What To Serve With Meatballs 15 Best Side Dishes To Eat With Meatballs

Jump to Recipe A list of great ideas for what to serve with meatballs if you’re looking to switch it up for dinner, get-togethers, or potlucks - you name it! No matter the type of meatballs you make, we have the perfect sides to complete your dish that are sure to be a hit!

15 delicious sides to serve with the meatballs of your choice! “On top of spaghetti all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed…" The star of this childhood song is also the star of our lineup today. It’s moist, it’s flavorful, it’ll roll off your plate if you’re not careful… you guessed it, the meatball. Many cuisines have their own version of the meatball so it should come as no surprise that the origin of the first meatball is a point of contention.

Jump to: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

Whether it’s kofta, Swedish meatballs, or tsukune, today we’re talking aboutwhat to serve with meatballs. There are more options than you may think, so stay tuned if you’re looking for that perfect side to compliment your delicious meatballs! Want More Recipes? Enter your email below and we’ll send them straight to your inbox!

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Mashed Potatoes There’s a reason you see meat and potatoes in some variation on almost anymenu you pick up. It just works. Mashed potatoes bring textural variation andfamiliarity 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

This Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe will be your new go-to recipe for mashed potatoes! These mashed potatoes are so creamy. Roasted garlic adds a level of deliciousness, that there are never any leftovers.

Check out this recipe

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

Green Beans I love green beans because as we spoke of earlier, many differentcuisines have their own version of the meatball, and this vegetable can pair withjust 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 are super versatile and practically effortless to get on the table for family meals! Plus, they’re equally wonderful alongside holiday main dishes!

Check out this recipe

Rice Many times in Middle-Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine you will see skeweredmeatballs 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

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

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 and creamy! Easy to make with just a few ingredients. In just minutes you’ll have a rich, flavorful dressing ready to use!

Check out this recipe

Boiled Potatoes Not only are they a good vessel for ooey-gooey raclette, but also a fantasticsidekick when serving meatballs. Simply boil potatoes in water until you caneasily 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

Spaghetti Bolognese Bolognese translates to “meat sauce”, making this pairing a no-brainer. Whiletraditional 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

Garlic Bread I think we can all agree that meatball subs with garlic-filled tomato sauce aredelicious, 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 herbsthat 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 bestScarpetta.

Air Fryer Garlic Bread

This easy air fryer garlic bread is perfectly crispy, crazy delicious, and done in no time at all! It’s as easy as mixing your garlic butter spread and popping the slices into your air fryer - and voila! You have the best garlic bread ever!

Check out this recipe

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

Corn on the Cob It could be the dead of winter but meatballs and corn on the cob could have mebelieving 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

Steamed Cauliflower Cauliflower is a great accent dish because of its versatility. When you steamcauliflower 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

Yellow Squash and Zucchini Casserole I love the idea of incorporating some color into a plate of meatballs. I don’t knowwho needs to hear this, but squash and zucchini need not only be consumedduring 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

Glazed Carrots Glazing carrots are an effortless preparation with grandiose results. I love glazedcarrots 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

This family favorite is a go-to recipe for oven-roasted quality, perfectly seasoned caramelized carrots!

Check out this recipe

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 to turn cabbage haters into cabbage lovers! This quick and simple cabbage recipe is perfect for when you’re craving comfort food like grandma used to make!

Check out this recipe

No matter your type of meatball, we hope you’ve found its perfect match! Let us know how you serve your meatballs by dropping us a comment down below, or if you try any of these awesome sides, let us know how your meatball dish 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. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 24 reviews

What To Serve With Meatballs: Garlic Green Beans (+More Great Recipes!)

A list of great ideas for what to serve with meatballs if you’re looking to switch it up for dinner, get-togethers, or potlucks - you name it! No matter the type of meatballs you make, we have the perfect sides to complete your dish that are sure to be a hit!

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings Calories: 84kcal Prep 5 minutes Cooking 20 minutes Total Time 25 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 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 c broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable depending on your main dish - use more as needed)▢ each, salt & pepper (to taste, optional)

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

NutritionCalories: 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! best side dishes for meatballs, easy green beans, Garlic Green Beans with Bacon, vegetable side dish, what to serve with meatballs Course Side Dish, vegetable side dishCuisine AmericanAngela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

15 delicious sides to serve with the meatballs of your choice!

“On top of spaghetti all covered with cheese, I lost my poor meatball when somebody sneezed…"

The star of this childhood song is also the star of our lineup today. It’s moist, it’s flavorful, it’ll roll off your plate if you’re not careful… you guessed it, the meatball.

Many cuisines have their own version of the meatball so it should come as no surprise that the origin of the first meatball is a point of contention.

Want More Recipes? Enter your email below and we’ll send them straight to your inbox!

indicates required

Email Address *

1. Mashed Potatoes

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

indicates required

Email Address *

indicates required

Email Address *

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

Check out this recipe

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

Check out this recipe

3. Green Beans

I love green beans because as we spoke of earlier, many differentcuisines have their own version of the meatball, and this vegetable can pair withjust 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

Check out this recipe

4. Rice

Many times in Middle-Eastern or Mediterranean cuisine you will see skeweredmeatballs 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

Check out this recipe

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

Check out this recipe

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 and creamy! Easy to make with just a few ingredients. In just minutes you’ll have a rich, flavorful dressing ready to use!

Check out this recipe

7. Boiled Potatoes

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

This Caesar Salad dressing without anchovies is delicious and creamy! Easy to make with just a few ingredients. In just minutes you’ll have a rich, flavorful dressing ready to use!

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

Boiled Potatoes

Check out this recipe

8. Spaghetti Bolognese

Bolognese translates to “meat sauce”, making this pairing a no-brainer. Whiletraditional 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

Check out this recipe

9. Garlic Bread

I think we can all agree that meatball subs with garlic-filled tomato sauce aredelicious, 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 herbsthat 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 bestScarpetta.

Air Fryer Garlic Bread

Check out this recipe

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

Check out this recipe

11. Corn on the Cob

It could be the dead of winter but meatballs and corn on the cob could have mebelieving 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

Check out this recipe

12. Steamed Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a great accent dish because of its versatility. When you steamcauliflower 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

Check out this recipe

13. Yellow Squash and Zucchini Casserole

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

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

Zucchini Squash Casserole

Check out this recipe

14. Glazed Carrots

Glazing carrots are an effortless preparation with grandiose results. I love glazedcarrots 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

This family favorite is a go-to recipe for oven-roasted quality, perfectly seasoned caramelized carrots!

Check out this recipe

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.

This family favorite is a go-to recipe for oven-roasted quality, perfectly seasoned caramelized carrots!

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

Check out this recipe

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 24 reviews

What To Serve With Meatballs: Garlic Green Beans (+More Great Recipes!)

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings Calories: 84kcal Prep 5 minutes Cooking 20 minutes Total Time 25 minutes

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 24 reviews

What To Serve With Meatballs: Garlic Green Beans (+More Great Recipes!)

Author | Angela

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 84kcal

Prep 5 minutes

Cooking 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3x▢ 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 c broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable depending on your main dish - use more as needed)▢ each, salt & pepper (to taste, optional)

Equipment You May NeedFrying PanSilicone Spatula SetMeasuring Cups

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

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 dishCuisine American

US CustomaryMetric

Want More Recipes? Enter your email below and we’ll send them straight to your inbox!#

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#

What To Serve With Meatballs: Garlic Green Beans (+More Great Recipes!)#

Nutrition#

Want More Recipes? Enter your email below and we’ll send them straight to your inbox!

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

What To Serve With Meatballs: Garlic Green Beans (+More Great Recipes!)

Nutrition