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You are here: Home / Food / 75 Real Food Side Dishes

by Stacy  39 Comments

75 Real Food Side Dishes

Don't forget the side dishes when making your meal plan! This list of 75 real food side dishes will last you over 2 months!

Sometimes it can be hard to come up with good side dishes when you decide to eat more “real” food. All those quick and easy side dishes of your past are nixed. No more Kraft Mac-and-Cheese, no more Pork ‘n Beans, no more Hungry Man instant potatoes. The truth is, real food sides can be so easy…and very quick. Roast any veggie – steam and add butter or chop up a quick salad.

My problem is that sometimes I just get in a rut…broccoli, again? *Sigh* So, I set out to find some real food side dishes. The recipes abound! However, I thought it would be nice if they were all in one spot so they would be easier to find when I was in a hurry…because, while I love meal planning, I don’t always plan side dishes. I just write “side dish.” Creative, huh?

So, here they are…in no certain order. 75 real food sides for your quick reference. Can you tell that I love making lists? You might also want to check out: 100 Days of Non-Processed Crock Pot Meals, 20 Healthy Granola Bar Recipes, 40 Uses for a Dehydrator, or 101 Snacks For Your Husband On-the-Go.

Don't forget the side dishes when making your meal plan! This list of 75 real food side dishes will last you over 2 months!

  • Asian Asparagus and Mushrooms
  • Asparagus Fries
  • Avocado Salad with Bacon
  • Bacon Avocado Cups
  • Bacon Wrapped Green Beans
  • Baked Pepperjack Squash
  • Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
  • Balsamic Glazed Butternut Squash
  • Beans and Rice
  • Broccoli Salad
  • Butternut Squash Fries
  • Cauliflower Mash
  • Cauliflower Rice
  • Chipotle Slaw
Don't forget the side dishes when making your meal plan! This list of 75 real food side dishes will last you over 2 months!

  • Collard Greens
  • Cracker Salad
  • Creamy Curry Quinoa Salad
  • Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
  • Crispy Brussels Sprouts
  • Curried Carrot Chips
  • Dilled Cabbage Salad
  • Dill Pickle Coleslaw
  • Easy Crock Pot Vegetables
  • Eggplant Fries
  • Faux-Tato Salad
  • Fresh Snapped Green Beans
  • Fried Cabbage with Bacon
  • Fried Squash
  • Fried Sweet Potatoes
Don't forget the side dishes when making your meal plan! This list of 75 real food side dishes will last you over 2 months!

  • Garlic Green Beans
  • Garlicky Greens
  • Greek Salad
  • Greek Style Squash
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Green Bean Salad
  • Guacamole Salad
  • Harvest Brussels Sprouts
  • Indian Cucumber Salad
  • Jalapeno Bacon Mashed Cauliflower
  • Kale Chips
  • Macaroni and Cheese
  • Onion Rings
  • Oven Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Oven Grilled Eggplant
Don't forget the side dishes when making your meal plan! This list of 75 real food side dishes will last you over 2 months!

  • Oven Roasted Artichokes
  • Oven Roasted Mushrooms
  • Pan Roasted Cauliflower
  • Pan Roasted Radishes
  • Parmesan Squash Noodles
  • Parmesan Tomatoes
  • Quinoa Berry Salad
  • Raw Applesauce
  • Red Roasted Carrots
  • Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan
  • Roasted Green Beans
  • Roasted Winter Vegetables
  • Savory Cinnamon Rice
Don't forget the side dishes when making your meal plan! This list of 75 real food side dishes will last you over 2 months!

  • Seven Layer Salad
  • Spaghetti Squash
  • Spaghetti Squash Gratin
  • Spinach Supreme
  • Southwest Style Salad
  • Strawberry Spinach Salad
  • Summer Squash Pancakes
  • Tomato Cucumber Salad
  • Tomato Salad
  • Twice Baked Cauliflower (with butter)
  • World’s Best Asparagus
  • Zucchini Cakes
  • Zucchini Chips

And there ya have it! That’s all she wrote…for now. 😉

Don't forget the side dishes when making your meal plan! This list of 75 real food side dishes will last you over 2 months!

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About Stacy

Stacy is a Homemaking and Business Mom Mentor, the author of two cookbooks, creator of multiple e-courses, seasoned life coach, and comedian extraordinaire. Her first priority is her husband and her children - family first. She presses on each day because her calling is to teach, train, and mentor other ladies to have their dreams. She believes if it’s not easy, you won’t do it – because she’s lived it. She’ll bring YOU the awesome so that you can get your home back into control and watch your business soar. For tips and easy strategies, you can follow her on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the content above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comment Policy: I love reading your thoughts and input on what you read here. I'm sure we'll disagree sometimes and that's okay! In those cases, do what's right for you and yours. As with any form of communication, only post comments that move the discussion in a positive direction.

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Comments

  1. Vic says

    June 25, 2019 at 6:24 am

    These side dishes are perfect! I’ll absolutely try these recipes someday! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  2. Anne @ Authentic Simplicity says

    October 1, 2013 at 8:02 pm

    This is a great list with lots of creative options. I always get stuck on side dishes too. Thanks for linking up to Healthy 2Day Wednesday!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      October 2, 2013 at 9:11 pm

      🙂 Thank you for hosting it!

      Reply
  3. homemaidsimple says

    September 30, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    I love you oh so much right now! Half the time we go without sides, because not only do I not plan them, I completely forget until we’re sitting down to eat that…oh gosh, some veggies may have been nice. lol. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday! Bookmarking and pinning this list.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 30, 2013 at 9:27 pm

      No sides?!

      Reply
      • homemaidsimple says

        October 1, 2013 at 10:06 am

        I will hang my head in shame now. It’s not that I mean to have no sides, I just get so busy on the main dish, that I forget. I’m working on changing that though.

        Reply
        • Stacy says

          October 1, 2013 at 3:18 pm

          I’m sure no one is going hungry. 🙂 Meat!

          Reply
  4. the Nourishing Herbalist says

    September 30, 2013 at 7:01 am

    Great resource, Stacy! I shared with my readers on FB and Pinterest!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 30, 2013 at 3:44 pm

      Well, thank you very much! I appreciate that!

      Reply
  5. Diane Balch says

    September 28, 2013 at 6:37 pm

    What an amazing collection of side dishes. Thank you so much for sharing them with us on foodie friday.

    Reply
    • myersbr2 says

      September 29, 2013 at 8:51 pm

      Thanks for hosting!

      Reply
  6. Miz Helen says

    September 28, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    What a fabulous collection of Side Dishes, I am looking forward to going through all the recipes. Have a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 28, 2013 at 6:19 pm

      🙂 With all that’s linked up at your party, you probably don’t have the time for that. LOL

      Reply
  7. Jenni Mullinix says

    September 28, 2013 at 7:56 am

    I’m glad I’m not the only one that gets in a rut when it comes to side dishes. Thanks for sharing this awesome list. Pinning it! 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 28, 2013 at 6:21 pm

      I get in ruts, period. LOL

      Reply
  8. Juggling Real Food & Real Life says

    September 27, 2013 at 2:14 pm

    Thanks so much for putting together this fantastic list of recipes and for sharing it with our Let’s Get Real readers. I can spend the rest of the year trying out recipes just from this list. What an incredible resource this is. Being a real food eater, I get asked (all the time), “What do you eat?” Well here you go……….there is so much to eat when you eat real.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 28, 2013 at 5:35 am

      Eat real – with BACON. Yeah.

      Reply
  9. Marianne @ Ragdoll Kitchen says

    September 24, 2013 at 10:52 am

    This is a huge list! Thank you for all your work and the great recipes 😀

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 24, 2013 at 3:09 pm

      I like making lists…it’s my happy place.

      Reply
  10. Kristin says

    September 23, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    Whew! What a great list!! I can be so stumped for sides sometimes. Pinning for sure!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 24, 2013 at 3:26 pm

      Now you’re all set!

      Reply
  11. Di says

    September 20, 2013 at 5:39 am

    Stacey Thank you! I’m doing oven roasted mushrooms in the morning. How handy while I savour a coffee before breakfast!!! 🙂 thanks again 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 20, 2013 at 6:52 am

      I’m savoring my coffee right now and thinking of you and your mushrooms. 🙂 Good luck!

      Reply
  12. Trisha Eldridge Gilkerson says

    September 20, 2013 at 12:24 am

    Thanks for sharing my avocado bacon salad! THis is an awesome list. Lots of tasty sounding dishes. Must pin 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 20, 2013 at 7:31 am

      You’re welcome…it looks AWESOME!

      Reply
  13. Karen Miller says

    September 19, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    Thanks for all the ideas! I am new to cooking healthy and am trying to be disciplined about planning (menuing) for a whole week at a time to help with shopping (saving time and money by only buying what we need) and to be prepared (save time when it is time to start preparing a meal). How do you pin a recipe that does not have a pin button?

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 20, 2013 at 7:54 am

      I pin with my bookmarklet – I don’t even use the pin buttons on peoples websites. 🙂
      http://about.pinterest.com/goodies/#browser

      Reply
  14. Nikki says

    September 19, 2013 at 4:32 pm

    Oh what a jolly resource this is! *pinning* 🙂

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 19, 2013 at 6:00 pm

      You’re my pinning BFF!

      Reply
  15. Madame Doizan says

    September 19, 2013 at 11:51 am

    Great ideas, thank you…

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 19, 2013 at 6:01 pm

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  16. Nanci Smith says

    September 19, 2013 at 11:14 am

    This is great, thank you!
    What I started doing earlier this summer is planning the “side” first, since the main dishes are usually not as hard to figure out.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 19, 2013 at 6:01 pm

      I usually just cook what I have in the fridge in the summer – since it can vary day to day on what I have in the fridge. 🙂 I will miss summer produce.

      Reply
  17. colleen says

    September 19, 2013 at 10:09 am

    Oh my gosh Stacy thank you so much for putting these all together. I often end up with the same side dishes and my children, who never complain, always seem so deflated when they come to the dinner table and see that we are having string beans AGAIN, or peas AGAIN, and yes, my children like peas! This is such a great help for me since I am an out of the home working mom.

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 19, 2013 at 6:02 pm

      I’m so glad it’s going to help!! That just tickles me pink. 🙂

      Reply
  18. gayla says

    September 19, 2013 at 8:25 am

    You are an angel! Thank you so much for this!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 19, 2013 at 6:02 pm

      WOW! First time I’ve been called THAT. lol

      Reply
  19. Jamie says

    September 19, 2013 at 8:11 am

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this list…already pinned it. 🙂 I am always looking for real food side dishes. I’m not much of a veggie eater but know I need to be. Thanks for the ideas!!

    Reply
    • Stacy says

      September 19, 2013 at 6:02 pm

      I looooooooooooooooove veggies!

      Reply


Hello! I’m Stacy!

I believe God created you to be the hero of your home. You CAN manage your home instead of it managing you. That’s why I empower women with simple solutions for their homemaking needs – because if it’s not easy, you won’t do it. {Read More…}

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