What to Serve with Meatballs? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Wondering what would look good with meatballs on your dinner table? We’re here to tell you just that.

Of course, you might have seen some delicious pictures of meatballs served on top of spaghetti in tomato sauce.

Perhaps, you have tried this combination too.

However, we’re glad to tell you that there are a lot of other side dishes that pair well with meatballs.

So, if you want to try something interesting and are thinking about what to serve with meatballs the next time you make it, you can find the answers here.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Meatballs?

Meatballs, as many may describe as balls of ecstasy, are simply ground meat that is rolled into the shape of a small ball.

You can make it with any kind of meat and use other additional ingredients like butter, seasonings, breadcrumbs, eggs, or even minced onion.

They are perfect for lunch or dinner, and sometimes even for breakfast.

As delicious as they are, sometimes it may get boring after a while if you keep eating meatballs on their own.

Hence, you can consider serving them with another scrumptious side dish to spice up your meal.

Moreover, since meatballs are usually grilled or deep-fried, pairing them with fresh and light side dishes can help balance out the oily flavor of meatballs.

What to Serve with Meatballs? 7 Best Side Dishes

Here are 7 best side dishes that you can serve with your delicious meatballs:

1 – Steamed White Rice

Let’s start with something super basic but extremely versatile and filling.

Steamed white rice may sound boring on its own.

But when you serve it with some savory meatballs, you’ll be mind-blown by this amazing pair.

This classic combination is perfect for serving on days when you’re extra hungry.

It works best with Asian-inspired meatball recipes that have a sweet and sour flavor profile.

The rice will help round out your meal without messing with the delicious flavor of your meatballs.

2 – Fried Cauliflower Rice

Not a big fan of rice? You can try the vegan-friendly substitute – cauliflower rice.

It’s a simple side dish that’s easy and quick to make.

Plus, you can get as creative as you want while cooking your cauliflower rice.

Customize this side dish by adding your favorite ingredients, spices, dressing, and herbs.

You can make it sweet and spicy to complement the savory flavor of meatballs.

Or, you can simply make it spicy for that extra kick.

Cauliflower rice is a healthier option for people who are keeping a check on their calories.

3 – Rainbow Veggie Salad

Want something quick and easy to pair with your meatballs? Try out this scrumptious and fresh salad.

This salad recipe is delicious with an Asian-inspired dressing, yet it is simple and full of colors.

Just chop your favorite veggies – make sure they are fresh and crunchy.

Good options are bell peppers, arugula, cucumber, red cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes.

Mix them in the salad dressing, and voila.

For the mouth-watering dressing, you’ll need a mixture of rice vinegar, olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, and maple syrup.

You can chill the salad before serving for an added feeling of freshness.

4 – Potatoes – Roasted or Mashed

Potatoes are a classic pairing with meatballs.

Whether you want to mash or roast them is up to you.

Either way, you’re promised a scrumptious, wholesome meal.

You can make your mashed potatoes as usual.

However, adding some roasted garlic can spice up your meal.

Mashed potatoes taste best with barbecue meatballs.

If you want some roasted potatoes on the side of your meatballs, you might want to pick red potatoes.

Roasted red potatoes are to-die-for when paired with creamy meatballs.

The crispiness of this side dish also adds a nice texture to your meal.

5 – French Baguette

French baguette and meatballs are like a match made in heaven, especially if the latter comes with marinara sauce.

You can toast a slice of soft bread with butter and serve it on the side.

Or, you can spread butter on a crispy French baguette for extra delight.

If you need something extra filling, you can create a delicious meatball sub with a French baguette.

Just spread the marinara sauce in your bread, put the meatballs, and top with some mozzarella cheese.

Then, bake the sub until the cheese melts.

And there you have it.

6 – Egg Noodles

When searching for the best side dishes for meatballs, you may come across egg noodles as an option almost everywhere.

And for all the right reasons.

This side dish is comforting, delicious, hearty, and complements the flavor of meatballs in every way.

Egg noodles have a mild and buttery taste.

Hence, it won’t overpower your main attraction.

It’s best served with Swedish meatballs in a creamy sauce.

You can also add your meatballs to a bowl of soupy egg noodles to enjoy the ultimate comfort food at home.

7 – Spaghetti

Another classic combination: meatballs served on top of spaghetti. It’s as iconic as it gets.

And even if you might already know about this side dish, it totally deserves a mention.

Be it adults or kids, everybody will leave the dinner table satisfied when you serve spaghetti and meatballs.

You can always stick to the classic – spaghetti and meatballs in marinara sauce.

Or, if you’re up for trying out new recipes, you can replace it with another creamy sauce.

You can also garnish your meal with some fresh herbs for that added burst of flavor.

Think spaghetti and meatballs aren’t enough? Just serve some soft bread with butter as an accompaniment.

Conclusion

As you’ve reached the end of this post, now you know that meatballs are a versatile dish that can do so much more than just sit on top of your spaghetti.

Of course, they are wonderful when paired with spaghetti.

But you can always serve them with another interesting side to refresh your taste buds.

From rice to potatoes to cauliflowers, you can pair this star dish with a variety of sides.

Pick one from our list that excites you; we sure know you won’t regret it.