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Home » Roundups

43 Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Spaghetti

Published: Dec 29, 2022 · Modified: Dec 26, 2024 by Tina · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Since this easy spaghetti recipe is one of my most popular posts, I thought I'd follow it up with a post of the best sides to serve with spaghetti.

These 43 recipes includes various salads, roasted and steamed veggies, soft pretzels (great for dipping in marinara sauce) and breads (including one that can made in the air fryer.

Enjoy!

 

You might also like:

  • 15 Ways to Use Leftover Spaghetti
  • The Best Wines to Serve with Spaghetti

 

Side dishes for spaghetti

 

What can you serve with spaghetti besides salad?

Whether you go to a restaurant or quickly throw together a salad at home because "oops, we need a vegetable!" you know that salad is the go-to for rounding out a spaghetti meal.

While there are some great salad recipes in this post, that's not your only option for a vegetable side dish. You'll also find vegetable side dishes like:

  • Green Beans Almondine
  • Shaved Brussel Sprouts
  • Butternut Squash
  • Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Feta Cheese
  • Roasted Zucchini with Parmesan Cheese

 

What fruit goes well with spaghetti?

Both my husband and my oldest child complain about the fact that I like "fruity meat," like pineapple salsa with tacos. They both hate having sweet and savory mixed.

(My response to this is that they're welcome to cook a "non fruity meat" meal for dinner the next day.)

Since I do, in fact, like "fruity meat," I was intrigued about the idea of serving fruit with spaghetti. Apparently in Italy it's common to combine berries, figs, plums, oranges and lemons to either the plate and/or the sauce itself. It makes the meal prettier and, of course, gives the sauce a little sweetness.

Personally, I don't think there's any meal that wouldn't benefit with some sliced mango or pineapple on the side.

 

Spaghetti and Pasta Side Dishes

1

Easy No Knead Focaccia (Same Day or Overnight Rise)

Photo Credit: enzasquailhollowkitchen.com

Nothing is quiet as good as this tender airy focaccia! This easy to make recipe is amazing dipped in marinara sauce or eaten all by itself

2

Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

Photo Credit: foodworthfeed.com

This caprese (cherry tomato and mozzarella salad) with roasted tomato vinaigrette is vibrant, healthy and full of bright, fresh flavors.

3

Green Beans Almondine

Photo Credit: debraklein.com

Garlicky almond green beans go well with any pasta recipe. They're easy to make and so flavorful.

4

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Photo Credit: www.fannetasticfood.com

This shaved brussels sprouts salad is packed with goodness, like apples, pecans, and dried cranberries. It's easy to make and drizzled in a delicious dijon vinaigrette.

5

Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Photo Credit: www.loveandotherspices.com

Air Fryer Butternut Squash is so easy to make and comes out tender, caramelized, and crispy on the edges. It comes together quickly with only a few ingredients and makes a tasty side dish.

6

Arugula, Prosciutto, and Grilled Pear Salad

Photo Credit: yummyaddiction.com

This easy arugula pear salad is absolutely delicious with peppery arugula, salty prosciutto and feta, crunchy pecans and sweet grilled pears!

In addition to being a great side dish, it also can be a light meal or a fancy starter for your next party.

7

Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Feta

Photo Credit: www.fannetasticfood.com

These baked portobello mushrooms make a delicious and healthy side dish for spaghetti.

They're piled with feta, spinach, artichokes, white beans, sun-dried tomatoes, and more, then baked to golden perfection.

8

Delicious Berry Mandarin Tossed Salad

Photo Credit: fluxingwell.com

This easy salad recipe combines strawberries, mandarin orange slices, bacon, greens and almonds with a delicious homemade dressing for a fabulous salad that complements many main dishes

9

Bread Machine Italian Breadsticks

Photo Credit: foodmeanderings.com

Make the dough for these easy and delicious Bread Machine Italian Breadsticks in your bread maker, quickly cut them with a pizza cutter, pop them in the oven and bake to perfection in 15 minutes.

Your house will smell amazing, while the bread machine does all the work! They're a great side dish for a spaghetti dinner.

10

Pan Seared Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Photo Credit: happykitchen.rocks

These quick balsamic glazed brussels sprouts are crispy, lightly sweet and utterly delicious. Perfect healthy and easy vegan side dish ready in 20 minutes.

11

Mediterranean Kale Salad

Photo Credit: thehealthyepicurean.com

This Mediterranean salad is made with tons of crispy veggies, olives, feta cheese, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes. It's topped with with a lemon-honey dressing.

12

Kale Apple Slaw

Photo Credit: www.throughthefibrofog.com

This kale apple slaw is bursting with healthy ingredients, and has the best sweetness from the fruit. Very simple to make, it has a light honey ginger dressing instead of mayo to keep it light and refreshing.

13

Jumbo Goat Cheese Stuffed Soft Pretzels

Photo Credit: bakerstable.net

These Jumbo Goat Cheese Stuffed Soft Pretzels are the perfect snack or side dish. Every bite is soft, chewy, full of flavor, and truly melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

14

Roasted Zucchini with Parmesan

Photo Credit: theforkedspoon.com

This Roasted Zucchini Recipe is so delicious and so easy to make.

Ready in about 20 minutes, fresh zucchini squash is tossed with olive oil, simple seasonings, and grated parmesan cheese then roasted in the oven until tender.

15

Side Salad with Bacon

Photo Credit: fantabulosity.com

This crunchy salad contains crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, chopped radishes, and cooked bacon -- plus two secret spices that make a huge, delicious difference.

16

Arugula Burrata Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Photo Credit: lovefromthetable.com

Arugula burrata salad is a great side dish for spaghetti. With lots of creamy cheese and sweet cherry tomatoes, this side is simple and delicious.

17

Parmesan Stuffed Garlic Bread

Photo Credit: saltandspoon.co

This stuffed garlic bread recipe is the perfect combination of savory and cheesy.

The bread is stuffed with a flavorful mixture of parmesan and fresh herbs, then baked to perfection. The result is a delicious and easy-to-make appetizer that will be loved by all.

18

Smoky Roasted Cauliflower with Thyme and Garlic

Photo Credit: peaktoplate.com

This cauliflower is the perfect balance of smoky, salty, sweet, savory, and crunchy. It's the perfect accompaniment for spaghetti.

19

Easy Butternut Beetroot and Feta Salad - Bless This Meal

Photo Credit: blessthismeal.com

Butternut beetroot and feta salad is the perfect blend between sweet and savory.

The butternut squash and beets are seasoned then roasted to perfection. Feta, almonds and cranberries are garnished over a bed of spinach and arugula.

20

Roasted Carrots and Green Beans

Photo Credit: balancewithjess.com

Roasted Carrots and Green Beans are the best healthy side dish! With classic seasonings like garlic, thyme, and oregano, these roasted vegetables are easy enough to make on any weeknight but delicious enough for a holiday dinner party!

Only 5 ingredients and 20 minutes needed! Air fryer instructions included.

21

Air Fryer Frozen Texas Toast Garlic Bread

Photo Credit: mondayismeatloaf.com

You'll never make garlic bread the same way again once you try making it in your air fryer. Crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle. So good!

22

Cabbage Salad / TikTok Green Goddess Salad with an Indian spin

Photo Credit: easyindiancookbook.com

This easy and delicious cabbage salad is an adaptation of the viral TikTok green goddess salad. This recipe uses simple ingredients and adds an Indian twist.

23

Arugula and Prosciutto Salad

Photo Credit: foodworthfeed.com

This delicious prosciutto salad is a quick and easy, recipe! This salad features arugula, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts and crispy sourdough croutons.

We serve this yummy salad with our homemade fig and balsamic vinaigrette.

24

Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe

Photo Credit: theoregondietitian.com

This air fryer asparagus recipe is much more simple and much faster than traditional roasting. Toss the asparagus in the air fryer, and eat!

25

Sauteed Garlic Butter Broccoletti

Photo Credit: lovefromthetable.com

Sauteed broccoletti is a super simple and delicious side dish. A perfect light complement to a pasta main dish.

26

Classic Caesar Salad

Photo Credit: drivemehungry.com

This Caesar salad recipe is simple, easy to prepare, and has all the classic flavors.

It's made with crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a classic Caesar dressing.

27

Copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe

Photo Credit: savingdollarsandsense.com

These copycat Olive Garden Breadsticks are always a favorite. Made with simple ingredients and taste amazing.

28

Kale Pumpkin Salad with Feta and Pesto Dressing

Photo Credit: happykitchen.rocks

This Kale Pumpkin Salad with Feta and Pesto Dressing is easy-to-make, fast, healthy and delicious. It’s the perfect fall kale salad with squash and it comes together in less than 30 minutes.

29

Easy Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic Butter

Photo Credit: drivemehungry.com

These sautéed, garlicky mushrooms make an excellent side for spaghetti! They’re flavored with garlic butter and sautéed until golden brown!

30

Roasted Zucchini and Broccoli

Photo Credit: zucchinizone.com

Roasted zucchini and broccoli are lightly covered with Italian seasoning garlic, and parmesan cheese, then roasted to perfection in the oven. It's an easy and flavorful side dish to add to your next meal!

31

Lemon Garlic Spinach

Photo Credit: southernandmodern.com

fresh garlic

32

Mashed Butternut Squash

Photo Credit: www.lovefromtheoven.com

Mashed Butternut Squash, with hints of butter and cinnamon, is a stand out side dish, especially with holiday. meals.

You only need a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of prep time to make this easy recipe.

33

Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Photo Credit: southernandmodern.com

    Made with oranges, arugula, goat cheese, and pecans, then topped with a balsamic vinegar-based dressing, this delicious salad is as pretty as it tastes.

34

Creamed Kale with Cream Cheese

Photo Credit: www.midwexican.com

This recipe starts with raw kale and takes it to the next level. Even the most picky eater is sure to love this dish, with its jalapeno heat, cream cheese-y goodness, and bacon topping.

35

Parmesan Bread Bites

Photo Credit: cambreabakes.com

You can make these cheesy parmesan bread bites in one hour with either homemade or store-bought pizza dough, parmesan cheese, and garlic butter.

36

Roasted Parmesan Green Beans Recipe

Photo Credit: savingtalents.com

This delicious recipe for Roasted Parmesan Green Beans uses fresh green beans and makes for a perfect side dish to complete a spaghetti meal.

This simple side dish can be served anytime, not just on a special occasion.

37

Kale Sweet Potato Salad Recipe

Photo Credit: ottawamommyclub.ca

This Kale Sweet Potato Salad is made with a mix of kale, greens, cranberries, Feta cheese, Quinoa, and cooked sweet potatoes. The ideal healthy side dish to a delicious meal.

38

Homemade Garlic Bread With Parmesan Herb Butter

Photo Credit: reusegrowenjoy.com

This easy Homemade Garlic Bread tastes like a restaurant without the extra work.

Start with a pre-made Ciabatta loaf or French loaf, then you mix up the spread (which contains fresh basil, parsley, and chives) and pop it in the oven.

39

Pan Fried Tender Stem Broccoli

Photo Credit: saltandspoon.co

This pan fried tender stem broccoli recipe is the perfect side dish for any meal.

The broccoli is pan fried in a mixture of olive oil and butter until it is tender and slightly browned. Then, it's seasoned with salt and black pepper to taste and sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

Pan fried tender stem broccoli is a healthy and delicious way to enjoy this classic vegetable.

40

Sauteed Broccoli Rabe

Photo Credit: mangiawithmichele.com

Hearty broccoli rabe that is sautéed with garlic and olive oil is the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes!

Great on its own, in a sandwich, on a pizza, in an omelette or as a side to your favorite pasta, it’s a favorite of many.

41

Butternut Squash au Gratin

Photo Credit: foodworthfeed.com

This perfect Fall recipe features velvety butternut squash baked in a gruyere cream sauce and topped with golden, buttery breadcrumbs.

42

Shrimp Scampi Zucchini Boats

Photo Credit: balancewithjess.com

These gluten-free, low-carb Shrimp Scampi Zucchini Boats are stuffed with plump shrimp, lots of garlic, and juicy tomatoes. A healthy, lightened-up version of an Italian classic that the whole family will love.

43

Quick and Easy Air Fryer Garlic Bread

Photo Credit: www.yourhomemadehealthy.com

There's truly nothing better than a warm, garlicky slice of fresh-out-of-the-oven bread. And this quick and easy air fryer garlic bread is sure to check all the boxes. It's perfectly toasted and golden brown outside with a soft pillowy inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi, I’m Tina, creator of Three Kids, Three Cats, and a Husband. As a busy mom, I share trusted family recipes, kids’ activities, and Disney World tips to make life easier and more fun for families like yours.

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