Here's what to serve with lasagna to make it a balanced meal that complements the classic Italian flavors of this family-favorite casserole. I've got a long list of appetizers, side dishes, and desserts to choose from! Grab a few different recipes and serve up an epic lasagna dinner spread!
For the main course, use my quick ricotta cheese mixture to make a classic homemade lasagna, or try my vegetarian spinach lasagna!
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- Appetizers, Sides, And Desserts That Go With Lasagna
- 1. Green Garden Salad
- 2. Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
- 3. Caprese Flatbread
- 4. Oven Garlic Bread
- 5. Antipasto Platter
- 6. Caesar Salad
- 7. Chicken Pastina Soup
- 8. Pasta e Fagioli
- 9. Air Fryer Breaded Green Beans
- 10. Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
- 11. Baked Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
- 12. Rustic Bread
- 13. Steamed Artichokes with Cheese Sauce
- 14. Sauteed Broccolini
- 15. Pan Fried Asparagus
- 16. Roasted Broccoli
- 17. Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- 18. Baked Cabbage Steaks
- 19. Fruit Cocktail Salad
- 20. No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream
- 21. French Fruit Tart
- ❔ What Wine Pairs Well With Lasagna
- ❔ How Much Lasagna Should I Serve Per Person
- ❔ Can Lasagna Be Made Ahead Of Time
- 💭 Tips For Choosing What To Serve With Lasagna
- 📖 Recipe Card
- What To Serve With Lasagna: 21+ Best Appetizers, Sides, & Desserts!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
Appetizers, Sides, And Desserts That Go With Lasagna
Lasagna is a classic Italian pasta casserole that is internationally adored! It's a popular choice for feeding a crowd and almost always makes an appearance at potlucks.
Although lasagna is a meal in itself, a few complementary side dishes go a long way. Fortunately, I've got you covered with appetizers, side dishes, and dessert suggestions; you just need the lasagna!
1. Green Garden Salad
A light, refreshing salad is a great starter for a hearty pasta dinner like lasagna. Try a green garden salad with homemade Italian vinaigrette for a restaurant-style Italian dinner!
A crisp wedge salad is another equally delicious and easy-to-prepare salad that works well with lasagna!
2. Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
Pasta salad perfectly fits the Italian theme of a lasagna dinner, and it's chilled, which offers a refreshing contrast.
Toss the pasta with salami, pepperoni, cheese, veggies, and Italian dressing, and let it chill in the fridge overnight to give the flavors time to marry (and cut down on prep time the day of your dinner)!
3. Caprese Flatbread
Caprese flatbread is a delightful thin-crust pizza that perfectly complements lasagna's richness! It's topped with classic Caprese salad ingredients, including fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, for a harmonious blend of Italian flavors that serves as a tasty intro to the main course.
4. Oven Garlic Bread
If lasagna is on the menu, garlic bread is a must-have, in my opinion! The great thing about making your own in the oven is you control how crispy and toasted or buttery and soft your garlic bread turns out!
5. Antipasto Platter
Like a charcuterie board, an antipasto platter is a large serving tray of meats, cheeses, and other accouterments.
However, antipasto platters typically include marinated veggies, olives, Italian cheeses, and cured meats like prosciutto and pepperoni, making it a perfect choice with lasagna!
6. Caesar Salad
My Caesar salad recipe features crisp Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, homemade Caesar dressing, and made-from-scratch croutons. Making the dressing and croutons from scratch is surprisingly simple and surpasses bagged salads and store-bought dressing!
7. Chicken Pastina Soup
Chicken pasta soup, with its comforting broth, tender chicken pieces, and tiny pasta, serves as a savory starter to the cheesy layers of lasagna goodness that are on the way.
Combining the two dishes creates a well-balanced and satisfying Italian meal that is particularly cozy during cold weather!
8. Pasta e Fagioli
Made famous by Olive Garden restaurants, pasta e fagioli (pasta & beans) is a rich tomato-based soup with beef, beans, and tender bites of pasta. It's a favorite fall soup recipe in my household and tastes even better with homemade lasagna!
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9. Air Fryer Breaded Green Beans
These air fryer green beans are crispy and crunchy on the outside, tender inside, and perfectly snackable, similar to french fries! Serve them with a side of marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping, and watch them disappear!
10. Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Tender mushroom caps stuffed with seasoned cream cheese and Parmesan are the perfect way to kick off your meal! Best of all, they are ready to eat in under 30 minutes!
11. Baked Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
This cheesy and flavorful dip is baked to golden perfection, featuring spinach, artichokes, and a blend of melted cheeses. Bonus points if you make your homemade tortilla chips in the air fryer!
12. Rustic Bread
My homemade rustic bread's soft and chewy texture is excellent for mopping up extra lasagna gravy. Serve it sliced with butter or hand-torn and buttered for easy sharing!
13. Steamed Artichokes with Cheese Sauce
Artichokes are a beloved ingredient in Italian cuisine, so naturally, steamed artichokes are a great pairing for lasagna! Add some rich and creamy cheddar cheese sauce for dipping, and dig in!
14. Sauteed Broccolini
Green veggies will add a pop of color to your dinner spread and aren't overly filling. Sauteed broccolini is an easy option that feels more elevated than broccoli and looks great on the plate!
15. Pan Fried Asparagus
Another classic vegetable choice is asparagus! Some quick and easy pan-fried asparagus will make your lasagna dinner feel more balanced. It's fried in melted butter with garlic and seasonings, so there's no shortage of flavor!
16. Roasted Broccoli
Tender broccoli florets are tossed with oil, garlic, and Parmesan and oven-roasted until they achieve a delightful crispness. Another great vegetable side dish for any Italian meal!
17. Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts, halved and drizzled with balsamic glaze, are roasted to perfection, creating a delectable blend of sweet and savory flavors. The outer leaves of the sprouts caramelize just enough to give them a little crunch!
18. Baked Cabbage Steaks
Tender baked cabbage steaks are buttery and satisfying with nothing more than a little oil, salt, and pepper. This is a particularly good vegetarian option and is mouthwatering served next to a homemade spinach lasagna!
19. Fruit Cocktail Salad
Canned and fresh fruit come together in this easy cocktail fruit salad with pineapple and vanilla pudding sauce! You can customize the fruits to your liking, and if there's something you don't have, leave it out!
20. No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream
Cool and creamy vanilla ice cream is a sweet and refreshing treat after a hearty plate of lasagna. This no-churn recipe doesn't even require an ice cream maker!
21. French Fruit Tart
A vibrant French fruit tart is a showstopping dessert that will end your lasagna dinner with a bang! It features a crumbly shortcrust pastry filled with rich pastry cream and a rainbow of sweet fruits to top it all off.
❔ What Wine Pairs Well With Lasagna
A medium-bodied red wine like chianti or merlot pairs well with tomato-based pasta dishes such as lasagna. Choose a crisp, dry wine like chardonnay or pinot grigio if you prefer white wine.
❔ How Much Lasagna Should I Serve Per Person
A typical lasagna made in a 9x13 baking dish serves about 12 people. Plan on giving each dinner guest a slice roughly 6-8 square inches in size.
❔ Can Lasagna Be Made Ahead Of Time
Yes! Lasagna freezes beautifully, making it a great choice for make-ahead meals! Bake the lasagna as directed in your chosen recipe, let it cool, and wrap it in foil. You can freeze it for up to 3 months!
💭 Tips For Choosing What To Serve With Lasagna
Here are 5 general guidelines for a well-rounded and complementary lasagna dinner. Dessert-wise, go with an Italian classic like tiramisu or something light, tangy, or fruity to balance the heavy lasagna meal!
- Balance with a Light Salad: A crisp, refreshing salad with light vinaigrette dressing contrasts the richness of lasagna. Try a Caesar salad, garden salad, or a simple cucumber and vinegar salad!
- Bread or Garlic Bread: A side of crusty French bread or garlic bread is a classic choice that can be used to soak up the delicious sauce from your lasagna!
- Vegetables: Roasted vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers can add color and a lighter element to the meal.
- Soup: Consider a light soup, like my Instant Pot minestrone or roasted tomato basil soup, as a prelude to the lasagna. This can add a different layer of taste and warm up the appetite.
- Fruit: Fresh fruit or a simple fruit salad provides a sweet and refreshing contrast to savory and rich lasagna.
Ready to elevate your lasagna dinners? I'd love to hear which delicious recipes caught your eye – drop a comment below with your top pick!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
What To Serve With Lasagna: 21+ Best Appetizers, Sides, & Desserts!
Ingredients
Veggies, Nuts, & Honey
- 4 oz nuts (assorted - almonds, pistachios, pecans, macadamia nuts etc)
- 1 cup olives (I used kalamata, black olives, and castelvetrano)
- 4 oz marinated mushrooms (or artichoke hearts, or both)
- ½ cup honey
Meat
- 4 oz genoa salami (assortment - dry, hard, Genoa)
- 4 oz soppressata salami
- 4 oz calabrese salami (mild (dolce) or hot (piccante))
- 4 oz hot capicola (aka capocollo, or coppa)
- 4 oz Proscuitto
Cheese
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- 6 oz aged or hard Italian cheese (like Pecorino Romano)
- 6 oz semi-soft cheese (like fontina or brie, I also included cubes of Swiss and Colby Jack)
- 6 oz soft cheese (like gorgonzola)
Optional Items
- 4 oz petite dill pickles
- 4 oz roasted red bell peppers
- 4 oz pickled asparagus
- 2 oz pickled cherry peppers (or pepperoncini, or giardiniera mix)
- 12 oz crackers (Triscuit, wheat thins, grissini breadsticks, cheese whisps)
- herbs (optional - mint, basil, rosemary, thyme)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Begin by placing the 4 oz nuts, 1 cup olives, 4 oz marinated mushrooms, ½ cup honey, and 8 oz mozzarella pearls in small ramekins or bowls. Then, spread the bowls of ingredients around a decorative tray or serving platter.
- Arrange the meats and cheeses around the bowls. Rolling or folding the meats makes for a better presentation. (4 oz genoa salami, 4 oz soppressata salami, 4 oz calabrese salami, 4 oz hot capicola,4 oz Proscuitto, 6 oz aged or hard Italian cheese, 6 oz semi-soft cheese, and 6 oz soft cheese).
- Fill in any remaining spaces with any optional ingredients you would like to use, including 4 oz petite dill pickles, 4 oz roasted red bell peppers, 4 oz pickled asparagus, 2 oz pickled cherry peppers, 12 oz crackers, or herbs, and serve.
Notes
- My butcher block cutting board that covers the stove top is what I used here, which gave me lots of room and was perfectly portable too!
- The mozzarella pearls can be marinated in an Italian dressing before assembling if desired.
- For dipping, you can also add small bowls of spreads like hummus, tapenade, or olive oil with balsamic vinegar.
- Sprigs of fresh herbs like basil, thyme, or rosemary can be used to add elegance and a pop of color to your platter. They are also useful for filling in any blank spots!
- If you'd like to prepare your platter in advance, slice and portion all of the individual ingredients and keep them covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You should wait to add nuts, bread, and/or crackers until just before serving.
- To store: With the exception of nuts, which can be stored at room temperature, any leftover ingredients should be stored separately in an airtight container in the fridge. How long they last will vary by ingredient, so you should refer to their original packaging.
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