What to Serve with Meatloaf Sandwiches? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Repurposing leftovers have never been easier than when meatloaf sandwiches came into being.

They make hearty, healthy, and happy meals and are a solution to last-minute meal prep.

But like all dishes, meatloaf sandwiches are best served with sides and may require slightly different side dishes than regular sandwiches.

So, this article will discuss what to serve with meatloaf sandwiches and why you should serve them.

If you examine them well enough, you might just discover a new favorite.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Meatloaf Sandwiches?

Meatloaf sandwiches are essentially meatloaf and sandwich bread with or without additional ingredients.

And depending on how you cook your meatloaf, they can be moist, juicy, or dry.

So, side dishes ensure that your palate isn’t overwhelmed by the meat’s flavor.

Additionally, they also help balance the nutrition, so you get a balanced diet.

When looking for side dishes, it’s always good to start with versatile options with a neutral taste profile.

This makes bringing out an unlimited range of flavors easier, giving you the ultimate control of your meal.

What to Serve with Meatloaf Sandwiches? 10 BEST Side Dishes

You can serve all kinds of veg and meaty dishes alongside meatloaf sandwiches, and here are our ten favorites.

1 – Garlic Mushroom Skewers

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Skewered foods are always exciting to eat, and a mushroom skewer is always a crowd-pleaser because they are simple yet provides the right flavor to complement any dish.

One seasoning that you can never go wrong with is a blend of garlic, soy sauce, and butter.

It’s downright aromatic and a treat for the palate.

Besides, the mushroom-garlic combo is a great boost to your gut health.

The soy sauce and butter bring out umami flavors in the mushrooms, while the grilling process releases a smoky aroma and a charred exterior.

Meatier mushrooms like cremini and portobello work best for this dish.

Once the garlic mushroom skewers are cooked, remember to serve them right off the grill, as this is when they taste the best.

2 – Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

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Cabbages aren’t on everyone’s list of favorites.

But they make some of the most delectable side dishes, especially when combined with meats.

So if you have cabbages that have been sitting in your kitchen for quite some time, separate the leaves to make some juicy and savory cabbage rolls.

The directions are simple, and you only have to wrap ground beef, onions, and rice in parboiled cabbage leaves and bake them in a rich tomato sauce.

Since cabbages are rich in fiber and vitamins, they’re great to serve alongside protein-rich meals like a meatloaf sandwich.

3 – Grilled Shrimp Salad

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Sandwiches always pair well with a light seafood dish, and you can never go wrong with shrimp; it is inexpensive, easily accessible, and rich in umami flavor.

Anything can make a shrimp salad complete; consider using a mix of veggies with varying colors and textures.

Eating a colorful diet provides diverse phytochemicals, so your salads must contain colors.

Since shrimps are inherently flavorful, simple seasonings are enough to make them taste their best.

Dress them with olive oil, salt, and pepper before grilling, and combine the salad with fresh lemon juice, and it’ll taste irresistible.

4 – Egg Sushi

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Egg sushi is a classic light meal in Asian cuisine and makes a suitable side dish for many meaty dishes.

So, it’s a perfect option when serving a meatloaf sandwich as a lunch or an afternoon snack.

The effortless preparation of wrapping rolled eggs and cooked rice in seaweed strips makes it a great option for weeknight dinners.

Seasoning the eggs with dashi stock, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar brings out a rich flavor.

The rice in this side dish makes it carb-rich, while the eggs provide a decent amount of protein, making it light yet nutrient-dense.

5 – Black Bean Soup

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Juicy and savory meatloaf always pair well with the earthy and nutty flavors of black beans.

So what better way to enjoy the pleasant concoction of flavors than by making black bean soup?

As its recipe name suggests, this soup has a dark hue, so it is best prepared with vibrant and crunchy veggies.

Seasonings and aromatics help get the most out of the beans’ natural flavor.

Celery, black pepper, garlic, and cumin are some options.

This side dish is hearty, healthy, and rich in fiber, carbs, and protein.

It perfectly complements the flavor and nutrition of the meatloaf sandwiches.

6 – Greek Chicken Kabobs

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One way to make an exciting meal out of meatloaf sandwiches is to look for side dishes that are exciting to eat.

And who doesn’t like kabobs, right? They’re the most versatile dishes that can grace any meal.

One ingredient that makes kabobs more exciting is grilled meat.

So, consider chicken breasts; they are boneless, cook quickly, and are easy to eat.

Skewer bell peppers and cherry tomatoes make them more nutritionally balanced.

To bring the Greek accents to this dish, dress the chicken kabobs in Greek yogurt and tzatziki sauce for a tangy finish highlighting each ingredient’s natural flavors.

7 – Zucchini Lasagna

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If lasagna is your go-to comfort dish and is looking for ways to increase its nutritional value, consider using zucchini to add a refreshing twist to the standard recipe.

Although zucchini is the main ingredient of this dish, you still need the three other essential ingredients of every lasagna dish: noodles, cheese, and sauce.

You can employ ground beef to give the lasagna a rich, savory flavor.

Since zucchini retains much moisture, cutting them into thin slices and salting them will help extinguish the excess moisture and prevent a soggy lasagna.

Additionally, you can also grill them for a minute or two.

8 – Avocado Egg Salad

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The versatility of avocadoes and eggs makes them suitable for any meal.

And combining these potent ingredients into a salad makes a healthy and comforting side dish for the savory meatloaf sandwich.

Mashed egg yolks, chopped egg whites, and avocadoes combined into a salad result in a creamy, buttery texture that complements the fluffy and meaty sandwich.

This salad is a great source of plant and animal protein, carbs, healthy fats, and vitamins.

Omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and fiber are some of their key benefits.

9 – Broccoli Cheese Soup

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Broccoli and cheese are an unusual combo but give outstanding results.

The crumbly cooked broccoli and sweet and tangy cheese broth highlight the fluffy sandwich bread and savory meatloaf.

While choosing a cheese for your soup, you want to ensure they are easily meltable and not too overwhelming.

Fontina, Swiss, and Gruyere are some excellent options that give a smooth texture when cooked.

Because cheese is essentially the base ingredient of this dish, it may not be the healthiest option as a side.

Nonetheless, it is an excellent cheat meal when dietary restrictions don’t satisfy your palate.

10 – Hot and Sour Soup

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With pepper and vinegar as the star ingredients of this dish, hot and sour soup is a classic staple in Asian cuisine.

Its complex taste has something to offer regardless of your taste preferences.

But the best thing about pairing this soup with meatloaf sandwiches is how the sandwich and soup combine to give a delightful concoction of flavors.

Although it may seem odd, using vinegar in soup bases alter its taste to bring out a rich umami flavor by enhancing the natural flavors of the soup.

It also helps deliver the extra zing that your palate needs.

Conclusion

Deciding on a side dish for meatloaf sandwiches shouldn’t be overwhelming; if it confuses you, think of it as any other sandwich but with more flavorful meat.

Lighter dishes like skewers, kabobs, and salads are suitable as breakfast and lunch options, while soups, sushi, and cabbage rolls are excellent dinner options.

Now that you have enough options for side dishes, the only thing left is to experiment and see which works best for your palate.