If you're stuck wondering what to serve with spaghetti, I've gathered a few of my favorite recipes to serve as satisfying sides. Crunchy bread, crisp salads, and tasty veggie sides will build a complete meal your family will love. These flavorful sides are guaranteed to take your weekday dinner up a notch!
See my popular spaghetti seasoning recipe, hearty spaghetti bolognese, and what to serve with baked spaghetti or what to serve with spaghetti and meatballs for spaghetti night perfection.
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- Best Side Dishes to Serve With Spaghetti
- 1. Garlic Bread
- 2. Panzanella Salad
- 3. Cucumber Salad
- 4. Caramelized Brussel Sprouts
- 5. Garden Salad
- 6. Baked Zucchini
- 7. Caprese
- 8. Meatballs
- 9. Roasted Broccoli
- 10. Ratatouille
- 11. Caesar Salad
- 12. Sauteed Mushrooms
- 13. Roasted Green Beans
- 14. Bruschetta
- 15. Sauteed Broccolini
- 📖 Recipe Card
- What To Serve With Spaghetti: 15+ Best Side Dishes To Make On Spaghetti Night!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
Like risotto and gnocchi, a great spaghetti is one of those beloved classic Italian dishes that should always be in a cook’s back pocket. Spaghetti with red sauce is a quick, simple, and delicious meal that’s still one of my favorite dinners to make.
It’s also a great opportunity to let your creativity shine with some amazing side dishes!
Whether it’s classic garlic bread, savory meatballs, or a bright refreshing seasonal salad, choosing any of these dishes will elevate your dinner to an Italian-inspired feast to be remembered.
Best Side Dishes to Serve With Spaghetti
When deciding which side dish you want, it’s important to think about contrasting flavors and textures. Spaghetti does not have much of texture, so crunchy vegetables and salads are always a great choice.
Something else to consider is acidity. Spaghetti can be a heavy dish so choosing a side with bright acidity helps to lighten things up!
Whichever you opt for, here are some of the best dishes to serve with your spaghetti dinner!
1. Garlic Bread
The OG. The classic. There’s something about slathering crispy sourdough bread with a pungent butter full of garlic, cheese, and herbs that makes everything right in the world.
Skip the frozen store bought stuff and make your own! Garlic bread is a classic choice for a reason. It just works, every time.
2. Panzanella Salad
Toasted, day-old bread soaked in vinaigrette with fresh tomatoes and herbs is something to look forward to every summer when tomatoes are at their best. Full of flavor and texture, it’s a perfect complement to spaghetti marinara.
3. Cucumber Salad
A quick salad of sliced cucumber, feta cheese, and red onion is always in season and makes for a great appetizer or side dish to go along with a big bowl of spaghetti.
4. Caramelized Brussel Sprouts
Wonderful all year round, but especially in the colder months, caramelized Brussels sprouts make for a savory yet light side. Elevate your standard Brussels sprouts by adding a few drops of fish sauce for an umami bomb of a side dish with your spaghetti meal!
5. Garden Salad
The perfect comfort food addition to your spaghetti marinara dinner, the garden salad may be simple but it’s also endlessly customizable so use whatever veggies are in season. Oven-roasted beets, goat cheese, and pine nuts make a great addition!
6. Baked Zucchini
Summer squash and zucchini are best at the height of summer and don’t need much to make them delicious. Baked zucchini with a little salt, pepper, and parmesan is full of flavor and always good with a tomato sauce.
Marinate the zucchini with olive oil, sherry vinegar, and fresh oregano for a stunner of a dish!
7. Caprese
Tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil is hard to beat. Go for cherry tomatoes and the “bocconcini” size fresh mozzarella for easier sharing. Drizzle some aged balsamic and really good olive oil along with some torn basil and you’ve got a perfect dish!
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8. Meatballs
Like The Beatles, spaghetti & meatballs will never go out of style. Meatballs are a great side for many dishes, but they truly shine alongside spaghetti.
Use a mix of ground beef & pork and lots of fresh herbs like parsley and oregano for meatballs that will blow your mind!
9. Roasted Broccoli
Broccoli is one of those vegetables that take roasting and charring really well. The high heat and caramelization adds amazing flavor to a simple vegetable. Add some garlic and grated Parmesan to take it over the top!
10. Ratatouille
If it grows together, it goes together. Squash, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes and bell peppers combine into a perfect roasted melody of flavors that pair beautifully with spaghetti!
11. Caesar Salad
Caesar salad is a classic pasta side dish that I love to make. My tasty dressing uses Worcestershire sauce to omit the anchovies for a flavorful salad everyone will enjoy.
12. Sauteed Mushrooms
For an earthy and meaty-tasting veggie side dish to spaghetti, sauteed mushrooms are a great choice! Take it up a notch by adding chopped shallots and fine herbs for a great addition to pasta.
13. Roasted Green Beans
This dish has tons of crunchy texture which pairs perfectly with a bowl of pasta. Take your standard roasted green beans to another level by adding sliced fresh radishes and pine nuts!
14. Bruschetta
Super quick and easy, tomatoes and basil dressed in olive oil and a little balsamic on top of crispy bread make a great dinner side dish. Pro tip: use the garlic bread for your bruschetta to blow some minds.
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15. Sauteed Broccolini
A classic gourmet side. A quick saute enhances the flavor of the broccolini and makes it perfectly fork-tender. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and roasted garlic makes an even more delicious dish!
I hope that you enjoy an amazingly tasty spaghetti dinner with these ideas for the best sides to serve with your meal. Be sure to share your favorite sides in the comments below and check back in to let me know what you liked best! ~ Angela
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📖 Recipe Card
What To Serve With Spaghetti: 15+ Best Side Dishes To Make On Spaghetti Night!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin, or coconut oil)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (finely minced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (rinsed, cut in half)
- 1 lb asparagus (1 bunch, rinsed, ends trimmed)
- each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- Parmesan cheese (shredded or grated, optional)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Bring a large skillet with the 1 tablespoon olive oil to medium-high heat, add the minced 1 tablespoon garlic to the heated oil, and then the halved 1 cup cherry tomatoes. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring to prevent burning your garlic.
- Add the 1 lb asparagus (cut in half, if you want to cook them faster) and stir to mix with garlic and tomatoes. Cook for 6-8 minutes, or until the asparagus has reached your desired level of tenderness. Add each, salt & pepper to taste. Serve immediately, sprinkle Parmesan cheese once dished up (optional).
Anonymous says
A great list of sides and ideas for spaghetti I will be trying several of these recipes.