24 Sides That Are Perfect For Pot Roast

Creamy, sweet, and conveniently orange, butternut squash adds extra body and richness to mac & cheese. A little thyme does some heavy lifting, making the homey comfort classic a little fancy, and bringing some fall flavors to the table that are *chef’s kiss*.

Get the Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese recipe.

Quick, easy, and made with the simplest ingredients, air fryer green beans give you tender, crispy results without having to turn on your oven or light up your stove. This rendition comes with a treat too: eight cloves of creamy, buttery garlic that get air-fried alongside the green beans for delicious bites of roasted garlic.

Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.

These melt-in-your-mouth potatoes got their name for good reason: With a tender, soft middle and an herby topping, one bite and you'll get it. Smothered in butter, garlic, and fresh herbs, they really are amazing with everything, from weeknight dinners to romantic special occasions.

Get the Melting Potatoes recipe.

A quick side dish is always appreciated, especially one as easy as this combo. It goes well with your steak dinners, your rice & beans, or your vegan meatloaf, but if you really love your peas and carrots, you could just eat this in one sitting, as a meal (we have! 😉).

Get the Peas & Carrots recipe.

You may have seen crisp, anise-y fennel bulbs dotting the famers' market stands, nuzzling up alongside sweet delicata squash and tart apples. The three find their way into this healthy side dish that's perfect for elegant dinner party menus, simple weeknight meals, or paired with richer, holiday spreads.

Get the Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples recipe.

Mashed potato casserole is the ultimate holiday side dish we’ve all been waiting for. It's bound to find its way onto your holiday dinner table at some point during the season, but it makes a great side dish any time of the year. It's creamy, fluffy, and oh so cheesy.

Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.

With minimal time and zero effort, you can have asparagus ready faster than your oven could even preheat. With a teaspoon of olive oil and a little lemon juice to brighten it up, you have a quick and healthy side ready to go. It's our new favorite way to cook asparagus.

Get the Air Fryer Asparagus recipe.

Often overlooked for other creamy sides like mashed potatoes or cheesy grits, polenta deserves its place in the spotlight. Slightly sweet and extra-creamy, it’s a perfect pairing for any saucy, flavorful dishes (we’re lookin’ at you, beef ragu) to soak up every last bite. This recipe gets an added cheesy boost from Parmesan, and a generous amount of butter to nail that optimal creaminess.

Get the Creamy Parmesan Polenta recipe.

This recipe made us wonder, Why don’t we roast carrots more often? When they roast, their flavor concentrates and sweetens. Pair that with copious amounts of umami-packed Parmesan and just a touch of lemon, and you’ve got a super-irresistible side.

Get the Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots recipe.

This simple yet satisfying wintery salad packs a flavorful punch with slightly smoky seared pears, creamy blue cheese, and ultra-crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. Tied together by a sweet-sour honey vinaigrette, it’s the perfect holiday side (or add some protein to make it a main!).

Get the Pear Salad recipe.

Your sweet potatoes are tired of being baked. Give them the chance to become something much more exciting and turn them into sweet potato gratin. Just like the OG potatoes au gratin, these sweet potatoes are layered with plenty of cheese and herby cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly. 😍

Get the Sweet Potato Gratin recipe.

Making this festive salad might seem intimidating, but it doesn't actually require much prep. Tossed with a combo of toasted almonds, shaved Parmesan, and pomegranate seeds, Brussels make a great side for any get-together.

Get the Brussel Sprout Salad recipe.

Just when we thought dinner rolls couldn't get any better—we stuffed them with goat cheese. These golden brown beauties are rich, soft, and full of honey and herby goat cheese. Best part of a cheese-stuffed roll? It doesn’t need any butter. But we still opt for some anyway! The choice is entirely up to you, but the slightly sweet, cheesy center provides all the necessary creaminess required for devouring a warm dinner roll.

Get the Goat Cheese-Stuffed Rolls recipe.

Cozy, warming and perfectly rich, our classic French onion soup is a recurring favorite on the weekly rotation. But, when we want to put those bowls away and dig into something a bit heartier, we turn to the tried-and-true potato to transform the staple soup into a filling comfort food we crave. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or an easy appetizer, these cheesy, soupy potatoes can do it all. If you want to make 'em a meal, go for big russets. If you'd like to serve them as hors d'oeuvres, choose a smaller potato like a fingerling or Yukon Gold.

Get the French Onion Baked Potatoes recipe.

Newsflash: You don’t need to leave your house to enjoy your favorite fast-food mac & cheese anymore. That super-creamy, cheesy mac that everyone loves at Panera can easily be replicated in your own kitchen. With this recipe you can make it for a crowd and at a fraction of the price of takeout from the restaurant. The key: a combination of white cheddar for that deep cheesiness and white American cheese to impart a silky texture.

Get the Copycat Panera Mac & Cheese recipe.

Don’t overlook the humble cabbage! This straight cabbage braise (without meat!) is the perfect way to experience cabbage in all its vegetal glory.

Get the Beer Braised Cabbage recipe.

Just a heads up: Any dish that features the word “candied” is bound to be on the sweet side and more than likely something you won’t be eating every day. That said, don’t be shy about the amount of butter and brown sugar that goes into these candied carrots. Decadence is the goal here!

Get the Candied Carrots recipe.

These sweet-savory carrots are topped with the MOST delicious mix of crunchy nuts and spices. Pulse the nuts and coriander seeds in a spice grinder or food processor if you've got one, but no sweat if not—it's easy enough to chop the nuts on the cutting board and smash the coriander seeds with the back of a knife.

Get the Miso Roasted Carrots recipe.

Parsnips are sweet like carrots and creamy like potatoes. Instead of mashed potatoes, give mashed parsnips a try. They're just as easy to make, and with some roasted garlic, they might be even more delicious.

Get the Roasted Garlic-Parsnip Puree recipe.

The hardest part of making these Brussels sprouts is leaving them alone. They're cooked until perfectly tender and golden brown, then glazed with a balsamic glaze that will change your life. If you're anything like us, you're going to be popping these in your mouth like they're popcorn.

Get the Honey Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts recipe.