Low-Carb Side Dishes to Round Out Your Healthy Meal

Sweet, salty, citrusy, peppery, creamy, and crunchy. Yep, we say this one hits all the right flavor and texture marks. This low-carb cucumber salad with corn is just the thing to pack up and take to an informal outdoor gathering or your own backyard. Just be sure to bring the recipe with you, because this is one everybody will be asking you for.

You need three things to make broccoli a star: a sheet pan, a squeeze of lemon, and some cheese. But not just any cheese. Umami-rich Pecorino Romano is salty and tangy in all the right places. And by roasting this oft-misunderstood veggie on a baking sheet, it gets an appealing char and delicious texture that can’t be overlooked. 

Buy It: Nordic Ware Naturals Baker’s Half Sheet ($11, Target)

When the grill is overtaken by burgers and brats, turn to your air fryer to make the meal complete. A colorful tray of bright summer vegetables—perfectly tender, crisped at the edges, and infused with Mediterranean flavors—is just the thing for easy alfresco dinners. 

Buy It: Power XL Vortex Air Fryer ($104, Bed Bath & Beyond)

Caraway is an underused spice that gives foods—especially vegetables—a complex and interesting flavor that will have everyone taking notice of these darn-good carrots. Though they are delish on their own, we highly recommend mixing up the accompanying Tangy Fennel Aioli while the carrots are roasting. It’s a perfect dipper that doesn’t add any carbs.

Not only are the regal purple and dark red hues of this classed-up slaw beautiful to look at, but the bitter-sweet vibe is just what you want to complement a meat-centric main dish. Although you can get your hands on pomegranate seeds year-round, fresh raspberries are a suitable replacement, providing the same sweet-tangy notes when it's not peak pomegranate season. 

Buy It: Kallan Vegetable Bowl ($50, Wayfair)

You think the perfect low-carb pasta salad doesn’t exist? Oh, yes, it does! Creamy and filled with the fresh Greek seasonings you love, this summer pasta salad doesn’t cut any flavor corners. Kalamata olives, juicy tomatoes, red pepper, and crunchy cucumber accompany cooked spiral or bow tie pasta for a fresh take on the familiar.

Craving mashed potatoes but not the carb load? Here’s the recipe you’ve been looking for, complete with the best cauli-to-tater ratio plus simple spices. The secret is to whir the roasted cauliflower quickly in a food processor before folding it into creamy mashed potatoes. You’ll want to bookmark this as one of your go-to low-carb sides.

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This is a classic restaurant-quality Caesar salad, complete with anchovy dressing, a garlic-rubbed bowl, and Parmesan-infused croutons. The special touches are worth it, and you’ll see why this recipe stands the test of time. Serve it on chilled plates with fresh cracked black pepper for a bit of effortless drama.

A sprinkle of bread crumbs and a drizzle of garlic butter is a deliciously dangerous combo, resulting in perfectly roasted broccolini that might just disappear before the main dish even arrives. Proceed without caution and file this one away as a winning low-carb dinner side.

Sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that leave the biggest impression. And so it is with this seemingly plain yet perfect side dish. Fresh cukes meet bell peppers and peppery radishes for a refreshingly vibrant slaw reminiscent of those wildly popular refrigerator pickles.

Looking for a low-carb broccoli salad you can make ahead? This always-loved classic can be made up to 24 hours in advance, which allows the simple dressing to meld into and slightly soften the fresh broccoli florets. Of course, we didn’t forget the make-it-shine mix-ins: raisins, sunflower seeds, and crispy bacon!

Tender, raw veggies get a quick soak in a herbaceous wine-mustard marinade that you can serve today or make ahead for an easy tomorrow. The fresh infusion is a simple way to keep your summer garden bumper crop interesting. Serve them in a bowl or strung onto skewers for a fancied-up presentation. 

Buy It: OXO Twist & Pour Salad Dressing Mixer ($20, Crate & Barrel)

Looking for easy low-carb sides for burgers? Just five ingredients plus a dash of salt are all you need to bring this vibrantly simple salad to the table. The unexpected addition is fresh mint, which pairs amazingly well with the lemony vinaigrette and intensifies everything you love about fresh summer tomatoes.

Beans are incredibly nutritious, but it can be hard to fit beans into your arsenal of low-carb side dishes. This dish combines summer shelling beans with fresh wax and green beans for a delicious take on the popular three-bean salad. A quick toss in a simple vinaigrette and a garnish of crumbled feta bring this one to the table. 

This highly rated low-carb potato salad combines cubed and roasted sweet potatoes with hard-cooked eggs, dill, and picante peppers in a creamy mayo-yogurt dressing. While it isn’t your traditional potato salad recipe, the sweet potatoes provide a cool pop of flavor and a significant nutrition makeover.

The contrast of sweet fresh blackberries, salty feta, and tangy pickled onions make for one unexpected and very delicious low carb fruit salad. To get the feta the perfect creamy consistency, spin it quickly in a food processor with a small drizzle of spicy olive oil and a dash of crushed red pepper flakes.

If you haven’t made a salad with creamy butter lettuce yet, here’s the recipe to start with. This monochromatic mix makes for a stunning presentation and will become one of your favorite simple low-carb salad ideas. Sweet peas and thin strips of nutty endive nestle into silky butter lettuce under a light Dijon-dill vinaigrette.

In the hot days of summer, icy cold melon is nature’s refreshing gift to you. Keep it low carb by threading large chunks of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew onto short skewers and drizzling with a fresh mint-lime dressing or a sprinkle of chile-lime salt. To keep things cold, serve the tricolor skewers on an ice block set inside a rimmed tray.

If grilled steaks or pork chops are on the menu, this bright salad is what you’ll want to serve on the side. The bitter radicchio, sweet squash, and acidic vinaigrette provide the same effect as serving a robust red wine, balancing the palate and filling each bite with layers of flavor.