20+ Easy Vegan Side Dishes

June 25, 2020
Vegan sides don't have to be boring. Whether you're looking for a dairy- and meat-free alternative to classic potluck recipes (Charred Okra-Potato Salad, we're looking at you), a vegan version of traditional holiday fare (everyone—and we mean everyone—will love this Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto Green Bean Casserole), or a new favorite (this colorful Ombré Citrus Salad is seriously gorgeous), you're going to want to save this collection of vegan side dishes. 
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Instant Pot Vegan Mushroom Risotto

Meredith Food Studios 
Instant Pot Vegan Mushroom Risotto Recipe
Looking for a vegan dish that doesn’t taste like it’s missing anything? We’ve got it right here. This Instant Pot vegan risotto is creamy and perfectly cooked with a slight “bite” to it.
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Vegan Miso Soup

PHOTO BY KELSEY HANSEN
Vegan Miso Soup Recipe
If you live in the United States, you’re probably used to slurping miso soup at lunch or dinner, but this brothy soup is actually killer in the morning. Though miso soup is traditionally made with dashi, a salty broth of dried kelp and bonito flakes, this recipe is totally vegan.

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Roasted Spring Vegetables with Mustard-Sherry Vinaigrette

Victor Protasio
Roasted Spring Vegetables with Mustard-Sherry Vinaigrette Recipe
Vinaigrette is not just for salads! For a fresh pop of flavor, we drizzle roasted spring vegetables with one of our go-to vinaigrettes: sherry vinegar whisked with olive oil and grainy mustard. Roasting the vegetables in a hot oven for about 20 minutes is just the right amount of time to bring out their natural sugars without making them too soft.
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Roasted Root Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Causey  
Roasted Root Vegetables Recipe
Maple syrup is the perfect addition to slightly bitter turnips, carrots, and beets, which become sweet and tender when roasted. The earthy sweetness helps char the outside, and results in a delicious (and fast!) weeknight side. Choose Grade B (or dark) maple syrup for richer flavor.

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Orange-Tarragon Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Orange-Tarragon Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables Recipe

A mix of colorful root vegetables may be your star side. Peeled, prechopped butternut squash saves time, but pieces tend to be irregular and small--we prefer peeling and cubing it yourself.

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Quick Pickled Slaw

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos
Quick Pickled Slaw Recipe
This light, healthy slaw recipe is mildly acidic and full of flavor. The veggies will soften slightly but retain their crunch that will add texture to any meal. This bright slaw is the ideal summer side to pair with kebabs, pulled pork, fried catfish, or any classic warm-weather main dishes.
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Sautéed Broccoli Rabe

Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford    
Sautéed Broccoli Rabe Recipe

This high flavor side dish of Sautéed Broccoli Rabe is packed with potassium, iron, and calcium, fiber as well as vitamins A, C, and K. Broccoli rabe is one of the most nutritious leafy greens to add to your diet.

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Charred Orange-Chile Broccoli

Caitlin Bensel
Charred Orange-Chile Broccoli Recipe

Roasting brings out the sweet flavor of broccoli while adding a pleasant bitter note. The mildly spicy soy-orange sauce brings it all into balance. Taking the extra step to remove the woody outer layer from the broccoli stems makes the entire floret tender. Look for Asian chile-garlic sauce with other Asian flavorings and condiments.

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Three-Bean Pasta Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan
Three-Bean Pasta Salad Recipe

We combined two potluck classics—pasta salad and three-bean salad—to make one tasty new side dish. Blanched celery is the unexpected star in this side dish; it has a tender-crisp texture and bright green color. Swap out the canned beans for your favorite cooked field peas.

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Rosy Beet-and-Quinoa Salad

Rosy Beet-and-Quinoa Salad Recipe
This earthy whole-grain salad holds up well, so it's a good make-ahead option; just bring it to room temperature before serving for the best flavor. Omit goat cheese for a vegan option.

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Cauliflower Rice

Meredith Food Studios
Cauliflower Rice Recipe
There’s no need to buy the bagged stuff: If you’ve got five minutes, a food processor, and a head of cauliflower, you can make your own cauliflower rice. In addition to being a healthy rice substitute, making your own cauliflower rice is extremely easy.

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Simple Rice And Beans

Meredith Food Studios 
Simple Rice And Beans Recipe
This 6-ingredient red beans and rice couldn't be easier. Whether you serve it as a main or as a side dish, you'll love this easy recipe.
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Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables Recipe

A mix of colorful root vegetables may be your star side. Peeled, prechopped butternut squash saves time, but pieces tend to be irregular and small--we prefer peeling and cubing it yourself.

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Green Cauliflower Rice

Victor Protasio
Green Cauliflower Rice Recipe

If you can’t find premade fresh cauliflower crumbles or riced cauliflower near other fresh prepared vegetables at your market, look for frozen. Or, you can easily make your own.

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Parslied Brown Rice Pilaf

Greg DuPree
Parslied Brown Rice Pilaf Recipe
This simple side plays up the brightness of fresh parsley. This unassuming herb is pleasantly verdant and pairs wonderfully with zippy lemon zest and nutty brown rice. Compared with unenriched white rice, brown rice is higher in fiber, protein, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium.
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Kimchi Fried Rice

Jennifer Causey
Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe
This simple side plays up the brightness of fresh parsley. This unassuming herb is pleasantly verdant and pairs wonderfully with zippy lemon zest and nutty brown rice. Compared with unenriched white rice, brown rice is higher in fiber, protein, B vitamins, iron, and magnesium.

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Guacamole Salad

Antonis Achilleos
Guacamole Salad Recipe
Our Guacamole Salad is a bright, crunchy, and vegetal take on everyone’s favorite avocado-based dip. The fresh vegetables provide crunch that contrasts the creamy avocado, while the coriander vinaigrette is subtly acidic and doesn’t overshadow the rest of the ingredients.

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Bok Choy Salad

Bok Choy Salad Recipe

Add bite to a simple salad by crumbling uncooked ramen noodles over bok choy, a Chinese white cabbage. A cider vinegar and soy sauce drizzle make the salad a unique and flavorful alternative to the traditional starter salad.

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Ombré Citrus Salad

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Ombré Citrus Salad Recipe
If you’ve been invited to a potluck and feel fresh out of recipe ideas, this is the dish for you. This stunning citrus salad will fit right in at nearly any occasion—holiday brunch, wedding or baby shower, breakfast with friends, office luncheon, church social.

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Roasted Beet-and-Citrus Salad with Honey-Orange Vinaigrette

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Tami Hardeman
Roasted Beet-and-Citrus Salad with Honey-Orange Vinaigrette Recipe
This Roasted Beet-and-Citrus Salad is colorful, seasonal and has a beautiful presentation. Not only does it look pretty, this dish tastes light and fresh. The beetsand citrus elements also offer different textures for a more interesting experience than your everyday green salad.

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Easy Smoky Black Beans

Victor Protasio
Easy Smoky Black Beans Recipe
Since everything else in this menu requires a bit more of your attention, it's good to have one dish that's simple to prepare. These gussied-up canned beans get a savory flavor boost from garlic, smoked paprika, and cumin, then a finishing touch of lime juice and cilantro adds freshness.
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Charred Okra-Potato Salad

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Charred Okra-Potato Salad Recipe

We updated a cookout classic—potato salad—with crisp, smoky grilled okra. The salad is tossed in a lemon vinaigrette with scallions and a hint of fresh thyme to let the vegetables’ natural flavors shine. This dish is best served immediately so that the okra retains some crispness.

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Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad

Photographer: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox 
Tangy Potato-Green Bean Salad Recipe
Hold the mayo. Replace the usual creamy potato salad dressing with this lively lemon-dill vinaigrette. Easy to make and easy to transport, you will love this fresh take on the picnic staple. If you are taking this to a party, chill the cooked potatoes in the dressing for 30 minutes, and then assemble the salad on a platter just before serving.

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Smoked Potato Salad

Smoked Potato Salad Recipe
This is the recipe you need for those potluck gatherings where you really want to impress but then find you’re supposed to bring … potato salad. This version will wow, from its beautiful indigo color to its rich, smoky flavor. A nice hit of cumin and chipotle chile powder amplifies the smokiness and makes for a deeply savory salad.
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