21 Side Dishes So Tasty, You’ll Ignore Everything Else

You know how sometimes you sit down for a meal and there’s that one side dish that’s so good, you kind of forget about everything else on the table? Well, here are 21 of those! Each one is so tasty that you’ll just ignore everything else and dive right in!

A bowl of pasta with lemon slices and parmesan cheese.
Wild Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Air Fryer Asparagus

An air fryer pile of asparagus with grated cheese.
Air Fryer Asparagus. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

So, you think asparagus is just a green veggie, right? Wait until you try it from the air fryer. It comes out so crispy and delicious, that you’ll end up forgetting about the main dish. It’s just a simple veggie, but cook it this way, and you’ll see why it’s all anyone can talk about.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Asparagus

Eggplant Casserole

A plate of eggplant casserole with sauce and cheese.
Eggplant Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Eggplant Casserole is here to turn your meal upside down. It’s rich, delicious, and so satisfying that you might just ignore everything else on your plate. This casserole makes eggplant the star, and once you have a bite, you might not want anything else. It’s a side dish that’s hearty enough to be the main focus and trust me, it deserves all the attention.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Casserole

Fluffy Thai Jasmine Rice

A bowl of Thai jasmine rice and chili peppers.
Fluffy Thai Jasmine Rice. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Ever tried Fluffy Thai Jasmine Rice? It’s so light and has a subtle fragrance that’ll make you want to forget about your main dish. It’s not just rice; it’s like a little escape to Thailand on your plate. Once you start, you might just focus on the rice and forget everything else.
Get the Recipe: Fluffy Thai Jasmine Rice

Egg Bites

Egg Bites on a board with a little parsley on top.
Egg Bites. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Egg Bites might sound simple, but they’re a total flavor bomb. They’re so good, packed with whatever mix-ins you choose, that you’ll wonder why they’re just a side. They’re bite-sized, sure, but they pack such a punch that you might ignore the main dish just to have more.
Get the Recipe: Egg Bites

Corn Casserole

Corn casserole in a casserole dish with a portion removed.
Corn Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Corn Casserole is a side that’ll make you rethink your meal priorities. It’s a little sweet, a little savory, and totally delicious. When it’s on the table, it’s hard not to just scoop more onto your plate and forget about whatever else is there. It’s that good.
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole

Vegan Chicken Nuggets

Vegan chicken nuggets in a bowl with dip.
Vegan Chicken Nuggets. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Vegan Chicken Nuggets are not just for vegans. They’re crunchy, they’re tasty, and they’re so satisfying that you won’t even think about the meat. Even if you’re not vegan, give these a shot. They’re so good, that you might just forget about the rest of your meal and fill up on these.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Chicken Nuggets

Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad

Slices of cucumber tossed in spicy Korean dressing.
Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad isn’t your average salad. It’s crunchy, it’s spicy, and it’s so flavorful that you’ll be talking about it long after the meal is over. It’s one of those sides that’s so good, you’ll forget you even have a main dish.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad

Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

Air fryer glazed carrots in a bowl with parsley.
Air Fryer Glazed Carrots. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Ever tried Air Fryer Glazed Carrots? They’re a game changer. Sweet, tender, and full of flavor, they make you question why they’re just a side dish. After a few bites, your steak or chicken might just start feeling a bit lonely because these carrots are hard to resist. It’s all about the carrots once they hit your plate.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Glazed Carrots

7 Layer Salad

A salad bowl filled with vegetables and peas.
7 Layer Salad. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Let’s talk about a salad that’s more than just greens on a plate. With 7 Layer Salad, every forkful is a new discovery, and it’s so packed with flavors that you might just forget there’s a main dish waiting. It’s the kind of side that has you coming back for seconds, maybe even thirds, because it’s just that tasty. Really, with this salad, who even cares about the main course?
Get the Recipe: 7 Layer Salad

Yellow Lentil Dal

A bowl of yellow lentil dal with sour cream and a spoon.
Yellow Lentil Dal. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Indulge in Yellow Lentil Dal and you’ll see why it’s more than just a side. It’s comforting, flavorful, and so satisfying that you might not even care about the main dish anymore. This dal has a way of making everything else on your plate seem a little less interesting. It’s just that tasty.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Lentil Dal

Asparagus Casserole

Cheesy asparagus casserole on a plate with a fork.
Asparagus Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

If you think asparagus is just a side, wait till you try Asparagus Casserole. It turns the humble veggie into a star, making it tough to pay attention to anything else on your plate. This casserole is all about making asparagus the main event, and it does a pretty good job at it. Forget the rest of your meal; this might just be all you want.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Casserole

Cauliflower Steaks

Cauliflower steaks with pomegranate and pistachios on a plate.
Cauliflower Steaks. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Cauliflower Steaks is here to show you that veggies can be the main event. They’re hearty, flavorful, and so satisfying that you might just ignore your actual main dish. It’s a side that stands out, making you think, “Why isn’t cauliflower always made like this?” Get ready to put everything else on your plate second.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Steaks

Crispy Portobello Mushroom Fries

A bowl of crispy portobello mushroom fries with dipping sauce.
Crispy Portobello Mushroom Fries. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Crispy Portobello Mushroom Fries are a side dish that’ll make you rethink your meal priorities. They’re so crunchy and flavorful that the main dish might just become an afterthought. Once you start snacking on these, it’s hard to stop, and you might find yourself focusing solely on the mushrooms. Yep, they’re that irresistible.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Portobello Mushroom Fries

Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Smashed Red Skin Potatoes in a white bowl.
Crispy Smashed Potatoes. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Have you tried Crispy Smashed Potatoes? They’re not your ordinary potatoes. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and so good that you’ll forget there’s more to your meal. These potatoes are the kind of side that makes you wonder why they’re not the star of every meal. Seriously, you might just want a whole plate of these.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Broccoli Casserole with Crackers

Someone serving broccoli casserole.
Broccoli Casserole with Crackers. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Broccoli Casserole with Crackers isn’t just another side; it’s a conversation starter. It’s creamy, it’s crunchy, and it’s got so much going on that you’ll forget about the rest of your meal. Give it a try, and you’ll see how a humble veggie can turn into the star of the show.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole with Crackers

Cilantro Lime Rice

Chipotle rice in a bowl with sliced lime and spoons.
Cilantro Lime Rice. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Cilantro Lime Rice will make you rethink plain old rice. It’s zesty, it’s tangy, and it adds such a fresh kick to your meal that you might just ignore everything else on your plate. It’s simple, sure, but the flavors are so good that it often steals the show.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Rice

Yellow Squash Casserole

Squash casserole being served with a wooden serving spoon.
Yellow Squash Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Yellow Squash Casserole is the underdog of side dishes. It’s creamy, comforting, and so tasty that you might just skip the chicken or fish. It’s one of those dishes that makes you realize veggies can be the main event, especially when they’re this good.
Get the Recipe: Yellow Squash Casserole

Minestrone Soup

Two bowls of soup with pasta and vegetables.
Minestrone Soup. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Minestrone Soup as a side? Yes, please. It’s so rich and filled with tasty bits that you might just forget it’s not the main course. This soup is all about bringing a burst of flavor to your meal, and it’s so satisfying that everything else might just fade into the background. Who knew a side dish could be this exciting?
Get the Recipe: Minestrone Soup

Pizza Salad

Homemade pizza salad in a serving bowl with wooden salad servers resting on top.
Pizza Salad. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Pizza Salad is as fun as it sounds. Imagine all your favorite pizza toppings but in a salad. It’s fresh, it’s flavorful, and it’s such a fun twist that you might just ignore the actual pizza and dive into this instead. It’s a side dish that’s definitely a conversation piece.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Salad

Wild Rice Casserole

A bowl of pasta with lemon slices and parmesan cheese.
Wild Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Wild Rice Casserole is not just filler on your plate; it’s a dish that could easily steal the show. Packed with flavors and textures, it’s a side that makes you forget you have other food to eat. Once you dive into this casserole, you might just lose interest in whatever else is on your plate. It’s that good.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

A person scooping a sweet potato casserole out of a baking dish.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows is like a dessert and a side dish rolled into one. It’s so sweet and gooey, especially with those marshmallows on top, that you’ll want to eat just this and nothing else. It’s a side dish that often ends up being the star.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

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