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Side Dish Recipes

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Our collection of the Best Side Dish Recipes has everything you need to put together the perfect side dish for any meal! All of our side dish recipes are loved by families and reviewers alike. With plenty of side dishes to choose from for every occasion, you are guaranteed to find a new favorite side dish here!

Buttery mashed potatoes in a white bowl
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Buttery Mashed Potatoes - the Best Side Dish

Of all the best side dish recipes, one contender remains at the top: deliciously fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes! My recipe for garlic mashed potatoes is creamy, fluffy, and oh-so buttery and delicious. Mashed potatoes always deserve a place on the table!

Creamy garlic mashed potatoes on a plate with roast beef, horseradish sauce, and carrots

Side Dish Recipes FAQs

What are the most popular sides?

Depending on where you live, the most popular side dishes vary. But, in the United States, the most popular side dishes have to be potato dishes like mashed potatoes, French fries, and home fries, as well as corn recipes, rice recipes, and sauteed or roasted vegetables.

What side dish should I make?

Choose which side dishes to serve based on the protein you're preparing for the main course. If you plan on making hamburgers, for example, a good side dish would be French fries, while mashed potatoes or a salad would go better with a steak. Fish and seafood pairs well with salsa, light salads, or rice dishes, while pork and ham go well with rice, potatoes, and corn. And, of course, if you're cooking for the holidays, there are perfect side dishes for Turkey, too - like green bean casserole or stuffing.

Best Side Dishes for Beef

For steak and roast beef recipes, pair your meal with roasted or mashed potatoes, bread rolls, salads, or roasted vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or green beans. For a burger recipe or beef tacos, pair it with crispy potato wedges, salads, or corn-on-the-cob recipes. Here are some of our recommendations for the best side dishes for beef:

Grilled Potatoes in Foil (Oven or Grill)

Delicate baby potatoes are tossed with butter, oil, fresh herbs, and seasoning to make potatoes in foil, which can be made on the grill or in the oven! Perfect for a family cookout, this is an easy side dish ready to enjoy in under an hour.
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Up close foil potatoes with parsley

Crispy Potato Wedges

My Crispy Baked Potato Wedges are crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside, for a perfect side dish to go with your next cookout or family dinner!
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crispy baked potato wedges on parchment paper, one dipped in ketchup

Best Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

Learn how to make the Best Yorkshire Pudding Recipe for the holidays! Uses 6 simple ingredients including salt and pepper and is ready in just 35 minutes.
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Yorkshire puddings on a rack

How to Cook Rice Perfectly

Cook rice to perfection every time following my guide on How to Cook Rice Perfectly! Makes the fluffiest stove-top rice in only 30 minutes.
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Rice in a bowl with a sprig of herbs on top

Amazing Air Fryer Asparagus Fries Recipe

Learn how to make Asparagus Fries in 10 minutes in your air fryer! Plus, a lemon garlic aioli dip for serving.
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asparagus fries on a white platter

Creamy Asparagus Pasta Recipe

Learn how to make asparagus pasta in just under 20 minutes! My creamy asparagus pasta recipe makes a great side dish for a family gathering, dinner party, or weekly meal. Add your favorite protein to make it a main course dinner!
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asparagus pasta in a white bowl with half a lemon

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Creamy, fluffy, and so, so easy! Ditch the prep with these amazing mashed potatoes in the pressure cooker!
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a serving bowl of completed mashed potatoes with a wooden spoon lifting some out

Best Side Dishes for Pork

Pork and ham pair well with corn recipes, potato salads, casseroles, and roasted vegetables like carrots, green beans, or potatoes. Try some of our best side dishes for pork:

Best Corn Ribs Recipe

Learn how to make corn ribs using 6 simple ingredients in just 30 minutes. Easy to make on the grill, stove, oven, air fryer, or fryer!
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Corn ribs on a black platter

Easy Cilantro Lime Rice

Learn how to make cilantro lime rice in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients! Perfect for tacos, burritos, fajitas, and so much more.
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cilantro lime rice in a black bowl with lime wedges on top

Street Corn Recipe

Learn how to make Mexican street corn following my easy Mexican Street Corn recipe! Complete with crema and crumbled cheese, this recipe for elote is so delicious.
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Mexican street corn on a white platter with Mexican crema

Air Fried Mushrooms

Learn how to make mushrooms in the air fryer with this delicious and easy recipe for Air Fried Mushrooms! Simple ingredients and super crispy.
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Air fryer mushrooms on a black plate

Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms

Learn how to saute mushrooms in garlic butter sauce to make beautiful Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms just like your favorite steakhouse mushrooms!
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sauteed mushrooms in a pan up close on a wooden spoon

Best German Potato Salad

Learn how to make German potato salad with creamy potatoes, bacon, onions and fresh herbs! Easy and ready in 35 minutes!
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german potato salad with bacon up close

Papas Con Chorizo (Sheet Pan Recipe)

Learn how to make papas con chorizo as an appetizer or side dish for your next family gathering, party, or weeknight meal!
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portuguese chorizo and potatoes on a sheet pan

Orzo Pasta

Learn how to make orzo following my cheesy orzo risotto recipe! Delicious orzo pasta with a light, buttery cheese sauce makes a perfect side dish for any occasion.
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orzo on a plate next to green beans and an entree

Glazed Maple Carrots

Sweet, tender, delicious Glazed Maple Carrots that are so easy to make, you'll be making them every week! All it takes is one pan or the oven!
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a closeup of completed maple glazed carrots in a cast iron pan

Best Side Dishes for Chicken

Chicken dishes pair well with all kinds of side dishes, including roasted vegetables, rice, and salads. Some of the best side dishes for chicken include:

Easy Roasted Tomatoes Recipe

My Skillet Roasted Tomatoes Recipe is an easy and delicious side dish using simple, fresh ingredients! Juicy tomatoes are covered in olive oil and slightly blister from the heat of a cast-iron skillet.
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Roasted tomatoes up close with a fork

Best Smothered Potatoes Recipe with Sausage

Learn how to make smothered potatoes with sausage following my easy Smothered Potatoes Recipe! A perfect side dish for every protein, and even for breakfast!
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smothered potatoes and sausage in a bowl with a fork

Turmeric Cauliflower Rice Recipe

Learn how to make riced cauliflower with turmeric following my Turmeric Cauliflower Rice recipe! It is delicious, keto-friendly, gluten-free, and wholesome.
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Overhead shot of cauliflower rice in a white bowl with onions on top

Creamy Mushroom Risotto (Instant Pot Risotto)

Learn how to make mushroom risotto in the Instant Pot and on the stove following my easy risotto recipe! Ready in 30 minutes.
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mushroom risotto on a white plate with a fork

Instant Pot Rice Recipe (White or Brown Rice)

Learn how to make rice in an instant pot following my Instant Pot Rice recipe! Make Instant Pot white rice or Instant Pot brown rice easily.
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close up of instant pot white rice with parsley on top

Easy Cauliflower Rice Salad

Learn how to make cauliflower rice salad to serve as a perfect side dish salad for warm weather! Ready in under 15 minutes!
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cauliflower rice salad in a white bowl overhead

Party Side Dishes

If you're pairing your side dishes with a holiday meal like a turkey dinner, the best side dishes to serve are crowd-feeding recipes like casseroles. Green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn casserole, and more are great choices for holiday sides.

See our Best Side Dishes for Thanksgiving for more ideas for the holidays!

Best Creamed Corn Casserole (5 Ingredients)

In only 3 simple steps, learn how to make Baked Creamed Corn Casserole using just 5 ingredients! Ready in 35 minutes!
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Drizzling honey onto slices of creamed corn casserole with pats of butter on top

Au Gratin Potatoes with Gruyere

Learn how to make au gratin potatoes with Gruyere in a few simple steps! Prep takes 10 minutes, then bake and serve. Rich, decadent, and gluten-free!
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Potatoes au gratin in a cast iron skillet

Potato Pave

Learn how to make Potato Pave, a gorgeous potato recipe perfect for serving as a side dish at a holiday gathering! Under 10 ingredients.
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Potato pave on a cutting board with herbs

Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans

My gluten-free green bean casserole with fresh green beans uses a homemade cream of mushroom soup for the most incredible flavor!
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green bean casserole on a white plate with a fork

Easy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

Made with whipped sweet potatoes, brown sugar pecan topping, and no marshmallows, my Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans is the best sweet potato casserole recipe with so much flavor!
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Sweet potato casserole in a dish with a wooden spoon

Amazing Veggies Au Gratin

Classic root vegetables come together in a creamy white sauce and cheese mixture, creating the perfect side dish for any occasion. Ready in less than an hour, this is a one-skillet vegetable dish baked to golden perfection!
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vegetable au gratin served on a white plate with herbs

Cream Cheese Garlic Bread Rolls

Learn how to make Korean cream cheese garlic bread using simple ingredients in just 15 minutes! A perfect party side dish!
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pulling away a piece of cream cheese garlic bread from the roll

Did you try one of our best side dish recipes? Let us know in the comments below, and leave a rating on the recipe! We love to hear from you.

Creamy garlic mashed potatoes piled high in a white bowl with chives on top

Buttery Mashed Potatoes with Garlic

Isabel Laessig
Learn how to make garlic mashed potatoes with a delicious fluffy texture and buttery flavor! These buttery mashed potatoes are the best!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 357 kcal

Equipment

  • Wooden spatula or spoon
  • Large pot
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Knife
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Sauce pan
  • Cutting board

Ingredients
  

  • 4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 1½ cups Whole milk
  • 2 cloves garlic smashed
  • 5 sprigs Fresh thyme
  • 2 Dried bay leaves
  • ¾ cup Unsalted butter 1½ sticks, plus more for serving

Instructions
 

  • Add potatoes to a large pot with cold water enough to cover them by 1 inch. Salt water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender, but not saturated or crumbly (20-25 minutes).
    4 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, 1 Tablespoon Kosher salt
    Boiling potatoes for mashed potatoes
  • Drain the potatoes (reserve ½ cup of the water if making potatoes ahead of time). Return potatoes to the pot and set over low heat. Gently stir until the moisture is gone and the potatoes are dry, about 1-2 minutes.
    Dry-stirring mashed potatoes
  • Heat milk, thyme, bay leaves, garlic, and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts. Remove from heat once melted and combined.
    1½ cups Whole milk, 2 cloves garlic, 5 sprigs Fresh thyme, ¾ cup Unsalted butter, 2 Dried bay leaves
    Stirring milk for mashed potatoes
  • Transfer potatoes to an electric mixer with a paddle attachment and blend until the desired consistency is reached (or use an electric hand mixer). Alternatively, a potato masher by hand also works.
    Ricing the mashed potatoes into a bowl
  • Remove herbs from the warm milk mixture and discard them. Gradually add the mixture to the potatoes, stirring with a wooden spoon or the paddle attachment of your mixture until they are combined and smooth.
    Stirring creamy mashed potatoes in a bowl
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with extra butter and chives if desired.
    Creamy garlic mashed potatoes piled high in a bowl with chives on top, taking a spoonful

Notes

  • Start with cold water: potatoes cook more evenly if you let the water slowly come to temperature instead of adding them to already boiling water.
  • Season the potatoes before cooking them using heavily salted water. This allows the salt to infuse with the potatoes.
  • Cut the potatoes into even pieces (about 1-inch in size or so). This way, they cook evenly.
  • Full fat whole milk gives you a heartier mashed potato! Use whole milk for buttery mashed potatoes.
  • Avoid over or under-cooking the potatoes by checking them frequently while they cook. You don't want them to get over-saturated with water and crumbly.
  • Infuse the milk mixture with herbs before adding it to the potatoes, and remove the herbs before mixing it in.
  • Dry-stir the potatoes to remove excess moisture.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 6gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 908mgPotassium: 1027mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 642IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 2mg
Keyword best side dishes, party side dishes, side dish recipes, side dishes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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About Isabel

Isabel Laessig, better known as Family Foodie and the founder of the Sunday Supper Movement, is passionate about food and family! She is the author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook, and hosts Family Foodie Friday on WTSP's Great Day Tampa Bay along with other television appearances to spread her mission of bringing Sunday Supper back around the family table in every home.

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