Easy Side Dishes Your Family Will Love

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The right side dish recipes can take any meal from good to unforgettable! Whether you’re planning a holiday feast, a casual dinner, or a summer cookout, the perfect side adds flavor, texture, and balance to your plate.

This collection is all about easy, no-fuss sides that come together quickly. From roasted veggies and creamy casseroles to fresh salads and comforting starches, there’s something for every craving and occasion.

Many of these recipes use simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. No complicated techniques—just delicious, foolproof sides that anyone can make.

Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

A close up of bright green lettuce topped with vibrant red strawberries and red onions cut into slices. The salad is topped with a white dressing with poppyseeds in it. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

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Strawberry Poppyseed Salad is a fresh and sweet burst of flavor in your mouth that will leave you craving more. Indulge in this easy prep Panera Bread copycat salad with succulent strawberries and creamy homemade poppyseed dressing in just 10 minutes or less for a healthy yet satisfying meal. This strawberry poppyseed salad screams freshness.

GET THIS RECIPE: Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

Lemon Orzo Salad

In a glass bowl, orzo is mixed with yellow corn, red bell pepper chunks, red onion slices and bright green sprigs of herbs. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Lemon Orzo Salad is packed with vibrant and refreshing flavors, giving the best tangy citrus and savory goodness that satisfies everyone. Make this family-friendly side dish in just 20 minutes, perfect on a hot summer day. This orzo pasta salad recipe is so light and refreshing. It is always ready to serve in no time because of its simplicity.

GET THIS RECIPE: Lemon Orzo Salad

Elote Salad (Mexican Street Corn Salad)

In a white ceramic dish, corn is mixed with red onions, chili powder, cilantro and topped with crumbles of queso fresco. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

We all know that street food is the most delicious treat ever! Elote Salad is a side dish inspired by a Mexican favorite. This corn salad includes a delicious combination of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, and is a great way to enjoy fresh corn and spices. This is the perfect, quick side dish for a busy weeknight. It has all the flavor and none of the time consuming fuss.

GET THIS RECIPE: Elote Salad (Mexican Street Corn Salad)

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

On a gray marbled countertop, sits a white plate that has cubes of chicken and rotini pasta on it. The chicken and pasta are coated with a light orange buffalo wing sauce. The dish is garnished with chopped up green onions and Blue cheese. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad is spicy, creamy, and crunchy, making for a meal that’s filled with exciting flavors and textures. This salad is perfect for get-togethers or as an easy weeknight meal. Use your favorite brand of buffalo sauce, diced celery and carrots, cubed or shredded rotisserie chicken, and Ranch or Blue cheese dressing to make a side dish that is bursting with flavor.

GET THIS RECIPE: Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Fried Mashed Potato Cakes

A close up of a pile of potato cakes is sitting on a white plate next to a glass ramekin filled with sour cream. Both the sour cream dip and the potato cakes are garnished with scallions and chives. The potato cakes are crispy looking and golden brown on the outside. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Fried Mashed Potato Cakes are the ultimate indulgence for potato lovers everywhere. They are crispy, cheesy patties that will leave your taste buds begging for more. With their creamy interior and crunchy exterior, these cakes are perfect whether you’re serving them at a family gathering or enjoying them on a lazy Sunday. Our fried potato cakes are sure to satisfy all your comfort food cravings.

GET THIS RECIPE: Fried Mashed Potato Cakes

Frito Salad

Frito Salad is one of those unique, quirky salads that you try because it sounds different but will keep on making because it’s so good. This salad is the perfect dish to bring to a potluck or to add to your busy weeknight side dish rotation.

GET THIS RECIPE: Frito Salad

Best Caesar Salad

In a white bowl, a caesar salad fills the bowl. The lettuce is bright green and looks crispy, topped with homemade looking croutons and shaved cheese. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Caesar salad is called Caesar salad for the simple reason that the inventor’s name was Caesar Cardini. Fun fact, this salad originated in Mexico. The Best Caesar Salad has a great dressing that is creamy, garlicky and full of fresh parmesan cheese. Drizzle it on top for the perfect salad! A classic one features crunchy greens and an irresistibly creamy dressing. This is an easy salad that delivers on flavor.

GET THIS RECIPE: Best Caesar Salad

Loaded Tater Tots

There is something magical about tater tots. If you know, you know and if you don’t then it is time to get acquainted with these little magic tots. They are great on their own, but they go over the top when they are topped with delicious ingredients. These delicious Loaded Tater Tots are baked, covered in sour cream, tomatoes and crispy bacon. Magic dust in a side dish!

GET THIS RECIPE: Loaded Tater Tots

Cream Cucumber Onion Salad

In a scalloped green bowl, there is a close up of cucumbers and onions tossed in a white dressing. The dressing looks creamy and has generous amounts of dill mixed in. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

A salad that is a perfect treat for cucumber lovers! Cucumber Onion Salad is a light and refreshing side salad. It’s quick, easy and it’s perfect for those hot summer days. If you love things that are cool, crunchy and crisp then this recipe is for you. It’s unique and super easy to make, making it perfect as a busy weeknight side. Another bonus is that it is easy to make ahead.

GET THIS RECIPE: Creamy Cucumber Onion Salad

Mexican Rice and Beans

A black skillet, with a wooden spoon at the top of the picture, is filled with rice and beans. The dish is made up of off white rice, black beans, bright yellow corn, green chiles and vibrant red peppers. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Whatvis more colorful and vibrant than Mexican culture? Mexican Rice and Beans is no exception! Staying true to the tradition of color, this recipe is filled with red bell peppers, black beans, yellow corn, and lime. This Mexican classic is a flavorful combination of ingredients and is a powerhouse of protein, fiber, and deliciousness. It’s so good!

GET THIS RECIPE: Mexican Rice and Beans

Crock Pot Baked Beans

A close up of baked beans in a white bowl sitting on a faded blue and white gingham tablecloth. The beans are in a thick sauce. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

These Crock Pot Baked Beans are a great side dish for your next busy weeknight meal. The beauty of crockpot baked beans lies in their customizability. These baked beans are made with sweet and spicy ingredients, such as molasses and chili peppers. Make a large batch easily in the crock pot and use them for get-togethers or as a side dish with a weeknight dinner.

GET THIS RECIPE: Crock Pot Baked Beans

California Spaghetti Squash Salad

A very close up picture of spaghetti squash in an off white bowl. The spaghetti salad has spaghetti squash, tomatoes, broccoli, diced peppers, onions and black olives. It is topped with green herbs and sesame seeds. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

California Spaghetti Salad made with spaghetti squash is the perfect way to cut carbs! It is loaded with healthy, colorful veggies and is a tasty cold side to any dish. This is one of the best spaghetti squash recipes because it is healthy, delicious and easy to make. We all love spaghetti squash as spaghetti pasta but this salad is next level good.

GET THIS RECIPE: California Spaghetti Squash Salad

Velveeta Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers

In the background there is a blurry picture of a broccoli casserole. In the foreground, on a wooden spoon there is a close up of the same casserole. The casserole has green broccoli pieces, melted velveeta cheese and a crunchy looking golden crust. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Easy Velveeta Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers is one of those recipes that is super easy to make but so incredibly delicious that everyone will be asking for more. Perfect for holidays, special family dinners or a weeknight when you are short on time. This creamy cheese sauce and crunchy ritz cracker topping just make the broccoli better. The incredible Velveeta broccoli casserole is rich, is decadent and is the perfect comfort food.

GET THIS RECIPE: Velveeta Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Bacon Green Beans

This Bacon Green Beans recipe is one of the best ways to get your picky eaters to devour their vegetables. It’s sweet and salty goodness loaded with bacon. What’s not to love? Bacon makes everything better, that is why this recipe is irresistible. It is the perfect way to dress up a side dish for holidays, a special dinner or a busy weeknight. Let’s face it, two of the best flavors you can give to any vegetable are bacon and onions!

GET THIS RECIPE: Bacon Green Beans

Air Fryer Animal Fries

On a white plate, there is a pile of french fries covered generously with melted American cheese and with golden brown sauteed onions. — Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

This Air Fryer Animal Fries recipe will show you how to make the In-N-Out Burger classic at home. Crisp fries are drenched in cheese, Thousand Island dressing, diced onions to make an indulgent side dish packed with flavor. If you love animal style fries from In-N-Out Burger, this copycat recipe will let you make animal fries at home. These homemade golden fries are topped with a zesty sauce, complete with sweet caramelized onions and American cheese on top.

GET THIS RECIPE: Air Fryer Animal Fries