20-Minute Vegetable Side-Dish Recipes

By Andrea Beck
Whether you have a jam-packed weeknight or a leisurely weekend ahead, you can always use an extra serving of veggies on your plate. That’s where these quick veggie recipes come in—they take just 20 minutes or less to prepare, and they’re filled with good-for-you veggies like green beans, asparagus, carrots, and more. With just a little attention (we know you have an entrée to make, too), you can make these yummy vegetable side dishes a healthy and easy addition to your meal.
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Quinoa Pilaf

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Quinoa by itself is good, but quinoa packed with tons of fresh veggies makes a super-delish, unbeatable side dish. Mushrooms, zucchini, baby kale, and grape tomatoes all play a role in making this veggie-ful recipe. You can make this speedy recipe even quicker if you have a few leftover ingredients to use up, like extra cooked quinoa.

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Tomato-Basil Broccoli

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If you love caprese salad, you need to make this broccoli side dish this week. It's so easy—just steam a few cups of broccoli spears, then toss with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. That’s it! The result is a mouthwatering side that has all the flavors of a caprese salad but includes a full serving of veggies.

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Oven-Roasted Plum Tomatoes

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Extra-juicy roasted tomatoes have always held a special place in our hearts, and these quick-roasted plum tomatoes are no exception. Give them a crispy topping by sprinkling on a mix of Parmesan cheese, panko bread crumbs, and melted butter just before they go in the oven, then finish with a sprinkle of fresh oregano. They’re so good, you might be tempted to make an entire meal of them!

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Hoisin Vegetable Foil Pack

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Bring a taste of Asian-inspired flavors to your backyard barbecue this summer by serving up these quick grilled vegetables. To keep the hoisin sauce on the carrots and snow pea pods while they cook, grill in a foil packet (it also minimizes cleanup!). You can also bring a little bit of heat to this recipe by sprinkling with crushed red pepper before serving.

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Tiny Tomato Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette

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These tomatoes may be tiny, but they pack a big punch of flavor. Dress up tiny tomatoes from your garden or farmers market with a homemade champagne vinaigrette for a side dish that positively screams summer. And tomatoes aren’t the only veggies in play—we added arugula and fennel slices to give this salad a healthy dose of nutrition.

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Cinnamon-Spiced Brussels Sprouts

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You might not think of pairing cinnamon and Brussels sprouts on your own, but this quick 15-minute side dish will have you convinced the pairing is meant to be. Part of what makes this recipe so easy (and so tasty) is how simple it is—shaved Brussels sprouts and a few different seasonings, all cooked together in a skillet. You might be tempted to try this recipe in the fall because of the cinnamon, but we’re already planning on eating it year-round.

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Pan-Roasted Peppers

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You can’t beat the tenderness and flavor that come from roasted vegetables, but oven-roasting can definitely be time-consuming. The solution? Pan-roasted peppers! This tasty veggie recipe is a faster way to enjoy roasted sweet peppers that are just as flavorful thanks to a blend of herbs and seasonings.

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Grilled Asparagus in Dill Butter

Andy Lyons
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When you keep it simple, you can definitely serve grilled veggies in 20 minutes—in fact, you can serve them in 17! To keep this asparagus recipe easy, just toss the spears with butter, dill, garlic, and black pepper. Give them a quick turn on the grill, sprinkle with a little Parmesan cheese, and in no time at all you can start savoring this easy, smoky side.

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Skillet Succotash

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Yes, this succotash has fresh veggies—but it also has bacon! For delicious results, start by crisping up the bacon in a skillet, then gradually add in corn, edamame, and cherry tomatoes. This side is still mostly vegetables, but cooking them in just a little bit of bacon grease makes them oh, so tasty.

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Cucumber-Radish Slaw

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This super-easy slaw is going to change how you think about side salads forever. Ideal for serving at a barbecue or cookout, this quick recipe combines cucumbers, radishes, and red sweet peppers with a homemade vinaigrette to make a tangy and delicious dish. Enjoy it on its own or use it to top burgers and other entreés at your cookout.

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Spiced Rainbow Chard

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A lot tastier than a simple salad, this rainbow chard recipe adds a healthy serving of veggies to any meal. Made with za’atar, a Middle Eastern spice mixture, this flavor-packed recipe comes together in just 20 minutes. If you want this side dish to taste truly out of this world, try using fresh rainbow chard from your local farmers market.

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Shaved Fennel and Celery Salad

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Of course it’s easy to toss together a quick salad in 20 minutes or less—but not all salads are created equally. This one rises above the rest by mixing up the usual salad greens with celery and fennel slices. A zesty homemade vinaigrette finishes off this yummy salad with an extra bang of flavor.

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Walnut-Onion Green Beans

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Green beans are a dinnertime staple, but we’re willing to bet you’ve never had them like this before. Cooking the veggies with sweet onion and walnuts adds even more flavor and a nice crunch with each bite. If you’re not already in the habit of serving green beans, this quick dish will convince you they’re a weeknight menu must!

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Beet Hummus

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Hummus is usually at the top of our list for an afternoon snack, but there’s no reason why it can’t make an appearance at dinner, either as an appetizer or a family-style side. We’re especially excited to serve this bright pink beet version—it has the usual cannellini beans and tahini but also blends in cooked beets for a dose of veggies and a gorgeous vibrant hue. For extra veggies, serve with dippers like cucumber slices and celery sticks.

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Glazed Brussels Sprouts

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If Brussels sprouts aren’t part of your usual dinner plans yet, they’re about to be. These sprouts are glazed with a mix of cider vinegar and orange marmalade, giving them just a touch of sweetness. Even the picky eaters at your table will want seconds!

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Glazed Carrots with Olives

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Made for a chilly night in, this tender glazed carrot dish can be ready to serve alongside a roast in just 20 minutes. The glaze is super simple—just mix butter, sugar, salt, and water. Kalamata olives and capers add big flavor to this easy dish. Finish it off with a sprinkle of chives, then dig in!

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