These Roasted Vegetable Recipes Make The Best Side Dishes
Roasted vegetables just taste better than steamed or boiled, although we can't deny we love a good stir-fry. Virtually every veggie holds up to a quick session in the oven, and the tasty flavor that comes from baking makes roasted veggies a fantastic side dish to your favorite dinners. Roasting vegetables is not only an easy way to work more healthy eats into your diet, but it's also pretty low effort. Simply arrange your chopped cauliflower florets or sliced carrots on a single baking sheet, drizzle with some oil, season, and away you go.
There's also a lot of room for creativity. Make the most of your go-to seasonings and spice blends, or add a handful of freshly chopped herbs. Sprinkle cheese or chopped bacon into your roasted veggie side dish. You can also use the same tasty marinades you'd slather on meat to boost the flavor of your roasted veggies. But at the end of the day, a little olive oil, salt, and pepper are all you really need to make scrumptious roasted veggies. Read on if you're ready to try the simplest, most flavorful roasted vegetable recipes out there.
Crispy roasted Parmesan broccoli
Sticking on the broccoli theme, we move onto this crispy roasted Parmesan broccoli recipe, which may very well reign king of all broccoli recipes. The cheesy and zesty lemon-garlic breadcrumbs are a perfect accompaniment to the tender broccoli florets. If you have any fussy eaters in your family, adding cheese to broccoli is surely a clever way to coax them into eating more vegetables. Our advice? Don't skimp on the Parmesan.
Simple roasted vegetables
Why roast just one type of veggie when you can roast different kinds all at once? The secret to roasting veggies all at once is to ensure the ones you choose will get done at about the same time. When you combine broccoli, carrots, peppers, and onions, they'll all be done in about 20 minutes. Cauliflower and green beans will also work, since they'll be done at the same time, too. You can go with simple seasonings or get creative. Serve it alongside your favorite protein at any meal.
Recipe: Simple Roasted Vegetables Recipe
Roasted vegetable quiche
Quiches are a great vehicle for roasted veggies. While there are a variety of veggies you can add to quiche, you'll want to choose ones that pair well together, like zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, and red onions. Once they've finished roasting, they'll be bursting with flavor and ready to upgrade an ordinary cheese and spinach quiche into an extraordinary culinary masterpiece. There's a lot of prep for this dish, but it's worth it. However, you might consider roasting the veggies and making the crust the day before if you're making it for breakfast. It makes an excellent side for breakfast meats and fruit.
Recipe: Roasted Vegetable Quiche
Simple roasted beets
There aren't a whole lot of foods you can make with just one ingredient and end up with something great, but roasted beets are among them. The trick is to wrap them in foil and roast them like you would a potato — skin and all. You can just forget about them for 40 minutes in the oven while they bake. The skin slips right off once they're done. Once peeled, you can add salt and pepper and drizzle it with olive oil and lemon juice as a side or in addition to a salad or grain bowl.
Recipe: Simple Roasted Beets
Easy roasted garlic
Roasted garlic can be a side dish just like cranberry sauce. You don't necessarily eat it on its own, but it's great added on top of your other foods. Whether you serve it at the table as a side or make it ahead to add to other dishes, it's extremely simple. All you have to do is cut the top off a head of garlic, rub each one in salt and olive oil, and bake them in foil for 40 minutes. Once they're done, they'll slide right out of their jackets and be ready for business.
Recipe: Easy Roasted Garlic
Maple-roasted delicata squash
Maple-roasted delicata squash is an example of not needing a lot of ingredients to create an excellent dish. Real maple syrup and olive oil are all you need to make a delicious roasted squash in only 25 minutes plus prep time. If you don't have a delicata squash, this recipe also works with other winter squashes. So, if you're not sure what to do with that squash you picked up at the grocery store, this is it. Maple-roasted squash pairs well with roasted meats, pork chops, and sausages, and even works well in grain bowls.
Recipe: Maple-Roasted Delicata Squash
Simple roasted butternut squash
With a tantalizing combo of spicy and sweet, this super simple roasted butternut squash dish is another fantastic roasted vegetable recipe that takes little to no effort and yields amazing results. Butternut squash's inherent sweetness is highlighted with a few spoonfuls of maple syrup, but the red chili flakes help tame that sweetness into a palate-pleasing harmony. There are loads of variations on this killer roasted squash recipe. It's worth trying them all.
Recipe: Simple Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted butternut squash and goat cheese quiche
If you're looking for something different to do with your butternut squash, consider adding it to a quiche. The rich flavors of roasted butternut squash pair well with rosemary and goat cheese to make a quiche unlike any you've had before. While you could make your own crust, it's just as tasty with a pre-made crust. It makes a delicious side dish or main course for any meal of the day starting at breakfast and ending at supper. It especially tastes great paired with meat like bacon, ham, and salmon.
Roasted red potatoes
It doesn't take a lot of work to turn red potatoes into a delicious side. Simply toss them with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, and they're ready in 40 minutes. The trick to making these nice and crispy is broiling them during the last 5 minutes. Roasted potatoes are a palate pleaser no matter what time of the day or what you want to serve it with. You can also gussy them up with extra spices or serve them with a dipping sauce like ranch.
Recipe: Roasted Red Potatoes
Roasted potatoes
Roasted potatoes are excellent with simple seasonings, but we think they're even better when you add a few well-chosen spices. Smoked paprika can give ordinary potatoes a nice, smoky flavor that makes them taste like they've been grilled rather than roasted. Add a few other spices like cumin, pink salt, turmeric, garlic powder, and pepper, and you have a potato dish that makes mouths even happier. These spices give it more of an exotic flavor that can upgrade any meal.
Recipe: Roasted Potatoes
Oven-roasted cinnamon sweet potatoes
One of the best ways to enjoy sweet potatoes is to eat them sweet and spicy. Sure, they have a natural sweetness, but sometimes you just have to indulge your sweet tooth by adding more. The rich flavors of date syrup and brown sugar pair nicely with the sweet potatoes. Add cinnamon and a pinch of salt, and you have a scrumptious side dish that tastes great for breakfast, with a simple meat dish, or tossed into a salad or a Buddha bowl.
Roasted sweet potato and black bean tacos
Most of us look at the name of sweet potatoes and forget that they work well in savory dishes as well as sweet. One excellent way to eat them is in tacos. While you can always add shredded pork or beef, Mexican-seasoned sweet potatoes and black beans are all you really need to make up the bulk of your taco. Then, top with your favorite toppings, like onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese. If tacos aren't your style, you could turn the filling into a burrito or bowl instead.
Honey-glazed carrots
A honey drizzle tastes nice over roasted carrots, but they taste even better when you top your carrots with olive oil and honey before baking. Roasting brings out the sweetness in carrots, and that flavor intensifies with honey. Salt, freshly ground pepper, and parsley make a nice flavor contrast between savory and sweet. All of these ingredients are simple, but they are extraordinary when combined. We especially recommend these as a side for grilled chicken, and they're a simple choice to make for potlucks.
Recipe: Honey-Glazed Carrots
Oven-roasted brown-sugar-glazed carrots
There are several ways to dress up your roasted carrots, and adding a sweet brown sugar glaze is one we think you'll love. Melted butter, balsamic vinegar, garlic, thyme, and brown sugar combine to make a delicious carrot glaze. The best part is the browned edges that crisp and caramelize in the blazing-hot oven. These are special enough as an accompaniment for a holiday meal while working just as well as an everyday side when you want something a little sweet.
Simple roasted carrots
Tender with a bit of crunch and natural sweetness, a serving of roasted carrots goes with just about everything. Although they're available year-round, carrots taste best when they're in season in the fall, making them a great side dish to serve with cozy fall comfort dishes. They're superb with everything from beef to fish to chicken to more veggies — you name it. This simple recipe is always a smash hit, making it a fixture on our tables no matter the season.
Recipe: Simple Roasted Carrots
Easy maple-roasted carrots
If you want a roasted vegetable dish that tastes like fall, look no further than maple-roasted carrots. Salt, pepper, maple syrup, and melted butter are all you need to make this side dish. It normally only takes about 20 minutes to roast carrots, but letting them roast for a full 45 minutes gives them the chance for the mapley, caramelized flavor to develop into something even more delicious and comforting. They add stunning flavor to a simple steak, salmon, or grilled chicken, but they can also hold their own at a holiday meal.
Recipe: Easy Maple-Roasted Carrots
Parmesan-roasted carrots
While most roasted carrot recipes have a sweet bent, they're pretty amazing when turned savory. Parmesan-roasted carrots look simple enough but pack lots of flavor. Just roast carrots in the oven with a little olive oil and salt, adding freshly grated Parmesan cheese during the last 3 to 5 minutes. A sprinkling of fresh parsley lends a delicious herby flavor that you'll enjoy with the Parmesan, or you try other additions like seasoned bread crumbs, nuts, or an herby sauce like gremolata.
Recipe: Parmesan-Roasted Carrots
Parmesan-roasted kohlrabi
If you don't know what to do with that kohlrabi you bought when you were feeling adventurous at the grocery store, we think you'll love it roasted with Parmesan cheese. This winter vegetable tastes kind of like a cross between broccoli and a turnip. Start by roasting it with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then, top it with lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan cheese when it's done. It's a great side dish for pork, roasted chicken, or fish. Just add a green veggie as another side, and you're golden.
Recipe: Parmesan-Roasted Kohlrabi
Rosemary roasted rutabaga
The strong flavor of rosemary teams up with the strong flavor of rutabaga to make a roasted veggie dish you won't soon forget. This dish is another simple one, with nothing but olive oil, salt, and pepper to pair with the rosemary and rutabaga, but it's a palate-pleaser. Just be aware that it takes 40 minutes for them to get soft enough to eat. The flavors of this dish scream "fall," and you can use it as a side for anything from chicken to steak.
Recipe: Rosemary Roasted Rutabaga
Creamy roasted root vegetable soup
When you blend roasted veggies together, they make a delightfully creamy soup. So, when it's cold outside and you're looking for something to warm you from the inside out, plunder your store of root veggies and winter squashes for this yummy side. You'll want to use root veggies and squashes with a sweet flavor, like butternut squash, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and carrots. You'll also want to add savory ingredients like onion, garlic, thyme, and vegetable broth. The final step before serving with croutons is blending it all together until creamy.
Plain and simple roasted cauliflower
Cauliflower may not have a lot of flavor when steamed and boiled, but it can hold its own when roasted. If you're looking for a way to enjoy cauliflower, roasting might be your answer. You don't have to do anything fancy with it; just add oil, salt, and pepper. Once it's done and golden, you can maybe toss it with some parsley and get a side of ranch for dipping. You'll have a side dish treat that's unexpectedly tasty.
Recipe: Plain And Simple Cauliflower
Garlicky roasted cauliflower
If you've never tried roasted cauliflower before, you've been missing out in a big way. Cauliflower is chock-full of nutrients and has a wonderful nutty, sweet flavor when cooked — especially when baked in an oven. A generous coating of melted butter and garlic seasoning goes brilliantly with that slight nuttiness, transforming the humble vegetable into a hard-to-resist side dish. Roasted cauliflower only takes five minutes to prep, so if you need to throw together a quick side but don't want to sacrifice taste, this one's for you.
Recipe: Garlicky Roasted Cauliflower
Simple harissa roasted cauliflower
If the idea of roasted cauliflower that packs a spicy flavor punch sounds good, you're going to love it with harissa. This North African chili-pepper-based condiment is full of spices like garlic, coriander, and cumin. So, it's the perfect condiment to transform the normally bland flavor of cauliflower into a side dish that will have your taste buds on fire. With such stand-out flavors, this dish is likely to be the star of your plate. You can pair it with anything you like from roasted meats to other veggies.
Lemony roasted broccoli
It's absurdly simple to make this five-ingredient roasted broccoli recipe. It's ideal for busy weeknights when you want to make a quick, healthy side dish. Broccoli is a nutritious addition to any diet and tastes excellent when roasted. Lemon juice adds a pop of flavor to the vegetable, while the rich golden brown that comes from roasting the florets is as beautiful as it is delicious. This simple roasted broccoli recipe is as effortless as it gets, making it a real winner in our book.
Recipe: Lemony Roasted Broccoli
Maple-roasted Brussels sprouts
Whether you're a Brussels sprouts lover or hater, we challenge you to give them a try roasted with maple syrup. Cooked with maple syrup, they have a delightful sweetness to go along with their crisp exterior. The only other seasonings you need are salt and pepper, and you don't need to add the maple syrup until the last 3 to 5 minutes of roasting. If you end up eating these like candy, don't say we didn't warn you. You'll love these alongside other fall favorite dishes and roasted meats.
Recipe: Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Spicy roasted Brussels sprouts
If you're a sprouts skeptic, this roasted Brussels sprouts recipe is sure to convert you to a full-on fan. Brussels sprouts take on a phenomenal nutty flavor when roasted, almost turning a little sweet. It's the ideal way to prepare sprouts if you're not keen on their naturally bitter taste. This take is full of flavor, thanks to ingredients like fish sauce, chili, garlic, and lime, and it's ready to serve after just 20 minutes in the oven.
Recipe: Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Quick and easy cabbage steak
One of the more surprising roasted vegetables is cabbage. There's something about roasted cabbage with crispy edges that even appeals to people who don't think they like cabbage, making a great accompaniment to any meal. There's no reason to get fancy. All you need to transform it into a delightful side dish is a sprinkling of olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. The only negative is that it's so good that it might not all make it to your plate. People like to grab it off the pan to eat like chips!
Recipe: Quick And Easy Cabbage Steak
Simple roasted asparagus
Another vegetable that some people like best when roasted is asparagus. If you've only ever had the slimy boiled version, trying it roasted is likely to turn you into an asparagus convert. All you need is olive oil and sea salt to create great asparagus in the oven. However, we especially like roasting it in the air fryer where it gets delightfully crisp tips. Roasted asparagus makes a delicious side for grilled chicken, steak, and salmon.
Recipe: Simple Roasted Asparagus
Roasted mushroom and asparagus salad
If you're a fan of comfort salads and grain bowls, you're going to love how the flavors mix together in this roasted mushrooms and asparagus salad. It starts with a base of cooked farro, which you'll mix with roasted mushrooms and asparagus, walnuts, and feta. There's also a sweet, lip-smacking balsamic vinegar and oil dressing that also includes maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic, and thyme. It's even better if you have some fresh herbs to top it off before serving it. It pairs nicely with your favorite roasted meat.
Roasted green beans with sesame seeds
Green beans are not something we often think about roasting, but it's an excellent way to make them without having to tend to them constantly while sautéing them. The results are similar. All you need to do is drizzle it with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Topping them with sesame seeds when they're done adds an extra layer of umami and nuttiness. They go well with anything you normally eat with green beans, but the sesame seeds make them work with Chinese food, too.
Chickpea and roasted eggplant salad
If you're looking for something to do with eggplant, we think you're going to enjoy this delightful roasted veggie salad. You'll roast a lot of the veggie chunks for this recipe, including eggplants, chickpeas, bell peppers, and tomatoes. The roasted veggies are tossed with fresh arugula, drizzled with sweet olive oil and balsamic dressing flavored with maple syrup, oregano, paprika, and cumin. It works well served over a dish of grains or with Mediterranean foods.
Sweet and spicy Korean glazed eggplant
Rather than going in a Mediterranean direction with your eggplant, why not try it Korean-style? The results are like nothing you've ever had. You'll start by making a sweet and spicy glaze from garlic, ginger, honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, gochujang paste (a Korean pepper paste), and red pepper flakes. This glaze flavors and caramelizes over a halved eggplant for half an hour. Once it's done, it's excellent sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onions. You'll love this with noodle and rice dishes that contain your favorite protein.
Roasted tomato caprese salad
Caprese salad is a classic, but you can create one that is even sweeter and richer by roasting your tomatoes together with garlic. Otherwise, it has all the other ingredients you expect: balsamic vinegar and olive oil, fresh mozzarella cheese balls, and fresh basil. This salad is also an excellent way to use up some mini tomatoes that are starting to shrivel a little. You'll love this tangy, sweet salad alongside Italian food or as picnic fare.
Recipe: Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad
Spicy roasted corn salsa
If you're looking for something different to pair with tortilla chips or as a burrito or taco salad topping, then you'll love roasted corn salsa. It combines the worlds of roasted and fresh ingredients deliciously. You only need to roast the corn in the oven for about 10 minutes for it to caramelize. Then, it's ready to mix with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, red onions, jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice. After you've tried it once, it's likely to make it back into your Mexican side rotation.
Recipe: Spicy Roasted Corn Salsa