Want to make a meal out of family-friendly stuffed peppers? Whether you are partial to stuffed peppers with ground beef or prefer vegan or vegetarian versions, these versatile, economical mains are a popular weeknight dinner choice. Build your favorite stuffed pepper recipe into a complete, filling weeknight meal with these quick and easy side dishes and salads that are sure to please even picky eaters in your household.
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Beet Salad With Spinach and Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
Elevate weeknight dinners with an elegant beet salad. You can roast beets in the oven, pick up some store-bought cooked beets, or boil a bunch to slice and toss with crumbled bacon, tender spinach leaves, and thinly-sliced red onions. Add in some optional toasted walnuts or pecans, and drizzle on the simple, sweet and tangy dressing, to complete this scrumptious starter.
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Stir-Fried Spinach With Garlic
Even picky eaters will be tempted to try this aromatic, Chinese-style spinach stir-fry that bursts with sesame and garlic flavors. Cook it up in 10 minutes, for a super-easy and healthy side dish to serve with stuffed peppers, roasted chicken dinners, stir-fried noodles, and dim sum feasts.
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Oven-Fried Zucchini
If eating softer foods makes you crave something crunchy, give these oven “fried” zucchini coins a try. They offer all the crispy, crunchy texture you crave in a fried side dish but are baked in the oven after dredging in a Parmesan-breadcrumb coating for fewer calories than deep-fried foods. Kids love them as an after-school snack, too, with ranch dressing or ketchup for dipping.
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Sesame Green Beans
Give frozen green beans an instant upgrade with this quick and easy recipe. All it takes is a little olive oil, teriyaki sauce, garlic, and sesame seeds to transform frozen veggies into a tempting side dish for stuffed peppers, beef short ribs, or pan-fried dumplings.
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Roasted Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is so-named for its unique, noodle-like texture when cooked. The tender strands of squash make an excellent pasta alternative when you are avoiding carbs or just seeking a lighter weeknight side dish. This simple preparation uses your oven to roast the squash before you toss it in just a little butter. Feel free to add in some grated Parmesan cheese and season to taste with salt and pepper.
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Broccoli Salad
Cool and crunchy broccoli salad is a healthy, refreshing accompaniment for stuffed peppers. Raisins, sunflower seeds, thawed frozen green peas, and a tangy, sweetened mayonnaise dressing make this broccoli salad a scrumptious side dish to serve with weeknight stuffed peppers.
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Roasted Whole Artichokes
Steaming whole artichokes inside foil packets is a wonderful way to coax the fullest flavor from this delicate-tasting, nutritious vegetable. This recipe dresses artichokes simply with a splash of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of salt before wrapping them in foil for the oven. Enjoy them hot, at room temperature, or cold.
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Crunchy Cabbage Ramen Salad
Toasted sesame seeds and almonds add a wonderful flavor and texture to this crunchy salad that includes crushed, uncooked Ramen noodles and plenty of colorful, chopped raw veggies. The easy vinaigrette dressing is boosted with the contents of the seasoning packet from the packaged noodles, for a restaurant-style flavor with very little effort.
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Roasted Carrots With Za'atar
You may think carrots are ordinary — but there is nothing plain at all about the irresistible flavor of carrots roasted with savory za’atar spices. Preparing them is as easy as peeling the carrots, arranging them on a baking sheet, drizzling with olive oil, and sprinkling on seasonings, before popping them into the oven.
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Lemon and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
Roasting cauliflower at high temperatures brings out the natural sweetness in the humble vegetable. Flavored with just a little olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and simple seasonings, it comes out of the oven nicely soft, slightly caramelized, and oh-so-tasty. Serve plain or tossed with grated Parmesan cheese for a healthful side dish alternative to rice or potatoes.
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Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Slices of unripe tomato are coated with eggs and cornmeal and then pan-fried until golden in this classic Southern side dish recipe. They come out beautifully crispy with a thick golden crust enclosing a tender yet still firm interior. You can use the traditional bacon grease to fry them or swap in any oil with a high smoke point, such as canola, grape seed, safflower, or corn oil.
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Asparagus Pasta Salad
Springtime—when fresh asparagus is in season—is the time to make this light, delicious, vegetarian and vegan asparagus pasta salad. It’s loaded with nutrition from fresh vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs and includes tender, cooked bowtie pasta to make it more filling. Prep it ahead for the fridge and serve either cold or at room temperature.
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Baked Vegan Sweet Potato Fries
If you crave the crisp saltiness of restaurant-style French fries, these oven-baked vegan sweet potato fries let you have your way without sabotaging a low-fat eating plan. They are packed with heart-healthy antioxidants and vitamins, too, so you can feel good about serving them to your family as a side for stuffed peppers.
