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What to Serve with Pot Roast: 40+ Best Side Dish Recipes

Published: Jan 19, 2024 by Jessica Fisher

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Pot roast is one of the best comfort food meals you can serve, either for special occasions or a simple Sunday dinner. But what to serve with pot roast? We’ve got you covered with dozens of the best sides to serve up with your roast beef dinner.

the completed dish on a platter with potatoes and fresh thyme.

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Making a savory pot roast in the slow cooker or dutch oven is a great way to prepare a hearty meal protein. Everyone loves a pot roast dinner!

But what do you serve alongside the main dish? Here at Good Cheap Eats we think the best way to save money on food is to make homemade easy. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best pot roast sides that come together quickly and won’t break the bank.

Whether you’ve got a craving for classic side dishes or want to keep things extra simple, you’ve come to the right place.

slow cooker pot roast on a bed of mashed potatoes with green beans on the side.

Why Serve Side Dishes with Pot Roast

It’s true that a traditional pot roast cooked with root vegetables in the pan can be a complete meal on its own, but sometimes you want just a simple side dish or two to round things out. We prep our Slow Cooker Pot Roast recipe on its own, so it’s just asking for side of mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, or egg noodles to soak up the savory juices.

?Browse this list of 40+ recipes of what to serve with Pot Roast. You’re bound to find more than one perfect side dish to go with your perfect pot roast.

Best Side Dishes for Pot Roast

Easy Potato Recipes

Whether you use russet potatoes or something else, you’re bound to find a tasty option. Potatoes are hearty and make a great side dish for a classic pot roast.

scoop of sweet potatoes on a fork above a plate of food.

Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic

Enjoy this dairy-free alternative to sweet potato casserole. These savory sweet potatoes are mashed and dressed up with olive oil and garlic for a delicious side dish.

tray of scalloped potatoes on the dinner table with other platters of food.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Thinly sliced potatoes nestle in a bath of cream, half and half, and butter, resulting in the Best Scalloped Potatoes that are also naturally gluten-free.

overhead shot of slow cooker potatoes on square white plate with small tongs.

Slow Cooker Potatoes

Slow Cooker Potatoes are absolutely delicious! Quick prep and hands-free cooking make for super simple crock pot potatoes you’ll want on repeat.

spoon inserted in baking dish full of fluffy make-ahead mashed potatoes.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes for the freezer is a great recipe to save time, money, and kitchen clean-up. Stir up a few batches for comfort food in the bank!

close up of curried potatoes on platter

Curried Potatoes Recipe

These curried potatoes are super simple to throw together and full of flavor! They are made with just five simple ingredients and ready in about 40 minutes.

bite of potato on fork

Cheesy Stuffed Potatoes Recipe

Enjoy easy convenience with these Ultimate Cheesy Stuffed Potatoes. Loaded with creamy goodness, these spuds are freezer-friendly and very make-ahead.

large serving bowl of roast potatoes with red checked cloth

Easy Roast Potatoes

Want an easy potato side dish? This is it. Easy Roast Potatoes are a great accompaniment to cooked meats and vegetable dishes. Perfect for a holiday dinner.

alfredo mashed potatoes pot roast and salad

Easy Alfredo Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes can be a vehicle for gravy — or they can be a flavor experience all on their own. Make a batch of these Easy Alfredo Mashed Potatoes to make your taste buds sing!

A plate of salad and baked potato with toppings

Crockpot Baked Potatoes

Recipes that let you “set it and forget it” are some of the best. These Crockpot Baked Potatoes are no exception. Come home to a pot full of baked potatoes all set for dinner!

A close up of jalapeño poppers potatoes

Jalapeno Popper Potatoes

What happens when you combine Jalapeno Poppers with Potato Skins? You get these amazingly good Jalapeno Popper Potatoes, the perfect side dish for any occasion.

sweet potato fries on sheet pan

Sweet Potato Fries

These Sweet Potato Fries are super simple make, and they taste great! Bake up a batch in about 30 minutes with no fuss or hassle.

potatoes topped with bacon on a plate

Burning Love Mashed Potatoes

Burning Love Mashed Potatoes is an old Danish dish that uses simple ingredients: potatoes, milk, bacon, and onions, and transforms them into something amazing. These loaded mashed potatoes are a perfect main dish or decadent side.

potatoes and green beans on plate

Simple Dill Potatoes

Looking for an easy side dish that takes little work, few ingredients, and still counts as real food? These Simple Dill Potatoes fit the bill.

Rice Side Dishes

While rice might not be the first thing you think of as classic sides for pot roast, it’s cheap and readily-available. Since it cooks quickly, it makes for a very easy side dish to slow-cooked meat.

closeup of Spanish brown rice in white bowl.

Spanish Brown Rice

Sautéed brown rice and finely chopped onion simmer in a tomato-vegetable broth for an amazing Spanish Brown Rice to serve in burritos and bowls, and as a side for tacos, enchiladas, and tamales.

wooden spoon scooping up rice from a pan of seasoned rice pilaf.

Seasoned Rice Pilaf

Boxed rice mixes are a thing of the past, especially when you know how to make a healthier, cheaper, and tastier seasoned rice pilaf yourself. Try this homemade rice-a-roni recipe today.

with a fork fluffing the baked rice in the pan with steam rising.

Baked Rice

Learn to bake rice in the oven so that you have a quick and easy side dish without a lot of hassle. This method produces perfect rice every time!

white bowl of mexican rice topped with chopped cilantro.

Mexican Rice

Mexican rice is a delicious and easy side dish to accompany tacos, fill burritos, or otherwise enhance your Mexican style meal.

finished brown rice rice pilaf in a steel skillet with a red spoon.

Brown Rice Pilaf Recipe

Serve up an easy side dish tonight with this Simple Brown Rice Pilaf. Based on whole grain and packed with flavor, it’s a great supporting actor.

stovetop rice in saucepan

Easy Stovetop Rice

Stovetop Rice comes together quickly and easily without a lot of hassle. It’s the perfect base for any number of meals and a super simple side dish.

A plate of Chimichurri Rice and steak

Chimichurri Rice

Chimichurri Rice takes cilantro, garlic, and spicy pepper, and blends it into a delicious rice side dish, reminiscent of the Argentinian condiment.

bowl of cooked rice

Instant Pot Rice

Make rice quickly and easily in your electric pressure cooker. Instant Pot Rice is a great budget-friendly side dish to include in your weekly meal rotation.

Spoon sitting in a dish with baked rice

Baked Rice with Lemon and Thyme

If you’re already heating the oven, slide in a pan of this easy baked rice for a great side dish. It’s practically hands-free and produces perfect rice.

Creamy Mushroom Rice Pilaf

Creamy Mushroom Pilaf

This Creamy Mushroom Pilaf is a quick and easy side dish to serve with your favorite meats and vegetable main dishes. It will put those boxed mixes to shame.

A plate rice and broccoli, with tomatoes

Lemon and Herb Rice Pilaf

Why buy expensive packaged rice mixes when you can make your own seasoned herb rice pilaf at home for less money? This lemon rice pilaf is easy to make and uses minimal ingredients!

A bowl of rice with a spoon

Quick Seasoned Rice

There’s no need for fancy sides when you can make quick seasoned rice. This Quick Seasoned Rice comes together with just a handful of ingredients, making for a super simple side dish any night of the week.

the finished mac and cheese in the pot.

Noodles

?Simple Buttered Noodles? Creamy Mac and Cheese? Either goes great with a Slow Cooked Chuck Roast.

close up of spoonful of instant pot mac and cheese.

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

The easiest Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe comes together in just minutes, tastes great, and feeds a crowd easily. With just three main ingredients, you really can't go wrong!

close up of mac and cheese on white plate.

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

Ditch the boxed mac and cheese, you can make your own tastier and better version at home. Use this Stovetop Mac and Cheese and free yourself from mixes!

close up of macaroni on plate with large bowl

Easiest Mac and Cheese Recipe

This is the easiest mac and cheese you’ll ever make. Seriously. I think it rivals the box in both taste and simplicity.

red ramekins with macaroni

Alfredo Mac and Cheese

Mac and Cheese is a classic comfort food, particularly for these cold winter months. Try this version that has a garlicky, Alfredo twist.

overhead shot of quinoa pilaf with side dishes in the edges of the shot.

Quinoa Side Dishes

Quinoa? Yep! Quinoa makes a tasty side dish that’s also high in protein.

overhead closeup of quinoa cooked on stove.

How to Cook Quinoa on the Stove

Learn to cook quinoa on the stove so you can make it a regular part of your meal planning.

spoon resting in a bowl of quinoa salad

Quinoa Salad

Want a Quinoa Salad that will make you swoon? This would be it. It’s one of my favorites to make for a hearty, protein-packed lunch.

closeup of quinoa pilaf on dinner plate.

Quinoa Pilaf Recipe

Prep this easy quinoa pilaf recipe in less than 30 minutes in one pan on the stovetop. It's a hearty side dish or base for bowl meals.

bowl of sautéed Brussels sprouts on a red cloth.

Vegetable Side Dishes

Don’t forget to include some fresh ingredients like veggies into your Pot Roast Meal! Keep a bag of frozen green beans in the freezer and you’ve got an easy side dish. Cooked veggies are a perfect accompaniment to your dinner.

close up of air fryer asparagus on white platter.

Air Fryer Asparagus

Air Fryer Asparagus comes together in just minutes and tastes amazing with a sprinkle of Everything Seasoning.

roasted asparagus on baking sheet

Oven Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Oven Roasted Asparagus comes together quickly and easily. Baked in foil packets, the tender shoots are infused with olive oil and lemon.

Brussels sprouts and bacon in flowered bowl on red cloth.

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots

A quick sauté of sprouts with bacon and shallots makes for a quick and flavorful side dish. Learn how to make Brussels sprouts good.

A plate of veggies and chicken

Lemon Broccoli and Peas

Seasoning vegetables doesn’t have to be rocket science, but can be the difference between okay side dishes and fabulous feasts. With a combo of salt, lemon, olive oil, and just the right amount of heat, this Lemon Broccoli and Peas is out of this world.

carrot salad in white ramekin

Carrot Salad with Cilantro and Pepitas

Shredded carrots get oomph from fresh cilantro, a simple dressing of orange juice and spices with pepitas adding some crunch.

overhead shot of air fryer cauliflower on a white platter on a black table.

Air Fryer Cauliflower

Spice up your life — and your air fryer cauliflower with Cajun-inspired spices. It's an ideal side dish to meats or a fun addition to a Buddha bowl.

hand dipping a baked zucchini fritter into a small white dish of ranch.

Baked Zucchini Fritters

Bake up a batch of zucchini fritters. Flavorful with shredded zucchini and green onions, they'll have you coming back for more.

overhead closeup of roast vegetables on white platter on black table.

Escalivada

Enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean with this easy Escalivada, chock full of eggplant, zucchini, onion, tomato, and peppers, drizzled with olive oil.

chuck roast in pot with gravy surrounding the meat.

Sauces for Pot Roast

Good gravy! Don’t forget the gravy. If your pot roast recipe doesn’t already having you making a gravy with the drippings, choose one of ours. They come together quickly and taste delicious.

mushroom and onion gravy in a yellow gravy boat on the dinner table.

Mushroom and Onion Gravy

Let bottled and dry mix gravy be relics of the past! This recipe for Mushroom and Onion Gravy stirs up silky and delicious. It's also super freezer-friendly.

gravy boat on table

Easy Gravy Recipe

This easy gravy recipe is the key to life. It comes together quickly and easily on the stove and is delicious on mashed potatoes, in pot pies, or a myriad of other tasty applications.

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