What to Serve with Baked Ziti? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Baked Ziti’s on the menu tonight – and we’re stoked about it!

This dish is a cozy hug in a casserole form, perfect for any night of the week.

But here’s the kicker: what goes on the side to make it a round meal?

Sure, you could just toss a salad with it (and we’re not knocking salads, they’ve got their place), but why not kick things up a notch?

We’re talking side dishes that’ll make your Baked Ziti sing.

From crispy greens to roasted delights, we’ve got the lowdown on what to plate up next to your pasta masterpiece.

Get ready, because these aren’t your grandma’s side dishes – they’re better.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Baked Ziti?

You can add various ingredients when baking ziti, depending on availability and preference.

The items include cheese, herbs, spices, milk and other things.

You can eat it hot as soon as it cooks, or you can cook it earlier and reheat it before eating.

While baked ziti alone is nourishing, delicious and filling, you can serve side dishes with it too.

Why because? Eating one dish alone can be pretty dull, and with extra items, you can keep the monotony away.

With at least one or two side dishes, your meal will be more complete, enhancing the foods’ flavor even more.

What to Serve with Baked Ziti? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Here’s a detailed answer with a table comparing the key characteristics of the 7 best side dishes to serve with Baked Ziti:

Side Dish	Key Characteristics
Roasted Peppers and Zucchini	Flavorful and adds a roasted and charred element to the meal
Bruschetta	Light and refreshing, provides a contrast to the rich flavors of Baked Ziti
Cheesy Garlic Bread	Savory and indulgent, complements the cheesy nature of Baked Ziti
Fresh Salad	Crisp and vibrant, offers a refreshing counterpart to the dish
Green Beans Casserole	Comforting and hearty, adds a vegetable element to the meal
Roasted Whole Artichokes	Unique and flavorful, provides a gourmet touch to the meal
Caprese Salad	Fresh and tangy, pairs well with the tomato-based flavors of Baked Ziti

Now let’s dive into each side dish in more detail:

1 – Roasted Peppers and Zucchini

You can always count on vegetables to save the day, and roasted peppers and zucchini are the way to go.

It can be a perfect side dish for baked ziti because making it is fuss-free.

These veggies are also abundant in most supermarkets, so you don’t have to search here and there.

Zucchini adds freshness, while peppers add a flavor note to dishes that you can’t replicate with other items.

Chop an equal quantity of peppers and zucchini and put your preferred seasoning, and bake.

Once done, you can serve it hot with the baked ziti.

2 – Bruschetta

Do you like bruschetta? It is another item that you can add as a side dish with baked ziti.

Because it’s tasty, fresh and gives a burst of flavors and course, it’s a popular Italian appetizer that clicks well with baked ziti.

Making bruschetta is also easy as you can do it with just a few items.

It complements baked ziti perfectly without overpowering the latter’s flavors.

You need a few crunchy Italian bread, tomatoes, cheese and herbs.

You can use marinated tomatoes or roasted ones according to what you prefer.

3 – Cheesy Garlic Bread

One of the most accompanied side dishes with baked ziti, you can never go wrong with cheesy garlic bread.

Why because you can find it in many places and even make one at home without much effort.

It’s also a healthy option and instead filling, and so together with the ziti, your mealtime will be perfect.

You need one crusty loaf or baguette, three types of cheese, garlic, salt, black pepper and herbs like parsley.

There are several recipes, but it takes just about 25 minutes to make and so you can serve the cheesy garlic bread hot with baked ziti.

4 – Fresh Salad

It’s always healthy to eat vegetables, and a fresh salad can also accompany baked ziti as one of the side dishes.

Because you can make a fresh salad using different vegetables, it will work perfectly alright.

Whether you use only two veggies or several items, it will add more flavor, diversity and, of course, nutrients.

Include tomatoes, onions, cilantro, carrots and cabbage to make a crunchy and fresh salad to complete your meal.

Beets, parsnips, parsley, mint, cucumber, Brussel sprouts, lettuce, sweet potato and broccoli are other veggies that you can use to make a salad.

You can also make a salad with fruits like avocado, lemon, apples and others.

5 – Green Beans Casserole

Even though it’s a classic thanksgiving dish, it can be a tasty side dish.

Firstly, green beans casserole is delicious and complements baked ziti, and secondly, you can cook it quickly.

Besides, green beans are low in calories but have several essential nutrients, making them perfect with baked ziti.

What can be more delicious than crispy beans, fried onions and creamy mushroom sauce?

You will definitely love this addition with baked ziti.

6 – Roasted Whole Artichokes

Simple yet delicious, add roasted whole artichokes as a side dish, and you won’t regret it.

Because it goes well with baked ziti, and you don’t spend much time cooking it.

Artichokes probably originated in the Mediterranean and were popular for their medicinal properties and so you have a healthy choice too.

Cut the stem just about one inch from the top, and add lemon, olive oil, garlic and salt.

Mix and put it in the oven and continue with the other preparations.

It may take anywhere between 30 minutes to one hour, so keep a watch and check it to make sure they are well-cooked and tender.

7 – Caprese Salad

Finally, you can add Caprese salad as a side dish.

It’s a popular appetizer in Italian cuisine and will work great with baked ziti.

Caprese salad has light flavors and is easy to make and so you can have a superb side dish without putting in much effort.

Slice fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese and arrange on a plate alternately and add sweet basil leaves between each slice.

Pour some balsamic vinegar or extra virgin olive oil and complete the dish with salt and pepper.

Go easy on the oil or vinegar so that the flavors stay light and don’t overpower the taste of baked ziti.

Conclusion

Baked ziti can provide both satisfaction and nourishment, and it’s a healthy meal.

But adding a side dish always makes it more interesting.

So, you can try out any of the seven items whenever you make baked ziti.

You can also create your own side dishes to have more options.

Besides, you can use cauliflower parmesan, stuffed tomatoes, cheesecake, macaroni salad, stuffed mushrooms, instant pot meatballs, roasted broccoli rabe, and grilled Caesar salad.

The choice is truly endless when it’s about side dishes with baked ziti, and you can also experiment with new dishes.