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Home » Recipes » What To Serve With

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2024 by Angela Latimer · 5 Comments

What To Serve With Meatballs

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Pin image with text of meatballs.

Looking for ideas on what to serve with meatballs? My recipe collection has all of your meal planning covered. Explore classic sides and new favorites to find the best match for any meatball dish. Whether it's a family dinner or a special occasion, these sides can help to make every meal memorable. Dive in and discover the perfect pairing!

Square split image showing different recipe ideas for what to serve with meatballs.
Jump to:
  • 15 Sides To Serve With Meatballs
  • 1. Mashed Potatoes
  • 2. Buttered Noodles
  • 3. Green Beans
  • 4. Rice
  • 5. Roasted Brussel Sprouts
  • 6. Caesar Salad
  • 7. Boiled Potatoes
  • 8. Spaghetti Bolognese
  • 9. Garlic Bread
  • 10. Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions
  • 11. Corn on the Cob
  • 12. Steamed Cauliflower
  • 13. Yellow Squash and Zucchini Casserole
  • 14. Glazed Carrots
  • 15. Fried Cabbage
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • What To Serve With Meatballs: 15+ Best Sides Dishes To Make For Dinner!
  • 💬 Comments & Reviews

15 Sides To Serve With Meatballs

Meatballs are not just a delightful main dish but also shine as appetizers and finger foods. Their versatility is unmatched, allowing them to be paired with an array of side dishes. From the classic spaghetti and garlic bread to the comforting mashed potatoes and rice, the possibilities are endless.

There are more options than you may think, so stay tuned if you’re looking for that perfect side to compliment your delicious meatballs!

1. Mashed Potatoes

There’s a reason you see meat and potatoes in some variation on almost any menu you pick up. It just works. Mashed potatoes bring textural variation and familiarity when alongside meatballs.

If you are coating meatballs in ketchup or barbeque-esque sauce, pairing with mashed potatoes is sure to give you meatloaf vibes (in all the best ways).

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roasted garlic mashed potatoes are smooth and fluffy with a rich garlic flavor from incorporating oven-roasted garlic! These mashed potatoes are so creamy and rich that you won't even need gravy. They're sure to become your new go-to favorite mashed potato recipe!
Check out this recipe
Square image of roasted garlic mashed potatoes in a wooden bowl.

2. Buttered Noodles

Ikea anyone? Swedish meatballs are known to be paired with buttered noodles, specifically, egg noodles tossed with lots and lots of parsley.

Buttered noodles are just as they sound, noodles that are cooked to al dente then tossed in butter.

Buttered Noodles
Buttered noodles are a Southern favorite that the whole family can enjoy with practically any dinner or meal. Egg noodles coated in butter. Perfectly seasoned to make a versatile pasta side dish that everyone will love.
Check out this recipe
Closeup on the buttered noodles with parsley and Parmesan.

3. Green Beans

I love green beans because as we spoke of earlier, many different
cuisines have their own version of the meatball, and this vegetable can pair with just about any of them.

Whether your meatballs are spicy, tangy, or loaded up with garlic and onion, green beans on the side will brighten up the meal while providing some textural support.

Roasted Green Beans
Roasted green beans are an easy-to-make side dish that is super versatile and practically effortless to get on the table for family meals. Plus, they're equally wonderful alongside holiday main dishes. This recipe combines all the freshness of green veggies with lemon-garlic butter and pepper. 
Check out this recipe
Oven roasted green beans in serving bowl.

4. Rice

Many times in Middle-Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine, you will see skewered meatballs served alongside seasoned rice. Bonus points if you then pour a sauce or vinaigrette over the skewer because it will double as a seasoning for the rice!

Instant Pot Basmati Rice
This Instant Pot basmati rice is the easiest way ever to turn out perfect, fluffy basmati rice each and every time! A quick cold water rinse and a few minutes of cooking are all it takes to have your rice ready to serve! It's perfect for meal prepping, too!
Check out this recipe
Squaree image of basmati rice in a bowl.

5. Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Gone are the days of boring steamed Brussel sprouts. Instead, may I suggest roasting them in the oven until fork-tender, then pairing them with a meatball.

Specifically, an Asian-inspired meatball would work well in this instance.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts
These tasty Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts are super easy to make! They’re also equally suitable for an anytime weeknight dinner, holiday meals, and special occasions! Fresh or frozen brussels sprouts are baked to crispy, caramelized perfection that retains their wonderfully nutty flavor too!
Check out this recipe
Roasted brussel sprouts showing golden caramelized color in a white serving bowl on white background

6. Caesar Salad

I mean, come on, who doesn’t love a Caesar salad? Caesar, while it is rich, has enough acid and brightness to lighten up a few meatballs and create a more balanced feel to a meal.

You can quickly toss a Caesar salad together with minimal effort. Make your own dressing to really knock it out of the park!

Caesar Salad Dressing Without Anchovies
This Caesar salad dressing without anchovies is delicious, creamy, and easy to make with just a few ingredients. It whips up in minutes with no eggs or anchovies needed. Soon, you'll have a rich, flavorful dressing ready to use.
Check out this recipe
Wide closeup on the creamy Caesar salad dressing no anchovies tossed with greens and served with croutons.

7. Boiled Potatoes

Not only are they a good vessel for ooey-gooey raclette, but they are also a fantastic sidekick when serving meatballs. Simply boil potatoes in water until you can easily pierce through the skin, then cut in half to serve.

Are you starting to sense a pattern here? Carbohydrates just want to be alongside meatballs, and we aren’t here to argue.

Boiled Potatoes
These incredibly easy-to-make boiled potatoes combine tender, tasty baby potatoes tossed with melted butter and seasoning staples! The short list of ingredients imparts maximum flavor with a practically effortless cooking method!
Check out this recipe
Boiled potatoes in a white bowl with parsley on top.

8. Spaghetti Bolognese

Bolognese translates to “meat sauce,” making this pairing a no-brainer. While traditional players in Bolognese consist of tomato sauce, peppers, garlic, onion, basil, carrots, and ground meat, imagine adding meatballs!

Once you have your sauce, this can be served over spaghetti noodles with a healthy amount of grated parmesan cheese.

Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti Bolognese is a true Italian classic full of al dente spaghetti, meaty red sauce, fresh veggies, and a blend of Italian herbs! Throw in a little wine for flavor, and you have an easy weeknight dinner you'll want to make again and again!
Check out this recipe
Wide image of the plated spaghetti bolognese with greens in the background.

>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<

9. Garlic Bread

I think we can all agree that meatball subs with garlic-filled tomato sauce are delicious, so why not try pairing a side of garlic bread with an Italian meatball?

I suggest some carryover between the herbs within the meatball and the herbs that top the garlic bread to provide some element of fluidity between the two.
Plus, once you finish your meatballs, your garlic bread will double as the best Scarpetta.

Air Fryer Garlic Bread
This air fryer garlic bread is a quick and easy side dish that's incredibly tasty, perfectly crispy, and ready to serve in just 10 minutes! All you have to do is make garlic butter to spread over your sliced bread; then the air fryer takes over! Serve it with your favorite main dishes and watch how quickly it disappears!
Check out this recipe
Wide image of the toasted air fryer garlic bread slices.

10. Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions

While both mushroom and onions make great additions to the meatball itself, they also are an effortless and flavorful accompaniment.

Whether you sauté these two together with some olive oil and white wine vinegar or roast them gently in your oven, their flavors are very complimentary.

Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions
Sauteed mushrooms and onions are the perfect balance of semi-sweet, tangy, salty, and earthy flavors. They're also super easy to make which makes them a fantastic side dish for any meal. Your sauteed mushrooms and onions are sure to be a new family favorite that you'll love sharing.
Check out this recipe
Wide image of the sauteed mushrooms and onions in skillet.
Wide split image showing different recipe ideas for what to serve with meatballs.

11. Corn on the Cob

It could be the dead of winter, but meatballs and corn on the cob could have me believing otherwise. You can grill the whole kernel or boil it in milk and butter if you prefer to prepare the corn within the comfort of your kitchen.

Crock-pot meatballs covered in sauce alongside some buttered corn on the cob is a match made in heaven that will have you thinking you are seated at a picnic table in the middle of the Summer.

Milk Butter Boiled Corn on the Cob
I love serving up my tasty milk butter boiled corn on the cob for any family meal but especially with something hot of the grill. It's just as easy as boiling or steaming corn on the cob, but this version is so superbly sweet and soft that you will make it your new 'go-to' method of cooking your corn.
Check out this recipe
Halved sweet corn cobs shown in the water, milk, and butter mixture that they were boiled in on the stovetop.

12. Steamed Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a great accent dish because of its versatility. When you steam cauliflower as opposed to roasting it, you avoid any caramelization or browning, thus creating a very neutral palate.

You could even take it one step further and prepare your own cauliflower “rice” by shredding it before you steam it. When it comes to cauliflower, a healthy amount of salt and white pepper is complementary and well-suited for any meatball variation.

Microwave Cauliflower
Perfect, tasty, and tender microwave cauliflower is the best way to steam your fresh cauliflower any night of the week! This no-fuss method takes just minutes to serve up delightfully tender-crisp cauliflower as a side to any family meal!
Check out this recipe
Square image showing cauliflower in a glass bowl.

13. Yellow Squash and Zucchini Casserole

I love the idea of incorporating some color into a plate of meatballs. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but squash and zucchini need not only be consumed during the Summer.

This preparation screams comfort food and is the perfect dish to warm up your tastebuds and your plate.

Zucchini Squash Casserole
This easy-to-make zucchini squash casserole is a flavorful combination of tender, tasty summer squash and creamy, cheesy sauce. Top it all off with crunchy Panko breadcrumbs for an incredible veggie side dish everyone loves.
Check out this recipe
Overhead of the baked zucchini squash casserole in cast iron skillet.

14. Glazed Carrots

Glazing carrots are an effortless preparation with grandiose results. I love glazed carrots because I find them to be incredibly versatile.

You can do a sweet glaze of maple syrup or brown sugar or coat them in whole grain mustard, both being equally delicious. A simple butter and brown sugar glaze could convince the pickiest of eaters that they love eating their vegetables as much as their meatballs.

Skillet Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots
These brown sugar-glazed carrots are an easy, quick, and family-approved vegetable side dish that's ready to serve in just 15 minutes. The carrots are caramelized in a brown sugar and butter glaze with the added hint of garlic from the whole cloves for a tasty, sweet, and savory flavor. They're perfect for holiday gatherings or any time you have carrots to use up in your refrigerator.
Check out this recipe
Square image of brown sugar glazed carrots.

15. Fried Cabbage

We’ve got one final thing that should be served with meatballs, and I can just see my German ancestors living for this pairing.

Cabbage is far more than a pairing set aside for sausage and corned beef; in fact, this preparation offers both a welcomed flavor contrast as well as textural compared to your meatballs.

Fried Cabbage
Fried cabbage with bacon is more than just a side dish, it’s a savory Southern classic that will turn cabbage haters into cabbage lovers! It can even be a satisfying main course your family will love! This quick and simple cabbage recipe is perfect for when you're craving comfort food like grandma used to make!
Check out this recipe
Wide image of a cast iron pan with Southern fried cabbage with bacon.

No matter your type of meatball, I hope you've found its perfect match. Let me know how you serve your meatballs by dropping a comment below. If you try any of these awesome sides, let me know how your meatball dinner turned out!

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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5 from 32 reviews

What To Serve With Meatballs: 15+ Best Sides Dishes To Make For Dinner!

Looking for ideas on what to serve with meatballs? My recipe collection has all of your meal planning covered. Explore classic sides and new favorites to find the best match for any meatball dish. Whether it's a family dinner or a special occasion, these sides can help to make every meal memorable. Dive in and discover the perfect pairing!
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 84kcal
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cooking 20 minutes minutes
Total Time 25 minutes minutes
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 strips bacon (cut into ½ inch wide pieces)
  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • ½ tablespoon garlic (finely minced)
  • 2 lbs green beans (rinsed and drained)
  • ¼ cup beef broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable depending on your main dish - use more as needed)
  • each, salt & pepper (to taste, optional)

(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large skillet or frying pan to medium-high heat and cook the cut 2 strips bacon until beginning to crisp, about 5-8 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, add the 2 tablespoon butter and ½ tablespoon garlic. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant.
  • Add the 2 lbs green beans and ¼ cup beef broth, then cook covered for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally or until the green beans are at your preferred level of tenderness. Add (optional) each, salt & pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Strain the bacon grease out, if desired, before adding the remaining ingredients. Or, omit the butter and just use the bacon grease to cook the green beans in.
  • If you opt to skip the bacon, you can use coconut or olive oil to sauté the green beans.
  • Cook uncovered for the last few minutes to evaporate any remaining liquid, if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 84kcal (4%) | Carbohydrates: 8g (3%) | Protein: 3g (6%) | Fat: 5g (8%) | Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) | Cholesterol: 11mg (4%) | Sodium: 98mg (4%) | Potassium: 250mg (7%) | Fiber: 3g (13%) | Sugar: 4g (4%) | Vitamin A: 886IU (18%) | Vitamin C: 14mg (17%) | Calcium: 42mg (4%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Side Dish, vegetable side dish
Cuisine American
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    5 from 32 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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  1. Nawal El Bacha says

    November 11, 2023 at 11:04 am

    5 stars
    Gracias por tantos aportes. Jehová los bendiga.
    "Thanks for so many contributions. Jehovah bless you."

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    September 28, 2023 at 3:55 pm

    5 stars
    Gracias por tus recetas ,me gusta aprender siempre cosas nuevas.
    "Thank you for your recipes, I always like to learn new things."

    Reply
  3. Phyillis says

    July 18, 2023 at 2:56 pm

    5 stars
    Your quick Caesar salad was fabulous with our meatball dinner tonight, thanks!

    Reply
  4. Kelly D says

    July 08, 2023 at 7:37 am

    5 stars
    The fried cabbage was a real treat to have with my meatballs, and going to try your boiled potatoes with extra butter next time! Thanks!

    Reply
  5. ava says

    April 05, 2023 at 6:46 pm

    5 stars
    this recipe was amazing! 10/10, definitely saving it

    Reply

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Hi there, I'm Angela

I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, cook, baker, and total foodie. I love sharing new, fun, creative recipes and great classic recipes, just like my Grandma used to make! Every recipe on BIWL is tested to ensure that cooks of any experience level can succeed.

Welcome to Bake It With Love. Enjoy!

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