Food and Recipes Side Dishes The Easiest 3-Ingredient Side Dish Recipes To Complete Any Dinner By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Associate Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories.She grew up in Mobile, Alabama, which she insists is home to the country's first Mardi Gras (not New Orleans) and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and rescue pup Rocky, whose name is unrelated to The University of Tennessee (Roll Tide). Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 12, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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. 01 of 17 Garlic Parmesan Green Beans 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. 02 of 17 Jessica's Mixed Greens 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. 03 of 17 From-Scratch Oven Fries Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: From-Scratch Oven Fries Don't stop at the drive-thru! Get crispy, perfect French fries right at home. 04 of 17 Slow-Cooker Grits 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. 05 of 17 Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Bites Jennifer Davick Recipe: Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Bites Watermelon, goat cheese, and basil make up this easy summer side dish. 06 of 17 Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob 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. 07 of 17 Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries 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. 08 of 17 Browned-Butter Farro Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Browned-Butter Farro Swap out tired rice recipes for this healthy grain at dinner. 09 of 17 Whipped-Cream Corn Salad 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. 10 of 17 Oven Roasted Potatoes Iain Bagwell Recipe: Oven Roasted Potatoes This method ensures the crispiest potatoes that truly go with everything at dinnertime. 11 of 17 Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes 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. 12 of 17 Simple Beet Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Simple Beet Salad This light, colorful salad brings out the best of earthy beets. 13 of 17 Classic: Green Beans with Garlic 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. 14 of 17 Roasted Cauliflower Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower This healthy side dish is most delicious when it's able to caramelize. 15 of 17 Perfect Pot of Grits Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Perfect Pot of GritsVideo: 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. 16 of 17 Brussels Sprouts and Sautéed Cabbage 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. 17 of 17 Candied Roasted Squash Photo: Helen Norman Recipe: Candied Roasted Squash Welcome fall with a cozy side of squash that's baked with brown sugar. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit