20+ Easy and Flavorful Vegetable Side dishes

ByAnushree Shetty Posted: Updated:

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Whether you are looking for vegetable side dishes to cook for a crowd or for your family, this list of 20+ best vegetable side dishes will come in handy. The recipes that made this list are simple and easy, and you can make them in your Instant Pot or Air fryer in no time.

Whether you like your vegetables steamed, sauteed, or air fried, we got you covered. Let’s get started 🙂

A collage of images with caption 20+ Vegetable side dishes

We all want to incorporate more veggies into our diet to make it healthier and well-balanced. But “What vegetable sides to make for dinner” is a question that bogs down everyone.

Finding a vegetable side dish that comes together quickly for your everyday meal or to go with your Thanksgiving dinner can get challenging.

Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered.

I’ve put together this list of side dishes that are healthy, flavorful, and super easy to make in your Instant Pot or your air fryer. These are perfect for weeknight dinners or as a side dish to add to your holiday table.

What you’ll love most about this list is most of these vegetable side dish recipes require very little hands-on effort and come together in less than 30 minutes. While all the recipes are vegetarian, there are plenty of vegan and gluten-free options as well.

Also, these veggie sides pair well with chicken, fish, or any other meat-based dishes.

Some of my favorites include baked sweet potatoes, air fryer fresh green beans, steamed carrots, asparagus with parmesan cheese, and air fryer French fries 🙂

Planning a party? Check out this post on How to plan an Indian dinner party. If you are looking for a menu for your Thanksgiving dinner, this post on the Indian-Inspired Thanksgiving menu should help.

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Why you’ll love these recipes

  • Perfect options for weeknight dinners or for when you are looking to make vegetable sides for Thanksgiving / Christmas (or any holidays).
  • Great for potluck parties – if you are in charge of getting a veggie side dish, this vegetable dishes list should give you plenty of options.
  • Most require minimum hands-on effort – These recipes call for either an Instant Pot or an Air fryer. That means you are free to cook other dishes while these two devices do their magic.
  • The best part, almost all recipes require very little prep time and come together in 30 minutes or less.

For the Instant Pot recipes, you’ll need

And for some recipes, you’ll need an air fryer. Here are the two that I recommend 

Instant Pot Vegetable Side dishes

Instant Pot is perfect for steaming vegetables, but what makes it even better is its ability to saute the veggies once they are steamed. Check out the recipes below for healthy, steamed, sauteed veggies in the Instant Pot.

A light blue plate with a pile of asian-style green beans topped with toasted sesame seeds and a brown handled fork in the back right.
These quick and easy asian-style green beans come together in 15 minutes for a healthy and flavorful side dish perfect for any night of the week.
An instant pot steamer basket with baby carrots after steaming.
Steam your carrots to fork-tender perfection with this quick and easy Instant Pot steamed carrots recipe made with two ingredients in under 15 minutes.
A light blue plate with three baked sweet potatoes with a cut down the middle of each and a pad of butter on top.
Naturally vegan and gluten-free, this easy to follow Instant Pot sweet potato recipe makes fork-tender sweet potatoes every time.
A white bowl with chopped beets after cooking in the instant pot.
Learn how to cook whole beets in the Instant Pot with or without a steamer basket with this easy Instant Pot Beets recipe.
An overhead shot of honey glazed carrots served in a white bowl
Honey glazed Instant Pot carrots – Learn how to steam carrots in the Instant Pot and glaze them to make this delicious side dish. This carrot side dish is perfect for busy weeknights and for holiday dinners. 
A black bowl of cheese topped steamed and sautéed Brussel sprouts with a silver fork poking into a Brussel sprout on a grey counter.
Easy to make steamed Brussels sprouts come together in 20 minutes with the Instant Pot for the perfect weeknight dinner side dish.
A black counter with a blue plate and two baked potatoes cut down the center vertically and topped with sour cream and chives with a silver fork on the right side of the plate.
The perfect dish dish to any meal, this easy to make instant pot baked potato recipe teaches you how to make fork-tender potatoes in the instant pot.
A white bowl with Bombay Potatoes and a silver fork to the right.
Fluffy on the inside and crispy and spiced on the outside, these roasted Bombay Potatoes are a vegan and gluten-free side dish you can easily whip up in your Instant Pot or stovetop in under 30 minutes.
Four cobs of corn lay on top of a trivet inside of an Instant Pot
If you're looking for a healthy side dish, or the perfect vegetable to serve at your Summer BBQ party, you'll love this easy Instant Pot corn on the cob. Flavorful, juicy, and perfectly cooked every time.
Mashed potatoes served in a black bowl
Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes – If you have been getting store-bought mashed potatoes, then I would suggest you give this Instant Pot recipe a try. It is a classic recipe that can be made in under 30 minutes and with very little effort. 

Air fryer vegetable side dishes

I love how the veggies turn out in the Air fryer – crispy, flavorful, and the best part – the cooking is hands-free. Here are some of the easiest vegetable dishes you can make in your air fryer.

A brown rimmed plate with two cut open air fryer sweet potatoes next to a fork.
Naturally vegan and gluten-free these air fryer baked sweet potatoes cook up in 40 minutes for a healthy weeknight side dish everyone will enjoy.
A white bowl of baby potatoes, garnished with parsley and lime wedges.
These air fryer roasted baby potatoes are flavorful, delicious, and easy to make. Seasoned to perfection, these Bombay potatoes makes for a perfect side dish with any meal.
An overheat shot of a plate of roasted carrot fries, with a small bowl of creamy dressing.
If you're looking for an easy vegetable side dish, you have to try these crispy air fryer roasted carrots. Serve with your favorite dip for a delicious alternative to French fries.
A plate of bright colored cauliflower with a small dish of ketchup on the side.
This crispy recipe for air fryer cauliflower is an easy side dish with no breading. Ready in just 20 minutes, this will become your new favorite way to eat cauliflower!
Air Fryer Green Beans (Asian-Style) on a plate with a fork garnished with sesame seeds
This air fryer green beans recipe is the easiest and most flavorful way to prepare this classic and healthy side dish! Plus, it all comes together in just 15 minutes.
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts in a white bowl with a fork
This air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe is the easiest and most flavorful way to prepare this classic and healthy side dish! Ready in 15 mins.
A tray of buffalo cauliflower with ranch dipping sauce on the side.
This flavorful air fryer buffalo cauliflower is the perfect easy appetizer, snack, or side dish for almost any meal! Spicy, savory, and SO delicious.
A cream plate on a blue counter with air fried asparagus topped with parmesan and a silver fork to the right.
Fast, easy, and crispy, this air fryer asparagus seasoned with garlic and parmesan comes together in 20 minutes for an addictive side dish even your pickiest eaters will love.
A white plate on a light blue background, holding a large amount of roasted broccoli florets.
Get all of the same great flavor and crispy texture as oven roasted broccoli, but in less time in the air fryer, and with less oil! This simple recipe is going to be your new favorite side dish!
A bowl of sweet potato cubes, having just been cooked in the air fryer
If you're looking for a simple, delicious, and quick way to serve more vegetables, you have to try this recipe for air fryer roasted sweet potatoes. Ready in just 20 minutes, they are the perfect healthy side dish!
A plate of bhindi masala with a fresh roti on the side, served with a lime wedge.
You'll love this air fryer version of Punjabi bhindi masala. It comes together in less than 30 minutes with very little hands-on time and yields perfect results every time!
Air-fried potato wedges served on parchment paper with ketchup
These crispy, air fryer potato wedges make for a delicious appetizer or side dish that's perfect for any occasion.
Air fryer kale chips in bowl
Try these crispy air fryer kale chips and treat your kids to this healthy homemade version of this popular snack.
A basket covered in parchment paper with sweet potato fries and a small white bowl of ketchup.
These crispy, healthy sweet potato fries are made with 5 ingredients for a quick and easy snack everyone will enjoy!

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Hi! I am Anu - former Project Manager, now a full-time blogger. With over 20 years of cooking experience, I’m here to share my secrets on how to cook Indian food quickly and easily—no processed ingredients needed.

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