39 Low-Carb Side Dishes to Make Tonight

Grilled Vegetable Platter

The best of summer in one dish! These pretty veggies are the perfect low carb side dish for a group. Grilling brings out their natural sweetness, and the easy marinade really perks up the flavor. —Heidi Hall, North St. Paul, Minnesota

Go to Recipe

Mashed Cauliflower with Parmesan

I couldn’t shake my mashed potato habit—until I tried mashed cauliflower with a similar consistency. I started making my own, and my family loves it. —Meredith Howard, Franklin, Kentucky. If you like this, then try our favorite low-carb cauliflower recipes.

Sauteed Zucchini

I’ve found that this flavorful sauteed zucchini complements almost any main course, from chicken to fish. If you like, use half yellow summer squash for a colorful variation on classic zucchini recipes. —Teresa Kraus, Cortez, Colorado

Cauliflower-Broccoli Cheese Bake

One of the first dishes my mom taught me is a tasty pairing of cauliflower, cheese and broccoli. It’s absolutely my best low carb side dish. —Devin Mulertt, Napa, California

Spinach-Parm Casserole

For those who ignore Popeye and won’t eat their spinach, I find that spinach with garlicky butter and Parmesan helps change their minds. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida

Summer Squash Mushroom Casserole

This rich, creamy squash and zucchini casserole, with its crunchy topping would make a wonderful dish to take to summer potlucks and picnics, or to pair up with a wide variety of entrees. You'll love the buttery flavor of these "comfort veggies!" —Jennifer Wallace, Canal Winchester, Ohio

Green Bean Bundles

I found this recipe in a rural newspaper years ago and have made it often. The bean bundles are excellent with chicken or beef. Sometimes I’ll arrange them around a mound of wild rice to make an appetizing low carb side dish. —Virginia Stadler, Nokesville, Virginia

Grilled Broccoli

I started using this recipe in 1987, when I began cooking light, and it's been a favorite side dish ever since. With its lemon and Parmesan flavors, it once took second place in a cooking contest. —Alice Nulle, Woodstock, Illinois

Cherry Tomato Mozzarella Saute

This side dish is full of flavor and so quick to put together. The cherry tomatoes and mozzarella are perfect alongside almost any main dish you can think of. —Summer Jones, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Skillet Cabbage

I use this low carb side dish often when the schedule gets tight and I need a hurry-up vegetable to cook. It adds plenty of substance to a simple meal. —Charmaine Fricke, St. Charles, Illinois

Oven-Roasted Carrots

My seven children and 15 grandchildren really look forward to these oven-roasted carrots. As a cook at our local school, I serve two generations of my family, plus relatives and friends from all over our area. —Marlene Schott, Devine, Texas

Cheesy Baked Asparagus

This cheesy baked asparagus is an ideal fresh asparagus recipe with a rich, creamy sauce and cashews. It’s a favorite vegetable dish that is easy to prepare. —Jerry Gulley, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin

Marinated Cucumbers

These marinated cucumbers make a cool summer side dish dressed in a light, tangy vinegar and oil mixture seasoned with herbs. The refreshing salad is always a hit when served with cold sandwiches or grilled meat. -Mary Helen Hinson, Lamberton, North Carolina

Roasted Rosemary Cauliflower

Roasting the cauliflower really brings out its flavor in this low carb side dish. Even folks who aren’t cauliflower lovers like it this way. —Joann Fritzler, Belen, New Mexico

Bacon, Cabbage and Noodles

I received this fried cabbage and noodles recipe from a friend of Hungarian descent. Some folks turn up their noses when it is presented, but after one taste, they always come back for seconds...and thirds! —Jeanie Castor, Decatur, Illinois

Chinese-Style Zucchini

A quick side, this fresh-tasting dish is a good pair with salmon. The toasted sesame seeds really bring out the flavor. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Cauliflower

My grandkids were never huge fans of cauliflower, but the bacon makes a big difference in this dish. They like it even more with golden cauliflower instead of white. — Patricia Hudson, Riverview, Florida

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

Roasted Asparagus

Since asparagus is so abundant here in spring, I like to put it to use with this tasty roasted asparagus recipe. Not only does it come together quickly, but it calls for just a handful of items. We all look forward to this side dish each year. —Vikki Rebholz, West Chester, OH

Bok Choy and Radishes

This is such a great-tasting, good-for-you bok choy recipe. The simple dish capitalizes on the flavors of spring. —Ann Baker, Texarkana, Texas

Baked Parmesan Breaded Squash

Baked yellow squash is beautifully crispy. You don’t have to turn the pieces, but do keep an eye on them. — Debi Mitchell, Flower Mound, Texas

Italian Mushrooms

Only four ingredients create a rich and flavorful low carb side dish that we love to eat with beef and mashed potatoes. —Kim Reichert, St. Paul, Minnesota

Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes and Olives

This squash is outstanding as a low carb side dish, but you can also top it with canned tuna to create a simple, healthy main dish. It’s easy and so tasty! I like to use my own canned tomatoes for the best flavor. —Carol Chase, Sioux City, Iowa

Spinach Souffle Side Dish

You just can't make an easier, more delicious side dish than this. It's great with beef, pork and lamb, and I especially like serving it for a festive occasion like New Year's Eve. —Bette Duffy, Kenmore, Washington

Lime and Sesame Grilled Eggplant

When I lived in Greece, I fell in love with eggplant. My recipe's seasonings have an Asian theme, but the dish still makes me think Greek. —Allyson Meyler, Greensboro, North Carolina

Garlic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Sauce

Don’t be afraid to bring out the roasted Brussels sprouts. Mellowed with mustard sauce, they may just delight even the most skeptical folks. —Becky Walch, Orland, California

Roasted Cauliflower & Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

This deeply delicious recipe is a surefire way to get my husband to enjoy Brussels sprouts. Between the roasted flavor of the veggies and smoky, crisp bacon, it will convert even the pickiest eater. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida

Grilled Veggies with Mustard Vinaigrette

I make this healthy and inviting side dish whenever friends come over for a cookout. The honeyed vinaigrette lets the veggies shine. —Shelly Graver, Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Shredded Gingered Brussels Sprouts

Even people who normally don't care for Brussels sprouts will ask for a second helping of these. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

Slow-Cooked Broccoli

This family-favorite side dish is quick to fix and full of flavor. Because it simmers in a slow cooker, it frees up my oven for other things. That's a tremendous help when I'm prepping a big meal at home. —Connie Slocum, Antioch, Tennessee

Tex-Mex Summer Squash Casserole

Mild-flavored yellow squash gets a big boost from flavor-packed chiles, jalapenos and red onion. This low carb side dish also works with zucchini. —Tommy Lombardo, Euclid, Ohio

Cauliflower au Gratin

Count on this dish to make new vegetable converts. Whenever I serve this low carb side dish, people ask for the recipe. Sometimes I’ll substitute broccoli for all or half the cauliflower, and the green veggie tastes just as good! —Jacki Ricci, Ely, Nevada

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

Cheesy Zucchini Saute

Although I no longer have a garden of my own, friends and neighbors keep me amply supplied with squash. As a thank-you, I tell them how to make this refreshing low carb side dish. It’s quick, easy and oh, so tasty! —Doris Biggs, Felton, Delaware

Grilled Eggplant with Feta Relish

I created this impressive low carb side dish for my vegetarian friends. It’s easy, fast and a standout recipe for company. —Amanda Dekrey, Fargo, North Dakota

Eggplant Fries

My kids love this snack—and I like that it's healthy. Coated with Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, these veggie sticks are broiled, not fried, so there's no guilt when you crunch into them. —Mary Murphy, Atwater, California

Ginger Broccoli Stir-Fry

Are you looking for an appetizing way to enhance a nutritious vegetable? Try this eye-catching stir-fry. The broccoli keeps its bright color and crispness, while ginger and soy sauce help to spice it up nicely. —Marie Rossey, Creston, Ohio

Spring Asparagus

This fresh and colorful low carb side dish is delicious served warm or cold. I get lots of compliments on the homemade dressing. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois

Rosemary Root Vegetables

This heartwarming low carb side dish is sure to get rave reviews! Although the ingredient list may look long, you’ll soon see that this colorful fall medley is a snap to prepare. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen