Side dishes shouldn’t be an afterthought – they’re your chance to pack extra nutrients, flavor, and color onto your plate. Too often, we default to the same steamed vegetables or plain rice, missing out on opportunities to make our meals more exciting and nutritious. These 20 healthy side dishes will completely change how you think about rounding out your meals.
Each recipe is designed to complement your main course while standing strong on its own, featuring seasonal vegetables, whole grains, and creative flavor combinations that actually make you excited about eating your vegetables. From beautiful duchess potatoes to Red Lobster Copycat Brussels Sprouts, these sides prove that healthy doesn’t mean boring. The best part? Most of these can be prepped ahead or made in under 30 minutes, so you’ll never again scramble to throw together a last-minute vegetable side. Your dinner plate is about to get a serious upgrade, so let’s dig in.
1. Healthy Side Dishes: Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
You’ve heard of twice baked potatoes, and while there’s nothing wrong with those, sweet potatoes deserve a chance! Sweet potatoes naturally offer a subtle sweetness without the need for added sugar, making them a great choice for anyone looking to eat healthier. Plus, they’re packed with tons of fiber, which will keep you satisfied longer.
2. Baked Stuffed Eggplant
Baked stuffed eggplant is a great example of a side dish that can stand on its own because of the added chicken. It has plenty of protein, so you can have it as a meal if you prefer. But it’s also a great side dish if your entree is on the lighter side. It’s a great mix up from the typical mashed potato side dish.
3. Healthy Side Dishes: Duchess Potatoes
You may believe you can’t have potatoes as a healthy side dish, but this recipe (and others below) will prove you wrong. A serving of these duchess potatoes, which are beautiful by the way, is just 112 calories. Plus they have a delicious crips shell with a creamy inside that is going to satisfy any potato craving you have.
4. Weight Watchers Spinach Balls
These yummy spinach balls are cheesy and flavorful with shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, and fresh spinach. The recipe is the perfect balance of nutritious and delicious. The recipe calls for low-fat cheese to help keep calories low, but all of the flavor is still there!
5. Healthy Side Dishes: Slow Cooker Candied Carrots
If you’ve never had candied carrots, these are a must-try. And don’t let the word “candied” scare you off – these are still very healthy! The recipe uses pure maple syrup for a bit of sweetness and light butter to enhance the flavor. This will be your new fall staple!
6. Greek Vegetable Casserole
This casserole combines garden fresh veggies like eggplant, tomatoes, and zucchini in a made from scratch tomato sauce that is herbed to perfection. It’s light on calories because there is only a teaspoon of olive oil used, but the flavor is stunning. This side dish is great for summer, especially if you have a garden.
7. Healthy Side Dishes: Zucchini Casserole
This casserole is a winner, delivering on both flavor and presentation. It features beautiful layers of fresh zucchini, complemented by feta and mozzarella cheeses. A seasoned, custardy egg mixture binds these ingredients, while a classic Panko topping provides ultimate crunch and a golden-brown finish. You’ll love zucchini after this!
8. Black Bean and Corn Salad
If you want a salad as a side, but want something much different than the typical lettuce, tomato, and cheese side salad, I highly suggest making this black bean and corn salad. It’s full of bright flavors like red onion and herbs. There is a touch of light mayo that adds creaminess but keeps it low in calories.
9. Healthy Side Dishes: Tex-Mex Potato Salad
This twist on the classic potato salad is worth a try. It has healthy corn, beans, potatoes, onions, and other veggies. It also has Greek yogurt, which is high in protein and much lighter than having a full mayo dressing base. The kick from the spices is the perfect touch to make it a winning side dish for any meal.
10. Garlic Breadsticks
These garlic breadsticks are made with the famous two ingredient dough, which makes them super simple to make. Other breadsticks require a long list of ingredients and an extensive proofing time. However, these breadsticks only need to sit for about 10 minutes while you make the garlic butter spread. It also makes them lower in calories.
11. Healthy Side Dishes: Coleslaw
This delectable side dish combines the classic components of coleslaw: shredded red and green cabbage, carrots, celery seed, and other seasonings such as white pepper and onion powder. A tangy, zesty kick is provided by the vinegar. But it calls for non-fat Greek yogurt instead of heavy mayo to keep it healthy.
12. Mashed Cauliflower
If you’ve never tried mashed potatoes’ lower-carb alternative, now is the time. Cauliflower is creamy and easily flavored with just salt and pepper, so it’s perfect for when you need something low in calories but still yummy. A whole serving is just 56 calories! You can also make it your own by adding onion powder, herbs or low fat cheese.
13. Healthy Side Dishes: Red Lobster Brussels Sprouts
Think you don’t like Brussels sprouts? You have to try this copycat recipe of Red Lobster’s Crispy Brussels Sprouts before you fully decide. Roasted to perfection and drizzled with an aromatic ginger soy glaze, this dish is a restaurant favorite. But this is a healthier version you can make right at home. Whether you’re hosting an elegant dinner affair or simply enjoying a cozy meal at home, these Crispy Brussels Sprouts will steal the spotlight.
14. Parmesan Potatoes
Normally, crispy potatoes come with lots of calories due to the amount of oil used. But with this recipe, you can have crispy, roasted potatoes for under 200 calories. And you can add in your own flavors by using different herbs or spices based on your preference. The base recipe is a good one to keep around for side dish options when you need something that will be perfect for any type of meal.
15. Healthy Side Dishes: Cornbread
You can’t have a side dish recipe list without having healthy cornbread as an option! This healthy cornbread is made with a mixture of half cornmeal and half flour so it gives the soft crumbly texture we love in a cornbread. A bit of honey gives it a touch of sweetness, which makes it the perfect pairing for chili. The next time you make chili, soup, or stew on a cold winter night, prepare to make this healthy cornbread as well!
16. Simple Air Fryer Asparagus
Asparagus doesn’t need much to be delicious. This recipe calls for it to be air fried for just 7 minutes, then it’s topped with a delicious oil and parmesan mixture. For an even lighter option, you can substitute the Parmesan cheese with minced garlic. Sprinkle the minced garlic over the asparagus before air frying. It will add a flavorful and aromatic twist to the dish.
17. Healthy Side Dishes: Easy Air Fryer Root Vegetables
The air fryer is fantastic for any veggies that you want as a side dish, and this recipe shows you how to cook multiple root veggies at once. It’s easy to tailor to the season, too. For example, in the fall, you can use butternut squash, pumpkin, and beets for a hearty and festive dish.
18. Chick-fil-A Mac and Cheese
Enjoy creamy, cheesy, and perfectly tender pasta with this copycat Chick-fil-A mac and cheese recipe! It offers fewer calories and less sodium than the original, yielding four generous servings. The beautiful sauce, made with parmesan and romano cheeses, stays smooth even when reheated. While the recipe begins with a traditional roux of flour and butter for the cheese sauce, it’s actually quite simple to prepare.
19. Healthy Side Dishes: Herb Garlic Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
We have to have a mashed potato recipe, especially if you’re not going to switch to the cauliflower mash. This one keeps it light and healthy by using fat-free sour cream, light butter, and low-fat cheese. It’s just as creamy, so you’re not going to miss any of the extra calories that come with the full-fat dairy products.
20. Creamy Cheese Corn Casserole
By the look and taste of this dish, it’s hard to believe it’s healthy! But like the mashed potatoes, it uses lighter versions of cheese and butter to ditch extra calories without sacrificing flavor. It also comes together in just 35 minutes, so it’s fantastic if you need something last minute for a weeknight dinner.
Now you have plenty of delicious, but healthy, side dish options to choose from. Let us know in the comments which you’ve tried!
