Easy Weeknight Sides My Family Loves

Busy evenings don't mean boring sides! From crisp, colorful salads to quick skillet veggies and smoky grilled favorites, these easy recipes bring big flavor with minimal fuss. Whether you're craving something fresh, tangy, or savory, these sides are your new weeknight heroes.

Avocado Corn Salad

A bowl of corn salad with diced avocado, red onion, red bell pepper, cilantro, and lime on a wooden board-one of the easiest side dishes for quick weeknight sides. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

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This avocado corn salad recipe is everything wonderful about a gorgeous sunny day all in a bowl. Fresh yellow corn kernels, avocado chunks, red onion, bell pepper, and a homemade lime dressing make this a bright and tangy salad recipe you'll be making as often as you can find corn on the cob. Get the Recipe: Avocado Corn Salad

Garlic Green Beans

A white oval dish filled with cooked green beans topped with minced garlic-perfect for easy side dishes to elevate your weeknight sides. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Our quick and easy garlic green beans recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Fresh green beans make this recipe a snap, and it pairs perfectly with a variety of main courses from steak to chicken. Get the Recipe: Garlic Green Beans

Strawberry Cucumber Salad

A salad with sliced strawberries, cucumbers, red onions, crumbled feta, and fresh mint is served on a plate with a small bowl of creamy dressing-one of the best easy side dishes for weeknight recipes. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Sweet strawberries, cool cucumber slices, tangy red onion, and zesty feta crumbles are all made even more flavorful with a hint of fresh mint. Get the Recipe: Strawberry Cucumber Salad

Sautéed Zucchini and Pecorino

A wooden bowl of zucchini salad topped with sliced almonds and cheese shavings, placed on a round wooden serving board-perfect for easy side dishes at weeknight sides or dinner sides gatherings. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

This easy sauteed zucchini recipe is a light and flavorful side dish that comes together in minutes. Fresh zucchini is cooked in butter and chicken stock until tender but never soggy, then topped with cheese, toasted almonds, and herbs. Get the Recipe: Sautéed Zucchini and Pecorino

Grilled Asparagus and Tomato Salad

A bowl of salad with cherry tomatoes, asparagus, mozzarella balls, and chopped herbs on a wooden surface-perfect for easy side dishes or weeknight sides. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Fresh asparagus, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella come together in minutes, all drizzled with a tangy balsamic dressing. Light, fresh, and incredibly easy to make! Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus and Tomato Salad

Dill Pickle Coleslaw

A close-up of a bowl of coleslaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, purple cabbage, pickles, and apple pieces in a creamy dressing-perfect for easy sides or as a fresh addition to your weeknight sides rotation. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

Crunchy, creamy, tangy, and packed with dill pickles in every bite-this slaw is the ultimate mash-up. If traditional coleslaw and my pickle de gallo had a delicious little love child, this would be it. Get the Recipe: Dill Pickle Coleslaw

Broccolini Stir Fry

A plate of steamed white rice and sautéed broccolini topped with sesame seeds, served with chopped green onions on the side and chopsticks-perfect for easy weeknight sides. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

This stir-fried broccolini recipe is packed with savory, umami flavors. It gets a subtle sweetness from the honey, while the chili garlic sauce gives it a spicy kick. It's ready in just 12 minutes, making the perfect weeknight side dish! Get the Recipe: Broccolini Stir Fry

Apple Coleslaw

This easy apple coleslaw is a light and fresh take on a creamy coleslaw made without mayo. Crisp, sweet-tart apples meet shredded cabbage and carrots, all tossed in a creamy, tangy poppy seed dressing. It's the perfect side dish for your weeknight meal planning! Get the Recipe: Apple Coleslaw

Peas and Carrots with Lemon Dressing

A pan filled with cooked diced carrots and green peas, mixed together, with a wooden spatula resting on top-one of those easy side dishes perfect for weeknight sides. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

My peas and carrots recipe is a classic side dish that will steal the spotlight at your dinner table. The rich, buttery flavors pair perfectly with a bright, zesty hint from the lemon dressing. This foolproof recipe is ready in about 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights! Get the Recipe: Peas and Carrots with Lemon Dressing

Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash

This grilled zucchini and squash is the perfect side dish for weeknights with friends and family. Zucchini and yellow squash are paired with a marinade that comes together in a snap, then grilled until tender and slightly charred. Serve with fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon juice, or some crumbled feta. Get the Recipe: Grilled Zucchini and Yellow Squash

Burrata Caprese Salad

A platter of sliced heirloom tomatoes with fresh basil, burrata cheese, and balsamic glaze makes one of the best easy side dishes for dinner sides or weeknight sides, served with toasted bread on the side. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

This burrata caprese salad combines juicy heirloom tomatoes, creamy cheese, and just a few key ingredients for the ultimate summer salad! Get the Recipe: Burrata Caprese Salad

Grilled Squash with Chimichurri

A plate of grilled squash slices with visible char marks, served with a small bowl of green herb sauce and a spoon-perfect for easy weeknight sides. — Image Credit: Peel with Zeal

My grilled butternut squash is packed with flavor from the herby Chimichurri sauce. It's the perfect side dish for weeknights. The best part is that it's ready in just a few minutes! Get the Recipe: Grilled Butternut Squash with

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