14 Easy 5-Ingredient Sides for Any Night of the Week

Whether you’re cooking a weeknight meal for your family or hosting friends for a dinner party, you’re probably going to need a few sides to round out the menu. And, if you’re focusing on an impressive main dish, it never hurts to keep things simple when it comes to the rest of the meal. But, that doesn’t mean that you have to cut corners or skimp on flavor. With just a handful of ingredients, a little time and these recipes, whipping up crowd-pleasing side dishes has never been easier.

Cooking this recipe all in one pot eliminates the need for making a separate flour-thickened sauce. Instead, it relies on starchy pasta water as the base. Make sure to simmer the pasta only until very al dente since it will continue to cook as you add the cheese. Stirring in the grated cheese off of the heat will help prevent it from clumping or seizing in the sauce. While the mac and cheese might seem very saucy before it’s baked, it thickens quickly in the oven.

This grilled eggplant makes for a perfect summer side. It's charred on the outside with a tender, creamy center and glazed with a sweet, garlicky, spicy sauce. Try it with grilled steak, fish or pork chops, or use it to round out a vegetarian menu.

Coconut oil is great for high-temperature frying—it gives the carrots their caramel-brown glaze without burning them. Dust with curry powder and top with chopped cilantro for a bright twist on a classic.

Give your grilled asparagus a flavor boost with this butter, which gets whipped with miso and mirin until silky. Fold in some grilled leeks and toss with the warm asparagus to fully coat with the flavor-packed butter.

Tyler's sauteed spinach is the perfect nutrient-packed side to accompany a hearty protein.

Easy, full-flavored sides are a must for your summer cookout rotation. This side features canned black eyed peas, punched up with spicy barbecue sauce and smoky bacon. Frozen chopped collards are a great convenience product which melt into this saucy side dish.

We can never get enough of the classic combination of fresh summer tomatoes and sweet, juicy watermelon. We paired it with the spicy tang of Tajin seasoning, a combination of chili and lime. Perfect for a warm summer day.