✔ Updated · list grown from 27 to 50 sides (duplicates removed), grouped by vegetable
These are my 50 favorite low carb sides, from creamy cauliflower mash to crispy roasted Brussels sprouts and crunchy salads.
The best low carb sides are built on non-starchy vegetables: cauliflower mash or rice, zucchini noodles, roasted broccoli, asparagus or Brussels sprouts, sautéed spinach, green beans, mushrooms and crisp salads. Add butter, olive oil, cheese or bacon for flavor, and skip potatoes, corn, peas, rice, pasta and bread.
- Swaps: cauliflower mash for potatoes, cauliflower rice for rice, zucchini noodles for pasta
- Roasted: broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, radishes
- Fresh: Caesar, wedge, Greek and cucumber salads
Every one is built on vegetables, cheese or eggs, so you can skip the potatoes, rice and bread without missing them.
How I Pick a Low Carb Side
My rule is simple: start with a vegetable that grows above ground, then add fat and flavor. Butter, olive oil, cheese, bacon and fresh herbs make vegetables taste like a treat instead of a sacrifice.
Pair one warm side with one fresh one. Creamed spinach with a wedge salad next to steak, or cauliflower mash with roasted green beans next to roast chicken, covers everything a potato or a bread roll used to do.
Cauliflower Swaps
1. Cauliflower Mash
Steamed cauliflower blended with butter, garlic and a little cream cheese until silky. My go-to swap for mashed potatoes.
2. Cauliflower Rice
Riced cauliflower sautéed in a hot pan for 5 minutes. Season it like rice, or turn it into fried rice with egg and scallions.
3. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Tender florets baked in a sharp cheddar and cream sauce. All the comfort of mac and cheese with a fraction of the carbs.
4. Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
Thick slices roasted at 425°F until deeply browned, then finished with lemon, parsley and a shower of Parmesan.
5. Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Florets roasted crisp and tossed in buttery hot sauce. Serve with blue cheese dip and celery for game day.
6. Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Like a loaded baked potato: cauliflower with sour cream, cheddar, bacon and chives, baked until bubbly.
7. Cauliflower Tabbouleh
Raw riced cauliflower tossed with parsley, mint, cucumber, tomato, lemon and olive oil. Fresh, bright and great with grilled meat.
Zucchini and Squash Sides
8. Zucchini Noodles
Spiralized zucchini sautéed for just 2 minutes so it stays crisp. Toss with pesto or meat sauce instead of pasta.
Get the recipe →9. Zucchini Fritters
Grated, well-squeezed zucchini mixed with egg, Parmesan and a spoonful of almond flour, then pan-fried until golden.
10. Parmesan Zucchini Fries
Zucchini batons coated in Parmesan and almond flour, then baked or air-fried until crisp. Great dunked in marinara.
11. Baked Spaghetti Squash
Roasted squash scraped into golden strands. Toss with butter, garlic and Parmesan, or top it with Bolognese.
Get the recipe →12. Yellow Squash Casserole
Tender yellow squash and onion baked with cheddar, sour cream and a crushed pork rind topping instead of crackers.
13. Grilled Zucchini Ribbons
Long, thin slices grilled for a minute per side, then dressed with lemon, olive oil, mint and feta.
14. Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Hollowed zucchini filled with Italian sausage, marinara and mozzarella, then baked until the cheese bubbles.
Green Vegetable Sides
15. Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan
Broccoli roasted at 425°F until the edges char, then finished with lemon zest and Parmesan. Nobody leaves this on the plate.
16. Garlic Green Beans
Fresh green beans blanched, then tossed in a hot pan with butter and sliced garlic. Ten minutes, start to finish.
17. Southern-Style Green Beans
Green beans simmered low and slow with bacon and onion until meltingly tender. A comfort-food side that happens to be low carb.
Get the recipe →18. Green Bean Bundles with Bacon
Little bundles of green beans wrapped in bacon and roasted until the bacon crisps. Pretty enough for a holiday table.
19. Roasted Asparagus
Spears tossed with olive oil and salt and roasted at 425°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Finish with lemon or a fried egg.
20. Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Asparagus bundles wrapped in bacon and roasted until crispy. Salty, smoky and great next to steak.
21. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Halved sprouts roasted cut-side down until crisp and caramelized, then tossed with bacon or a splash of balsamic.
22. Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
Thinly shaved raw sprouts with Parmesan, toasted almonds and a lemon-Dijon dressing. Crunchy and holds up for hours.
23. Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
A big bag of spinach wilted in olive oil and garlic in about 3 minutes. Squeeze over lemon right before serving.
24. Creamed Spinach
Spinach simmered in a garlicky cream sauce with a little Parmesan. The steakhouse side that's naturally low carb.
Get the recipe →25. Southern Collard Greens
Collards braised with smoked turkey or bacon, onion and a splash of vinegar until silky. Skip any sugar.
26. Kale Chips
Torn kale tossed with oil and salt and baked low until crisp. Snacky, crunchy and good with a sprinkle of Parmesan.
27. Skillet Cabbage with Bacon
Sliced cabbage fried in bacon fat until browned at the edges and sweet in the middle. Cheap, fast and very good.
Mushrooms, Peppers and Eggplant
28. Garlic Butter Mushrooms
Mushrooms seared hard in a hot pan, then finished with butter, garlic and thyme. The steak side I make most.
Get the recipe →29. Blue Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Mushroom caps filled with blue cheese, cream cheese and herbs, then baked until golden. A small amount of strong cheese goes far.
30. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Meaty portobello caps stuffed with spinach, garlic and melted cheese. Big enough to double as a vegetarian main.
Get the recipe →31. Grilled Eggplant
Thick eggplant slices brushed with garlic oil and grilled until creamy inside. Top with tomatoes, basil and feta.
32. Eggplant Parmesan Stacks
Roasted eggplant rounds layered with marinara and mozzarella, no breading needed. Bake until bubbling.
33. Blistered Shishito Peppers
Shishitos charred in a hot skillet and finished with flaky salt and lime. Most are mild, and the odd one bites back.
34. Low-Carb Stuffed Bell Peppers
Bell peppers filled with seasoned ground beef, cauliflower rice, tomato and cheese. Cook the filling to 160°F.
Low Carb Salads and Slaws
35. Caesar Salad (No Croutons)
Crisp romaine, a garlicky anchovy dressing and lots of Parmesan. Add toasted Parmesan crisps for the crunch.
36. Wedge Salad
A wedge of iceberg with blue cheese dressing, bacon, tomato and chives. Cold, crunchy and perfect with grilled meat.
37. Greek Salad
Cucumber, tomato, red onion, peppers, olives and feta in an oregano vinaigrette. No lettuce needed.
38. Caprese Salad
Ripe tomato and fresh mozzarella with basil, olive oil and flaky salt. Only worth it with good summer tomatoes.
39. Cucumber Salad
Thinly sliced cucumbers in a sour cream and dill dressing, or vinegar and onion. Make it an hour ahead.
40. Green Goddess Cabbage Salad
Finely chopped cabbage and cucumber in a creamy herb dressing. Scoop it up with cucumber slices instead of chips.
Get the recipe →41. Low-Carb Coleslaw
Shredded cabbage in a mayo, cider vinegar and celery seed dressing, sweetened with a pinch of your favorite sugar-free sweetener.
42. Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Raw broccoli, bacon, cheddar and red onion in a creamy dressing. Leave out the raisins to keep the carbs down.
43. Avocado Tomato Salad
Chunks of avocado and tomato with red onion, cilantro and lime. Creamy, fresh and ready in 5 minutes.
Get the recipe →Eggs, Dips and Extras
44. Deviled Eggs
Creamy, tangy yolk filling piped back into egg whites. A potluck classic that's naturally almost carb-free.
Get the recipe →45. Guacamole with Veggie Dippers
Chunky homemade guacamole served with cucumber rounds, bell pepper strips and celery instead of tortilla chips.
46. Spinach Artichoke Dip
Hot, cheesy spinach and artichoke dip served with sliced peppers, celery and pork rinds for dipping.
Get the recipe →47. Roasted Radishes
Radishes roasted in butter until tender and mellow. They taste surprisingly like little roasted potatoes.
48. Celery Root Mash
Peeled celery root simmered and mashed with butter and cream. Earthy, a little sweet, and a nice change from cauliflower.
49. Grilled Vegetable Skewers
Zucchini, peppers, red onion, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes brushed with herb oil and grilled next to the main.
50. Quick Pickled Red Cabbage
Sliced red cabbage in a hot vinegar brine, ready in an hour. Bright, tangy crunch for tacos, pork and burgers.
Get the recipe →Sides to Skip on a Low Carb Plan
- Starchy vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, peas and parsnips.
- Grains: rice, pasta, couscous, quinoa and bread.
- Beans and lentils: filling and nutritious, but high in carbs.
- Sweet dressings and glazes: honey, maple, brown sugar and many bottled dressings add up fast. Check the label.
Make-Ahead Tips
- Cauliflower mash: keeps 4 days in the fridge. Reheat with a splash of cream until steaming.
- Rice it once: rice a whole head of cauliflower on Sunday and freeze it flat in bags for quick weeknight sides.
- Dressings: make vinaigrettes and creamy dressings up to 5 days ahead; dress salads just before serving.
- Roast big batches: roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts and green beans reheat well in a 400°F oven or air fryer.
What to Serve Them With
Low carb sides go with almost any protein. For ideas, see what I serve with steak, with salmon and with pork chops. Building a burger night? My sides for burgers list has plenty of lighter options too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good low carb side dish?
Good low carb sides are built on non-starchy vegetables: cauliflower mash, roasted broccoli, asparagus, green beans, Brussels sprouts, sautéed spinach, zucchini noodles and salads. Butter, olive oil, cheese and herbs add flavor without adding many carbs.
What can I eat instead of potatoes on a low carb diet?
Cauliflower is the most popular swap: mash it, roast it or make a loaded cauliflower casserole. Roasted radishes, celery root mash and Parmesan zucchini fries also fill the potato-shaped hole on the plate.
What can I use instead of rice or pasta?
Use cauliflower rice in place of rice, and zucchini noodles or baked spaghetti squash in place of pasta. Cook them briefly so they stay firm, and season them just as you would the original.
Are any of these sides good for diabetics?
Most of these sides are non-starchy vegetables, which many diabetes eating plans encourage. Carb needs vary from person to person, so check with your doctor or a registered dietitian about what fits your own plan.
Which low carb sides can I make ahead?
Cauliflower mash, cauliflower casserole, coleslaw, cucumber salad, broccoli salad, deviled eggs and pickled red cabbage all keep well in the fridge. Store them covered and eat within 3 to 4 days; keep egg and mayo-based sides cold.
