If you are on the hunt for frugal side dish recipes that complements a meal without being bland, check out this list below. Here are great flavorful side dishes that work into any budget.
I recently shared 100 frugal dinner ideas with you to jump start you eating a little lighter on the wallet. So, I thought it would be a good idea to follow that up with cheap side dish recipes to round out an entire meal! By using both of these resources you can save a lot of money.
In many cases, these recipes are super easy to make and aren’t typically time-consuming either. Before we get too far into these delicious recipes, I want to give you a few tips on how to save money and be economical with your food.
🍽️ Why These Recipes Work
Quick and Easy – These not only save you money, but they will save you time and effort in the kitchen.
Known Ingredients – Looking at the lists below, you’ll find ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. So, there aren’t a lot of items you need to go shop for.
Thrifty – Obviously, these are low cost options, which is why you are here. There might be recipes that are even cheaper when you can snag the produce in season when prices drop.
Meal Prep Friendly – A lot of these recipes can be broken down into meal prep friendly options. Look for ways to precut and premix as much as you can. Store in the refrigerator in sealed containers or quality bags for up to 3-5 days.
🔖 Tips and Tricks
These are our top tips and tricks to make sure all of your sides remain as frugal as possible.
Stay away from pre-packaged boxed foods and make fresh meals instead. You won’t believe how much money you can save by making foods homemade. I know at first glance you may feel like it’s cheaper to buy it ready-made, but you can make larger batches and have more food when you make it from scratch. You can start 50+ Grocery Items to DIY Instead of Buy and move on to making your own butter or homemade yogurt in the crockpot or Instant Pot.
Don’t be afraid to batch cook whenever possible. When you make multiple batches at once, you can freeze some and have it on hand for those nights when you are running short on time. That saves you time, energy, and of course, money because you are less likely to have waste, and you won’t want to hit a fast-food restaurant. This is also a great time to add meal prep lunches like we did in 10 Meatless Meal Prep Ideas stored in the 10 Best Meal Prep Containers we love.
Check your markdown bins, farmer’s markets, and other resources for good deals. When veggies are starting to turn, many grocery stores mark them down tremendously. Be alert, and you can find some fantastic deals. Farmer’s markets are a great way to get lovely fruits and veggies for less too. We love to help you save money on Buying a Turkey After Thanksgiving and Marked Down Meats that will go perfectly with these dishes.
Planning ahead will help you a ton. If you find yourself at 5 o’clock staring in your cabinets and aren’t sure what to make for supper, you are way more likely to order out. This will cost you much more than if you would have made the meal at home. Planning is such a big part of making sure you keep to your frugal lifestyle! Make sure to use a menu planner like this one or this one that you can see which side dish you are having each night. Also, make sure you use a refrigerator inventory list before you go shopping so you can use the veggies you already have but didn’t get to this week.
Grow your own fruits and vegetables. It’s incredible how much money you can save when you grow many of the fruits and vegetables that you eat often. Tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, onions, and herbs are just a few ideas. Even if you live in an apartment, you can easily grow veggies in pots! Our biggest money saving idea was to grow our own herb garden. Buying fresh herbs at the grocery store is expensive, so we planted our own and saved a lot of money.
🍴 Matching Side Dishes
It’s great that you are making a side dish, but what is the main food that it will pair with? Here are some ideas to consider.
Similar Flavors – When you think of recipes, think of similar flavors. You might want a rice to go next to your oven baked chicken as it will more than likely complement well.
You don’t want a super bold coleslaw to pair with a strongly flavored Mediterranean dish. The flavors will compete with each other.
Texture – Texture is another thing to consider. If you are eating fish, then a fresh crisp salad would be a good pairing. A variety of textures will please the palate.
Food Groups – Another thing to consider is food groups. If you have a nice source of protein, add in some veggies or even a fruit salad, etc. Look at your whole picture of the meal.
Let’s get into the frugal side dishes!
Salad Side Dish Recipes
Here are some delicious salad recipes that will complement your meal. A salad can be light, simple, and a new texture to pair to dinner.
20 Minute Meal: Super Easy and Cheesy Macaroni Salad
Enjoy some amazing macaroni salad with your next meal, and you’ll be glad you did. It’s made with pasta, peppers, onions, bacon, ranch, and mayo. It’s delightful for hot weather too.
Grilled Corn and Black Bean Salsa {45 Minutes}
This Grilled Black Bean and Corn Salsa combines the mild flavors of grilled corn, Roma tomatoes and black beans to create the perfect appetizer for a cookout or game day.
The Best Creamy Cucumber and Dill Salad
Next time you head to your next big barbecue or potluck dinner, bring some of this creamy cucumber and dill salad. Its incredible flavor is unforgettable and will please a crowd too. It’s fantastic with burgers also.
Broccoli Bacon Salad, easy and perfect for any meal
I sometimes dream about this broccoli bacon salad. It’s jam-packed with bacon, fresh broccoli, onions, cheese, and the best dressing ever. It’s sweet and tangy at the same time. Every bite leaves you wanting the next.
Tomato Onion Salad
You can quickly make some of this tomato and onion salad with just eight ingredients and ten minutes of your time. It tastes incredible and is perfect for parties, barbecues, and picnics.
Corn Salad
There is nothing better than kicking back and munching on a cool and refreshing salad. We enjoy this corn salad whenever we host a barbecue, and everyone gobbles up every last kernel. It has both yellow and white corn in it as well as bacon and vegetables too.
Santa Fe Salad
I can’t get enough of this brightly colored salad. It’s filling and has beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. Eat it with tacos, a handful of chips, or by the spoonful.
Loaded Instant Pot Potato Salad Recipe
Imagine making potato salad with your Instant Pot! Using a pressure cooker for sides is fantastic because it free’s up your stove and tastes excellent too. This isn’t your ordinary potato salad, either. It’s loaded with all sorts of good stuff.
Best Easy Broccoli Raisin Salad Recipe
Adding raisins to this broccoli salad makes it even more enjoyable. Grab some broccoli salad with a sandwich, and you will have a lovely lunch. Or take it to a party, and everyone will rave out how good it is.
Spaghetti Salad - Easy Italian Spaghetti Pasta Salad!
Spaghetti salad is one of the most frugal salads you can make! Spaghetti noodles are inexpensive. You can save even more money if you grow many of the vegetables in your garden too.
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
This salad is made with the freshest and most delicious ingredients. It’s light, crisp, and refreshing. Enjoy it on a hot day or with any of your favorite dishes.
4th of July and Pea Salad
Whenever you hit a potluck or visit grandma for Sunday dinner, you can just about guarantee you are going to get some pea salad. This recipe is so tasty and filling too. Bacon, peas, cheese, onions, mayo, sour cream, and seasons are terrific together.
Drool-worthy Potato Side Dish Recipes
If you are a spud lover, try out one or more of these potato side dish recipes. A great way to use up potatoes in fun and creative ways.
Oven Roasted Honey Gold Potatoes (with Video)
If you love honey gold potatoes here is a roasted potato that crisps up nicely and then is so light and fluffy as you bite into the sliced potatoes. The perfect oven baked potato recipe.
Smashed Potatoes {10 Minute Prep}
10 minutes of prep is all it takes for these crispy and pillowy potatoes. One of my favorite go-to potato side dish recipes.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed sweet potatoes go with pretty much everything. They are fantastic with most cuts of meat like pork, beef, or chick and make a lovely vegetarian dish too. Plus, it’s flavorful, smooth, and creamy.
The Easiest Homemade Steak Fries Ever
We eat steak fries with all sorts of meals. They are easy to make, and you don’t need much of anything for ingredients either. Give them a taste, and they are sure to be a new favorite potato recipe.
Hasselback Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
You can quickly and easily make these Hasselback sweet potatoes in your air fryer. They have the best garlic butter drizzled all over them and go great with all your favorite toppings.
Comfort Food Side Dishes
Comfort food side dishes that are great for a holiday or even an everyday side dish. Think macaroni and cheese things that scream total comfort in each bite you take.
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe {30 Minutes+ Instant Pot Option}
Skip takeout and try this cilantro lime rice recipe. This is tender rice that is flavored with lime and cilantro.
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole {45 Minutes}
A cheese and delicious rice casserole that is baked in the oven. Give this broccoli and rice recipe a try.
Vegetarian Harvest Wild Rice
If you enjoy wild rice here is another comforting dish to pair next to a roast, chicken, and more.
Instant Pot Cauliflower Fried Rice {20 Minutes}
Fried rice gets a lighter take, while staying full of flavor. Give this cauliflower fried rice a try.
Extra Gooey Mac and Cheese Recipe
Am I the only one that could live off of mac and cheese? Maybe that makes a big kid, but man, it’s so tasty and irresistible I can’t help myself sometimes. I love this recipe because you only need 6 ingredients and can throw it together quickly.
Roasted Balsamic Green Beans
You can roast these balsamic green beans in the oven, and from start, to finish it’s only around 30 minutes. Most of that time is baking, so you don’t even have to spend a lot of time making them.
Garlic Lemon Oven Baked Zucchini
Tangy lemon, garlic, and zucchini are baked just perfectly in this dish. If you have been craving vegetables that also taste excellent, add these to your list. Please your guests with this fun and tasty side dish.
Baked Parmesan Zucchini Rounds
Even your kiddos are going to beg for these baked parmesan zucchini rounds. Imagine not having to bribe them into eating veggies! They have lots of nutrients and protein too.
Roasted Carrot Whip
Carrots are really delicious when made the right way. This recipe has lots of good fat, cauliflower and is seasoned with salt and pepper. It doesn’t take much work to make it either.
Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Medley-Flour On My Face
We love eating vegetables, especially when they are roasted. This recipe has lots of vibrant colors, and the flavor is intense. Serve with a big fat juicy steak and watch everyone smile.
Parmesan Garlic Roasted Green Beans Recipe {30 Minutes}
Here is one of my absolute favorite green bean recipes. This is a 30 minute dish that will transform the way you view a green bean recipe.
Even More Delicious Side Dishes
Side dishes can also take the lead in a meal. Here are some more delicious recipes that you might consider adding into your weeknight rotation.
Roasted Cabbage with Lime and Sriracha – Kalyn's Kitchen
Cabbage is loaded with lots of vitamins and minerals, and it’s just an added bonus that it also tastes wonderful too. Especially when you make it with some spicy sriracha and some zesty lime.
Slow Cooker Honey-Glazed Carrots Recipe
Whipping up a side dish in your slow cooker allows you lots of time to work on other things. You don’t have to stand over the stove and watch it constantly and can go about your day with little prep time involved.
Korean Spinach Banchan
This lip-smacking Korean dish is so good. Each fork-full has the right amount of spinach, garlic, onion, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. What are you waiting for? Get in the kitchen and whip up a batch.
Simple Roasted Tomatoes
Roasted tomatoes are an elegant and lovely dinner or lunch idea for most meals. They are simple to make, and they are seasoned perfectly every single time. Try them and see.
Kid Friendly Recipes: Easy Veggie Rice | True Aim
Involve the kids in helping cook this veggie rice, and they will love it even more. Serve it with some grilled chicken, roasted veggies, or anything else that sounds good.
Roasted Baby Bok Choy with Garlic Salt (With Recipe Linky)
Three ingredients are all that’s standing between you and some tasty baby bok choy. If you haven’t eaten bok choy before, this is the best recipe to start out on. It’s easy, flavorful, and goes with just about anything.
Here's the Protein-Packed Paleo Appetizer You've Been Dreaming Of
Doesn’t everything taste better when it’s made on a skewer? These Brussel sprouts are so yummy. And you can bet that your kids will even eat them because they are made with bacon.
Mashed Cauliflower
Consider this garlic mashed cauliflower recipe instead of mashed potatoes. It’s a great low carb alternative and is easy to make as well.
Parmesan Basil Garlic Roasted Carrots Is The Perfect Side Dish
This may just be my new favorite way to enjoy cooked carrots. They are roasted beautifully and have a fantastic amount of parmesan cheese, basil, and garlic in every bite.
Mexican Street Corn Style Instant Pot Cauliflower (with video)
If you are a fan of Mexican street corn, you really need to try this cauliflower recipe. It’s an entire head of cauliflower, and you will be impressed by how flavorful it is.
Honey Herb Roasted Carrots with Balsamic Vinegar
All you need is carrots as the rest of the ingredients are generally in your pantry! Hands down one of all time favorite carrot recipes!! Stop what you are doing and try it!!
Mashed Rutabaga with Cream Cheese Recipe {30 Minutes}
This simple any tasty low-carb mashed rutabaga dish is a flavorful surprise for your next meal. Your kids will love it, and it is a lot fewer carbs than potatoes.
Hi!
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
Is there a recipe for the potatoes in the picture??
Sorry no recipe for those! It’s a stock photo I used for the graphic.
these Homemade steak fries are amazing thanks for the post
Oh, these would work great with the recipes listed in our most recent post!
Thanks so much for sharing my broccoli bacon salad recipe! Pinning!
Thanks Cynthia! 😀