31 Skillet Side Dishes We Can’t Go Without

From the Recipe Creator: This scalloped potatoes with apples dish is delicious with breaded baked pork chops, which you could cook at the same time in another cast-iron pan. We are retired and it’s just the two of us, but you could easily double the recipe. —Shirley Rickis, The Villages, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: This simple green bean dish gets a bit of a kick from jalapeno pepper. If you don’t like things too spicy, reduce the amount of jalapeno by half—or eliminate it completely. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri

From the Recipe Creator: My sister developed this baked cannellini beans recipe after a Christmas holiday. We were still all together but nobody wanted to go to the grocery store, so we made do with what we could find in the kitchen—it turned out delicious! This baked beans recipe would be great with a combination of beans, too (like half black beans and half white). —Debra Keil, Owasso, Oklahoma

From the Recipe Creator: For special meals, here’s a fantastic side dish that even children will love. The sweet maple syrup and smoky bacon complement the Brussels sprouts perfectly. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: There's nothing quite like cornbread dressing at Thanksgiving. —Drew Weeks, Edisto Island, South Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: This savory side dish has been a family favorite for years. Our daughter Jennifer became an expert at this recipe at age 12, which was a huge help for a busy working mom like me. We really enjoy this rice dish in the summer with a grilled entree. —Jeri Dobrowski, Beach, North Dakota

From the Recipe Creator: When I was young, my family grew our own cabbages. It was fun to put the cabbage to use in the kitchen, just as I did with this comforting side. With potatoes, deviled eggs and cornbread, fried cabbage tastes like home. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri

From the Recipe Creator: Quick to assemble, this is a simple recipe I’ve cooked many times. Stir in hot sauce if you like a bit of heat. I also like to top the finished dish with a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese. —Cindi Hayward-Boger, Ardmore, Alabama

From the Recipe Creator: Mushrooms and spinach make a super fast combination that’s perfect for two. And it’s easy to double or triple for a crowd. —Pauline Howard, Lago Vista, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: This wonderful side dish can easily be turned into a hearty entree by adding cooked chicken. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

From the Recipe Creator: Thai for two, anyone? Peanut butter, soy sauce and hoisin sauce flavor this quick, fabulous bean dish.—Candy McMenamin, Lexington, South Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: A variety of vegetables makes this delicious Cajun rice casserole a hit with everyone. I team up generous servings with garlic bread and a tossed salad.—Rose Kostynuik, Calgary, Alberta

From the Recipe Creator: I combined two recipes to create this side with broccoli and pasta. The splash of lemon adds nice flavor. Instead of toasted almonds, you could also sprinkle servings with grated Parmesan cheese. —Beth Dauenhauer, Pueblo, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: It's nice to have a reliable side dish like this that pairs well with any entree. A friend shared the recipe with me several years ago, and I use it often. —Opan Snell, Jamestown, Ohio

From the Recipe Creator: My mother-in-law came up with this corn skillet dish one night for dinner. Everyone who tries it absolutely loves it! —Chandy Ward, Aumsville, Oregon

From the Recipe Creator: Mom would prepare home-grown green beans using this recipe, and boy did they ever taste good. The bacon provides rich flavor and the brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness. This is one irresistible side dish. —Willa Govoro, St. Clair, Missouri

From the Recipe Creator: Even picky eaters will love this protein-packed dish. If you have freshly shelled peas on hand, substitute them for the frozen. —Lori Panarella, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

From the Recipe Creator: If you’ve braised, marinated or served red cabbage raw, try it steamed, then toss with bacon and a tangy sauce. We serve it with pork or chicken. This is how to cook cabbage with bacon. —Sherri Melotik, Oak Creek, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: I plant many vegetables to use in cooking. Zucchini is among our favorites and usually grows in abundance. This zucchini stir-fry is always a hit at our house. —Deborah Elliot, Ridge Spring, South Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: This is one of my greatest hits. If you use some red cabbage, it will have very festive colors, light pink with green. It looks so pretty. —Winifred Winch, Wetmore, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: When I'm in a hurry to prepare potatoes, I resort to this recipe for skillet potatoes that I created myself. The mix of seasonings is just right and makes a delicious, attractive side dish. It's been a family favorite for a long time and fits with most any meal. —Lois Collier, Vineland, New Jersey

From the Recipe Creator: "This is one of the best (and most simple) ways I’ve found to serve broccoli. It’s also good with Parmesan if you don’t have the Asiago cheese." —cjintexas, Taste of Home Community Member

From the Recipe Creator: I love to mix different vegetables together and use a variety of herbs and spices to change things up. If you can't find apple sausage for this skillet, a good mild Italian sausage would work too. —Patricia Levenson, Santa Ana, California

From the Recipe Creator: This is without question my favorite side dish, both for flavor and ease of preparation. Sherry adds an amazing spark to the vegetables. —Cheryl Donnely, Arvada, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: I've always loved spaghetti squash as an alternative to pasta and enjoy it in the classic marinara style, but I wanted a new recipe so my family and I could enjoy it more often. The savory, salty and sour flavors combine perfectly with a hint of sweet spice. While the squash is baking, prep the rest: It will take only minutes to finish after you shred the squash. —Jeff Tori, Johnstown, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: While broccoli florets and chunks of red pepper give these stir-fry vegetables plenty of color, it's the fresh gingerroot, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil that round out the flavor. —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York

From the Recipe Creator: I use this dish often when the schedule gets tight and I need a “hurry up” vegetable to cook. It adds plenty of substance to a simple meal. —Charmaine Fricke, St. Charles, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: It’s hard to improve on the taste Mother Nature gives to fresh green beans, but Mom has done just that for years using this green beans amandine recipe. I have always thought the crunchy almonds were a super addition. —Brenda DuFresne, Midland, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: This recipe is delicious and versatile. I often substitute a tablespoon of minced fresh basil for the dried, and two to three ears of sweet corn (about a cup cut fresh from the cob) for the Mexicorn. —Lucile Throgmorton, Clovis, New Mexico

From the Recipe Creator: This recipe is perfect for potlucks or church suppers since it produces a big batch and has flavors with broad appeal. Most folks can't guess that the secret ingredient is chicken noodle soup mix. -Naomi Flood, Emporia, Kansas