Entertaining Dinner Party Ideas 14 of the Easiest Side Dishes to Serve at Any Party By Melanie Fincher Melanie Fincher Melanie Fincher is a Birmingham, Alabama–based food writer who covers everything from cooking techniques to gadget reviews. She has nearly 7 years experience writing news and lifestyle content. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on July 26, 2019 Close These quick and easy side dishes are serious crowd-pleasers. You can't get everything you want in life. But you can get everything you want in a party side dish from any one of these top-rated recipes. They're fast, easy, and can feed a crowd. Not to mention they're sure to be a stand-out at any party. Whether you're hosting a party or attending, these side dishes will save you time and energy, without sacrificing any of the flavor. Read on for 14 easy side dishes to serve at a party. Simple Show-Stopping Potluck Ideas 1. Sarah's Rice Pilaf "I would consider this a perfect side to a complex main dish. Nice subtle flavors and very easily personalized," says reviewer Robin Bruce. Learn how to make this rice pilaf for a side dish that will complement any main course beautifully. 2. Bombay Potatoes "A yummy Indian side dish — Bombay potatoes are vegan and super simple to make. I have lived in both India and the U.K., where this is a popular dish. This is the one Indian dish that I make that tastes super authentic," says recipe creator Diana Moutsopoulos. This side will be unlike any other dish at the party. The best part is — it's ready in 20 minutes. Photo by Diana Moutsopoulos. 3. Bacon-Wrapped Green Beans These individually portioned bundles of green beans are a great alternative to the usual green bean casserole. Bring them to the party and watch guests of all ages go back for more! "Bacon-wrapped green beans sprinkled with a little brown sugar, salt, and pepper and popped in the oven turn plain green beans into something guests will love and kids can't help but gobble up," says recipe creator tellinglaurel. Photo by Jgphoto. 4. Buttery Cooked Carrots "I served these last night at a church social. Everyone loved them and commented on how yummy they were," says reviewer PJWELCH. All that's required to make this simple side are baby carrots, margarine or butter, and brown sugar. The recipe can be easily doubled or tripled depending on the size of your party. 5. Pesto Pasta Caprese Salad "Super fast and just as wonderful, this pasta salad will help you get good food on the table in no time...I whipped it up early in the morning and set it on the table at lunch where people could just serve themselves. This would be an excellent dish for a potluck," says reviewer Buckwheat Queen. This salad is light, fresh, and perfect for an outdoor gathering or picnic. Photo by Buckwheat Queen. 6. Asparagus with Cranberries and Pine Nuts Dried cranberries and pine nuts make this the perfect fall side dish that's ready in 20 minutes. "This is a quick, easy way to saute asparagus. The dish has a light flavor and makes a great accompaniment to Italian meals. I make this year-round, but we especially enjoy it on Thanksgiving," says recipe creator JenM. Photo by Molly. 7. Yellow Squash Casserole Show off the summer squash from your garden to all your guests with this simple squash casserole. Recipe creator ROSECART says, "Tender squash, gooey cheese and crunchy crackers make this a memorable side dish or a hearty main course. This is a great dish that can be made with low-fat ingredients and is still just as good!" 8. Garlicky Potatoes "I first made this to bring to a Thanksgiving potluck and they were a hit! Since then, I have made this recipe numerous times to complement my entrees," says reviewer NISHY. These are not your usual mashed potatoes — the potatoes are cooked in chicken broth and mashed with garlic, sour cream, and chives for a buttery and flavorful side dish that everyone at the party will love. Photo by Joey Joan. 9. Sauteed Apples These sauteed apples can be served any time of day, but they're especially great for a brunch party or breakfast potluck. "So good and so easy you'll be tempted to make this every day! You just gotta love it when a few ingredients that you have on hand come together to create something so delicious," says reviewer Jillian. You can also make this side a dessert when topped with vanilla ice cream. The possibilities are endless. 10. Garlic Green Beans Recipe creator Ericka Ettinger says, "Caramelized garlic and cheese! Is there anything better with green beans? You'd better make plenty for everyone!" Join the more than 1,000 home cooks who have made this side that's ready in just 25 minutes. Photo by *~Lissa~*. 11. Oven Roasted Parmesan Potatoes This is the perfect addition to any cookout or main dish. "Everybody loved these delicious potatoes and they are a quick easy recipe. They did turn out just as the recipe stated, crispy on the outside, yet creamy on the inside. I used red potatoes and doubled the batch since we had a guest for dinner. Perfect side for grilled burgers," says reviewer *Sherri*. 12. Garbanzo Bean Salad "Oh my gosh everyone loved this salad! The entire crew ate seconds and asked for the recipe," says reviewer yosy. The ingredients in this light and easy salad can be substituted to fit your taste. It'll make great leftovers too (but it's unlikely you'll have any left at the end of the night). Photo by CC<3's2bake. 13. Cream Corn Like No Other This top-rated cream corn recipe is the ultimate comfort food side to go along with barbeque (or any meat). "It is rich and creamy and I have yet to serve this to anyone who didn't love love love it," says reviewer CSavaso. Try sprinkling it with shredded Parmesan cheese — because who doesn't want more cheese? 14. Asparagus, Feta and Couscous Salad The light and easy salad will complement just about any dish, making it perfect to bring to parties when you don't know what else will be on the table. Reviewer Seoulmate70 says, "Love this recipe! It's so easy and I just made it for a potluck that I need to go to in an hour!" Photo by bellepepper. Quick and Easy Side Dishes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit