52 Side Dishes For Salmon Dinners That Are Easy And Delicious By Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a writer and editor with 17 years of experience in food, lifestyle, travel, and health content. She is an Editorial Director for Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 15, 2025 Close Credit: Dane Tashima; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Whether pan-fried, grilled, poached, or baked, salmon is always a welcomed supper main. This versatile fish is the star of some of our favorite weeknight and special occasion salmon dishes. After deciding on the main dish, choosing what to serve alongside this rich-tasting fish can be a challenge. It feels like the options are endless. Never Lose a Favorite Recipe Again With MyRecipes, your personal recipe box, you can save and organize your Southern Living favorites and thousands more in one place. 01 of 52 One-Dish Creamy Tomato Orzo Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This elegant orzo dish can stand alone as dinner, but it would be beautiful (and more filling!) topped with a salmon fillet for a dinner party. Get The Recipe Save 02 of 52 Honey-Roasted Carrots Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox With just a handful of ingredients, you can whip up a fresh, easy side dish for salmon. Pair with a simple green salad for a gorgeous plate. Get The Recipe Save 03 of 52 Roasted Brussels Sprouts Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox These crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts are one of our go-to fall side dishes. Just be sure to plan your dinner accordingly so that you can serve them immediately to maintain their texture. Get The Recipe Save 04 of 52 Creamed String Beans Credit: Dane Tashima; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Those of you who aren’t fans of the traditional green bean casserole will appreciate this fresh but decadent side dish. Get The Recipe Save 05 of 52 Farro Salad Credit: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel With this colorful recipe, you just need to sear or roast your salmon and serve—no additional sides needed. Get The Recipe Save 06 of 52 Beet Salad Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser This beautiful fall salad would pair well specifically with our Bourbon-Glazed Salmon for a cozy autumn dinner. Get The Recipe Save 07 of 52 Roasted Brussels Sprouts And Butternut Squash Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox With this side dish and a piece of salmon, you have a full dinner that’s fit for an easy weeknight for a dressy dinner party. Get The Recipe Save 08 of 52 Roasted Broccolini With Pecans And Lemon Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch You’ll need just four ingredients (plus salt, pepper, and olive oil that you already have) to whip up this photo-worthy side dish that’s ready in 25 minutes from start to finish. Get The Recipe Save 09 of 52 Summer Orzo Salad Credit: Photographer and Prop stylist: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray This delightfully fresh orzo salad is the perfect base for a light protein like salmon. “We loved this salad. I've made it several times. Always a hit,” wrote one reviewer who left the recipe five stars. Get The Recipe Save 10 of 52 Chopped Kale Salad With Toasted Breadcrumbs Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Kale and salmon are like peas and carrots—they just belong together. This fancy version of a classic Caesar salad is one of our favorites thanks to the crispy, cheesy sprinkle on top. Get The Recipe Save 11 of 52 Sugar Snap Pea Salad Credit: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Sugar snap peas are cut horizontally to star in this fresh salad. Panko breadcrumbs add a nice crunch while homemade dressing made with honey, dijon mustard, and lemon juice adds plenty of flavor. Get The Recipe Save 12 of 52 Grilled Asparagus Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Grilling your salmon? Go ahead and throw your vegetables on the grate beside your main. Select medium-sized (or jumbo when in season) asparagus for the best-grilled asparagus. They will hold up much better on the grill. Get The Recipe Save 13 of 52 Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox A lively lemon-dill vinaigrette makes this anytime side stand out from your typical potato salad. Make the vinaigrette in advance and store it in a Mason jar in the refrigerator for when you can enjoy it. It pairs particularly well with baked or grilled salmon and complements your everyday ham sandwich or chicken salad. Get The Recipe Save 14 of 52 Roasted Broccoli Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox They key to the best roasted broccoli is to cut your florets similar in size so they'll cook evenly. Also, make sure it's mostly dry before tossing it in olive oil to ensure it'll crisp up in the oven. Get The Recipe Save 15 of 52 Sautéed Squash And Zucchini Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen In the summertime, you can't go wrong serving up fresh squash that's paired with onions and sautéed. It just may outshine the main dish. Get The Recipe Save 16 of 52 Asparagus Gratin Credit: Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Meet a delicious way to showcase fresh farmers' market asparagus. This asparagus, swaddled in a cheesy, creamy sauce, has all the flavors you love in a gratin but with half the effort. Spring vegetables get a makeover that assembles in just 20 minutes. Get The Recipe Save 17 of 52 Skillet Roasted Cabbage Wedges with Hot Bacon Dressing Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Lydia Pursell Cabbage is a side dish hero—it's inexpensive, easy to cook, and hard to mess up. These hearty wedges get meltingly tender in the skillet, and the hot bacon dressing is delicious spooned over salmon. Get The Recipe Save 18 of 52 Roasted Sweet Potatoes Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox All you need is salt, pepper, and olive oil to perfectly roast sweet potatoes. Just make sure not to overcrowd the pan so each piece gets enough airflow. Get The Recipe Save 19 of 52 Air-Fryer Okra Credit: Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee In-season okra is the ultimate side. Pair with the magic of your air fryer, and you've got a simple supper side that just can't be ignored. This well-seasoned dish includes garlic powder, paprika, salt, and cayenne pepper. Get The Recipe Save 20 of 52 Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Simple but satisfying, there's a reason baked potatoes are a dinnertime staple. Choose sweet potatoes with similar sizes so they bake evenly. Feel free to personalize your toppings from fresh chives to bacon bits. Get The Recipe Save 21 of 52 Best-Ever Succotash Credit: Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle For a vegetarian option to serve alongside salmon, follow the recipe but omit the bacon and replace the drippings with two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Enjoy fresh flavors, including corn, tomatoes, lima beans, and okra. Get The Recipe Save 22 of 52 Honey-Butter Skillet Corn Credit: Alison Miksch You can use fresh or frozen corn kernels in this skillet side dish. A little bit of cream cheese makes in creamy while honey adds just a touch of sweetness. Get The Recipe Save 23 of 52 Air-Fryer Zucchini Chips Credit: Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel Serve a side of chips, but healthier. Cut the chips relatively uniformly so they cook evenly in your air fryer. Serve with marinara sauce. Get The Recipe Save 24 of 52 Crispy Potatoes Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox An all-purpose potato, like russet, Yukon gold, red, or fingerling, guarantees the right roasted crispiness. If you have any leftovers, make a great breakfast hash the next day. Garnish with crispy thyme sprigs. Get The Recipe Save 25 of 52 Brussels Sprout Slaw with Apples and Pecans Credit: Greg DuPree This salad has a bright lemon and olive oil dressing and gets a salty punch from Parmesan cheese, while apples add a touch of sweetness. This Brussels sprout slaw is crunchy, but substituting the traditional ingredients help create a unique blend of flavors. After mixing the ingredients, let it sit for five minutes before serving to allow the flavors to marry. Get The Recipe Save 26 of 52 Old-School Squash Casserole Credit: Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Vegetables are always delicious, smothered in butter, cream, and cheese. Squash casserole is a staple dish found at meat-and-three diners, but it's relatively easy to make at home. Top this dish with crunchy, buttery crackers. Get The Recipe Save 27 of 52 Hush Puppies Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Just because you're not serving fried catfish or shrimp doesn't mean hush puppies can't make an appearance at your table. Pairing them with a helping of salmon is an excellent way to switch things up. Try jazzing up your hush puppies with bacon, caramelized onions, jalapeños, and corn. Get The Recipe Save 28 of 52 Roasted Carrots and Parsnips Credit: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch This recipe is so user-friendly you can even throw sweet potatoes and turnips in the mix. The "fall" herb butter is essential to this dish, so prepare it up to three days in advance and store it in the refrigerator—bring it to room temperature before serving. Get The Recipe Save 29 of 52 Air-Fryer Corn on the Cob Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Air frying adds a fresh take on your summer corn, resulting in a crisp and crunchy exterior and tender and juicy interior. Upgrade your corn-on-the-cob with customizable toppings. Get The Recipe Save 30 of 52 Smashed Baby Red Potatoes Credit: Emily Laurae / Southern Living Trust us when we say these roasted potatoes are hard to stop eating. Baby red potatoes are the perfect size and shape for this recipe, but you can also use multicolored baby potatoes for a fun presentation. Each bite will be crispy, crunchy, salty, and buttery. Get The Recipe Save 31 of 52 Easy Cauliflower Casserole Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Don't be surprised if the youngest diners around your table confuse this cheesy cauliflower casserole for classic mac and cheese. This recipe makes the most of your pantry staples. Just grab cooking spray, panko, and a can of cream of chicken soup, and you're practically halfway there. Get The Recipe Save 32 of 52 Pineapple-Pepper Slaw Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Salmon is fattier than white fish like snapper, so it benefits from a tangy, acidic side like this peppery, fruit-filled slaw. Get The Recipe Save 33 of 52 Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This easy, 25-minute recipe for asparagus is best with a drizzle of cheese sauce and a dusting of breadcrumbs so the vegetable's bright flavor shines through. Before cooking, break or snap off the asparagus' hard ends and trim the feathery tips. Get The Recipe Save 34 of 52 Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Creamy white beans combine with hearty roasted broccoli and greens for a salad full of flavor and fiber. Red onion and a lemon vinaigrette provide a zingy bite that pairs perfectly with rich, fatty salmon. Garnish with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese before serving. Get The Recipe Save 35 of 52 Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing Credit: CAITLIN BENSEL; FOOD STYLIST: TORIE COX This salad, filled with delicate spinach, juicy tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs, is the ideal side to complement a refreshing salmon dinner. Top with crispy bacon and toss it in a warm dressing made from the bacon drippings. Add salt and pepper to taste. Get The Recipe Save 36 of 52 Smashed-Cucumber Salad Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Smashing the cucumbers opens the vegetable to allow it to soak up more flavors. Toss the cucumbers in olive oil, mustard, and vinegar. This side dish is tangy and refreshing, ideal for summer dinners. Get The Recipe Save 37 of 52 Heirloom Tomato Salad Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox This heirloom tomato salad assembles in only 10 minutes of hands-on time. The dish showcases sweet seasonal vegetables dressed in a mustardy vinaigrette. Toss the heirloom tomatoes in the dressing and let it sit for about 20 minutes before serving. Get The Recipe Save 38 of 52 Romaine Salad With Oranges And Radishes Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely On top of a crunchy yet tender romaine lettuce foundation, sweet orange segments, and peppery radishes add to this warm-weather salad. Drizzle with vinegar, mustard, honey, and fresh orange juice dressing. Toss and serve immediately. Get The Recipe Save 39 of 52 Easiest-Ever Pasta Salad Credit: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke This side dish is a crowd-pleasing option and easy to make. Serve it alongside barbecue dishes, salmon, or at tailgate parties. Combine mini mozzarella balls, olives, tomatoes, salami, artichoke hearts, and peppers for a creamy, delightful recipe. Get The Recipe Save 40 of 52 Classic Fresh Field Peas Credit: Will Dickey; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn This side dish relies on simple ingredients to create robust flavor. Smoked ham hocks, onion, bacon drippings, and garlic enriches the smoky flavoring of field peas. Add salt and pepper for the finishing touch. Get The Recipe Save 41 of 52 Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Credit: Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Broccoli and grapes add a fresh and colorful spin to traditional pasta salad. Chopped pecans provide a unique texture and crunch to this dish, while grapes balance it with a sweet flavoring. Top with crumbled bacon slices. Get The Recipe Save 42 of 52 Air Fryer Green Beans Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Turn fresh green beans into an ideal side dish for salmon in just 15 minutes with the help of your air fryer. Get The Recipe Save 43 of 52 Permanent Slaw Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan This vinegar-based dish is tender and tangy. Finely shredded cabbage, carrots, bell peppers, and sweet onions make this dish delicate and delicious. The longer it sits in the vinegar dressing, the more flavorful it becomes. Get The Recipe Save 44 of 52 Corn-And-Tomato Salad Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Prepare this summer side in only 15 minutes. Make this salad in advance, as it will get more flavorful the longer it sits. Combine sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, salty cheese, and a creamy Mayonnaise dressing. Get The Recipe Save 45 of 52 Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes Credit: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Enriched by nutty brown butter, these velvety smooth mashed sweet potatoes are the perfect partner for roasted or grilled salmon. The fried herbs add an irresistible crunch. Get The Recipe Save 46 of 52 Roasted Broccolini Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Like broccoli but all dressed up for company, this hybrid's stalks are more tender than those of their more common cousin. A squeeze of lemon brightens the flavor and balances the fatty richness of salmon perfectly. Get The Recipe Save 47 of 52 Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Perfectly cooked salmon is meltingly tender; pair it with these crispy smashed Brussels sprouts for a lovely textural contrast. Get The Recipe Save 48 of 52 Smoky Creamed Greens Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely This rich and creamy side dish gets a layer of smoky flavor from bacon, which is best-flavor-friends with roasted salmon. Get The Recipe Save 49 of 52 Roasted Garlic Duchess Potatoes Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these dressed-for-company potatoes are an easy way to fancy up basic roasted or baked salmon for entertaining. Get The Recipe Save 50 of 52 Stir-Fried Sesame Eggplant With Basil Credit: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Enriched with hoisin sauce, ginger, garlic, and rice wine vinegar, this speedy side dish yields an umami-rich pan sauce that's delicious spooned over roasted salmon. Get The Recipe Save 51 of 52 Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots Credit: Iain Bagwell Enhance the naturally sweet and earthy flavors of carrots during the roasting process in this side dish. The honey and spice dressing adds an extra layer of flavor. Garnish with freshly sliced chives. Get The Recipe Save 52 of 52 Frenched Green Bean Salad Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Daley This green bean salad can be prepared up to 3 day in advance so you can make it ahead for busy weeknights. Reserve the fresh dill to add just before serving. Get The Recipe Save Explore more: Food and Recipes Side Dishes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit