Without a hint of doubt, Spaghetti is a popular choice at the dining table, especially during the holiday season. But of course, even if it’s not Thanksgiving, Easter, or Christmas day, you can always enjoy and completely savor this creamy pasta.
And from simple vegetable side dishes to soft and fluffy bread and pastries, you’ll need satisfying side dishes to pair with the uniquely sweet and cheesy flavors of spaghetti.
Do you have a hard time picking up your side dish options? Well, don’t worry! Elevate your family dinner into a memorable feast with these 21 Best Side Dishes for Spaghetti.
1. Garlic Bread
While seemingly basic and simple, this garlic bread recipe featured by Elise Bauer makes a true vision on a spaghetti pasta plate with its cheesy and buttery flavor.
This recipe features a loaf of Italian bread definitely gets the spotlight because its parmesan ingredient complements the creaminess of spaghetti. It’s no doubt that garlic bread is a fantastic side dish for your favorite spaghetti.
2. Caesar Salad
This lovely Caesar salad is the classic partner of your all-time favorite spaghetti. All it needs is small, fresh heads of romaine lettuce, shredded parmesan cheese, homemade crisp croutons, anchovies or Worcestershire sauce, and a delightful salad dressing to set a flavorful Caesar salad.
Serve a big heap of this salad on your plate alongside the spaghetti for a real match made in heaven.
3. Italian Meatballs
These Italian meatballs that you can prepare and cook straight from your kitchen could really enhance your spaghetti pasta dish. Best of all, this simple recipe from Cookerru details how you can choose a piece of excellent meat.
While ground beef makes a fantastic choice, you can add a handful of other meat ingredients such as veal, pork, and sausage in creating this recipe. Plus, if you have Italian breadcrumbs, milk, egg, and parmesan cheese, you’re on the right path to leaving quite an impression on your guests.
4. Roasted Broccoli
This roasted broccoli would seriously make the most fabulous pairing for an entire plate of spaghetti.
The recipe calls only for simple pantry ingredients: broccoli, red onions, black pepper, thick-cut bacon, mayonnaise, milk, and sour cream. It may appear like the bare essentials in cooking and preparation, but the taste and texture are award-winning.
5. Sauteed Mushrooms
The name alone of sauteed mushrooms secures a spot on this list of best side dishes for spaghetti. This simple but delightful recipe takes baby bella mushrooms to that much-needed upgrade with its detailed preparation and presentation.
The cremini or baby belly mushrooms are cleaned, placed in the pan, and drizzled with olive oil and butter. After, soak them in simple seasonings of salt and pepper before stirring them in the pan.
6. Glazed Carrots
Here’s a side dish for spaghetti that doesn’t need further introduction. The truth is you might skip the spaghetti once you have a bite of this buttery and creamy glazed carrots recipe.
But yes, glazed carrots and spaghetti shares a special bond, so we cannot leave this delicious side dish off our list. To prepare this delicious glazed carrots side dish, all it takes is peeled carrots, butter, salt, brown sugar, and, finally, chopped parsley for final toppings and presentation.
7. Apple Salad
This apple salad side dish offers an awesome balance of crisp texture and sweetness, producing a contrasting crunch to the plate of spaghetti pasta.
There’s the sweet flavor of cinnamon and pecan and the crisp texture of crumbled blue cheese, mixed greens, and dried cranberries. Topped with sweet fruits, crunchy nut seeds, and sharp cheese, this salad side dish is surprisingly mouthwatering.
8. Roasted Asparagus
These rich spring greens are overflowing with flavor and are an incredibly healthy and vegan pairing of spaghetti.
Roasted asparagus is a classic side dish served in five-star restaurants. The side dish recipe involves drizzling with oil, seasoning with salt and pepper, and roasting in the oven for twelve minutes until tender and juicy.
9. Grilled Vegetable Skewers
Admit it or not, some of us are not excited about vegetable skewers as I am, so this grilled veggie side dish might not be an ideal option at first glance.
But you can enjoy a nutritious side dish for spaghetti with yellow squash, mushrooms, grape tomatoes, and Brussels sprouts tossed in red pepper flakes and oregano seasoning and drizzled with freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil.
It’s light yet satisfying, making it a vegetarian side dish that will definitely shine apart from the rest.
10. No Knead Bread
Honestly, I don’t think you can completely savor and enjoy a spaghetti dinner without some presence of any bread or loaf on the dining table.
Whether you crave wheat bread, Italian or French bread, or just any dinner rolls, it’s guaranteed that they will not last long. If you like something extraordinary for a plate of spaghetti, check out this artisan no-knead bread recipe from Lauren Allen.
11. Antipasto Salad
What I appreciate and enjoy about this Italian antipasto salad is its suppleness. Whether you like a light and refreshing dinner or an infamous side dish for your favorite spaghetti, antipasto salad is always an exceptional choice.
Match your spaghetti with this antipasto salad made of salami, provolone, black olives, artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, and peppers, and I bet your beloved guests will go home satisfied and happy!
12. Mozzarella Sticks
Is there anybody here who doesn’t love the one and only flavorful and cheesy mozzarella sticks? Next to a delicious spaghetti meal, you’ll never go wrong with the crispy, gooey, and melty deliciousness of fried cheese.
Make your mozzarella sticks even more extraordinary with these two kitchen ingredients recommended in the recipe: Japanese breadcrumbs and a homemade spicy marinara sauce. These simple ingredients surely add up a little magic that will make your lovely guests ask and crave more.
13. Bruschetta
Here’s a simple, flavorful, and easy-to-transport side dish that gives an exciting vibe of the summer season! Ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic tossed in and combined with French-style baguettes: your loved ones would not discover what hit them.
This toasted French bready is exceptionally delicious and a total showstopper too! Made with a few simple ingredients of diced tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, and baguettes, you’ll get a heavenly side dish that pairs perfectly well with spaghetti.
14. Ciabatta Bread
If you share a love for pastries and pasta, ciabatta bread is the ultimate side dish for you. It’s a basic homemade recipe made of only five ingredients: active dry yeast, water, yeast starter dough, bread, and salt.
But it offers an exceptional side dish that will surely warm your heart. The outside is crisp, but the inside is soft and fluffy. It’s so tasty and flavorful that once you have a bite of it, you’ll want more.
15. Wedge Salad
Flawlessly crisp and exceptionally refreshing, this traditional wedge salad is a super-duper-perfect side dish for spaghetti. Trust us!
This seasonal salad is anything but dry and bland. You can freely add more bacon, diced tomatoes, chives, and lettuce for an even more crunchy flavor. Matched with juicy and creamy spaghetti pasta, you won’t ask and seek more!
16. Italian Green Beans
How about making a flavorful and sweet Italian green beans side dish that gives an exceptional texture to go with your spaghetti meal? Italian green beans are cut into tidbits, so it’s fulfilling and satisfying to enjoy too.
Best of all, it’s healthy and mouthwatering. And yes, don’t bother to season this vegetable side dish so much. Some oregano, salt, sugar, and basil will perfectly do the trick!
17. Focaccia Bread
Anyone can prepare and make foccacia bread as a side dish for spaghetti. After all, they’re delicious, and their crust is chewy and pleasant to the taste too.
But if you desire to leave an impression on your lovely guests, give this focaccia bread recipe a shot and add a garlic rosemary topping for that much-needed twist! It’s airy, crisp, and chewy and just perfect to have with your spaghetti meal.
18. Pesto Dinner Rolls
Offer a hint of pastry and fun to your dining table with these delightful, satisfying, and fluffy pesto roll buns. Our featured side dish recipe only demands simple ingredients: bread flour, instant yeast, honey, butter, pesto, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Unlike other pieces of bread and pastries, pesto dinner rolls don’t feel too sweet, sugary, and soggy. So, these roll buns will not only make a fantastic addition to a spaghetti meal, but they will perfectly balance and complement the pasta too.
19. Eggplant Parmesan
I’m aware that eggplant is not everyone’s number one favorite vegetable. But when baked to perfection, this eggplant parmesan is gloriously delicious and mouthwatering.
You can easily search for an easy recipe for this spaghetti side dish on the Internet. But this featured version in this list comes with a unique combination of tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and crunchy bread crumbs. Guaranteed to please!
20. Tomato Basil Soup
Roma tomatoes, carrots, thyme leaves, carrots, and balsamic vinegar make up this filling spaghetti side dish: tomato basil soup.
It’s convenient to prepare and cook, vibrantly delicious and gives much-needed nourishment to the dining table. Steamy, tangy, and aromatic, this tomato basil soup will surely be your new favorite side dish to look forward to during the festive and holiday season.
21. Italian Sausage and Peppers
A hearty side dish that will definitely add a European flair to your usual spaghetti meal, Italian sausage and peppers are restaurant-quality that will make your mouth drool.
Adding bell peppers and sweet yellow onions takes it to the horizon. Its meaty texture is guaranteed to please guests, and the sausage and peppers look perfect on your classic spaghetti platter.
Rounding Up the Best Side Dishes for Spaghetti
Indeed, spaghetti is a perfect meal whether you’re hosting a small family reunion or up for a large group party. And what’s a better way of taking this meal to the next level by pairing it with epic side dishes?
But of course, you don’t like to take your side meals for granted, even if they’re not the show’s highlight. So, make your family party a certified hit with these 21 Best Side Dishes for Spaghetti. I bet that you won’t regret it!
