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
- QUICK & EASY PREPARATION: Rehydrate the seaweed medley in just one minute for a fast and convenient addition to any meal. Pair it with spicy Korean gochujang sauce for an authentic flavor experience.
- EIGHT PREMIUM SEAWEEDS: This 3.53oz pack serves 12 and includes eight distinct types of Korean seaweed, each offering a unique texture and taste to create a restaurant-quality seaweed salad at home.
- RICH IN FIBER: Seaweed stems and leaves are abundant in fiber, promoting a healthy diet and aiding in the body's natural cleansing process by eliminating impurities.
- VERSATILE & CUSTOMIZABLE: Enhance your seaweed salad by adding garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, and more. This adaptable salad mix provides a delicious foundation for your culinary creativity and elevates any meal.
- MADE IN KOREA: Experience the authentic taste of Korean cuisine with this high-quality seaweed salad kit, proudly produced in Korea.
- 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.
- 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
- Small Glass Bowls Set: Start planning healthy meals and eating healthy with our glass prep bowls – set contains eight, 6.25-ounce small glass bowls with lids set that will keep your leftovers looking fresh and tasting delicious
- Clear Glass Serving Bowls: This set of glass meal prep containers feature a clear glass design that makes it easy to spot the ingredients and toppings you require without opening the lids - these glass ingredient prep bowls double as snack bowls
- Easy Food Prep: Our mini glass container set is ideal for storing ingredients for weekly meal prepping; place your prepped ingredients in our snack bowls with lids and have herbs, toppings, and more on hand as you cook
- Lead Free Bowl Set: Made from lead-free glass with a 3.45-inch diameter, these glass snack containers are safe for your food and the environment; you can take your glass food prep bowls for easy-on-the-go lunches
- Dishwasher Safe: These classic small glass prep bowls complement any tabletop or dinnerware collection and these small glass bowls for cooking prep are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze
- Wholesome Nutrition: Reganic Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice is a nutritious and fiber-rich choice for a balanced diet.
- Convenient Ready-to-Eat: This microwaveable rice pouch cooks in just 90 seconds, making it a quick and easy meal option.
- Organic Certification: USDA Organic certified, ensuring the highest quality and purity standards.
- Versatile Ingredient: Perfect for rice bowls, stir-fries, salads, or as a side dish to complement various meals.
- Halal Certified: This product meets Halal requirements, catering to diverse dietary preferences.
- AUTHENTIC MIDDLE EASTERN HERITAGE - Rooted in a tradition that dates back to 1926, our goal is to bring the true essence of Middle Eastern flavors at your doorsteps, no matter where you are in the world. Enjoy the rich tradition and authentic taste with Mezete.
- SMOKY & WHOLESOME - A blend of roasted green wheat with a toasty, nutty flavor. The soup has a wholesome earthiness, accented by a hint of smokiness, making each spoonful deeply satisfying and comforting, even for first-time tasters.
- NOTHING ARTIFICIAL - All of our ingredients are sourced naturally with no preservatives or artificial flavors.
- SHELF STABLE - Our soups retains their freshness for long time making it great to have in your pantry. Enjoy worry-free buying experience with Mezete.
- INSTANT SOUP - Our Middle Eastern Freekeh Soup is perfect for your fast paced life. Ready to eat straight from the pack. Pairs wonderfully with rice, couscous or any bread.
- Enjoy the unique taste of Spicy Enoki Mushrooms, perfect for snacking or as a flavorful side dish
- Made with good-quality ingredients, these mushrooms offer a delightful red oil flavor and a hint of garlic aroma
- Versatile and convenient, they can be enjoyed straight from the bag or added to your favorite noodle dishes
- With a shelf life of 12 months, these tasty snacks are easy to store at room temperature
- Share the joy of these delicious mushrooms with friends and family, making every meal a special occasion
- Hardcover Book
- Lee, Matt (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 11/03/2009 (Publication Date) - Clarkson Potter (Publisher)
- Frisella, Emily (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 249 Pages - 01/20/2017 (Publication Date) - Wise Ink (Publisher)
- EXCITE YOUR TASTE: Just when you feel the time is right to uplift traditional Rice, Couscous and Quinoa dishes with something new, you may want to embark on a culinary adventure with bulghur; a quick-cooking, nutty-flavored, whole grain food that cooks in about the time it takes you to order fast food. Only difference – you get a good mix of nutrition, taste and convenience in one place
- NUTRITION PACKED: One of the oldest good-for-you nutritious super food that is a potent package of dietary fiber, vitamins, phytonutrients, minerals & antioxidants, which is why they are often included in many healing diets, like the Mediterranean diet. Great source of plant-based protein with a high dose of fiber that ferments in the gut to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) which not only improve immunity and nutrient absorption but also helps balance pH of the body
- GOLDEN GRAIN GOODNESS: Our burghul contains nothing artificial, no cholesterol, has a lower-glycemic index, and is naturally non-GMO (...as are other whole wheat derived grains). Bulgar is sometimes referred to as the “Middle Eastern pasta” for its versatility as a base for some hot breakfast cereals, all sorts of side dishes for lunch or dinner, pilafs and salads such as Tabbouleh (also spelled as Tabouli or Tabouleh) to name just a few
- HIGH YIELD AND RESILIENT: Make 2.5x – 3x more food with just 2lbs of Zaiqa Bulgur Wheat; an excellent choice for difficult times, off-grid living & disaster stricken regions. Know the difference between Cracked Wheat & Bulgur Wheat before storing for a longer period. Cracked wheat is raw & uncooked whereas wheat kernels that are cleaned, boiled, dried, ground by a mill & then sorted by size, are called bulgur – which cooks faster & stores better. Most retail stores sell Bulgur, not Cracked Wheat
- DEEP IMPACT AND MINIMALISTIC APPROACH: Your purchase directly puts responsibility on us to become good stewards for the environment, it also humbles us to help reduce hunger by supporting local food banks. Last but not least, your purchase supports at least 3 U.S. warehousing jobs. So next time when you hear that unemployment is low, know that you have had a positive impact, no matter the size. Simple, yet secure packaging. Allows for storage at home in an airtight glass or canning jar.
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.