15 Easy Healthy Side Dishes - Meal Prep Sides! (Gluten Free) (2024)

This side dish is perfect to keep in your back pocket for those days when your fridge is bare and you have no time to grocery shop. All of the ingredients come straight from your pantry or freezer!

Herbes de Provence elevate this super simple side for a little something special despite how easy it is. This is also a great way to encourage kids to eat kale, as it's mixed with an ingredient most kids love, corn.

This side honestly comes together so quickly it doesn't need to be prepped ahead BUT you can totally make the whole thing ahead of time so it's ready to go if you like.

2. Kale with Goat Cheese

Kale is starring in yet another healthy side dish, this time alongside goat cheese. This is delicious served with chicken, as in the photo, but you can also serve with pork chops, salmon or whatever protein you have on hand!

All you have to do is saute 2 bunches of chopped kale and one clove of minced garlic in olive oil for 3-5 minutes and then toss with 4 oz crumbled goat cheese.

To prep ahead, mince the garlic and store it in the fridge and chop and store the kale.

3. Red Pepper Soup w/ Sweet Potatoes

I'm the kind of person who eats soup all year long and this is one I love keeping in the rotation.

This soup is delicious with a simple green salad, topped with chicken or shrimp if you like.

You can make this whole soup ahead of time OR, what I recommend, make a double batch and freeze half. This freezes super well and it feels so good to be able to pull homemade soup out on a hectic day.

4. Winter Kale Salad

Salad does not have to be boring and one of the easiest ways to keep it interesting is to adapt for the seasons. This winter kale salad is perfect for those cold nights when your typical crisp salad may not sound appealing. My harvest kale salad is another great choice in fall or winter.

Kale salads are also SO good for meal prep because they actually get better within a few days.

On the flip side, in the hotter months, this watermelon, feta & arugula salad hits the spot! I actually love it so much that we served it at our wedding 🙂

To prep ahead, make the dressing, slice the onion and chop the watermelon. Then all you have to do is throw it together!

Any basic salad with this strawberry vinaigrette is refreshing in the spring and summer months as well.

6. Zucchini “Pasta” Salad

This “pasta” salad is made with zoodles and is totally packed with veggies! You can easily top with grilled chicken to make it a complete meal or serve alongside whatever protein you pull from your freezer.

You can also do half zoodles and half actual noodles if you like.

To prep ahead, chop all of the veggies and make the lemon basil sauce. OR, assemble the entire dish so it's ready to go.

7. Roasted Butternut Squash

Sometimes the best sides really are the simplest. Don't be afraid to simply serve a beautifully roasted vegetable along with steak or fish or simple drumsticks.

I like to cut the tops off of the butternut squash and cube and then roast the bottom, bulbous part whole. It's delicious this way and requires much less chopping! You can also roast the whole thing, without chopping anything, except slicing the butternut squash in half lengthwise. It will require some serious oven time but you can just pop it in at the beginning of your meal prep session.

8. Sautéed Radishes

If you think you don't like radishes, you must try them sautéed! They have none of the bitter taste of raw radishes. They look beautiful on the plate and taste great!

To meal prep, slice the radishes and store them in the fridge until you're ready to cook.

9. Roasted Cauliflower

Do you cook with smoked paprika?

It's the secret to this delicious roasted cauliflower and I highly recommend adding it to your spice cabinet if you don't already use it. It adds so much depth of flavor and is so simple!

To meal prep, chop the cauliflower ahead of time and store in the fridge so it's ready to toss in the oven the day you wish to serve.

10. Grilled Zucchini

Grilling veggies takes what can be a boring side to the next level. Just rub with a little olive oil and add whatever spices you please! I love it with a few shakes of red pepper flakes.

You can slice the zucchini ahead of time as part of your weekly meal prep to make this side truly easy.

11. Steamed Sugar Snap Peas

I love sugar snap peas raw but it's nice to mix it up sometimes. Steaming for just a couple of minutes really brings out the naturally sweet flavor. Plus they take on such a lovely, bright color with a bit of steaming!

You can steam ahead of time and enjoy with simple dinners throughout the week.

12. Balsamic Roasted Beets

This post includes a recipe for a salad with balsamic roasted beets, which is completely delicious, but you can also serve the roasted beets on their own. If you think you don't like beets, I definitely recommend trying them roasted!

Simply dice the beets in 1/2″ cubes, toss with olive oil, salt & pepper and roast at 375F for 40-45 minutes.

To meal prep, you can chop the beets ahead of time OR go ahead and roast them ahead of time so they're totally ready to go.

I know beets can be a bit intimidating so I recorded a short video on how to chop beets here!

With just six ingredients, this cabbage and apples is great with pork, but you could also serve with grilled chicken. The apples give this dish a natural sweetness that makes it appealing to kids and adults alike.

Chop the cabbage to prep ahead, or prepare the entire side dish ahead for a low stress meal later in the week!

14. Roasted Veggies w/ Chimichurri

This chimichurri sauce has been SUCH a hit with our Prep Dish subscribers. It's honestly good on anything, but if you want a side dish that feels a little bit special, serve whatever roasted (or grilled!) veggie you like with a drizzle of chimichurri sauce.

This sauce also freezes very well so do yourself a favor and make a double batch to freeze!

15. Quinoa Salad

My summer quinoa salad can actually serve as a main dish but it makes a great easy, healthy side dish as well!

You can easily mix up the veggies to adapt for each season too. Swap the tomatoes for butternut squash for a tasty fall or winter variation.