45 Low-Carb Side Dishes That Go with Everything

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, low sugar, ketogenic

The simple combo of black pepper and cheese instantly elevates not only pasta but also pretty much every veggie, plus it’s low carb and flavorful to boot.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Turnip Fries

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, low sugar, low fat

See ya later, spuds. These crispy turnip fries are just as tasty as everyone’s favorite side dish, but a whole lot healthier. They’re dressed up in garlic powder and Old Bay, but you can customize the seasoning if you want.

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Quentin Bacon/Modern Comfort Food

3. Ina Garten’s Roasted Broccolini and Cheddar

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, sheet pan recipe, ready in <30 minutes

Who knew that decadent, delightful Ina Garten could go diet-friendly too? This sheet pan wonder is a play on the classic broccoli with cheese sauce, but for adults.

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Erin McDowell

4. Chilled Cucumber Salad

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free, vegan

When it’s too hot to cook, don’t. All you have to do is slice some cukes, season them and then let it all marinate in the fridge for a bit.

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Leslie Grow/Keto in an Instant

5. Keto Instant Pot Greek Cauliflower Rice

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, Instant Pot recipe, crowd-pleaser

Cauliflower rice is a standby of the keto diet (aka a super low-carb, high-fat, moderate-protein eating plan), but it’s pretty plain on its own. That makes it a great blank canvas for all kinds of combinations and meals.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, under 500 calories, make ahead

Our favorite veggie has done it again. This lightened-up version of the cookout staple is dressed with Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, making it lower in fat too.

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Ana Cuba/The Modern Cook’s Year

7. Kale and Brussels Sprouts Caesar Slaw

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <30 minutes, make ahead, gluten free

The dressing is based on the flavors of a Caesar salad dressing, but uses soaked nuts and seeds as a base, which adds creaminess without adding too much oil. That also means it can be made totally vegan if you omit the blue cheese.

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Ola Smit/Dinner’s In the Bag

8. Baby Vegetables with Orange and Thyme

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, beginner-friendly, sheet pan recipe

Look ma, no dishes! This one-pan recipe involves steaming the vegetables in a parchment parcel, so there’s practically zero cleanup.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <15 minutes, beginner-friendly

The store-bought marinated tofu means these zoodles are hearty enough to be a main course, but you can also serve smaller portions to make them a side dish.

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Helen Cathcart/Tuscany

10. Zucchini and Tomato Ragù

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, low sugar, gluten free

Presenting ratatouille’s chic Italian cousin. This simple dish keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days, plus it has fresh mozzarella. (Drool.)

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11. Roasted Radishes with Butter

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

This recipe takes the classic French combination of radishes and butter and roasts the vegetable. Adding arugula at the end takes it from snack to full-blown side.

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Erin McDowell

12. Coconut Creamed Spinach

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, dairy free, gluten free, vegan

Whoever decided sautéed spinach was bland had never tried this version, which is creamy without including any dairy at all. (Bonus: It’s made in a single skillet.)

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

13. Gluten-Free Cheese and Cauliflower ‘Breadsticks’

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, low sugar, under 500 calories

They’re cheesy, herby and comforting, and—dare we say it?—way tastier than the unlimited breadsticks at a certain chain restaurant we all know.

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Katherine Gillen

14. Cacio e Pepe Zucchini

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe

It’s a simple (15 minutes!) yet flavorful (so much cheese) upgrade to your usual summer squash coins. Plus, the recipe can be doubled or tripled for serving a crowd.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

15. Slow Cooker Garlic-Herb Mashed Cauliflower

Time Commitment: 3 hours, 10 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, make ahead

While you could make this the traditional, stovetop way, using a slow cooker means you can set it and walk away without worrying about an unattended open flame.

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Linda Pugliese/Salad Freak

16. Honeydew, Feta, Jalapeño and Lime Salad

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, gluten free

In our humble opinion, honeydew is the most underrated melon. When you choose a ripe one, it needs little more than fresh herbs and some briny cheese to dress it up. (But go ahead, use cantaloupe or watermelon if you must.)

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Nicole Franzen/To the Last Bite

17. Celery Salad with Walnuts and Pecorino

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, low sugar, gluten free

As it turns out, we’ve all been sleeping on celery as a star ingredient. It’s crisp, flavorful and unexpected—three traits we look for in a diet-friendly side dish.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18. Roasted Cabbage Steaks

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, low sugar

Contrary to popular belief, cabbage isn't just for coleslaw. With just a few simple seasonings, it can be a dinner-party-worthy side dish that’s very hands-off and happens to be ready to eat in less than an hour.

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Katherine Gillen

19. Smashed Brussels Sprouts

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly

Have you heard the word? Brussels sprouts are the new potatoes, at least from a low-carb side dish standpoint. These are crispy and cheesy, but you could skip the cheese and drizzle them in hot honey instead.

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Kristen Kilpatrick/The Comfortable Kitchen

20. Balsamic-Thyme Roasted Mushrooms

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free

This side dish is making the case for mushrooms beyond a sad, soggy pizza topping. They’re saucy, juicy and go with everything from steak to pasta.

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Simon Pask/The Happy Balance

21. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <15 minutes, dairy free, gluten free

If you want to take a vegetable from boring to brilliant, look no further than citrus zest and something crunchy to finish it off. (Here, that’s pumpkin and sunflower seeds, but any nut would work too.)

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

22. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients

Wait, this luscious, cheesy dish is on your diet? Believe it. It’s all thanks to cauliflower, which is a blank slate just like pasta—minus the carbs.

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Karen Tedesco/Family Style

23. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables

Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser

Roasting naturally sweet tomatoes and bell peppers makes them taste even more intense, while the eggplant turns soft, creamy and luscious in the oven. If you’re wondering what to do with your recent farmers market haul, this is the answer.

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Linda Pugliese/Help Yourself

24. Melted Onions

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

Florals for spring? Not so groundbreaking. Onions as a side dish? Now we’re talking. These four-ingredient beauties are naturally sweet and melted, thanks to a simple caramelizing technique that involves your muffin tin.

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Katherine Gillen

25. Strawberry, Basil and Arugula Salad with Lots of Black Pepper

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, no cook, <10 ingredients

It’s the salad that dresses itself. Giving the strawberries a quick bath in vinegar and honey makes them extra juicy, so you don’t have to break out the blender or rely on bottled vinaigrette.

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Tara Donne/Cooking Solo

26. Poached Egg with Frisée and Arugula Salad

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free

You want to feel like you’re enjoying a salad at a fancy restaurant, but you don’t actually want to go anywhere. We get it. This pinkies-out side dish looks impressive but is secretly easy to make.

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Emily Dorio/The Saltwater Table

27. Charred Cauliflower with Crunchy Garlic Chile Oil

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, ready in <30 minutes, gluten free, dairy free

The smoky cauliflower is delish, but can we talk about that chile oil? It can be made ahead and keeps for up to a month, and yeah, you should make a double batch.

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Eric Wolfinger/The Mexican Keto Cookbook

28. Turmeric-Spiced Cauliflower and Broccoli with Capers

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe

For those that think cauliflower is bland and soggy, serve them this star of a side. The turmeric and capers maximize the flavor, and the whole thing happens to be keto-friendly.

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Jeanine Donofrio/Love & Lemons Every Day

29. Broccoli Rabe and Burrata with Lemon

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein

A diet-friendly dish that features burrata? Say no more, we’re coming over for dinner.

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Abra Berens/Chronicle Books

30. Blistered Green Beans with Tomatoes, Pounded Walnuts and Raw Summer Squash

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free

Instead of boiling those green beans to mushy oblivion, blister them in a cast iron skillet for an entirely new texture and flavor. Plus, they’ll cook up in record time.

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Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman

31. Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion–worthy

You could babysit that skillet until your sprouts are crisp. Or you could wrap them in bacon and roast them in the oven. You get the same satisfying crunch, without all the effort.

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Ed Anderson/Food of the Italian South

32. Cauliflower, Olive, Pepper and Caper Salad (Insalata di Rinforzo)

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser

This Italian recipe is a holiday staple, but we love its pickle-y flavor enough to serve it year-round. Pair it with a lean white fish for the full Neapolitan experience.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

33. Brussels Sprout Sliders

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, low sugar, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser

We bet you didn’t know that Brussels sprouts happen to make the cutest slider “buns” in the universe. These bites are a nice option for summer dinners on the patio, when you’re tired of grilled corn and pasta salad.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

34. Light and Tangy Coleslaw

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, dairy free

Nothing spoils a picnic quite like a bowl of gloppy, store-bought slaw at the end of a picnic table. Here, we lay off the mayo and use a zesty vinegar base instead. The result is a lighter and more flavorful take on a classic.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

35. Creamed Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions

Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

Meet the mac and cheese equivalent of veggies. It’s comfort food for sure, but with a healthy dose of green.

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Laura Edwards/The Yoga Kitchen Plan

36. Sweet Potato, Tomato, Kale and Halloumi Sheet Tray

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, low sugar, gluten free

This sheet pan meal serves two as a vegetarian main course, but we also like to serve it as an unexpected low-carb side. After all, who doesn’t love halloumi?

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Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

37. Easy Zucchini Chips

Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe

Skip the bag of potato chips and serve these at your next barbecue. They’re just as crisp, only without as many carbs.

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Aubrie Pick/Great Tastes

38. Tomato Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Herbs

Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <15 minutes, gluten-free

We know no one is asking, but if forced to choose, we’d be team cheese over team steak any day.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

39. Cauliflower Rice

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <30 minutes, low sugar, ketogenic

It’s kind of a low-carb staple, no? And compared to regular rice, it takes so much less time to make.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

40. Cold Lemon Zoodles

Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook

It may be too hot to turn on the stove, but dinner isn’t a lost cause. A light dressing and no actual cooking required make this an ideal substitute for a carb-y pasta salad.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

41. Zucchini Rice

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pan, beginner-friendly

If cauliflower rice isn’t your thing (we get it), try zucchini as a low-carb substitute instead. It pairs well with everything from grilled flank steak to roast chicken.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

42. Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprout Bites

Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy

Are we obsessed with crispy Brussels sprouts? Maybe, but there are worse vices. Just wait until you dip them in that tangy Dijonnaise.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

43. Pesto Zoodles

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, ready in <30 minutes

Proof that pesto makes everything taste better, whether it’s pasta or a low-carb pasta stand-in.

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Erin McDowell

44. Whole Roasted Radishes

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: low sugar, <10 ingredients, one pan

Raw radishes are peppery and intense, but when you roast them, they magically become sweet. Considering this side dish calls for just five ingredients, you have nothing to lose.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

45. Kale Caesar Salad

Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, low sugar

Yep, croutons are on your diet. You’re welcome.

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45 Low-Carb Side Dishes That Will Keep You Full Without Wrecking Your Diet

1. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts

2. Turnip Fries

3. Ina Garten’s Roasted Broccolini and Cheddar

4. Chilled Cucumber Salad

5. Keto Instant Pot Greek Cauliflower Rice

6. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad

7. Kale and Brussels Sprouts Caesar Slaw

8. Baby Vegetables with Orange and Thyme

9. Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles

10. Zucchini and Tomato Ragù

11. Roasted Radishes with Butter

12. Coconut Creamed Spinach

13. Gluten-Free Cheese and Cauliflower ‘Breadsticks’

14. Cacio e Pepe Zucchini

15. Slow Cooker Garlic-Herb Mashed Cauliflower

16. Honeydew, Feta, Jalapeño and Lime Salad

17. Celery Salad with Walnuts and Pecorino

18. Roasted Cabbage Steaks

19. Smashed Brussels Sprouts

20. Balsamic-Thyme Roasted Mushrooms

21. Zesty Chargrilled Broccolini

22. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower

23. Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables

24. Melted Onions

25. Strawberry, Basil and Arugula Salad with Lots of Black Pepper

26. Poached Egg with Frisée and Arugula Salad

27. Charred Cauliflower with Crunchy Garlic Chile Oil

28. Turmeric-Spiced Cauliflower and Broccoli with Capers

29. Broccoli Rabe and Burrata with Lemon

30. Blistered Green Beans with Tomatoes, Pounded Walnuts and Raw Summer Squash

31. Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Brussels Sprouts

32. Cauliflower, Olive, Pepper and Caper Salad (Insalata di Rinforzo)

33. Brussels Sprout Sliders

34. Light and Tangy Coleslaw

35. Creamed Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions

36. Sweet Potato, Tomato, Kale and Halloumi Sheet Tray

37. Easy Zucchini Chips

38. Tomato Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Herbs

39. Cauliflower Rice

40. Cold Lemon Zoodles

41. Zucchini Rice

42. Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprout Bites

43. Pesto Zoodles

44. Whole Roasted Radishes

45. Kale Caesar Salad

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