40 Easy Low Carb Side Dishes

When I started eating lower carb, I quickly realized the main dish usually wasn't the hard part. It was figuring out what to serve with it that didn't feel repetitive. This collection of low carb side dishes is meant to solve that, with easy vegetables, creamy casseroles, cauliflower sides, green beans, cabbage, and a few richer keto-friendly favorites.

I've been creating low carb recipes since 2018, and these are the kinds of sides I come back to for weeknight dinners, holidays, and family meals. Some are lighter vegetable recipes, while others are more traditional keto side dishes made with cheese, cream, or bacon, so you can choose what fits your meal.

You'll find simple roasted vegetables, cheesy sides, holiday casseroles, and lower-carb alternatives to potatoes and pasta. Many of these recipes are from Whole Lotta Yum, including some of our most popular low carb side dishes.

Short on time? 📌 Save to Pinterest for later! 👇

What Are Good Low Carb Side Dishes?

Good low carb side dishes usually focus on non-starchy vegetables, cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, salads, and simple veggie casseroles made without high-carb fillers. Some keto-friendly sides are richer and include cheese, cream, or bacon, while others are lighter roasted or sautéed vegetables.

For holidays, low carb sides like cauliflower mash, green bean casserole, and creamed spinach can replace more traditional potato- or pasta-based dishes, while roasted Brussels sprouts and cauliflower mac and cheese give you even more options.

Our Favorite Easy Low Carb Sides

These recipes work year-round for weeknight dinners, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, summer BBQs, and other family meals.

1

Keto Broccoli Salad Recipe

This yummy and easy keto broccoli salad is one of the most popular on our site! It's a family favorite at all of our holiday get-togethers and highly rated by readers too. Many of our readers have reported that it makes a fabulous keto side dish for a BBQ or potluck. 4 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

2

Easy Low Carb Mac and Cheese with Cauliflower (No Flour)

Baked cauliflower mac and cheese is a pasta free variation everyone will love! Parboil the cauliflower and bake with cheese and cream for the ultimate low carb keto side dish. 6 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

3

Easy Slow Cooker Cabbage

Buttery crock pot cabbage with bacon and herbs compliments all of the main dish recipes for your holiday table. Plus a slow cooker not only keeps your valuable stove space open but it enhances the flavors even better than a quick stove-top saute could have done.

Check out this recipe

4

Rainbow Roasted Vegetables

Make healthy, easy, and colorful sheet pan veggies super fast in the oven! Get a beautiful rainbow of colors using a mix of vegetables with a similar cooking time. 5 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

5

Easy Cloud Bread with Cottage Cheese (Viral Recipe)

A fluffy, protein-packed twist on viral cloud bread made with blended cottage cheese and whipped egg whites. Low carb, gluten-free, and perfect for both sweet and savory options-this is the ultimate high protein bread swap! 0.5 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

6

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole with Cream Cheese

This easy green bean casserole with cream cheese is made with fresh green beans, mushrooms, cheddar, and a homemade cream cheese sauce instead of canned soup. It's cheesy, low carb, and perfect for the holidays. 8.5 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

7

Easy Avocado and Kale Salad

A healthy avocado kale salad loaded with veggies and tossed in a light lemon dressing. Whole30, paleo, gluten-free, and low carb.

Check out this recipe

8

Keto Cranberry Sauce Recipe

An easy low carb and keto cranberry sauce recipe that's perfect for Thanksgiving and it's sugar free. With cinnamon and a touch of orange zest, no one will know this is a keto friendly cranberry sauce recipe. 3 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

9

Easy Low Carb Antipasto Salad

Caprese salad is a quick and easy Italian salad that's essentially a tomato, basil, mozzarella salad with a light balsamic dressing and seasoning. Make it with sliced cheese and tomatoes OR use mini cheese balls with grape or cherry tomatoes.

Check out this recipe

10

Brussel Sprouts Casserole with Bacon (Keto, Low Carb)

An easy low carb Brussel sprouts casserole with roasted Brussels sprouts, bacon, and a creamy cheese sauce. A rich keto-friendly side dish that's perfect for holidays and family dinners. 5 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

11

Cauliflower Mash (Keto, Low Carb)

If you're searching for healthy low carb holiday sides, your table might seem incomplete without something that resembles potatoes. Cauliflower makes a great substitute for the classic mashed potatoes. Not only do they make low carbohydrate side dishes but they make the creamiest low carb sides too.

Check out this recipe

12

Easy Wilted Spinach Salad (Low Carb)

Wilted spinach salad is another classic turned low carb side dish recipe that our family often ate at family gatherings.

Feel free to mix in your favorite cheese or even avocado, both would be yummy additions. The spinach wilts once you drizzle the hot bacon dressing over the top. So good!

Check out this recipe

13

Keto Stuffing Recipe with Sausage

With the use of keto bread, you can make a keto friendly stuffing with sausage that tastes just like traditional Thanksgiving stuffing.

Check out this recipe

14

Low Carb Butternut Squash (Pureed & Savory)

This easy mashed butternut squash is a creamy, savory side made with roasted squash, butter, and a splash of milk. 13 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

15

Easy Cauliflower Casserole with Bacon

An easy cauliflower casserole with bacon, heavy cream, and melted cheese. This creamy and cheesy side is perfect for holidays or family dinners. Low carb, keto friendly, and gluten free. 3 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

16

Easy Broccoli Cakes Recipe

Keto broccoli fritters makes for a family friendly unique low carb side dish that can also double as an appetizer. Feel free to make these a little smaller if you want to serve them before dinner.

A dollop of sour cream makes for a tasty addition.

Check out this recipe

17

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Green Beans

Air fryer bacon wrapped green beans will be your new favorite side when you want something simple yet super impressive! Comes together in just 20 mins!

Check out this recipe

18

Easy Brussel Sprouts Salad with Bacon

Make an easy shaved Brussel sprouts salad with bacon and a homemade apple cider vinaigrette with a touch of Dijon. The perfect raw Brussel sprouts salad for the holidays! Low carb, keto, and gluten-free.

Check out this recipe

19

Easy Cheesy Baked Green Beans (Low Carb, Keto)

Easy 20 minute roasted green beans covered in delicious melted cheese. What gets better than that? The keto green beans make a nice change from the sauce laden green bean casserole with soup mix.

Roasting vegetables truly make the best keto vegetable dishes, roasted vegetables are easy, healthy, fast, and delicious! Serving them with cheese on top makes for the best keto diet sides since the cheese adds extra fat you need for a ketogenic diet.

Check out this recipe

20

Easy Roasted Radishes (Low Carb, Keto)

If you haven't yet tried roasted radishes, you're in for quite the treat! They are seriously the closest thing you can make that' low carb and resembles roasted potatoes. I love to call these keto potatoes.

Roasted radishes are mellow in flavor, slightly sweet, soft on the inside, and crispy on the outside.

Check out this recipe

21

Roasted Air Fryer Mushrooms with Garlic

Easy garlic roasted mushrooms in air fryer cook in less than 15 mins and will become your new favorite way to make "fried" mushrooms. Perfect with a steak, pork chops, or more veggies. 3 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

22

Simple Cottage Cheese Bread Recipe

This High Protein Cottage Cheese Bread is a soft, tender loaf made with blended cottage cheese for an easy way to add extra protein to your day. It's perfect for toast, sandwiches, meal prep, or serving alongside soups and salads. 16 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

23

Italian Oven Roasted Zucchini and Squash

Our Italian baked zucchini and squash recipe seriously makes for the best keto side dish recipe when you're looking for a hot dish in the summer.

Check out this recipe

24

Easy Steakhouse Creamed Spinach (No Flour)

Rich and creamy steakhouse-style spinach made with fresh baby spinach, heavy cream, cream cheese, and Parmesan. This easy low carb and keto creamed spinach is made without flour. 5 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

25

Air Fryer Bell Peppers and Onions

Healthy roasted air fryer green peppers in an air fryer with onions and a seasoned balsamic glaze make for a quick and easy side dish. 5 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

26

Easy Curry Coleslaw (Low Carb Keto Friendly)

You'll love our savory keto coleslaw with bacon and curry, it takes a classic low carb coleslaw recipe and with just a couple additions, makes it perfect for holidays or served with a roast.

When you use pre-cooked bacon and a coleslaw mix, this low carb vegetable side dish comes together in less than 15 minutes.

Check out this recipe

27

Oven Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Herbs (Paleo Keto Broccoli)

An easy oven roasted broccoli recipe with savory garlic and herbs. This yummy and healthy side dish is also low carb, paleo, vegetarian, vegan (without parmesan), and is keto broccoli too. A perfect side for a weeknight dinner, special meal, perfect for meal prep to add to lunches, or on your holiday table too. So addicting!! 3.6 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

28

Keto Sweet Potato Casserole - Wholesome Yum

Wholesome Yum's sweet potato casserole tastes just like the real deal but instead of sweet potatoes, she uses a mix of butternut squash and cauliflower. There are only 5 net carbs in each serving! 5 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

29

Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash

Cooking spaghetti squash in a pressure cooker is a game changer! Serve it with our garlic parmesan sauce or the sausage alfredo sauce!

Check out this recipe

30

Air Fryer Broccolini

Air fryer broccolini is an easy and flavorful side dish that goes with any type of meat for dinner. Serve the broccolini in air fryer recipe with a squeeze of lemon juice or a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. 2 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

31

Cheesy Cauliflower Muffins

These cheesy cauliflower muffins are savory, low carb, gluten-free and delicious. Also, unlike other cauliflower recipes, you don't need to dry out the cauliflower. 1.7 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

32

Cucumber Greek Salad Recipe

A healthy Greek salad with tomato, cucumber, feta, and kalamata olives makes for a great dinner side dish with chicken, or served as a meal prep lunch. 6 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

33

TikTok Viral Onion Rings

These baked keto onion rings are blowing up for a reason-and it's not just because they're low-carb. This TikTok-style hack uses shredded parmesan to create ultra-crispy, golden rings with zero breadcrumbs and no deep frying needed. 3 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

34

Oven Baked Brussel Sprouts

Easy oven roasted Brussel sprouts make for a wonderful side dish, I promise you that even Brussel sprout haters will love this recipe once they eat Brussel sprouts that are cooked right!

Check out this recipe

35

How to Cook Palmini Noodles

Learn all about hearts of palm pasta including how to cook palmini noodles, what it even is, plus all the tips and tricks for cooking with hearts of palm. Plus we give you a simple palmini noodle recipe and share numerous of our favorite sauces. 37 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

36

Easy Low Carb Rolls (Keto)

Easy low carb rolls made with the fathead dough recipe have a great almost bread-like texture. Make the perfect dinner rolls and sandwich rolls in minutes. 2 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

37

Roasted Air Fryer Green Bean Recipe

Cooking green beans in an air fryer takes less than 15 minutes and taste great on their own or mixed with mushrooms. 3 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

38

Vegan Collard Greens

A healthier take on the classic Southern mess of greens, these vegetarian and vegan collard greens use smoked salt in place of smoked meat to give you lots of flavor in this savory side dish. 6 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

39

Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce (brown butter)

Asparagus with Hollandaise sauce - tender asparagus with an easy brown butter blender Hollandaise sauce. An easy yet elegant side perfect for low carb diets. 2 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

40

Almond Flour Biscuits ~ Low Carb • Grain Free

Looking for a sturdy wheat free biscuit to hold up some yummy sugar free pumpkin butter or maybe some sausage gravy? Not exactly like grandma made, but close to it for sure. 3 net carbs per serving.

Check out this recipe

More Low Carb Holiday Recipes

Planning a full holiday meal? See our Keto Thanksgiving Recipes and Keto Christmas Dinner Menu.

FAQs

What are good low carb side dishes?

Good low carb side dishes include roasted or air-fried vegetables, cauliflower-based sides, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, salads, and creamy vegetable casseroles. For something more filling, low carb breads and cheesy vegetable sides can also work well.

What vegetables are best for a low carb diet?

Broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, zucchini, spinach, radishes, asparagus, and leafy greens are all good choices for low carb meals. Butternut squash and other winter squash are higher in carbs, so portion size matters more with those.

What low carb side dishes are good for holidays?

Popular low carb holiday sides include cauliflower mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, creamed spinach, roasted Brussels sprouts, cauliflower mac and cheese, and cheesy green beans. These work especially well for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and other family dinners.

What can I serve instead of potatoes on a low carb diet?

Cauliflower mash, roasted radishes, mashed turnips, and roasted cauliflower are all good lower-carb alternatives to potatoes. Cauliflower is especially versatile because it can be mashed, roasted, baked into casseroles, or used in mac and cheese-style recipes.

Are low carb side dishes the same as keto side dishes?

Not always. Keto side dishes are usually very low in net carbs and often higher in fat, while low carb side dishes can be a little more flexible. Many of the recipes in this collection are keto-friendly, but some are simply lower-carb options rather than strict keto recipes.

If you loved our recipe, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review and leave us a comment too! Connect with us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube!