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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!
Jump to:
- Buttery Mashed Potatoes - the Best Side Dish
- Side Dish Recipes FAQs
- Best Side Dishes for Beef
- Grilled Potatoes in Foil
- Crispy Potato Wedges
- Best Yorkshire Pudding Recipe
- How to Cook Rice Perfectly
- Amazing Air Fryer Asparagus Fries Recipe
- Creamy Asparagus Pasta Recipe
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
- Best Side Dishes for Pork
- Best Corn Ribs Recipe
- Easy Cilantro Lime Rice
- Street Corn Recipe
- Air Fried Mushrooms
- Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms
- German Potato Salad
- Papas Con Chorizo (Sheet Pan Recipe)
- How to Cook Orzo
- Glazed Maple Carrots
- Best Side Dishes for Chicken
- Easy Roasted Tomatoes Recipe
- Best Smothered Potatoes Recipe with Sausage
- Turmeric Cauliflower Rice Recipe
- Creamy Mushroom Risotto (Instant Pot Risotto)
- Instant Pot Rice Recipe (White or Brown Rice)
- Easy Cauliflower Rice Salad
- Party Side Dishes
- Best Creamed Corn Casserole (5 Ingredients)
- Au Gratin Potatoes with Gruyere
- Potato Pave
- Green Bean Casserole with Fresh Green Beans
- Easy Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
- Amazing Veggies Au Gratin
- Cream Cheese Garlic Bread Rolls
- Buttery Mashed Potatoes with Garlic
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!
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
Delicate baby potatoes are tossed with butter, oil, fresh herbs, and seasoning to make grilled potatoes in foil! Perfect for a family cookout, this is an easy side dish ready to enjoy in under an hour.
Try this Recipe
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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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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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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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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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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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Creamy, fluffy, and so, so easy! Ditch the prep with these amazing mashed potatoes in the pressure cooker!
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms
Learn how to saute mushrooms in garlic butter sauce to make beautiful Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms just like your favorite steakhouse mushrooms!
Try this Recipe
German Potato Salad
Learn how to make German potato salad with creamy potatoes, bacon, onions and fresh herbs! Easy and ready in 35 minutes!
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
How to Cook Orzo
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.
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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.
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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!
Try this Recipe
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.
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 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes 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
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.
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
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.
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.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with extra butter and chives if desired.
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!
- Author
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Isabel
Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
» About Me
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More Side Dishes for Beef
- White Button Mushrooms
- Fajita Vegetables
- How to Cook Orzo
- Hot German Potato Salad
About Isabel
Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!
» About Me
