peppers with Lime and Cashew Vinaigrette
Charred peppers are a special treat: The heat caramelizes the sugars in the pepper, making them taste uniquely rich. But don’t sleep on this delicious, nutty, vinaigrette!
Sweet Potato-and-Cauliflower Salad
Toss together sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet and you’re practically done with this easy recipe.
Farro-and-Tomato Salad With Crispy Capers
Use a mix of grape and cherry tomatoes to make this bright and beautiful bowl. When veggies look this good, everyone will be helping themselves.
Spicy Lemon Cauliflower
Simple but oh-so-tasty, this dish belongs on your menu.
Corn Cobettes With Basil Butter
Warning: The basil butter that’s brushed on these cobettes is absolutely addictive. You’ll have to make a double batch—this recipe that incredible.
Charred Corn Salad
Is it too cold outside to fire up the grill? No problem—just get out your indoor grill (or buy one if you haven’t yet!) to make this dish.
Braised Greens
Beef up your veggies with thick slices of bacon—yep, you can thank us later.
Smashed Buttermilk Potato Salad
Tired of your typical potato salad? Give this take a try. It gets a flavor boost from red peppers.
Coriander Maple Glazed Carrots
Simple roasted carrots are an easy, elegant side that won’t overpower the turkey.
Salt-and-Pepper Charred Green Beans
Keep it simple with your green bean recipe this year. All you need is olive oil, salt, and pepper.
