These 12 best side dishes are all easy to make and delicious. Serve them at a dinner party, put them on a buffet, or bring them to a potluck.
Buffet dinners are always fun because you can get as much or as little of each item. If something was delicious, then go back for more.
When you’re not sure about an item, you can get a small amount so you don’t have to waste food.
I also love a good potluck. After all, everyone typically brings one of their best dishes. So you know the food will be delicious.
One of my favorite potluck dinners was held at a church. The organizer asked everyone to print out the recipe and bring some notecards so people could jot down the instructions.
Then someone came up with the bright idea of everyone printing out several so they wouldn’t all be standing in front of the most popular dish. I thought that was brilliant.
Competition for 12 Best Side Dishes
I looked through all of my side dishes and decided to post these. I originally wanted to only have 10, but that was impossible.
So I loosened my belt and added a couple more. If you like these, you’ll also enjoy these easy zucchini recipes.
12 Best Side Dishes
Whether you're throwing a dinner party, hosting a buffet, or attending a potluck, you'll love these side dishes. They're all easy to make and delicious.
This squash casserole recipe is super easy and adds not only flavor but also nutrition to any dinner table. Whether you’re serving it at a holiday meal or with a regular weeknight dinner, your family will gobble up every bite. Potluck Squash Casserole If you’re like me, you want to bring something to a potluck ...
The green bean casserole has become a tradition for holiday dinners. For that reason, I decided to include it on my blog. My family enjoys it as much as everyone else, but I have a slightly different twist on it. Even though I can’t tell much of a difference in the taste with this casserole ...
This creamy mixed vegetable casserole is a delicious addition to any dinner table. Whether you serve it with a weeknight meal or at a holiday table, it will quickly become a favorite. One of my favorite ways to cook veggies is to simply steam them. In fact, that’s what I do most nights. For this ...
This zucchini tomato casserole is one of the most delicious side dishes I’ve ever made. Even though there’s quite a bit of cheese in this dish, the other flavors come through. The balance of the meaty zucchini and acidic tomato hits the taste buds just right. I normally have most of the ingredients for this ...
This sweet potato pecan casserole will quickly take a place of honor at any holiday dinner. In fact, it’s so delicious you’ll want to serve it year round. My grandparents had a farm in Mississippi, where my grandfather grew sweet potatoes. They were amazing and undeniably the best sweet potatoes I’ve ever had in my ...
You can enjoy these honey mustard roasted potatoes with any meal. They are a delicious side dish that goes with chicken, fish, and pork. But this time, I made them to go with a steak dinner, and they were delicious! If you’re looking for another side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or any other holiday ...
This crockpot baked beans recipe is easy, and the results are go-back-for-seconds delicious! These are perfect as a side dish for a family dinner or to bring to your next potluck. If you bring these beans and a couple of salads to any get-together, you’ll be on the next invitation list, for sure. A couple ...
Tomato cucumber corn salad is one of the most refreshing starts to any meal. Or you can serve it as a side with meat or a sandwich. However you choose to have it, you’ll love the mix of flavors. These are all summer vegetables, but you can serve this any time of year. Since produce ...
Creamy macaroni salad is delicious proof that macaroni is good, even without cheese. In other words, you can mix it with something different to get a dish everyone loves. This salad is always popular at potluck dinners. It’s certainly one of the first salads to disappear off the salad table. I think people like it ...
Zesty rotini pasta salad is like a party in the mouth with an explosion of wonderful flavors. It certainly makes me happy, and everyone who has ever tasted it asks for seconds. Discovery of Something New The first time I made this, I’d planned to make my traditional creamy pasta salad. But I was out ...
This zucchini and squash salad is loaded with nutrients and super delicious. It’s also the perfect salad for any buffet or potluck. If you bring this salad and this chicken rice casserole to a potluck, prepare yourself for recipe requests. I’ve always enjoyed eating colorful salads because I understand that the more color it has ...
Stuffed mushrooms with sausage are among my favorite dishes. As a matter of fact, when I spot them on the appetizer tray or buffet table at any get-together, I make a beeline for them. So I came up with this stuffed mushroom recipe, started making them, and bringing them to parties. After all, I’m not ...
Desserts for Potlucks and Buffets
Another thing I like to do is bring dessert. Even if I have a side dish or casserole, it’s always nice to have a little something extra for the dessert table. Since I have a gluten sensitivity, I cook mostly gluten-free.
There’s always someone who’s grateful for whatever I bring. Gluten-free desserts typically disappear quickly.
Here are some of my favorite desserts that are easy to cut into as many portions as you need:
Butterscotch Pecan Cookies – The blend of butterscotch and pecans is delicious. Be prepared to give out the recipe because you’ll certainly be asked.
Pecan Brownie Cookies – If you like cookies and brownies, you’ll definitely like these.
Easy Pumpkin Bars – These are always a favorite at a holiday dinner. But they’re also great year-round.
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies – Peanut butter junkies love these, but if anyone in the group has a peanut allergy, leave them at home.