30 Super Tasty 15-Minute Sides
Updated: Jan. 14, 2022
Zesty corn, cheesy potatoes, saucy squash—there's a little something for everyone in this collection of easy side dishes.
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Confetti Corn
This easy corn dish is sure to dress up almost any entree. I added the crunch of water chestnuts, red pepper and chopped carrot—along with extra nutrition. —Glenda Watts, Charleston, Illinois
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Sweet Carrots
Here's a flavorful way to dress up carrots without a lot of fuss. Simply steam the good-for-you veggies, then season with butter, brown sugar, vinegar and a sprinkling of chives. The carrots are not only colorful, but they're tasty, too. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Garlic Parmesan Asparagus
Pair any entree with this fresh side dish for a truly succulent meal. With subtle garlic, melted butter and a hint of Parmesan cheese, what’s not to love? —Tara Ernspiker, Falling Waters, West Virginia
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Lemon Garlic Mushrooms
I baste whole mushrooms with a lemony sauce to prepare this simple side dish. Using skewers or a basket makes it easy to turn them as they grill to perfection. —Diane Hixon, Niceville, Florida
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Seasoned Fries
These fries are always popular with my meat-and-potatoes bunch. The cheesy seasoning can easily double as a flavorful baked potato topper, too.—Maribeth Edwards, Follansbee, West Virginia
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Festive Corn 'n' Broccoli
If you have it, substitute a tablespoon of minced fresh basil instead of dried and two to three ears of sweet corn (cut fresh from cob, about a cup) for the Mexicorn in this dish. —Lucile Throgmorton, Clovis, New Mexico
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Dutch Beets
Even people who typically shy away from beets will polish these off. This healthy canned vegetable recipe is quick to make, too, since you start with canned beets. —Marie Hattrup, Sonoma, California
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Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
We’re betting you won’t find a faster way to dress up crisp sugar snap peas than this simply scrumptious recipe. It goes with a variety of entrees and is pretty enough to dish up for company. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Fire and Ice Tomatoes
You won't miss the salt in this refreshing tomato salad! It's well-seasoned with cayenne pepper, mustard seed and vinegar but not the least bit spicy. This dish is always a hit at potlucks. —Nan Rickey, Yuma, Arizona
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Snappy Green Beans
The buttery and citrus flavors in this brightly colored side dish go with just about any entree. I enjoy it most when green beans are in season. —Tammy Neubauer, Ida Grove, Iowa
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Salsa Rice
It's a snap to change the spice level in this popular rice side dish by choosing a milder or hotter salsa. It's a delicious way to round out burritos or tacos when the clock is ticking. —Molly Ingle, Canton, North Carolina
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White Beans and Spinach
This skillet side is a variation of a recipe I received from my Italian mother. I've prepared spinach this way for years—because my children eat it happily! —Lucia Johnson, Massena, New York
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Spicy Refried Beans
Need a quick side? All you need is a can of refried beans, jalapeno pepper, seasonings and cheese. Serve with tortilla chips on the side for scooping. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Thymed Zucchini Saute
Simple and flavorful, this recipe is a tasty and healthy way to use up all those zucchini that are taking over your garden. It's ready in hardly any time! —Bobby Taylor, Ulster Park, New York
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Honey-Lemon Asparagus
Everyone who tastes my glazed asparagus takes a second helping, so I usually double the recipe. For another option, try using a root vegetable such as turnip or parsnip. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario
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Cilantro Ginger Carrots
Peppery-sweet ginger and cooling cilantro have starring roles in this colorful side of crisp-tender carrots. The veggie goes from pan to plate in a twinkling. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Mushroom and Spinach Saute
Mushrooms and spinach make a super fast combination that’s perfect for two. And it’s easy to double or triple for a crowd. —Pauline Howard, Lago Vista, Texas
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Waffle-Iron Acorn Squash
I love to get the kids involved in cooking, and this squash is so simple even a small child can cook it with minimal adult supervision. The recipe is fun, fast and no-fuss, and it doesn’t use valuable oven space before big family meals. —Donna Kelly, Orem, Utah
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Marinated Mushrooms & Artichokes
I marinate mushrooms and artichokes in fresh tarragon, thyme and seasonings so they turn out tart, tangy and irresistible. —Marcia Doyle, Pompano, Florida
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Peas with Shallots
I first served this at an Easter dinner. Delicious! My guests suggested I use even more shallots. It's so easy, nutritious and always a hit! —Rosemary Schirm, Avondale, Pennsylvania
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Breakfast Potatoes
These cheesy potatoes are a super morning side dish. I prepare them often for my husband and myself. They go great with just about any breakfast main dish. —Judy Dupree, Thief River Falls, Minnesota
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Dill & Chive Peas
Growing my own vegetables and herbs helps keep things fresh in the kitchen, but frozen peas make this side is a breeze to prepare. —Tanna Richard, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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If you don’t have roasted almonds, stir in toasted chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch and flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Tarragon Asparagus
I grow purple asparagus, so I'm always looking for new ways to prepare it. Recently, my husband and I discovered how wonderful any color of asparagus tastes when it's grilled. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
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Balsamic-Glazed Zucchini
I am a member of a community-supported agriculture farm. I once received the most delicious garden-fresh zucchini and garlic in a seasonal box. That's when I came up with this fabulous recipe. —Joe Cherry, Metuchen, New Jersey
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Lemon Broccoli
Add a hint of citrus to your vegetables with an attractive side dish. Ideal with most any entree, this time-saving specialty dresses up broccoli, pimientos and onions with a dash of lemon. —Tonya Farmer, Iowa City, Iowa
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Grilled Pattypans
Just a few minutes and a handful of ingredients are all you’ll need for this scrumptious side dish. Hoisin sauce and rice wine vinegar give grilled pattypans Asian flair. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Pepper Parmesan Beans
A colorful mixture of peppers and green beans gets an Italian treatment with basil and Parmesan cheese in this delightful vegetable dish. The garlic adds a savory zip. —Marian Platt, Sequim, Washington
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Sauteed Garlic Mushrooms
These tasty garlic butter mushrooms are so delicious served with steak, chicken or pork. The sauteed garlic is the secret! —Joan Schroeder, Mesquite, Nevada
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Lemon-Parmesan Broiled Asparagus
These special spears are packed with flavor, thanks to the lemon-garlic dressing they're tossed in before roasting. It's a simple, quick side that goes with almost anything. —Tina Repak, Johnstown, PennsylvaniaOriginally Published: April 05, 2019
