You can easily turn a home-cooked meal from good to great with the addition of just one side dish. But even though a side dish can elevate a main dish from good to great, not all side dishes are created equal. Some can be a touch bland, heavy on calories or tough on the digestive system.
To help you find your go-to side dishes for all the family, we rounded up the best fresh prepared side dishes available at your local grocery store.
Read on to shop the best fresh prepared side dishes.
Our Editor’s Best Fresh Prepared Side Dishes Reviews
- Knorr Rice Sides Herb & Butter is a rice and pasta blend side dish that enhances meals with amazing flavor
- Herb & Butter Rice Sides expertly combines oregano, rosemary, basil and thyme with a delicate butter sauce
- Knorr Rice Sides are quick and easy to prepare — they cook in just 7 minutes
- Knorr Rice Sides Herb & Butter contains no artificial flavors, no preservatives, and no added MSG, except those naturally occurring glutamates
- Our Herb & Butter rice can be part of a delicious Knorr recipe, or can be enjoyed as a rice side dish on its own
- Pre-packed, Farm-raised Atlantic Salmon, Certified by Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP).
- Perfect for family meals or large gatherings.
- Ready to cook, grill or bake.
- Fresh Premium Salmon Quality for gourmet meals at home.
- Beautiful color and marble with a mild flavor.
- AUTHENTIC FLAVOR: Enjoy the rich taste of our Southern-style cornbread dressing, made with fresh celery, onions, buttermilk, eggs, and traditional spices for that genuine Southern comfort.
- VERSATILE SIDE DISH: Swap out ordinary dinner rolls for our flavorful cornbread dressing. It's a delicious twist that adds excitement to any meal, from weeknight dinners to holiday feasts.
- GENEROUS PORTION SIZE: Each tray contains a generous 32 ounces of premium cornbread dressing, providing plenty to share with family and friends or enjoy as leftovers for a delicious Southern-inspired meal anytime.
- MEAL MADE EASY: Preparing a delicious side dish has never been easier - simply heat and serve our cornbread dressing for a quick and satisfying addition to any meal.
- SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: If you're not 100% satisfied with your Cornbread Dressing purchase from Kansas City Steaks, we’ll make it right. It's that simple. Enjoy a worry-free, delectable dining experience.
- AUTHENTIC FLAVOR: Enjoy the rich taste of our Southern-style cornbread dressing, made with fresh celery, onions, buttermilk, eggs, and traditional spices for that genuine Southern comfort.
- VERSATILE SIDE DISH: Swap out ordinary dinner rolls for our flavorful cornbread dressing. It's a delicious twist that adds excitement to any meal, from weeknight dinners to holiday feasts.
- GENEROUS PORTION SIZE: Each tray contains a generous 32 ounces of premium cornbread dressing, providing plenty to share with family and friends or enjoy as leftovers for a delicious Southern-inspired meal anytime.
- MEAL MADE EASY: Preparing a delicious side dish has never been easier - simply heat and serve our cornbread dressing for a quick and satisfying addition to any meal.
- SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: If you're not 100% satisfied with your Cornbread Dressing purchase from Kansas City Steaks, we’ll make it right. It's that simple. Enjoy a worry-free, delectable dining experience.
- Frisella, Emily (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 249 Pages - 01/20/2017 (Publication Date) - Wise Ink (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Sara Wells (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 265 Pages - 02/23/2011 (Publication Date) - Shadow Mountain (Publisher)
- Robertson, Robin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 09/25/2012 (Publication Date) - Harvard Common Press (Publisher)
- CONTENTS: Traditional breadcrumb-based stuffing mix specially seasoned and prepared for turkey dishes in a convenient 6 oz box
- VERSATILITY: Perfect for stuffing turkey, chicken, or other poultry, or can be prepared as a delicious side dish
- PREPARATION: Quick and easy to prepare - just add water, butter, and your favorite additions like celery, onions, or herbs
- SERVING SIZE: One 6 oz box makes enough stuffing to accompany a medium-sized turkey or serve 4-6 people as a side dish
- STORAGE: Stays fresh in your pantry until ready to use, requires no refrigeration when unopened
- CONTENTS: Traditional breadcrumb-based stuffing mix specially seasoned and prepared for turkey dishes in a convenient 6 oz box
- VERSATILITY: Perfect for stuffing turkey, chicken, or other poultry, or can be prepared as a delicious side dish
- PREPARATION: Quick and easy to prepare - just add water, butter, and your favorite additions like celery, onions, or herbs
- SERVING SIZE: One 6 oz box makes enough stuffing to accompany a medium-sized turkey or serve 4-6 people as a side dish
- STORAGE: Stays fresh in your pantry until ready to use, requires no refrigeration when unopened
- 🌶️Rediscover the warmth of the Caribbean with Grace Callaloo - a taste of home no matter where you are. Each can is brimming with garden-fresh callaloo leaves, connecting you to the authentic Jamaican flavors & memories of sunny island days.
- 🥘Dive into a world of possibilities, from simmering a comforting Callaloo Soup to a savory Callaloo Cook-up, or steaming it for a nutritious side. Grace Callaloo is your key to authentic flavorful dishes that bring the island's spirit to your table.
- 🏖️Beyond the beloved Ackee & Callaloo with saltfish, it’s the perfect addition to ackee quiches, paired with bread fruit, breakfast scrambles, & savory akee patties, infusing each dish with authentic Jamaican flavors.
- 🌴Sourced directly from local farmers across the islands, every can supports livelihoods & promotes environmentally friendly farming practices. By choosing Grace Callaloo, you’re embracing a product that nourishes both you & the land it comes from.
- 💯Grace Callaloo is proudly made by Grace Foods, a cornerstone of Jamaica's culinary scene for over 100 years. Its not just a traditional fruit; its a piece of Jamaican history from a brand that has been a staple in Jamaican households for generations
Best Fresh Prepared Side Dishes Buying Guide
Before choosing the best fresh prepared side dishes you should consider following options:
1. Frozen Vegetables: If you’re looking for convenience and affordability, then frozen vegetables are a great option. They’re easy to prepare and are often less expensive than fresh.
The two main categories of frozen vegetables are frozen greens and frozen mixed vegetables. Frozen greens are a great source of nutrients and vitamins. Examples include frozen spinach and frozen kale.
Frozen mixed vegetables are a good alternative for fresh vegetables. You can often get a variety pack that includes carrots, peas, corn, green beans and possibly more.
2. Canned Vegetables: Canned vegetables are often more affordable than fresh or frozen. However, they’re not as fresh and sometimes lack in flavor.
You can buy canned vegetables by the individual variety or can also get a mixed variety that contains a variety of different vegetables.
3. Pickled Vegetables: Pickled vegetables are a great way to add flavor and crunch to a meal. Although they’re often more expensive than fresh or frozen, they can be a great, convenient option.
You can get a variety of pickled vegetables, including carrots, cauliflower, onions and more. You can also get pickled vegetables in a variety pack.
4. Vegetable Chips: If you’re looking for a crunchy addition to a meal, then vegetable chips are a great option. You can get them in a variety of flavors, including tomato, onion and corn.
Vegetable chips are often more affordable than fresh or frozen, but they’re not as healthy.
5. Frozen Greens: You can also get frozen greens in a mixed variety pack. They’re a good alternative for fresh greens, but they do lack in flavor.
6. Vegetable Rice: Vegetable rice is a great way to add flavor and texture to a meal. It’s often more affordable than fresh or frozen.
You can get vegetable rice in a variety of flavors, including mixed, Indian and Chinese.
7. Dried Vegetables: Dried vegetables are a great way to add flavor and crunch to a meal. They’re often more affordable than fresh or frozen.
8. Vegetable Pasta: Vegetable pasta is another great way to add flavor and texture to a meal. You can get it dried or frozen.
9. Vegetable Chips: You can get vegetable chips in a variety of flavors, including tomato, onion and corn. If you’re looking for a crunchy addition to a meal, then vegetable chips are a great option.
10. Vegetable Medley: Vegetable medleys are a good alternative for fresh vegetables, but they do lack in flavor.
11. Vegetable Soup: Vegetable soup is the perfect addition to a meal on a cold day. It’s often more affordable than fresh or frozen.
12. Vegetable Casseroles: Casseroles are a great way to add flavor, texture and convenience to a meal. You can often get a variety pack that includes a variety of different casseroles.
13. Vegetable Pasta: Vegetable pasta is another great way to add flavor and texture to a meal. You can get it dried or frozen.
14. Vegetable Rice: Vegetable rice is a great way to add flavor and texture to a meal. It’s often more affordable than fresh or frozen.
15. Vegetable Chips: You can get vegetable chips in a variety of flavors
What else you should know about fresh prepared side dishes
1. What are some popular fresh prepared side dishes?
Some popular fresh prepared side dishes include roasted vegetables, quinoa salad, and roasted potatoes.
2. How do you make a fresh prepared side dish?
There are many ways to make a fresh prepared side dish. Some popular methods include roasting, sauteing, grilling, and baking.
3. What are some tips for making fresh prepared side dishes?
Some tips for making fresh prepared side dishes are to use quality ingredients, cook the food properly, and season the food to taste.
4. What are some common mistakes people make when making fresh prepared side dishes?
Some common mistakes people make when making fresh prepared side dishes are not properly cooking the food, not using fresh ingredients, and not following directions.
5. How can you make a fresh prepared side dish more healthy?
You could make a fresh prepared side dish more healthy by adding less salt, using leaner meats, and avoiding high-fat ingredients.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best fresh prepared side dishes. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best fresh prepared side dishes will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.