Food and Recipes Quick and Easy Dinner 5-Ingredient Side Dish Recipes By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 10, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Sanchez We've gathered a bounty of beautiful sides, perfect for pairing with our main dishes. Can't choose? Put together a sampler of our fresh salads. 01 of 30 Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes Hector Sanchez Recipes: Penne with Green Beans and Tomatoes Add zing to your salads with fresh dill, or swap it for basil, mint, or parsley. For pasta, try using whole wheat for its earthy, toothsome quality; any kind will do. 02 of 30 Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke Recipe: Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob Add south-of-the-border flavor to buttery grilled corn with jalapeño peppers, cilantro, and lime juice. 03 of 30 Skillet Cornbread Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Skillet Cornbread Quickly incorporate the hot bacon drippings into the batter with a fork. When you pour it back into the hot skillet, listen for the sizzle. That sound means your crust will be dark golden and crisp. 04 of 30 Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Hector Sanchez Recipe: Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Classic cafeteria-style goodness, this recipe yields enough to serve as a side for a crowd, or it could be dinner for a family of four. Recipe by Pam Rawlinson, North Augusta, South Carolina. 05 of 30 Baked Zucchini Chips Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Baked Zucchini Chips Serve these crispy baked chips as a side or an app. 06 of 30 Zucchini-Carrot Salad with Catalina Dressing Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Zucchini-Carrot Salad with Catalina Dressing Dress thinly sliced vegetables with our fresh take on catalina dressing—inspired by two Birmingham chefs, Wil Drake and Roscoe Hall—and garnish with any fresh herbs you like. 07 of 30 Spiced Eggplant Cutlets with Chickpea-Feta Salad Photo: Jennifer Davick Eggplant slices tend to shrink significantly as they cook, so start with hearty 1-inch-thick slabs.Recipe: Spiced Eggplant Cutlets with Chickpea-Feta Salad 08 of 30 Green Machine Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipes: Green Machine Salad There's enough acidity to keep the apples from turning brown if made up to three hours ahead. Use a vegetable peeler to transform asparagus into thin ribbons, a technique that also works well with carrots. 09 of 30 Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad Serve this fragrant side with just about any grilled meat; it plays well off smoky, charred flavors. Toss in feta cheese and shrimp to turn it into a main. 10 of 30 Strawberry-Tomato Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Strawberry-Tomato Salad Look for mini multicolored tomatoes at the supermarket. Toss them with strawberries for a surprising combo to serve with grilled salmon, chicken, or pork. 11 of 30 Braised White Turnips Hector Sanchez Recipe: Braised White Turnips This recipe is a simple way to create a delicious and beautiful side dish for your Thanksgiving table. If you prefer single-item sides rather than casseroles, or gratins, then dishes like these Braised White Turnips are the perfect dishes for you. These are cooked in butter, then simmered first in vinegar, then after in honey and butter, to create a beautiful combination of sweet-and-sour-tasting turnips. We based this recipe on one from Atlanta chef Linton Hopkins found in the book Lodge Cast Iron Nation. Use small Japanese turnips from farmers' markets, or peel and cut larger turnips into 1- to 2-inch cubes. 12 of 30 Smashed Fried Okra Hector Sanchez Recipe: Smashed Fried Okra What a revelation! Use a meat mallet to smash okra and create more surface area for crispy-brown goodness. Try this at home. 13 of 30 Skillet-Roasted Okra and Shrimp Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Skillet-Roasted Okra and Shrimp Adapted from Virginia Willis' book, Okra, published by The University of North Carolina Press, this fast sauté is great over grits or a bed of arugula. 14 of 30 Fresh Corn Quinoa Photo: Melina Hammer Recipe: Fresh Corn Quinoa Fresh Corn Quinoa combines corn kernels, chard basil, and mint with red quinoa for a quick and tasty side dish. Try it with Rosemary Chicken. 15 of 30 Any Greens Sauté Photo: Alison Miksch Greens can be cooked in minutes over high heat, making it possible to serve collards on a busy weeknight. Try this recipe with whatever green you've got on hand, or mix a few varieties together.Recipe: Any Greens Sauté 16 of 30 Classic Fresh Field Peas Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Classic Fresh Field Peas Smoky ham hocks enrich the broth, yielding a delicious pot of field peas. Try smoking your own hocks--they will yield roughly double what you'll get from store-bought hocks. 17 of 30 Charred Eggplant with Miso Dressing Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Charred Eggplant with Miso Dressing Miso is a Japanese staple with a slightly salty, pungent flavor. Find it in the international or refrigerated aisle at your grocery store. 18 of 30 Hot Bacon Caprese Salad Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Hot Bacon Caprese Salad Update the Italian tomato salad with a rich, tart dressing. 19 of 30 Grilled Mexican Corn Salad Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Grilled Mexican Corn Salad This recipe is an off-the-cob play on a popular Mexican street dish. 20 of 30 Zucchini-Potato Casserole Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Zucchini-Potato CasseroleThis elegant tian, a French dish of layered vegetables, is delicious warm or at room temp. 21 of 30 Mediterranean Green Beans Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Mediterranean Green Beans Use the olive mix to dress other veggies, such as tomato wedges, cooked baby potatoes, or roasted bell peppers. 22 of 30 Grilled Squash and Salsa Verde Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Grilled Squash and Salsa Verde Pepitas, goat cheese, and homemade Salsa Verde jazz up this simple veggie. 23 of 30 Scallion-and-Benne Cucumber Noodles Photo: Hector Sanchez Slice the cucumbers just until you reach the seeds, but no farther or the noodles become raggedy. Pair with fish or shrimp. Recipe: Scallion-and-Benne Cucumber Noodles 24 of 30 Tortelloni-and-Grilled Vegetable Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Tortelloni-and-Grilled Vegetable Salad This versatile pasta pairs with any grilled vegetable, so use what you have on hand or what looks best at the farmers' market. 25 of 30 Tomato-and-Gorgonzola Pasta Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Tomato-and-Gorgonzola Pasta Salad We love juicy beefsteaks for their sweet, intense flavor. Colorful small tomatoes and any crumbled cheese work well here too. 26 of 30 Whipped-Cream Corn Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Whipped-Cream Corn Salad To make ahead, prepare recipe as directed through Step 1. Cover and chill up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes, and proceed with recipe. 27 of 30 Sweet Pea-and-Mint Pasta Toss Hector Sanchez Recipe: Sweet Pea-and-Mint Pasta Toss Serve this minty side with grilled shrimp for a quick company-worthy dinner. Can't find torcetti? Use cavatappi or gemelli. 28 of 30 Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Hector Sanchez Recipe: Watermelon-and-Feta Orzo Salad Punch up this classic pairing of watermelon and feta with peppery watercress or arugula. 29 of 30 Candied Roasted Squash Photo: Helen Norman Recipe: Candied Roasted Squash A recipe with only three ingredients calls for smart technique and a little bit of finesse. Score the squash flesh to create more surface area for caramelizing. 30 of 30 Sautéed Mushrooms Photo: Helen Norman Recipe: Sautéed Mushrooms Any types of mushrooms work well here. Sear them in batches, without crowding, in a hot skillet so that they will take on color without steaming. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit