Simple Side Dishes That Make The Meal

Full of flavor and low on effort, my Simple Sides come together in no time and make dinner time even more special.

Chopped Caesar Salad, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Oven Fried Broccoli, and Stovetop Mac and Cheese.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Easy Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is a classic and comforting side dish that’s great with a weeknight meal or holiday buffet.

Broccoli Rice Casserole by The BakerMama

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, these Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a flavorful, fresh and healthier alternative to plain old French fries.

A white oblong dish of sweet potato fries with two small white ramekins of ketchup and fry sauce.

Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

One of our favorite weeknight meals and a crowd-favorite side, this easy cheesy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese can be on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes.

A large white bowl filled with macaroni and cheese.

Crispy Oven Fried Broccoli

My Crispy Oven-Fried Broccoli is the most addictive broccoli you’ll ever eat! Crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside and seasoned to satisfy. So easy to make you’ll want to make it every night!

Baked Mac and Cheese

With a mix of cheddar, mozzarella and Monterrey jack cheeses, this Baked Mac and Cheese is a wonderfully rich and satisfying side dish. For a sophisticated twist, try my Muenster Mac and Cheese.

A white ceramic casserole dish of baked macaroni and cheese.

Oven Roasted Carrots

Sweet and tender Oven Roasted Carrots with fresh herbs and simple seasonings add color and flavor to any dinner.

An oblong white serving platter of roasted carrots. A pair of wooden tongs rests on the plate.

Crispy Ranch Roasted Potatoes pack a flavorful punch! Extra crispy outsides, tender insides and a recipe so easy, they’re about to be your go-to weeknight side dish! For a more traditional flavor profile, try my Oven Roasted Crispy Potatoes.

A white serving bowl of crispy potatoes seasoned with ranch.

Roasted Broccolini

Fresh lemon, garlic and simple seasonings make this tender, crisp Roasted Broccolini a flavorful vegetable side you’ll want to make again and again.

A white oval serving platter of broccolini and lemon slices.

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Plenty of butter, just the right amount of seasoning and a secret ingredient make these Creamy Mashed Potatoes the stuff Sunday dinner memories are made of. For more yum, try my Mashed Butternut Squash.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts are crisp and slightly charred on the outside, tender on the inside, and perfectly seasoned. These veggies are heavenly! For a little heat and some sweet, try my Crispy Asian Brussels Sprouts. These restaurant-quality sprouts are simply amazing.

How to Roast Brussels Sprouts by The BakerMama

Chopped Caesar Salad

Crisp romaine, salty parmesan and a flavorful dressing tossed with crunchy homemade croutons. This Chopped Caesar Salad is an easy, straight-forward recipe that is sure to become your go-to salad.

A large white serving bowl filled with caesar salad topped with croutons. Two wooden spoons stick out from under the salad.

Broccoli Salad

Crispy, crunchy, subtly sweet and a bit salty, too. This Broccoli Salad delivers big on texture and flavor! It tastes so satisfying and delicious, it will make a broccoli lover out of even the most reluctant veggie eater.

More Fresh and Flavorful Salads

My Fresh and Flavorful Salad Recipes make it easy to bring the green to any meal. From side salads to hearty dinner salads, there’s a salad for every occasion and every taste!

Citrus caesar, layered taco salad, pesto rice salad, and kale salad.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and al dente pasta come together in this easy and flavorful Caprese Pasta Salad.

A large glass serving bowl of capers pasta salad with halved cheery tomatoes, bite sized mozzarella balls and corkscrew pasta.

Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

These Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes combine crisp potato skin shells with a creamy mashed potato filling that’s loaded with bacon, green onion and cheddar cheese. They’re a potato-lover’s dream! Or, toss it all together in a baking dish and this Twice Baked Potato Casserole will have them clamoring for seconds.

A large white serving plate of twice baked potatoes loaded with bacon pieces, green onion and cheddar cheese.

Sweet and Simple Cornbread

Sweet and Simple Cornbread is a classic cornbread that is sweet, simple and scrumptiously delicious!

Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits

These Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits bring flaky, buttery, comforting goodness to any meal. Made from simple ingredients, they’re wholesome, delicious and sure to be a crowd favorite!

A pile of buttermilk biscuits on a white surface. Behind the biscuits is a small dish of butter.

Bread, Biscuit and Roll Recipes

The bread makes the meal! And my collection of The Best Bread, Biscuit and Roll Recipes is filled with easy, delicious biscuits, breads, cornbreads, and yeast rolls to make any dinner more hearty and satisfying!

Homestyle buttermilk biscuits, sweet and simple cornbread, garlic herb parmesan cruffins, and classic dinner rolls.

If you make any of my Simple Sides That Make The Meal and post a pic to social, be sure to tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see! If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes and ideas I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,