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  4. The Easiest 3-Ingredient Side Dish Recipes To Complete Any Dinner

The Easiest 3-Ingredient Side Dish Recipes To Complete Any Dinner

Mary Shannon Hodes, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Mary Shannon Wells Updated April 12, 2022
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Whipped-Cream Corn Salad
Credit: Southern Living

When you've spent time grilling the perfect steak, slow-cooking a tender roast, or braising the most beautiful chicken, side dishes can become an afterthought at dinner. Since you put so much time into the main dish, it deserves more than a bag of salad, and these three-ingredient recipes are here to complete your dinner.

With few ingredients and simple cooking methods, these recipes are the way to go for fast and affordable weeknight dinners. Never worry about getting your vegetable servings with sides that include healthy green beans, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, beets, and more. Dinner doesn't have to be stressful, complicated, or challenging in order to be delicious. These recipes will save you time and money, while giving your pantry ingredients a brand new life.

Here are the best 3-ingredient side dishes to have in your weekly rotation.

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Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

garlic parmesan green beans
Credit: Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

A touch of bacon and Parmesan cheese add tons of flavor to quick green beans.

1 of 17

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2 of 17

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Jessica's Mixed Greens

Jessica’s Mixed Greens
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Jessica's Mixed Greens

This simple side dish showcases the best of your fresh farmers' market greens, whether you choose collards, turnip greens, or mustard greens.

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From-Scratch Oven Fries

From-Scratch Oven Fries
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: From-Scratch Oven Fries

Don't stop at the drive-thru! Get crispy, perfect French fries right at home.

3 of 17

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4 of 17

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Slow-Cooker Grits

Slow-Cooker Grits
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Grits

When you make grits in the slow cooker, you don't waste a second of time standing over the hot stove stirring.

4 of 17

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Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Bites

Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Bites

Watermelon, goat cheese, and basil make up this easy summer side dish.

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Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob

Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob

All you need is fresh corn to achieve a smoky, savory side. 

6 of 17

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Credit: Photography, and Food Styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

You can easily make this recipe using the oven or the air fryer.

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Browned-Butter Farro

Browned-Butter Farro
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Browned-Butter Farro

Swap out tired rice recipes for this healthy grain at dinner.

8 of 17

9 of 17

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Whipped-Cream Corn Salad

Whipped-Cream Corn Salad
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Whipped-Cream Corn Salad

This dreamy side dish will be a new favorite at every cookout, and no one will know it was so much easier to make than a casserole.

9 of 17

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10 of 17

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Oven Roasted Potatoes

Chicken-Andouille Gumbo with Roasted Potatoes
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes

This method ensures the crispiest potatoes that truly go with everything at dinnertime.

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Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes

It's hard to beat this side dish that goes with so many different dinner options.

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Simple Beet Salad

Simple Beet Salad
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Simple Beet Salad

This light, colorful salad brings out the best of earthy beets.

12 of 17

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Classic: Green Beans with Garlic

Green Beans with Garlic
Credit: Jim Franco

Recipe: Green Beans with Garlic

It's never been easier to get a serving of veggies at dinner than with this fast recipe.

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Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower

This healthy side dish is most delicious when it's able to caramelize.

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Perfect Pot of Grits

Perfect Pot of Grits
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Perfect Pot of Grits
Video: Perfect Pot of Grits

Perfect sounds too good to be true, but trust us. This simple recipe is all you need for the best grits.

15 of 17

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16 of 17

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Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage

Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage

Although this healthy side dish will complement any main-dish protein (chicken, beef, pork, fish, shrimp), we paired it with our Honey-Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Homemade Applesauce for a comforting and kid-friendly dinner.

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Candied Roasted Squash

Candied Roasted Squash
Credit: Photo: Helen Norman

Recipe: Candied Roasted Squash

Welcome fall with a cozy side of squash that's baked with brown sugar.

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    1 of 17 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
    2 of 17 Jessica's Mixed Greens
    3 of 17 From-Scratch Oven Fries
    4 of 17 Slow-Cooker Grits
    5 of 17 Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Bites
    6 of 17 Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob
    7 of 17 Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
    8 of 17 Browned-Butter Farro
    9 of 17 Whipped-Cream Corn Salad
    10 of 17 Oven Roasted Potatoes
    11 of 17 Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes
    12 of 17 Simple Beet Salad
    13 of 17 Classic: Green Beans with Garlic
    14 of 17 Roasted Cauliflower
    15 of 17 Perfect Pot of Grits
    16 of 17 Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage
    17 of 17 Candied Roasted Squash

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