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Get some meal inspiration for what to serve with meatballs from this list of the best side dishes for meatballs, featuring salads, veggies, and more!
There’s a whole lot of meatball world out there, and it’s way bigger than just topping it on your pasta. It’s a finger food that has so much to offer, or a protein that’s easy to prep and add alongside vegetables or grains of all kinds.
With the right side items, you’ll turn this simple appetizer into something your whole family can agree on. But what to serve with meatballs? See below for a list of side dishes you can save when you need meal inspiration.
And if you want recipes for a variety of meatballs themselves, check out Greek Meatballs with Lemon Orzo, Grape Jelly Meatballs, Cranberry Sauce BBQ Meatballs, Honey Garlic Meatballs, or Asian Turkey Meatballs.
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You don’t need to be fancy to have a hearty and satisfying meatball feast. A bowl of simple yet delectable cilantro lime rice should do the trick! It features a bright and zesty flavor coming from cilantro and lime.
Add a little more flavor to the rice by sauteing it with onion and garlic. This dish is perfect when accompanied by cream-based meatballs and Hawaiian, fruit-glazed meatballs.
Are greens boring? Well, certainly not with meatballs! My very own sauteed green beans work like a charm along with Asian-inspired meatballs, especially the sweet and sour ones.
The crunchiness and tenderness of the beans are enough to harmonize the texture of the meatballs. Plus, sauteing them doesn’t take long after all. If you cook them on medium-high heat, they should be ready in 10 minutes or less.
A delicious, creamy, and fluffy mashed potato is delicious on its own, but pairing with Swedish or Salisbury meatballs creates an exciting combination of flavors in your mouth. My mashed potatoes take a bit of care, love, and effort to create, but the result is truly worthwhile! If you prefer saucy meatballs, then partner them with cranberry or barbecue meatballs.
If you’re craving something cheesy, crispy, and loaded with bacon — but without spending hours in the kitchen — these Bacon Cheddar Smashed Potatoes are about to become your new obsession. They’ve got all the flavor of potato skins but without the hassle.
This sauteed broccoli is one of the easiest recipes to make in this collection. It’s also downright flavorful and takes only 15 minutes to put together. You can try mixing two different flavors, such as chili peppers and lemon juice.
Or include sauteed garlic for a richer flavor and aroma. Pair it with Hawaiian meatballs, and your dinner is all set!
If you aren’t in the mood for rice, then this recipe is perfect for you! An ideal substitute for rice, this dish features a mild taste that easily pairs up with other flavors and recipes, especially your meatballs. Making cauliflower rice is pretty straightforward.
Plus, you can jazz up the dish with herbs, spices, and ingredients of your choice.
Roasted asparagus is an incredibly versatile dish that’s sweet, snappy, and irresistible. Expect a party in your mouth when you combine this crunchy veggie with some rich and creamy Swedish meatballs. What I love about roasting asparagus is it allows to caramelize the veggie’s skin, adding a delectable taste and texture.
Salt and pepper are the default seasoning for it, but if you feel adventurous, go with red pepper flakes, smoked salt, and cayenne. Or sprinkle grated parmesan and drizzle balsamic vinegar for a cheesy flavor.
A summer get-together isn’t complete without the smell of beautifully charred, golden yellow corn on the cobs. It’s an addicting dish that is a favorite of kids and adults alike. It goes with many recipes, including barbecue meatballs too!
I tried pairing the corn with barbecue meatballs, and I couldn’t stop consuming this combo. Serve it at your family and watch your loved ones go crazy with it!
This quick and easy recipe for sauteed zucchini is perfect for busy evenings when you need a simple yet delicious meatball side dish. From start to finish, you can have a heavenly side in less than 15 minutes. Quick and easy!
Sauteed zucchini is more delicious with parmesan on top and served with meatballs.
A bowl of caesar salad is all you need to transform your meatball dish into something extraordinary. It has a mixture of creamy and tangy flavor profiles, so it’s great with buffalo meatballs. This version of caesar salad, however, doesn’t include egg and anchovy.
But the flavor is still topnotch! Also, it has endless possibilities when it comes to variations. Up your game on Caesar salad by adding chopped crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken chunks, and radishes.
There are many side dishes I love having around with my meatballs. One of my favorites is this glazed carrots recipe. It’s versatile, sweet, and uber-tender! This is an excellent recipe, especially for those times when you’re busy, and you simply have no time to prep and cook complex recipes.
If you love pairing your meatballs with salad, then you should include this recipe in your next meal. Broccoli salad is ultimately simple to put together, and concocting it in advance is possible. It has a bunch of recipe variations too!
Incorporate almond slices, dried cranberries, carrots, red grapes, or Greek yogurt if you want it even creamier.
Here we have yet another time-tested finger food, side dish, and an appetizer: Deviled Eggs! One could hardly ever imagine a cocktail party without the tasty little morsels being served! Presented here is Cookingchew’s very own version of this iconic dish.
Ingredients include: eggs, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and seasoning
Buttered Noodles
Simple buttered noodles with butter, garlic, and a few optional additions is one of the best side dish recipes that you can make. Butter noodles are one of the most underrated pasta dishes in the world.
Crockpot Mac And Cheese
This crockpot mac and cheese recipe takes just a little bit of work off the table (and the oven and the stove). The noodles go in dry, so they absorb all those creamy ingredients into every bite.
Cheddar Bay Biscuits (Red Lobster Copycat)
The problem is, I can’t justify a whole restaurant trip every time I want those cheesy, garlicky little bites of heaven. So I figured out how to make them at home, and honestly?
Creamed Spinach
If you are looking for a creamy and delicious spinach side dish, this is the perfect recipe for you. Now we love cheese in this household so we really amped up the cheese in this recipe.
Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
One reason I love doing green beans in the oven is that the seasoning stays on the beans and bakes in. They come out crisp-tender, and sometimes I add an extra five minutes in the oven to make sure they are done and not tough.
Skillet Creamed Corn
This skillet creamed corn is a rich, comforting dish that comes together right on the stovetop. It’s creamy, full of flavor, and made with just a handful of ingredients.
Creamy Pasta Salad
We love a creamy pasta salad—and this one is made with ranch! Pasta salad is such a wonderful side dish.
The bottom line
There’s no specific rule to follow when you’re choosing side items for your meatballs–as long as they won’t overpower their flavor and texture, they should also complement the overall taste of the dish! So the next time you’re planning to have a gathering, take spaghetti off your list and pick some of these meatball sides instead.
