9 Deliciously Different Side Dish Recipes to Spice Up Weeknight Dinners

By Jenn Segal

A flavorful side can turn a simple weeknight dinner into a meal to remember. From curried carrots to broccoli purée, these side dish recipes are a delicious way to round out your meal.

Curried Sweet Potato Pancakes

Deliciously spiced with a blend of curry, cumin, ginger, and cayenne pepper, these sweet potato pancakes are a nice change from the traditional version.
Cauliflower Purée with Thyme

Creamy and comforting, this cauliflower purée just happens to taste remarkably like mashed potatoes.
Stir-Fried Szechuan Green Beans and Shiitake Mushrooms

You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how authentic these restaurant-style green beans taste — plus, they’re so easy to make.
Broccoli Purée

Gorgeously (or shockingly?) green, this broccoli purée is a welcome change from the usual steamed or roasted broccoli. It’s also a great low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes.
Pumpkin Cornbread Muffins

These muffins have less fat than regular cornbread muffins, yet they’re equally delicious.
Curried Roasted Carrots

Sweet and spicy, these carrots taste like vegetable candy.
Roasted Broccoli with Chipotle Honey Butter

These broccoli florets are tossed in a sweet, spicy and smoky chipotle honey butter before roasting. It’s as delicious as it sounds!
Chipotle Cheddar Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Flavored with smoky, spicy chipotle peppers and sharp Cheddar, these sweet potatoes make a lovely side to simple roast chicken or steak.
Rice Pilaf with Caramelized Onion, Orange, Cherry & Pistachio

Perfumed with spices, this pilaf is a delicious way to jazz up pan-seared salmon or roast chicken.