15+ Vegetable Side Dishes That Aren’t Potatoes

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On May 24, 2025

Say goodbye to potatoes and hello to flavorful veggie dishes! While potatoes are often an easy and popular option to serve alongside a main course, there are so many alternatives that are just as delicious. Whether you’re in the mood for a refreshing side salad or tender roasted vegetables, there’s no shortage of tasty choices. You’re going to love vibrant dishes like our Melting Beets with Feta & Pistachios and our Anti-Inflammatory Strawberry & Kale Salad with Burrata—so much so, you might not even miss the potatoes!

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Bang Bang Broccoli Salad

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

This bang bang broccoli salad features the classic creamy, sweet and spicy bang bang sauce—made with mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce and Sriracha—for a bold flavor that balances heat with a hint of sweetness. It’s typically used as a dipping sauce; here we use it as a dressing instead to coat crispy veggies.

Melting Beets with Feta & Pistachios

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jasmine Smith, Prop Stylist: Abbie Armstrong

Roasting beets, then adding liquid, adds flavor to the outside and creates a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Crumbled feta cheese and pistachios top these sweet and savory beets for a delicious and easy side dish.

Anti-Inflammatory Strawberry & Kale Salad with Burrata

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

The base of this flavorful salad features tender lacinato kale, which is rich in antioxidants. Sweet, juicy strawberries provide a healthy dose of vitamin C and creamy burrata balances the earthy greens perfectly.

Cabbage Steaks with Herb Butter

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Hostein, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee

These cabbage steaks are tender and sweet with an herby butter spread on top that seeps into the folds of cabbage, providing flavor to every bite.

Green Bean Caesar Salad

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Hostein, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee

This green bean Caesar salad is a crisp and flavorful twist on the classic Caesar. Blanched green beans replace the traditional romaine, adding a fresh snap and vibrant color to the dish. Crispy panko and shaved Parmesan add flavor and texture.

Ranch-Roasted Cauliflower

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Giovana Vazquez, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong

Ranch-roasted cauliflower is a bold, flavorful side dish that brings out the natural sweetness of cauliflower combined with an herb-packed coating. Garlic, onion and dill add a savory punch, while a squeeze of lemon adds a brighter flavor, if you prefer.

Cucumber, Tomato & Avocado Salad with Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette

Ali Redmond

Crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado create a delicious contrast in this easy salad. Tossed with a zesty lemon-shallot vinaigrette, this salad is bright, tangy and perfectly balanced.

Roasted Beets with Mustard Vinaigrette

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Clarie Spollen

Packed with flavor, this is a delicious side dish that brings out the natural sweetness of beets with a tangy, zesty kick. For a more substantial meal, add grilled or roasted chicken, or turn it into a vibrant salad and serve it over a bed of peppery arugula.

Carrot-Cucumber Salad

Photographer: Brie Goldman Food Stylist: Annie Probst Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali

Carrot salads are refreshing, and this one—with cucumber, red onion and a zesty cilantro-chile vinaigrette—is sure to become a new favorite. It’s excellent served with grilled fish.

Roasted Romesco Vegetables

photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle

Romesco, a classic Spanish sauce featuring roasted red peppers, tomatoes, nuts and garlic, pairs beautifully with the caramelized sweetness of roasted broccoli and cauliflower in this quick and flavorful side dish.

Arugula, Beet & Feta Salad

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

Peppery arugula and tender, sweet beets are balanced by a simple vinaigrette and briny bits of feta cheese in this arugula, beet and feta salad. Using cooked, peeled beets helps make prep a breeze.

Simple Carrot & Cabbage Salad

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong

This simple carrot-and-cabbage salad is crisp and refreshing. It’s tossed in a light vinaigrette made with lemon, honey and Dijon mustard, allowing the natural sweetness of the carrots and the crunch of the cabbage to shine.

No-Cook Chickpea, Beet & Quinoa Salad

Ali Redmond

This easy, no-cook chickpea salad comes together in minutes. Look for precooked beets in the produce section of the grocery store. With a bright lemony-garlic dressing, this salad is the perfect side to accompany grilled chicken or roasted salmon.

Chile-Lime Roasted Cauliflower

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

This chile-lime roasted cauliflower is the perfect side to spice up your dinner! The combination of zesty lime and ancho chile powder creates a tangy, mildly spicy dish.

Roasted Carrot Salad

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop stylist: Josh Hoggle

Sweet roasted carrots are the star of this salad, with some reserved for blending into a creamy, vibrant dressing. The carrot-based dressing, brightened with orange juice, whole-grain mustard and rice vinegar, adds a cohesive flavor to the salad.

Roasted Cabbage Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Ali Redmond

This roasted cabbage salad combines the sweetness of roasted cabbage with the bright, zesty flavors of lime, orange and cumin.

Roasted Broccoli Salad

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

The vibrant colors and flavors in this crowd-pleasing roasted broccoli salad make it a must-have side dish. For a twist, you can easily swap out the dried cranberries for raisins, chopped dried apricots or even pomegranate seeds to suit your taste or the season.

Garlic-Parmesan Melting Cabbage

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

The tender cabbage in this easy recipe melts in your mouth and picks up the flavors of garlic, Parmesan cheese and a little spice from crushed red pepper as it simmers in a creamy broth in the oven. Serve this easy dish with roasted chicken or pork.

Smashed Cucumber Salad with Lemon & Cumin

Don’t skip salting the cucumbers in this quick cucumber salad —just 10 minutes pulls out some of their excess moisture, concentrating the delicious flavor and keeping the salad from being watered down.