Sides > mains, always. 🥗 These are my family-favorite side dishes that disappear from the table every time. From crispy smashed potatoes to refreshing Greek cucumber salad, these recipes are easy, flavorful, and nutrient-dense—perfect for weeknight dinners.
💡 Each recipe also includes a suggested main dish pairing (linked to recipes on my site) so you can easily build a complete meal.
🥬 Caesar Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Chickpeas
Ingredients (Serves 3–4):
- 10 oz shaved Brussels sprouts
- 1 can chickpeas, drained
- 2–3 tbsp parmesan (shaved + shredded)
- 2 tbsp Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing
Optional high-protein Caesar dressing:
⅓ cup non-fat Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, ½ garlic clove, 1 tsp capers or ½ tsp anchovy paste, 1 tsp Redmond’s mineral salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, black pepper
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread Brussels and chickpeas on a sheet pan, drizzle with oil, and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Roast 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Toss with parmesan and drizzle Caesar dressing before serving.
Pairs well with: Mini Meatloaves + Parsnip Mash
🍚 Bone Broth Fried Rice
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- ½ cup jasmine rice
- 1 cup chicken bone broth (I love Bonafide or Fond)
- 1 large carrot, diced
- ¼ onion, diced
- 2–3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 cup broccoli, chopped
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos or tamari
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- ½ tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp grass-fed butter, tallow, or ghee
- 1 tsp Redmond’s mineral salt
- 1 egg (Vital Farms)
- Optional: 1 tsp fish sauce, 1 tsp sriracha
- 10–12 oz protein of choice (shrimp, chicken breast, or steak)
Directions:
- Cook rice in bone broth. Spread on a parchment-lined sheet, refrigerate 10–20 minutes (best if made the day before).
- Cook protein of choice and set aside.
- Heat sesame oil in a large wok. Add carrots, onion, garlic, broccoli, sauté 5 minutes.
- Add rice and seasonings. Let crisp undisturbed for 5 minutes at a time, stirring between, for ~15 minutes total.
- Push rice aside, scramble in egg, and mix everything together with protein.
Pairs well with: Chicken Teriyaki Bowls
🥔 Crispy Smashed Parmesan Potatoes
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 3–5 mini yellow potatoes per person
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp freshly shredded parmesan
- Salt + pepper
- 2 tsp dried herbs (rosemary, sage, or tarragon)
Directions:
- Microwave potatoes 5 minutes until fork-tender.
- Smash with the bottom of a glass, drizzle with olive oil, and season.
- Broil 3 minutes, flip, add parmesan, broil 3 more minutes until crispy.
Pairs well with: Chicken Shawarma Wraps + sautéed green beans
🍏 Arugula Apple Walnut Salad
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 tbsp olive oil (Graza)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt + pepper
- 3 cups arugula
- ½ apple, diced
- 2 tbsp walnuts (toasted optional)
- 3 tbsp parmesan
Directions:
- Whisk lemon, olive oil, Dijon, salt, and pepper in the bottom of a bowl.
- Add arugula, apple, walnuts, parmesan.
- Toss and serve immediately.
Pairs well with: Steak + Roasted Sweet Potatoes
🍠 Roasted Sweet Potato with Goat Cheese, Pecans & Honey
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 1 medium sweet potato
- 1 tsp olive oil
- ½ tbsp butter
- 2–3 tbsp honey goat cheese
- 2 tbsp chopped pecans
- 1 tsp honey or hot honey
- Salt + pepper
Directions:
- Roast sweet potato at 450°F for 20–30 minutes, or microwave 4 minutes then roast 10 minutes.
- Toast pecans in a pan for 5 minutes.
- Cut open potato, add butter, goat cheese, pecans, and honey.
Pairs well with: Steak + Arugula Salad
🥒 Greek-Inspired Cucumber Salad
Ingredients (Serves 1):
- 2 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ¼ small red onion, diced
- ¼ cup pepperoncini, chopped
- ¼ cup sheep’s milk feta
- 2 tbsp Greek vinaigrette (use code KEETOWELLNESS15 for 15% off)
- Salt + pepper
- Optional: black olives
Directions:
- Toss cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, pepperoncini with vinaigrette.
- Gently fold in feta, season to taste.
Pairs well with: 5-Minute Salmon
🥕 Carrot Salad with Cranberries & Pistachios
Ingredients:
- 4 carrots, shredded
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup pistachios, chopped
- ¼ cup goat cheese or feta (optional)
- 2 tbsp parsley
Dressing:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt + pepper
Directions:
- Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl.
- Whisk dressing, pour over salad, toss.
- Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
Pairs well with: Grilled chicken
🥦 Crispy Parmesan Broccolini with Garlic & Lemon
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 1 bunch broccolini
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt + pepper
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- Juice of ½ lemon
Directions:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet, sauté garlic 1 minute.
- Add broccolini, season, sauté 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with parmesan, broil 3–5 minutes until crisp.
- Finish with lemon juice.
Pairs well with: Sweet & Spicy Chicken Drumsticks + jasmine rice
🌿 Creamy Parsnip Mash with Herbs
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 3–4 small potatoes, diced
- 2–3 parsnips, diced
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ cup milk (I used raw)
- ½ tbsp butter or ghee
- Salt + pepper
Directions:
- Boil potatoes, parsnips, garlic until soft, ~7 minutes. Drain, reserve ½ cup liquid.
- Blend with milk, butter, and seasoning until smooth. Add cooking liquid if too stiff.
Pairs well with: Steak, Arugula Salad, or Mini Meatloaves
🍄 High-Protein Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 4 oz mushrooms, sliced
- 2 tbsp onion or shallot
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¾ cup quinoa
- 2 cups bone broth
- 2 tbsp parmesan
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt + pepper
Directions:
- Sauté mushrooms, onion, garlic in olive oil until fragrant.
- Add quinoa, toast 1 minute.
- Slowly add warm broth ½ cup at a time, stir until absorbed, repeat until quinoa is cooked (~10 minutes).
- Stir in parmesan and serve.
Pairs well with: 5-Minute Salmon + Arugula Apple Salad
🥕 Sweet Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta, Pomegranate & Pistachio
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 4–5 carrots, peeled and halved
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt + pepper
- ½ cup whipped feta (blend feta + Greek yogurt)
- 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
- 2 tbsp pistachios, chopped
Directions:
- Roast carrots at 400°F for 20–25 minutes.
- Spread whipped feta on plate, top with carrots.
- Sprinkle with pistachios and pomegranate.
Pairs well with: Steak, chicken, or pork tenderloin + Arugula Salad
🌰 Brown Butter Brussels with Candied Walnuts & Golden Raisins
Ingredients (Serves 2):
- 10–12 oz Brussels sprouts, halved
- ¼ onion, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup walnuts
- 3 tbsp golden raisins
- 1 tbsp date syrup (or maple/honey)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Salt + pepper
Directions:
- Roast Brussels at 400°F with olive oil, salt, pepper for 20–25 minutes.
- In a skillet, brown butter until nutty. Add walnuts, cook 2–3 minutes, stir in syrup and raisins.
- Toss with Brussels, finish with lemon juice.
Pairs well with: Grilled chicken or steak
✨ Final Thoughts
These side dishes prove that the sides always steal the show. Each one is easy, nourishing, and perfect for building quick weeknight dinners.
👉 Save this post, tag @kee_to_wellness when you make them, and share your favorites with me!
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