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
- WHAT'S INSIDE: 4.7-ounce box of scalloped potatoes
- WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT: Real cheese and creamy, seasoned sauce give these scalloped potatoes the perfect home-cooked flavor. Just add milk and butter.
- ALSO CONTAINS: Milk, Wheat
- HIGH QUALITY, LOW PRICES: Amazon Fresh brand products are all about high-quality food that fits every budget, every day.
- ONLY FROM AMAZON: Look for the Amazon Fresh label to find great deals on a wide selection of grocery essentials.
- The Fan Favorite - Ready in Minutes
- Twin Pack: Makes 8 total servings
- Partner with Box Tops for Education
- WHAT'S INSIDE: 4.7 ounce box of au gratin potatoes
- WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT: Made with 100% real Idaho potatoes and real cheese, these potatoes deliver creamy and delicious home-cooked flavor in minutes.
- ALSO CONTAINS: Milk, Wheat
- HIGH QUALITY, LOW PRICES: Amazon Fresh brand products are all about high-quality food that fits every budget, every day.
- ONLY FROM AMAZON: Look for the Amazon Fresh label to find great deals on a wide selection of grocery essentials.
- Laing, is a Filipino dish of shredded or whole taro leaves with meat or seafood cooked in thick coconut milk typically spiced with labuyo chili, garlic, ginger, and pork. It originates from the Bicol Region.
- Adding one of the well-known Bicolano dishes to your meals has become more convenient with this bottled Laing.
- It has a sweet, spicy and a little bit of nutty flavors. The taro leaves which is the main ingredient of this dish is cooked just right.
- A serving will allow you to see the strands of taro leaves-a visible sign that dish did not become mushy due to overcooking. It's sweet nutty aroma comes from a perfectly cooked coconut milk
- If you're craving for an authentic Bicol taste, look no further! Make La Comida Goa Laing your new pantry staple!
- TASTY INDIAN FOOD READY TO EAT: We have used our age-old family recipes to create these authentic Indian meals ready to eat in the form of our tasty lentil bowls. They are made by mixing sprouted grains, basmati rice. lots of vegetables & tasty Indian spices Our tasty lentil high protein power bowl is a quick meal that is so easy to prepare. These just add hot water meals are tasty, nutritious healthy meals. These premade meals are prepared especially for a quick meal on a busy day!
- QUICK LUNCH & ON-THE-GO MEALS FOR TRAVEL:Perfect for a light instant lunch, travel, camping meals, backpacking food, ideal TV dinners, ora side dish for light meals. Unlike dehydrated foods, these freeze-dried vegetarian mre foods are light to carry in your backpack while trekking or camping! Ideal vegan camping food to be added in the backpackers pantry!
- CALL IT A LOADED VEGAN SOUP, LENTIL SOUP, OR JUST A LENTIL POWER BOWL: Made with simple easy to pronounce ingredients, these prepared meals are a healthy choice and can be had as a delicious but light diet food. Unlike dehydrated foods, freeze-drying preserves the original taste, nutrients, color, & flavor of the meal!
- SPROUTED GRAINS & LENTILS: Our mung beans, millet, and grains are sprouted which makes our lentil bowls easy to digest and nutrient-dense & rich in antioxidants. Sprouting seeds increases the bioavailability of nutrients to the body. Just add hot water, & set aside for a few minutes, & a healthy meal is ready to eat in minutes!
- PREMIUM CLEAN & SIMPLE INGREDIENTS! READ OUR INGREDIENT DECK,: Basmati Rice,Yellow Lentils, Sprouted Mung Beans, Potatoes, Spinach, Carrots, Green Beans, Onion, Sunflower Oil, Ginger, Green Chilies, Pink Salt, Cumin, Fenugreek, Mustard, Clove, Cardamon, Cinnamon, Bay Leaves, Garlic, Cilantro, Sunflower Seeds Powder
- Knorr Pasta Sides Alfredo Broccoli Fettuccine is a pasta side dish that enhances meals with amazing flavor.
- Alfredo Broccoli Pasta Sides expertly combines Parmesan and Romano cheese flavored sauce with broccoli florets.
- Knorr Pasta Sides are quick and easy pasta side dishes — this delicious Alfredo Broccoli pasta cooks in just 7 minutes.
- Knorr Pasta Sides Alfredo Broccoli contains no artificial flavors, no preservatives, and no added MSG, except those naturally occurring glutamates.
- Serve this pasta as a standalone side dish, or use it as an ingredient in a delicious family recipe.
- Trader Joe's Indian Fare Kitchari Net Wt. 10 Oz (284g) Pack of 2
- Knorr Rice Sides Creamy Chicken Rice is a rice and pasta blend side dish that enhances meals with amazing flavor
- Our Creamy Chicken Rice expertly combines onions, carrots, rosemary and garlic with the creamy goodness of a chicken flavored sauce
- Knorr Creamy Chicken Rice Sides contains no artificial flavors, no preservatives, and no added MSG except those naturally occurring glutamates
- Knorr Rice Sides are quick and easy to prepare they cook in just 7 minutes on the stovetop, or in the microwave
- Creamy Chicken Rice can be part of a delicious Knorr recipe, or can be enjoyed as a rice side dish on its own
- Chicken strips and fettuccine with broccoli, parmesan, romano, parsley, and alfredo sauce
- Ready in Minutes
- Microwave on high for 2.5 minutes
- Brought to you by Amazon Kitchen, grab-and-enjoy meal solutions, prepped for what’s next
- To ensure freshness, enjoy within a couple of days of arrival
- A sweet blend of coconut and real pineapple
- Gluten free, no artificial flavors, no colors from artificial sources, no MSG added*
- Prepared and on the table in less than 30 minutes
- Serve as a side dish or an easy meal
- PREP TIP: Can be made on the stove top or in the microwave
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.