10 Easy Veggie Side Dishes to Win Over Even the Fussiest Eaters

Convincing picky eaters to enjoy fruits and veggies can be tricky, but with these quick and simple vegetable side dish recipes, you can serve up healthy, balanced meals that even the most selective kids will love. It might not turn your child into a broccoli fan overnight, but it could open the door to discovering a new favorite veggie.

How to Get Kids to Love (or at Least Tolerate) Veggies

• Keep it fresh. To keep vegetables at their freshest, learn the best way to store them. For example, not all food belongs in the fridge! Some veggies, like potatoes, onions, and squash, are best kept in a cool, dry cupboard. Vegetables like peppers, broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts stay freshest in the crisper drawer. Asparagus, green onions, and herbs should be stored upright with their stems in a glass of water in the fridge, while bok choy and zucchini should be wrapped in damp paper towels and kept in the fridge.

• Make it fun. The more kids can be involved in their meals, the more likely they are to try new things. Let them help choose the menu, shop for produce, and help prep veggies. Not only will kids be more interested in the end result (and more willing to take a bite), getting involved in meal planning and prep will also build their confidence in the kitchen.

• Make it quick. Busy school nights call for quick prep times. When you get home from the store, take a little time to wash, chop, dice, or slice your vegetables. Store prepped veggies in clear containers within easy reach for quick snacking and time-saving dinners throughout the week.

• Make it tasty. Kids have more sensitive taste buds than adults. Vegetables like broccoli, green beans, and spinach are naturally bitter and can be off-putting to little ones (it's unfair that vegetables with bitter flavors are usually full of good nutrients). Disguise the bitter taste by cooking these vegetables with a bit of fat like butter, cream, or cheese, or by serving raw veggies with a yogurt- or mayonnaise-based dip.

10 Easy Veggie Side Dishes to Satisfy Picky Eaters

These simple and delicious recipes are sure to impress even the pickiest eaters and are perfect for busy school nights:

1. Honey-Glazed Carrots with Dried Cherries

Sweet, tender carrots are cooked with dried cherries in a buttery honey glaze. If cherries aren’t available, dried cranberries make a wonderful alternative. KatyRawson shares, "This was fantastic! My picky eater loved them too!"

2. Classic Potato Cakes

This is a fantastic way to repurpose leftover mashed potatoes, which even picky eaters will likely enjoy. For consistent-sized cakes, try using an ice cream scoop to portion the batter. "Simple, quick, and delicious!" says marina. "My kids devoured them. They had a creamy texture with a hint of onion. My husband couldn’t stop at just one!"

3. Cheesy Kale Chips

Kale, baked to perfection and sprinkled with nutritional yeast, makes a healthier, flavor-packed alternative to potato chips. These crispy kale chips are irresistible, no matter your age. Amy says, "Totally addictive! I’ve got more baking right now. My boys love them and even asked me to buy more kale." Check out the video for prep tips.

4. Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas and Green Beans

Naturally sweet snap peas complement green beans perfectly in this easy dish. It makes a large batch, perfect for serving a crowd, and the leftovers are great for packing in lunch boxes the next day.

5. Grilled Spicy Sweet Potato Crisps

Sweet potatoes are sliced into crispy chips, seasoned with your favorite spices, and quickly grilled. You can adjust the spice level to fit your family's preferences. Joanne Fraser shares, "Made these for dinner tonight, and my family devoured them!" Check out the video to learn how to make them.

6. Crispy Fried Asparagus Sticks

These crispy, golden-brown fried asparagus sticks hide their veggie goodness inside a crunchy exterior. Serve with homemade ranch for dipping. Kathy Nowak says, "This recipe is fantastic! I followed the steps exactly, and they turned out amazing! The whole family devoured them!"

7. Refreshing Cucumber Sunomono

If you've visited a Japanese restaurant, you've probably enjoyed this sweet and tangy cucumber salad. It’s quick to prepare, and while you can serve it right away, allowing it to chill in the fridge for an hour brings out the best flavors. ANGELA97303 says, "This is a must-have in our fridge when the cucumbers are plentiful. The kids love snacking on it."

8. Grilled Garlic Parmesan Zucchini

These zucchini halves, grilled and topped with garlic and Parmesan, might just trick your kids into enjoying veggies without even realizing it. CNM Catering says, "This was fantastic! Even my kids didn’t mind eating zucchini. I’ll definitely be making these again."

Quick Tip: If it’s too rainy or cold for grilling, you can also prepare these in the broiler. Just watch them closely to ensure the cheese doesn’t burn.

9. Grilled Sweet Corn

Naturally sweet corn is a hit with kids, especially when they can eat it straight off the cob! A touch of butter, dried herbs, and grated Parmesan add extra flavor and a colorful twist to this simple side dish. Heather won over her mom with this recipe, saying, "I’ve made this many times. My mom isn’t a big fan of corn, but she said if I made it like this all the time, she’d eat it. Love this recipe."

10. Cheesy Loaded Cauliflower

When in doubt, smother it in cheese! This mashed and loaded cauliflower has the same comforting appeal as a baked potato but packs in the health benefits of a cruciferous vegetable. Here's how tengle's family loved it: "Made this for dinner tonight—skipped the onion powder since we didn’t have any and used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. I’ve got 3 kids (ages 7-11) who devoured it and asked for seconds, which is a big win because they normally won’t touch cauliflower. I’ll definitely make this again and again—thank you!"

Explore all of our kid-friendly vegetable dishes and discover how to sneak more veggies into your meals.