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24 Sides That Are Perfect For Pot Roast

If it's good enough for pot roast, it's good enough for us.

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melting potatoes with herbs
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

With something as special as pot roast, you're going to want plenty of sides that are just as memorable to pair with it. The ultimate cozy comfort food, pot roast is a labor of love. So we figure it makes the most sense to pair it with some low-key (yet high reward!) side dishes that really make your meal one for the record books. Whether you like classics (like potatoes and carrots) or want something a bit more on the modern-classic side, we've got ideas for every kind of dinner. Real talk: If they're good enough for pot roast, these 24 easy sides are absolutely good enough for us!

Pot roast, whether it's for a holiday get-together or just a Sunday dinner, is one of those things that improves everything it touches, and that is for sure the case for sneaking in vegetables. That being said, our favorite vegetable sides, like air-fryer green beans, roasted parsnips, and beer braised cabbage, are not in need of an ultra-spoonable pot roast gravy, but it certainly doesn't hurt!

While many pot roast recipes usually cook alongside a vegetable (like onions, potatoes, and other root vegetables), we like to maximize all the flavorful opportunities by serving ours on the side. Our recipes for mashed potato casserole, miso roasted carrots, and melting potatoes add tons of texture and flavor to your meal, and are such an easy upgrade. More in the mood for a one-and-done kind of preparation for your pot roast? Some of our favorite recipes for pot roast (like slow-cooker pot roast and our perfect pot roast) cook alongside their sides, meaning you're about to dig into the easiest dinner possible.

1

Butternut Squash Mac 'N' Cheese

butternut squash mac cheese
Erik bernstein

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.

2

Air Fryer Green Beans

air fryer green beans with garlic
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

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3

Melting Potatoes

melting potatoes with herbs
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

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.

4

Peas & Carrots

peas carrots with parmesan

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.

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5

Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples

roasted fennel with delicata squash, apples, shallots, hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds, and parsley
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

6

Mashed Potato Casserole

mashed potato casserole
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: Taylor Ann SPENCER

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.

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7

Air Fryer Asparagus

air fryer asparagus
Joel Goldberg

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.

8

Creamy Parmesan Polenta

creamy parmesan polenta
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: JUSTIN SULLIVAN

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.

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9

Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots

garlic parmesan roasted carrots

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.

10

Pear Salad

pear salad
Andrew bui

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.

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11

Sweet Potato Gratin

tri color sweet potato gratin with gruyere and thyme
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

12

Brussel Sprout Salad

brussel sprout salad
Lindsay Maitland Hunt

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.

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13

Goat Cheese-Stuffed Rolls

goat cheese stuffed rolls
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

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.

14

French Onion Baked Potatoes

baked potatoes filled with french onion soup inspired fillings and topped with fresh thyme
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

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.

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15

Copycat Panera Mac & Cheese

copycat panera mac and cheese
Andrew bui

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.

16

Beer Braised Cabbage

beer braised cabbage
Erik bernstein

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.

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17

Candied Carrots

candied carrots
Erik bernstein

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.

18

Miso Roasted Carrots

miso roasted carrots
Delish

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.

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19

Roasted Garlic-Parsnip Puree

parsnip puree
Parker feierbach

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.

20

Honey Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

honey balsamic glazed brussels sprouts
Parker feierbach

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.

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