38 winter sides you’ll want to make all season long
A good winter side can make the whole meal feel more put together. These recipes pair perfectly with everything from weeknight dinners to long Sunday meals. Simple, cozy, and always welcome.
Herby Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Give your table a fun, herby twist with these healthy mashed sweet potatoes. Creamy, colorful, and loaded with rosemary, garlic, parsley, and Greek yogurt, they go perfectly with all your cozy winter favorites. Get the recipe: Herby Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Butternut Squash Lasagna
This veggie-packed butternut squash lasagna layers roasted squash, zucchini, spinach, and all the melty cheese you can handle. It’s the kind of cozy, crowd-favorite recipe you end up making for every family event. Get the recipe: Butternut Squash Lasagna
Sweet and Spicy Roasted Carrots
These sweet and spicy roasted carrots hit that perfect balance of sweetness and heat. Finished with burrata, pistachios, and fresh basil, they look fancy and taste restaurant-level, but are surprisingly easy to pull off. Get the recipe: Sweet and Spicy Roasted Carrots
Pumpkin Pear Soup
This creamy roasted pumpkin pear soup is a cozy fall side or light dinner. Pumpkin and pear bring the perfect sweet and savory balance, and the dish is lightened up with evaporated milk instead of cream. Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pear Soup
Kale Salad with Apples
This massaged kale salad is fresh, crunchy, and perfectly balanced with apples, cranberries, toasted almonds, and Pecorino Romano. A lemon Dijon dressing with a splash of apple cider vinegar brings it all together. Get the recipe: Kale Salad with Apples
Simple Air Fryer Delicata Squash
This 20-minute air fryer delicata squash is healthy, tasty, and ridiculously easy. With just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, it’s a side dish recipe you’ll reach for all the time. Get the recipe: Simple Air Fryer Delicata Squash
Mashed Potato Casserole
This mashed potato casserole is pure comfort in every bite, creamy and cheesy with a crunchy panko topping. Crisp bacon and fresh chives add the perfect salty pop and a splash of color. Get the recipe: Mashed Potato Casserole
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
These roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon are literally the easiest thing ever, with just 10 minutes of prep. Crispy bacon, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and a maple Dijon sauce that ties it all together make this side dish an absolute showstopper. Get the recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Wild Rice Salad with Beets and Lemon Ricotta
This wild rice salad is colorful, fresh, and packed with beets, blood oranges, wild rice, and greens. Top it with whipped lemon ricotta for a healthy, delicious side or light meal. Get the recipe: Wild Rice Salad with Beets and Lemon Ricotta
Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These roasted sweet potatoes are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned with herbs that make them seriously addictive. Simple, flavorful, and guaranteed to steal the spotlight at dinner. Get the recipe: Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
These air fryer baked sweet potatoes come out perfectly fluffy every single time. Quick, foolproof, and an easy way to add a healthy side to any meal. Get the recipe: Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Cheesy Cauliflower Broccoli Bake
This cheesy cauliflower broccoli bake is the side dish you didn’t know you needed. Loaded with veggies and melted cheese, it’s the perfect comfort food to complement any meal. Get the recipe: Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
Roasted Carrots and Asparagus with Tarragon Butter
Time to level up your veggie side dish game with these roasted carrots and asparagus, topped with fresh tarragon herb butter and toasted pistachios. It’s simple, gorgeous, and perfect for any occasion with just a few easy ingredients. Get the recipe: Roasted Carrots and Asparagus with Tarragon Butter
Farro and Apple Arugula Salad
This farro salad is fresh, versatile, and packed with crisp arugula, chewy farro, sweet apples, and shaved Parmesan. Tossed in a tangy Dijon vinaigrette, it’s perfect as a nutritious main or a hearty side. Get the recipe: Farro and Apple Arugula Salad
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet, creamy, and topped with a cinnamon-pecan crumble, this slow cooker sweet potato casserole is pure holiday comfort. Bonus: it frees up oven space for everything else you’re juggling. Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Arugula and Sweet Potato Salad with Goat Cheese
You’ll want to bookmark this arugula salad with goat cheese ASAP. Peppery arugula, tangy goat cheese, and roasted sweet potatoes come together for a perfect balance of flavors and textures that works as an appetizer or side. Get the recipe: Arugula and Sweet Potato Salad with Goat Cheese
Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots
Sautéed green beans with shallots bring the perfect balance of crisp and savory to any meal. Buttery caramelized shallots take this simple side up a notch, whether it’s a Tuesday night or a holiday spread. Get the recipe: Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots
Garlic Butter Corn
This buttery skillet corn is next-level, with fresh garlic vibes and a sprinkle of parmesan on top. It is super easy and works for both a weeknight dish and for a special occasion. Get the recipe: Garlic Butter Fried Corn
Homemade Green Bean Casserole
This green bean casserole skips the canned soup and goes all in on homemade flavor. With a creamy mushroom sauce and that nostalgic crunch on top, it’s the side dish your holiday table deserves. Get the recipe: Homemade Green Bean Casserole
Honeycrisp Apple Candied Pecan Salad
This honeycrisp apple and candied pecan salad is a seasonal showstopper for autumn and Thanksgiving gatherings. Apples, goat cheese, candied pecans, and a maple dressing make every bite fresh and crunchy. Get the recipe: Honeycrisp Apple Candied Pecan Salad
Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
These roasted carrots are as simple as they get, with only 10 minutes of prep time. The sweet and savory honey butter seasoning is so good that everyone will be going back for seconds. Get the recipe: Honey Butter Roasted Carrots
Sweet and Spicy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Sweet and spicy roasted sweet potatoes are the perfect side dish. With just the right mix of sweetness and heat, they’re sure to step up your meal. Get the recipe: Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Butternut Squash Risotto
This butternut squash risotto is creamy, savory, and loaded with Parmesan, tender squash, and kale. Perfect as a comforting main or a flavorful side. Get the recipe: Butternut Squash Risotto
Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash
This spicy roasted butternut squash with quinoa and dried cranberries brings together warm, balanced flavors that feel right for fall. It works well as a warm salad or a simple gluten-free side dish. Get the recipe: Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash
Spinach Pear and Feta Salad
This spinach, pear, and feta salad combines sweet pomegranate arils, earthy walnuts, and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. Sweet, tangy, and crunchy, it’s ready in just 5 minutes. Get the recipe: Spinach Pear and Feta Salad
Sweet Potato Casserole
This sweet potato casserole is rich, cozy, and topped with the most addictive brown sugar pecan crumble. Make it ahead, bake it later, and watch it disappear fast. Get the recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole
Roasted Root Vegetables
These honey-glazed root veggies roast up sweet and golden with just the right amount of caramelization. Carrots, parsnips, and golden beets bring all the color and cozy vibes. They’re easy to throw together and pair well with almost everything. Get the recipe: Roasted Root Vegetables
Maple Glazed Carrots
These maple-glazed carrots are side dish goals. They’ll steal the show at any meal, sweet, spicy, buttery, and perfectly caramelized. Get the recipe: Maple Roasted Carrots
Quinoa Beet Salad
This quinoa beet salad is simple to make but packed with vitamins, minerals, and sweet-savory flavor. Crunchy chopped veggies and a homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette make it a fresh, easy addition to any lunch rotation. Get the recipe: Quinoa Beet Salad
Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash Noodles
Spicy roasted butternut squash noodles are pasta with a plot twist. They bring big flavor and a fun change-up that instantly makes dinner feel less boring. Get the recipe: Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash Noodles
Butternut Squash Soup (with added protein)
This creamy apple butternut squash protein soup is rich, cozy, and surprisingly light with 11 grams of protein per bowl. It’s made in one pot with 10 simple ingredients and comes together in about 45 minutes. Get the recipe: Butternut Squash Soup (with added protein)
Instant Pot Beets
Instant pot beets come out perfectly tender every time and cook in a fraction of the time. Quick, easy, and ready to enjoy in salads, smoothies, or soups. Get the recipe: Instant Pot Beets
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
This Brussels sprout salad mixes shaved Brussels sprouts, chopped kale, pomegranate arils, avocado, and candied pecans in a bright lemon vinaigrette. Quick to make, it’s perfect for a holiday side or a light lunch. Get the recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
Roasted Sweet Potato and Feta Salad
This roasted sweet potato and feta salad with tangy lime dressing doubles as a gorgeous main or a show-stopping holiday side. Bright, flavorful, and effortlessly stunning on any table. Get the recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato and Feta Salad
Stuffed Butternut Squash
This stuffed butternut squash is loaded with quinoa, kale, cranberries, herbs, and sweet apples for a cozy, veggie-packed meal. Want meat? Toss in some Italian sausage or ground beef, and you’ve got an instant hearty main dish. Get the recipe: Stuffed Butternut Squash
Roasted Beet Salad with Miso Dressing
This roasted beet salad is fresh, colorful, and packed with tender beets, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crunchy hazelnuts. A creamy miso dressing ties it all together, adding a rich, savory-sweet finish to every bite. Get the recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Miso Dressing
Cornbread Casserole
This cornbread casserole is buttery, sweet, and packed with all the corn flavor you could want. It’s the kind of side that steals the show, holiday or not. Get the recipe: Cornbread Casserole
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
This easy scalloped potatoes recipe is creamy, cheesy, and pure comfort in a dish. Simple to make, few ingredients, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Get the recipe: Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes