Side Dishes To Complete Your Dinner Party Spread!

Sure, canapés and appetisers are important, but everyone knows that it's all about what you're serving with your main dish. You know, the sort of sides you've prepared beforehand, or fresh there and then.

Have you gone down the traditional route with your dinner party menu, and opted for roasted veg or have you experimented a little and decided on something more out there?

Well, to help you make those all important choices, we've gathered 15 super-simple sides that we think pair perfectly within a dinner party setting. From Braised Fennel (we fancy) to Caprese Garlic Bread, and Cheesy Baked Asparagus to Chicken Pasta Salad, here's a pick of our favourite dinner party sides.

Big fan of entertaining? Here's 27 great-tasting dinner party starters, too.

This braised fennel side dish is seriously tasty, topped with Parmesan breadcrumbs for extra crunch.

Get the Braised Fennel with Crispy Parmesan Breadcrumbs recipe.

This recipe is even wonderful when tomatoes aren't in season. In the oven, sad-looking slices take on a deeper, sweeter, more tomato-y flavour. If you don't want to make your own balsamic glaze, you can find it bottled at most grocery stores.

Get the Caprese Garlic Bread recipe.

Top it with garlic, a little cream, Parmesan, and mozzarella and bake it until the cheese is bubbly and golden and the asparagus is tender. This will be gone in seconds.

Get the Cheesy Baked Asparagus recipe.

There's nothing worse than a pasta salad with mushy pasta. Learn how to cook pasta (it's trickier than you think!) and get your fusilli perfectly al dente.

Get the Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.

This is a deliciously fresh side dish that really enhances the flavour of purple sprouting broccoli. The method of frying the broccoli before adding water to help cook it through brings out a slightly nutty flavour while retaining a bite.

Get the Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Chilli, Garlic and Lemon recipe.

Mushrooms are stuffed with garlicky, herby breadcrumbs and plenty of cheese. They make for an easy appetiser or a simple side dish. Stuff them ahead of time and bake them off when you're ready.

Get the Classic Stuffed Mushrooms recipe.

These potatoes are the perfect summer side. Throw 'em on the grill next to your burgers for a smokey, summer take on burgers and chips.

Get the Grilled Potatoes recipe.

Nando's Spicy Rice is 100% top-tier Nando's side dish, right? And if you've always wanted to recreate that lightly spiced, fluffy rice from your favourite Portuguese restaurant, try our easy, quick and flavoured packed version!

Get the Nando's Spicy Rice recipe.

Simply combining a few ingredients to make a gorgeous salad dressing, we've added dill, parsley and radish to stir through with the potatoes.

Get the Healthy Potato Salad recipe.

You can use whatever spices you'd like—chilli powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, taco seasoning, even coriander—in a ton of different combinations, but don't add them too soon! Dried spices can burn very easily. We like to add them during the last couple minutes of cooking.

Get the Pan Fried Potatoes recipe.

This warm beetroot salad is utterly delicious. Topped with spring onions and feta cheese, it's actually the orange dressing that makes this beetroot salad a winner.

Get the Beetroot Salad with Feta & Orange Dressing recipe.

Anything wrapped in bacon is instantly 1,000 times better. These 'fries' are simply roasted courgette wedges wrapped in bacon and let's just say... courgette has never tasted so good.

Get the Bacon Courgette Fries recipe.

This fennel salad is bright with flavour (thanks to the delicious tahini dressing) and makes the perfect summer side. Using minimal ingredients, you can knock this salad up in as little as 10 minutes.

Get the Fennel Salad recipe.

These simple fritters are quickly shallow-fried and make a great side dish for dinner or a light lunch. They can even be easily adapted to fit whatever you're looking for!

Get the Courgette Cakes recipe.

Most days, we don't have time to make an elaborate side dish, and something simple is all we crave. This easy, quick-sautéed courgette is the perfect side dish for those nights.

Get the Garlic-Parm Sautéed Courgette recipe.