Vegetable Side Dishes: Salads & Veggies for Entertaining

Salads and vegetable side dishes help the table feel fresh, colorful, and a little more balanced. Browse easy side dishes for holidays, brunches, cookouts, and gatherings, from fresh salads to roasted vegetables and seasonal favorites.

lettuce with layers of red, yellow, and deep red tomatoes, with cherry tomatoes cut in half and basil leaves with burrata cheese

Planning summer hosting? Start here.

When I’m planning a summer menu, I want sides that feel fresh, easy, and worth adding to the table. These are the salads and veggie sides I’d start with for cookouts, brunches, and warm-weather gatherings.

Summer Sides

3 bean salad recipe in a blue bowl on a red and white checkered table cloth

Make Ahead 3 Bean Salad

lettuce with layers of red, yellow, and deep red tomatoes, with cherry tomatoes cut in half and basil leaves with burrata cheese

Tomato Burrata Caprese

thai peanut noodle salad in a blue bowl topped with crunchy peanuts and wooden tongs inside the bowl

Thai Rice Noodle Salad

Fresh Salads

These are the sides I reach for when I want the table to feel brighter, fresher, and a little lighter.

Roasted Vegetable Side Dishes

Roasted veggie sides add warmth, color, and something satisfying to the table without feeling too heavy.

Holiday Favorites

These are the salads and vegetable side dishes I come back to for hosted meals and holiday tables when I want something a little more special.

Planning the full Menu?

Browse appetizers, side dishes, desserts, and holiday hosting ideas to figure out what to make next.

See Holiday Hosting