Looking for party side dish ideas that go beyond another bowl of chips? Think colorful pasta salads, golden potatoes and a fruit-filled watermelon bowl.
These dishes give you plenty to choose from, whether you’re planning a backyard meal or setting up a buffet inside.
You can keep things simple or go all out with the presentation. I especially love the checkerboard salad and those pretty layers in the glass bowl.
Pick a few ideas to go with your main dish.
Side dishes worth saving for your next party
creamy pasta with colorful vegetables
We’re starting off strong with this creamy pasta salad. The short pasta tubes are covered in dressing, with little red vegetable pieces, purple onion and chopped herbs throughout.
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If you want to follow this look, keep your vegetable pieces small so they’re scattered through the pasta rather than sitting in big chunks on top.
loaded potato salad
How good does this potato salad look? The shredded orange cheese, bacon pieces and chopped green onions make the top just as inviting as the rest of the bowl.
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I’d keep some of those toppings aside to scatter over your salad right before serving. That way, they don’t all disappear into the creamy dressing.
a big tray of mac and cheese
If you’re looking for a side to serve buffet-style, take a little inspiration from this big tray of mac and cheese. The curly pasta has melted cheese across the top, with extra golden patches in the middle.
Set a serving spoon beside your tray so guests can scoop a portion onto their plates.
corn and avocado salad
I love all the colors in this bowl. Yellow corn, green avocado and purple onion sit beneath crumbled white cheese and a dusting of reddish seasoning.
Try a wide serving bowl like this one if you want those little toppings to show. A few herb leaves over the top are a pretty finishing touch.
tortellini with tomatoes and mozzarella
This tortellini salad may just be one of my favorites here. I love the little mozzarella balls tucked between the pasta and bright red tomatoes.
The green herb coating brings some color to every part of the bowl.
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Keep the whole and halved tomatoes if you want that same mix of shapes.
golden potatoes au gratin
Want something cheesy without adding another pasta dish? These potatoes au gratin are a lovely option.
The overlapping slices have a pale sauce, golden-brown patches and chopped herbs across the top.
I’d bring this one to the table in its baking dish rather than transferring those layers to another bowl.
broccoli salad with plenty of extras
There’s so much going on in this broccoli salad! Orange cheese cubes, purple onion, dark dried fruit and browned bacon pieces are mixed between the green florets.
If plain broccoli isn’t what you had in mind for your party table, save this combination for inspiration.
saucy baked beans
Don’t want another salad on the menu? No problem!
This baked bean idea gives you something different, with beans and bacon pieces in a glossy reddish-brown sauce.
The big spoon tucked into the beans is a good reminder to choose serving utensils before you set out the food.
watermelon checkerboard salad
How cute is this checkerboard? Watermelon, cucumber and white cheese are arranged in neat rows, with chopped mint scattered over the top. I am obsessed with the presentation.
For a similar platter, cut your pieces to roughly matching widths and alternate the colors. Keep the dish plain so the pattern gets all the attention.
orzo with tomatoes and olives
Calling all olive fans, this bowl is worth saving. Green and dark olives sit among orzo, red and yellow tomatoes, chopped herbs and crumbled white cheese.
I especially love the mix of tomato colors. Try both yellow and red in your own salad rather than sticking to just one.
golden smashed potatoes
These smashed potatoes look so good with their browned skins and broken-open centers. The little golden crumbs and chopped herbs cover the tops and spill onto the tray.
Use a broad platter for a similar presentation. I’d keep them in a shallow layer rather than hiding most of those golden tops in a deep bowl.
colorful creamy coleslaw
If you’re looking for a classic side, this one is for you. Pale cabbage, purple cabbage and shredded carrot make a colorful bowl even with the creamy dressing mixed through.
You don’t need an extra garnish here. Those thin purple ribbons already make the salad look pretty.
a platter of grilled vegetables
This is one of my favorite serving ideas on the list. I love how the peppers, corn, zucchini, asparagus, onion and mushrooms each have their own little section.
Try arranging your vegetables in loose rows instead of tossing everything together. The browned spots and bright colors are worth showing off.
mini cornbread muffins
How adorable are these little cornbread muffins? They’re piled into a lined serving dish with honey and a pale spread set beside them.
Borrow that setup for your table by putting butter and honey in separate small containers. Guests can choose what they’d like to add.
bow ties with olives and salami
This is another pasta salad idea, but it’s a little different from the creamy one above. The multicolored bow ties are mixed with black olives, tomato halves, mozzarella balls and slices of salami.
I love the bow-tie shapes here. Keep them if you want your salad to have that same playful look.
a fruit-filled watermelon bowl
Who needs a separate serving bowl when the watermelon looks this pretty? The hollowed rind holds watermelon balls, grapes, berries, cherries and pineapple pieces, with mint at the top.
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Try this presentation if you want fruit on the table alongside your savory sides. For your own version, remove cherry pits and strawberry tops before serving.
street corn dip
Want a scoopable option too? This street corn dip has yellow kernels under white sauce, reddish seasoning and scattered green herbs.
The chip in the lower photo shows the chunky mixture up close.
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Set a bowl of tortilla chips beside your dip if you’d like to serve it the same way.
potato salad with chives
Don’t want to go all out with bacon and cheese? This potato salad takes a simpler route.
The large potato pieces have a yellow dressing with green chives scattered across the top.
I’d use shorter snips of chives for my own bowl while keeping that same little touch of green.
green beans with golden crumbs
Give your green beans a little extra attention with a topping like this. The long beans are piled beneath golden crumbs, pale grated bits and small green herb flecks.
For your own version, try a breadcrumb and grated cheese topping. Leave some beans visible rather than covering the whole bowl.
layered salad in a glass bowl
Last but definitely not least, we have this gorgeous layered salad. I love the egg slices and tomato halves lined up against the glass!
Lettuce sits below them, with bacon, shredded cheese, peas and white dressing higher up.
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Choose a clear serving bowl if you want to try this presentation. Those colorful layers are the whole reason to show it off.