Whether you’re preparing for a BBQ with friends or looking to spice up your average lunch or dinner, no meal is complete without some delicious side dishes to pair it with. If you need some inspiration, we have you covered! Here are our top five unique side dishes to balance your meal and have your family coming back for seconds every time.
5 Delicious Side Dishes to Upgrade Your Meal
From some fresh produce classics to more creative sides, we’ll share five recipes we found that are sure to be showstoppers at your next meal!
1. Grilled Zucchini
If you’re looking to get more fiber in your diet, zucchini is a great side dish for any summer barbecue or family dinner. Technically a fruit, zucchini is a great way to introduce healthier alternatives to your family. This produce is easy to work with and doesn’t add stress to your meal prep.
If you are grilling some delicious steaks or poultry, go ahead and throw some fresh, seasoned zucchini onto the grill. Grilled zucchini comes out crispy on the outside and beautifully seasoned on the inside, and pairs perfectly with your cookout entrees. Check out a simple, tasty recipe to try here.
2. Jalapeño Poppers
Looking to turn up the heat even more than Florida’s famously hot weather? Look no further than jalapeño poppers! Jalapeño peppers pack a lot of heat and are in season well into fall, making them a great choice to add some spice to any meal.
Kick it up a notch with this Jalapeño Popper recipe that combines our favorite things, bacon and cheese, with sizzling jalapeño peppers. If you’re looking to build your spice tolerance, this is a great way to start!
3. Watermelon Strawberry Caprese Salad
Tired of savory and looking for something sweet? You can put a fun spin on the classic caprese salad using your favorite fruits instead. That’s right! Swap the tomato and spinach for watermelons and strawberries. You’ll end up with a fruit salad staple! This salad is both savory and sweet, perfect for your favorite family meals. Bonus: this salad is quick and easy, taking less than 10 minutes to prepare. Try the recipe out for yourself here!
4. Magic Cornbread
We didn’t think cornbread could get any better, but then we found this recipe that makes this Southern favorite even more amazing. The creamy center takes this side dish from good to great. The best part? This cornbread is versatile and can be served alongside your favorite comfort dinner or topped with ice cream for a scrumptious dessert.
5. BLT Stuffed Avocados
Avocados, one of our favorite fruits, are packed with essential nutrients and healthy fats. But what if they were packed with even more goodness? These bacon, lettuce, tomato (BLT) stuffed avocados are everything you didn’t know that you needed. This simple recipe combines the ingredients of a BLT and replaces most of the bread with avocados. This low-carb alternative is great on its own or alongside your main course.
No Meal’s Complete without a Stop to Ward’s
Whichever delicious side dish you choose, you can’t go wrong with these recipes. But you can make them even better by shopping local for your ingredients! For everything you need for your meals, rain or shine, stop by Ward’s Supermarket in Gainesville. We have unique local goods and fresh products to add to your meals, leaving your family excited for more!
