5 Zero-Stress Side Dishes (For When You Forgot You Promised to Bring Something)

You already know the vibe: you’re minding your business, living your life, painting your nails cute for the holiday… and then it hits you.
You promised to bring a side dish.
Tomorrow.

Deep breath Babbs. I’ve got you.
Here are five easy, crowd-pleasing sides you can throw together without needing a culinary degree, three hours of free time, or the emotional stability of someone who meal-preps.

 

🥚 Deviled Eggs (aka The Fastest Crowd Favorite)

If you can boil water, you can make deviled eggs. People will act like you did something heroic.

You’ll need: Eggs, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper, paprika and my moms secret ingredient SWEET pickle relish. My mom always operated off vibes so there are no amounts here. Just add more of whatever till it tastes like your childhood. Here is a link (from Upstate Ramblings with a VERY similar recipe) just in case you NEED that kinda structure.

How to make it fast:

1. Boil the eggs. Pro tip: test for doneness by pulling an egg out and giving it a good spin. Tight circles = Done. Wonky = boil longer. Let cool then peel. Speed it up by dumping the boiling water down your drain (great for your pipes!) and filling the pot with ice and running cold water over the eggs. This will make peeling SOOO much easier.

2. Slice them in half and pop the yolks into a bowl.

3. Mash yolks with a big spoonful of mayo + a tiny squirt of mustard and pickle relish. Add salt and pepper, taste, and adjust as needed.

4. Spoon (or “rustic pipe” with a zip-top bag) the filling back into the whites.

5. Sprinkle paprika dramatically so it looks intentional.

That’s it. You’re done. You win.

🥘 Green Bean Casserole (The Classic That Can’t Fail)

This one basically cooks itself and people lose their minds over it every year.

You’ll need:
3 cans of green beans, 1 cream of mushroom soup, top with fried onions, plus garlic powder or black pepper if you’re feeling fancy.

How to make:

1. In a baking dish, mix green beans and cream of mushroom soup.

2. Add a shake of garlic powder or pepper if you want more flavor.

3. Top with a generous layer of fried onions.

4. Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly.

5. Toss a little extra handful of fried onions on top at the end, because you can.

Boom. You look responsible.

🍠 Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows (Dessert? Side? Who cares.)

Every family has The One Dish That’s Basically Candy. This is it.

You’ll need:
2-3 Cans sweet potatoes/yams, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, marshmallows. Again, we measure with our hearts over here...

How to make:

1. Drain the canned sweet potatoes and mash them in a baking dish with butter, a little brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I like mine a little chunky.

2. Taste and adjust sweetness if you need to.

3. Spread the sweet potato mixture evenly in the dish.

4. Cover the top with marshmallows like you’re overcompensating for something.

5. Bake at 350°F until the marshmallows are puffy and golden brown.

This dish alone could solve family arguments. Probably.

🌽 Cornbread Soufflé (aka Cornbread Pudding With a Fancy Name)

This one tastes like a warm hug and requires zero brain cells.

You’ll need:
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix (I prefer the honey kind), 1 each canned corn, cream-style corn, 1 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup melted butter.

How to make:

1. First drain the regular canned corn and nuke your butter for about 30 seconds.

2. Then in one big bowl, mix everything until combined.

3. Pour into a greased baking dish.

4. Bake at 350°F for 45–50 minutes, until it’s set and lightly golden on top.

5. Drizzle a little honey and sprinkle a little flakey salt on top if you're feeling extra fancy. ✨

It’s fluffy, cozy, and sounds way fancier when you call it a “soufflé.” We love a rebrand.

🎃 Pumpkin Bread Pudding (Effort: Low • Impressiveness: High)

This sounds fancy, but it’s literally “old bread + pumpkin things.”

You’ll need:
Stale-ish bread about the size of a loaf of italian bread, any kind of bread works, brioche is my fav but a bit pricey. 1 15oz can pumpkin purée, 2 cups half and half (or other dairy alternative), 2 eggs, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp vanilla, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice. *Optional: spiced whipped cream and/or 1 cup of Craisins, white chocolate chips or pecans if you're feeling extra.

How to make:

1. Tear up the bread into chunks and toss them in a greased baking dish.

2. In a bowl, whisk all of the wet stuff, sugar and spice. 

3. If we opted for the craisins, white choc or pecans, lightly toss them in with the bread.

4. Pour the pumpkin mixture over the bread until everything is pretty well soaked. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes so the bread absorbs the goodness.

5. Bake at 350°F for about 40 minutes, until set and slightly golden on top.

6. Optional: serve with spiced whipped cream so everyone thinks you tried extra hard. Literally grab a tub of whipped topping and add 1 tsp pumpkin spice and combine.

People will ask for the recipe. You can absolutely claim it’s a “family thing.”

And that’s it.

You’re now fully prepared to walk into dinner like the unbothered Holiday icon you are.
Grab your ingredients, grab your side dish, and let your nails shine while you pretend you had everything under control the whole time.