When you need to complete your busy weeknight dinner, turn to these 20+ easy side dishes ready in 15 minutes or less!
Do you ever focus so much on your main entree that you forget about a side? I'll take marinated chicken breasts out of the freezer, get them cooking, then suddenly realize we have no veggies! Luckily, I've finally gathered a list of some of our favorite super fast side dishes. They are ready in 15 minutes and are easy enough for beginner cooks or super busy families.
Why you will love these sides:
- Simple - Most of these recipes have very limited ingredient lists, making them great for beginner cooks!
- Quick - Some of these could be done while a meat protein is resting or as you finish up a nice sauce. These won't take up much of your time.
- Versatile - Many of these side dishes utilize classic cooking methods and could be made with different seasonings and substitutions. Basic dishes like these are a great opportunity to try adjusting and experimenting with flavors you may like more.
Tips for the Best Quick Side Dishes
- Meal prep vegetables when you can. There are so many ways you can speed up your average dinners by prepping your veggies ahead of time!
- Keep your staples stocked. Common items like citrus juices, nuts, seeds, garlic, herbs, oils, and vinegars all make big impact without much effort, expense, or time.
- Be smart with your tools. Air frying, broiling, sauteing, and grilling are often your fastest cooking methods. Roasting and deep frying often have longer prep times getting in the way. A few Instant Pot recipes made the list, but I assumed roughly 10 minutes of pressurizing time.
- Buy quick-cooking vegetables or ingredients that don't need to be cooked. Asparagus, green beans, zucchini, and broccoli all can be cooked decently quickly. Salad greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. can skip the cooking entirely to buy you more time!
Quick Salad Side Dishes
Our Staple Kale Salad (with cranberries + feta!)
Simple and so tasty, this kale salad has feta cheese, dried cranberries, and sliced almonds all tossed in a tangy lemon vinaigrette. It's our go-to recipe because of the simplicity and perfect blend of salty, sweet, soft and crunchy.
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Crunchy Asian Cucumber Salad (15 minutes)
This crunchy Asian cucumber salad is cool, refreshing and perfect for summer! Simple to prepare and made with fresh cucumber, cilantro, shallots and peanuts tossed in a rice wine vinaigrette, it's a great way to cool down in the heat.
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Tomato and Avocado Salad
This easy Tomato and Avocado Salad is the perfect summer recipe! Juicy heirloom tomatoes, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy avocado slices, and fresh mozzarella are coated in an easy vinaigrette for a simple, delicious snack.
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Cucumber Feta Salad
This spiralized cucumber feta salad is a must-make for warm days! It is cool, herby, and bursting with Mediterranean flavor.
Crunchy Rainbow Thai Salad
This 10 Minute Crunchy Rainbow Thai Salad is the easiest side dish and full of fresh, crunchy vegetables, cilantro, cashews and a tangy peanut dressing.
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Arugula and Watermelon Salad in a Jar
Arugula and watermelon salad in a jar is the perfect picnic food! Layering the salad means it will be fresher when you eat it and makes it perfectly portable.
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Burrata Salad
This easy Burrata Salad is simple, refreshing, and delicious! It’s the perfect summer tomato salad with an amazing homemade vinaigrette dressing.
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Asian Slaw Recipe
This delicious Asian Slaw is full of colorful veggies and tossed in an amazing peanut sauce! It’s easy to make this healthy, no-cook side dish low-carb, too!
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Fast Side Dishes
How to Cook Sugar Snap Peas (3 Ways!)
This post shows you how to cook sugar snap peas using three different cooking methods, and they are all very fast! The skillet and grilled methods would both be finished in 15 minutes even with preheating time, but the roasted method may require a few extra minutes for preheating.
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Lemon Parmesan Air Fryer Asparagus
This lemon parmesan air fryer asparagus is cooked through to tender perfection in minutes! Low carb, gluten-free, and so simple to prepare. Asparagus could also be blanched, sauteed, broiled, grilled, or prepared raw within 15 minutes as described here.
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Crispy Garlic Gnocchi Recipe
This Crispy Garlic Gnocchi is an easy dish ready in under 10 minutes!
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Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic Butter
Sautéed green beans with garlic butter is a classic and easy side dish! Made with 4 simple ingredients, it comes together in 10 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
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How to Cook a Sweet Potato in the Microwave
This post shows you how to cook a sweet potato in the microwave. It's quick and efficient, and a great way to do it when you're in a rush!
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Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli
This air fryer broccoli gets golden and crispy, and is ready in under 10 minutes! Tossed in balsamic vinegar, it is slightly tangy, savory and tender. You could also steam, saute, or grill the broccoli within 15 minutes as described here.
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How to Cook Zucchini Noodles (with step by step instructions)
How to cook zucchini noodles- showing you an easy 5-minute method for cooking zucchini noodles, plus how to make them ahead and store for meal prep.
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Glazed Carrots (4 Ingredients)
These easy Glazed Carrots require just 4 ingredients and are ready in about 15 minutes! This is the perfect holiday side dish that can be made ahead of time.
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Air Fryer Green Beans
Crisp yet tender, these air fryer green beans are ready in under ten minutes! Keep them simple with salt and olive oil, or jazz them up with extra seasonings.
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How To Cook Broccolini- 3 Ways
This post shows you how to cook broccolini using three different methods- sautéing, grilling and roasting. Simple, healthy, and flavorful, they are perfect served as a side dish. The roasting would take a little longer than 15 minutes due to the preheating, but the other two methods can be prepped, cooked, and ready in 15 minutes.
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Air Fryer Zucchini with Parmesan
Learn how to make delicious Air Fryer Zucchini with Parmesan! This keto side dish has only four ingredients and is ready in under 10 minutes! You can also use this method on yellow summer squash.
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Grilled Pineapple Salsa - It Starts With Good Food
This pineapple salsa is sweet, spicy, and super juicy! It is the perfect topping, side dish or nutritious homemade snack!
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Lemon Garlic Cauliflower Rice
Lemon garlic cauliflower rice is the perfect low carb side dish recipe that goes well with Mediterranean flavors. So simple to prepare and works for meal prep as well.
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Crispy Air Fryer Okra (3 ingredients!) - It Starts With Good Food
This Crispy Air Fryer Okra requires just 3 ingredients and about 10 minutes of cook time! Enjoy perfectly crunchy, salty, Fried Okra with this simple side dish recipe!
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Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Instant Pot corn on the cob is the fastest and most efficient way to cook your corn! Easy, fast, and perfectly juicy corn each time.
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Garlic Butter Mushrooms - The Best Keto Recipes
One-pan Garlic Butter Mushrooms: creamy and full of thyme and garlic flavor. Try this easy side dish recipe, ready in 15 minutes!
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