Side Dishes
A side dish can support the main course or provide a contrasting texture and flavor. Potatoes, vegetables, beans, grains, pasta, and dressings offer different ways to complete the meal. Begin with the ingredient or serving you want, from browned mushrooms to a creamy gratin, then choose a preparation that fits the rest of the table.
Browse the posts below, or choose a subcategory when available.
Beans & Legumes
Butter beans and pinto beans offer substantial side dishes with different seasonings and sauces. Browse these legumes for a preparation that can accompany another dish or become part of a wider meal.
Pasta & Macaroni Side Dishes
Macaroni and other pasta forms provide a base for creamy or savory side dishes. These recipes offer portions to serve alongside another dish, with sauces and finishes shaping their texture.
Potato Side Dishes
Mashed, gratinéed, fried, and smashed potatoes offer different ways to complete a meal. Lemon-garlic mash and layered potato preparations show how the same ingredient can change texture through the method.
Rice, Grains, & Grits
Rice, grains, and grits provide a base for both simple seasonings and fuller combinations. Mushroom rice, cilantro-lime rice, and buttery corn rice offer different flavors to serve beside another dish.
Stuffings & Dressings
Bread and other ingredients gather into stuffings and dressings with different seasonings. Beer cheese and pecan preparations provide starting points for an accompaniment, with the cooking method specified in each recipe.
Vegetable Side Dishes
Browned mushrooms, zucchini preparations, and other vegetables offer sides with varied textures. Browse dishes that use sautéing, baking, or another method to bring a vegetable accompaniment to the table.
In this collection
Creamy Three-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
Homemade macaroni and cheese featuring tender pasta cooked in chicken stock, a creamy three-cheese sauce, and a golden, buttery breadcrumb topping.
Chiles Toreados (Blistered Mexican Peppers)
Chiles Toreados are a classic Mexican side dish featuring whole jalapeños blistered over high heat with sweet onions and garlic, then finished with fresh lime juice and Maggi…
Smoked Bacon Himmel und Erde
Rustic Apple-Potato Mash with Bacon, Onions, and Cider Glaze This refined bacon version of Himmel und Erde emphasizes crisp texture and broad appeal. Smoky bacon replaces sausage, while…
Gulf Coast Mushroom Garlic Rice
Inspired by the rice served with The Gumbo Diner’s Redfish Special in Galveston, this elegant side dish relies on restraint rather than bold seasoning. Fluffy parboiled rice is…
Creamed Spinach
A quick and comforting side dish, this creamed spinach uses frozen spinach and Morrison gravy mix to create a rich, velvety sauce. Perfect for smaller meals or weeknight…
Dill Pickle Sauerkraut
If dill pickles and classic sauerkraut joined forces for grilling season, this would be the result. Crisp cabbage is naturally fermented with a precise 2% salt ratio, then…
Cilantro Lime Rice
Fluffy long-grain white rice cooked in the Instant Pot with butter or oil, finished with fresh lime juice, lime zest, and bold Fiesta Lime Pepper. Slightly firmer texture…
Slow Cooker Creamy Cabbage
This slow cooker creamy cabbage is a humble, comforting dish that transforms simple ingredients into something quietly luxurious. Green cabbage slowly softens in a buttery vegetable broth, infused…
Colcannon with Cheddar
This baked colcannon blends traditional Irish comfort food with a modern twist. Creamy mashed potatoes are folded with tender sautéed cabbage and onion, then topped with golden cheddar…
Steve’s Signature Texas Pinto Beans
These are my signature Texas-style pinto beans, the result of years of experimenting, adjusting, and refining the recipe until I achieved just the right balance of smoky, savory…
