Our Most Popular Side Dishes That Are Perfect For Any Dinner Party

If you haven’t crossed paths with this side dish yet, this is your sign to make it. This popular dish is enjoyed in several West African countries and is absolutely delicious. It’s spicy and flavourful without being too hot, too saucy or rich, making this the perfect side dish. In this recipe, the jollof starts on the stove and is then baked, which makes for a fool-proof cooking method and is guaranteed to be enjoyed by guests.

This quick and easy potato salad is a tried and true popular recipe. It elevates a regular potato salad by adding some crunch: potato chips. Inspired by dill pickle-flavoured chips, this salad has lots of tangy flavour and will surely have guests coming in for multiple helpings. 

Related: Classic Scalloped Potatoes

If your party needs a bit of spice, then turn to these bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers. This easy version only takes 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer. It’s so good that our readers have used these both as appetizers and as a side dish to add a bit of crunch, savoury and spicy flavourful to any dinner party meal. 

Add this side to your party rotation! The tasty combination of crispy potatoes and the spicy bravas sauce makes it a quintessential dish. It takes less than 30 minutes to prep and cook, so it’s ready to serve just in time for your event. Introduce friends and family to this Spanish dish and indulge in the warm flavours that will make your next party a hit.  

Related: Our Most Popular Potato Recipes That You Need to Try ASAP

If you’re big fans of stuffing like us, this one is for you. This side dish is an elevated take on the classic holiday staple that will become your new favourite. It pairs well with any holiday main, or any main rather. The secret? Spicy chorizo, hearty greens and day-old bread. All the flavours are combined to make for a scrumptious bite.

Related: Here’s How Long You Can Eat Your Thanksgiving Leftovers

You can’t go wrong with an original side dish favourite of cornbread. This staple from Anna Olson is slightly sweet, a little tart and goes perfectly with any saucy or sticky main. Pair it with Greek-Style Baked Beans With Tomato Sauce and Feta or Marry Me Chicken. 

Related: Our Most Popular Anna Olson Recipes Ever

When it comes to hosting parties, the air fryer is your best friend. Not only does it help if you’re in a time crunch before guests arrive, but it gives an added layer to your meal. The air fryer perfectly cooks these panko-coated eggplant and zucchini coins – tender on the inside and super crispy on the outside. Watch them disappear in front of your eyes! 

There is nothing like homemade hummus. This one is perfect for a dinner party because you can adapt the recipe based on their liking. Everyone can have their own bowl for smaller portions, or it can be a wonderful dish to share. The hummus could require a little upfront work with soaking and simmering of the chickpeas, but after that, it all comes together to seriously delicious results. Also you could use canned chickpeas too and skip that step.

Stuffing muffins? Yes, you read that right. These are also known as stuffins. This side dish is a fun way to serve stuffing as it’s cooked in single-muffin tins. They can be made a day ahead if you’re serving a lot of food before the party and need time to prep. The crispy golden edges make for a tasty bite every time. 

This recipe from Jillian Harris is a Ukranian-inspired version of a true classic. A generous portion of sweet caramelized onions mashed with fluffy boiled potatoes, cream or cashew cream, nutritional yeast (for that cheesy flavour), and fresh herbs. If there’s a nut allergy, the recipe can be altered to accommodate dietary needs. Simply replace the cashew cream with soy creamer, for instance.