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  4. 15 Vegetable Side Dish Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes or Less

15 Vegetable Side Dish Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes or Less

By Andrea Beck and Katlyn Moncada Updated July 08, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Balsamic Glazed Carrots on white platter
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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 sides come in—they take just 20 minutes or less to prepare, and they're filled with good-for-you vegetables 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 delicious vegetable side dish recipes a healthy and easy addition to your meal.
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Quinoa Pilaf

Quinoa Pilaf
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Quinoa by itself is good, but quinoa packed with tons of fresh produce makes a super-delish, unbeatable vegetable side dish. Mushrooms, zucchini, baby kale, and grape tomatoes all play a role in making this veggie-full recipe. You can make this easy recipe faster if you have a few leftover ingredients to use up, like extra cooked quinoa.

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Tomato-Basil Broccoli

Tomato-Basil Broccoli
Credit: Karla Conrad
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If you love caprese salad, you need to make this veggie 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. The result is a mouthwatering side that has all the flavors of a caprese salad but includes a full serving of vegetables.

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Oven-Roasted Plum Tomatoes

Oven-Roasted Plum Tomatoes
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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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. This easy vegetable side is good, you might be tempted to make an entire meal of them.

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Hoisin Vegetable Foil Pack

Hoisin Vegetable Foil Pack
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Bring a taste of Asian-inspired flavors to your backyard barbecue this summer by serving up this quick grilled vegetable side dish idea. 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.

Buy It: Weber Jumbo Joe Premium 22-Inch Charcoal Grill ($80, Walmart)

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Tiny Tomato Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette

Tiny Tomato Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
Credit: Andy Lyons
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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 stars in this veggie side dish—we added arugula and fennel slices for a healthy dose of nutrition.

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Air-Fried Balsamic Glazed Carrots

Balsamic Glazed Carrots on white platter
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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Thanks to your trusty air-fryer, quick veggie side dishes require minimal hands-on time. A drizzle of balsamic glaze really takes the flavor profile to the next level. The multicolored carrots make an impressive display next to your healthy main dish.

Buy It: Cuisinart Compact AirFryer Toaster Oven ($100, Target)

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Grilled Asparagus in Dill Butter

Grilled Asparagus in Dill Butter
Credit: 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 vegetable side.

Related: Healthy Green Side Dish Recipes That Make Eating Veggies Delish (Seriously)

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Skillet Succotash

Skillet Succotash
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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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 dish is still mostly vegetables, but cooking them in just a little bit of bacon grease makes them oh, so tasty.

Buy It: Lodge Pre-Seasoned 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet ($25, Walmart)

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Cucumber-Radish Slaw

Cucumber-Radish Slaw
Credit: Andy Lyons
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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, we combine cucumbers, radishes, and red bell peppers with a homemade vinaigrette to make a tangy and delicious vegetable side. Enjoy it on its own or use it to top burgers and other entreés at your cookout.

Related: 25 Main Dish Salad Recipes Perfect for Fresh Weeknight Meals

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Spiced Rainbow Chard

Spiced Rainbow Chard
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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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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Pressure Cooker Potatoes with Tarragon Butter

Pressure Cooker Potatoes with Tarragon Butter
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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No need to spend time over the stove watching water boil to achieve delicious cooked potatoes. This pressure cooker vegetable side dish recipe gets two pounds of small potatoes ready in just 20 minutes. The herb-infused butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese really make this a veggie side to remember.

Buy It: Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker ($80, Target)

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Shaved Fennel and Celery Salad

Shaved Fennel & Celery Salad
Credit: Andy Lyons
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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 veggie side dish rises above the rest by mixing up the usual salad greens with celery and fennel slices. A zesty homemade vinaigrette finishes off this amazing salad with an extra bang of flavor.

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Walnut-Onion Green Beans

Walnut-Onion Green Beans side dish
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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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 vegetable side dish will convince you they’re a weeknight menu must.

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Mexican-Style Air-Fryer Corn on the Cob

Mexican-Style Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Credit: Antonis Achilleos
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This healthy vegetable side dish packs tons of Mexican-style flavor without a lot of oil. Simply dress your air-fried corn in a blend of chopped garlic, lime, and a bit of butter for a truly remarkable side for taco night or anytime you have an abundance of corn on the cob to use.

Related: 21 of Our Best Air-Fryer Recipes That Prove the Appliance Is Great for Every Meal

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Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Glazed Brussels Sprouts side dish
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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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 of this quick veggie side dish.

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    1 of 15 Quinoa Pilaf
    2 of 15 Tomato-Basil Broccoli
    3 of 15 Oven-Roasted Plum Tomatoes
    4 of 15 Hoisin Vegetable Foil Pack
    5 of 15 Tiny Tomato Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
    6 of 15 Air-Fried Balsamic Glazed Carrots
    7 of 15 Grilled Asparagus in Dill Butter
    8 of 15 Skillet Succotash
    9 of 15 Cucumber-Radish Slaw
    10 of 15 Spiced Rainbow Chard
    11 of 15 Pressure Cooker Potatoes with Tarragon Butter
    12 of 15 Shaved Fennel and Celery Salad
    13 of 15 Walnut-Onion Green Beans
    14 of 15 Mexican-Style Air-Fryer Corn on the Cob
    15 of 15 Glazed Brussels Sprouts

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    15 Vegetable Side Dish Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes or Less
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