Homemade meatballs are high on my list of comfort foods and my family loves them! Serving meatballs with spaghetti can get old really quick which is why experimenting with different sides is a simple way to make them more exciting.
If you’re wondering what to serve with meatballs, wonder no more! There’s such an incredible variety of sides that go well with meatballs. I swear you will never want to go back to the staple.
Whether you are enjoying Swedish meatballs, Asian-flavored, Italian-style, Dutch or any other kind, there are plenty of mouthwatering side dishes that will make them shine.
Our Grilled Meatballs with Asian Sauce are one of our favorite ones to make as they are a fast grill and so delish! These go great with pasta, rice or next to big bed or greens. Bacon Wrapped Bison Meatballs served individually with toothpicks are an amazing appetizer to serve for cookouts and tailgating.
🍚 Pastas & Rice
Pasta and rice are super versatile, so if you’re bored with eating meatballs with plain spaghetti or rice, the recipes below are anything but boring!
Lemon Butter Orzo
Orzo is an interesting type of pasta. It looks a lot like rice, cooks fast and can be used for easy, flavorful recipes like this lemon butter orzo that’s ready in 15 minutes.
Just perfect for a busy weeknight and suitable for various main courses besides meatballs. If you ever cooked rice, then you already know how to make orzo.
Credit: theendlessmeal.com
Sesame Noodles
Sesame noodles are the perfect side dish for Asian-flavored meatballs and they cook in just ten minutes.
This is a recipe simple enough for complete beginners in the kitchen, and you can always customize it with your favorite herbs, spices, and other ingredients.
Credit: jocooks.com
Light & Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
Can a pasta recipe actually be light? At the very least, lighter, as this flavor-packed recipe shows.
There are just a few ingredients: rotini pasta (but you can use a different kind), feta, onion, peppers, cucumbers, parsley, and a delicious vinaigrette that pulls everything together.
One thing is sure: this will be a hit with or without meatballs.
Credit: savorandsavvy.com
Creamy Grilled Mac And Cheese Recipe
The cold season makes us want to eat hearty foods and pairing meatballs with mac and cheese is a natural choice.
Here’s an easy mac and cheese recipe that is pure creamy goodness! Frankly, it tastes even better because it is on the grill!
Heat your grill and let’s get to work!
Homemade Rice Pilaf (Healthy Rice-A-Roni)
Say what? Can Rice-A-Roni actually be healthy? It sure can if you make it from scratch. And trust me….it’s really easy.
Homemade rice pilaf is a combination of brown rice, angel hair pasta, butter, and chicken broth.
This is one recipe you can make gluten-free (by using gluten-free pasta) or dairy-free if you swap the butter with olive oil.
Credit: skinnytaste.com
Mediterranean Couscous Salad
Colorful veggies, feta, olives, and garbanzo beans turn plain couscous into a star!
Couscous is a wonderful type of pasta for salads and will soak up any dressing like a champ, making your salad moist and flavorful.
Credit: jessicagavin.com
Spicy Mushroom Rice
Adding mushrooms to plain rice is a simple way to elevate this staple. Adding a bit of heat to the mushroom rice takes things further. Jalapenos on top of generous amounts of butter make the recipe even more irresistible.
Quick sides recipes are the ones that can save any busy weekday and this one is definitely worth trying!
Credit: mantitlement.com
🥔 Potatoes
Let’s face it. Who doesn’t love potatoes? Even the pickiest eaters are known to never refuse potatoes. They also go really well with meatballs. I rest my case.
How To Make Grilled Steakhouse Potatoes
As much as I enjoy lightening up some recipes, grilled steakhouse potatoes need to be calorie-rich since that’s what gives their amazing flavor.
Using just the right blend of cheeses and heavy cream, these potatoes are not only easy to make….. they also taste like heaven!
Credit: kitchenlaughter.com
Crispy Leaf Potatoes
Thinly sliced potatoes drenched in butter, garlic and herbs make one of the most amazing casseroles ever!
While you’re busy cooking meatballs, it will crisp up in the oven, giving you the perfect side dish with very little effort.
Credit: aheadofthyme.com
Duchess Potatoes
Isn’t it amazing how versatile potatoes can be! Depending on how you cook them, you will get some unique flavors, but all equally delicious.
Duchess potatoes are an interesting idea. They’re not mashed potatoes or baked potatoes, but a mix of the two.
The individual servings of pillowy potato clouds with a golden, crunchy exterior make this recipe perfect for entertaining.
Credit: momontimeout.com
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a classic recipe, but getting it right requires following a pretty strict set of rules. Avoiding the dreaded gooey consistency is totally possible as long as you use the proper technique and ingredients.
Since mashed potatoes work with so many types of meat, learning how to make them is a skill that will last you a lifetime.
Credit: tastesbetterfromscratch.com
Grilled Baked Sweet Potatoes In Foil
Baked sweet potatoes don’t need many additions to taste great. Once they are fluffy and tender on the inside, you can give them a quick upgrade with various ingredients such as butter, sour cream, brown sugar, herbs, and spices.
You can even turn these into a stand-alone meal by loading them up with the combinations of your choice.
Credit: kitchenlaughter.com
Smoked Potato Salad
Baked or fried meatballs will go perfectly with this fun twist on the classic potato salad. What’s wonderful about this dish is you can make it up to two days ahead.
In fact, the resting time will allow all the flavors to combine and become richer. Just be careful not to use too much wood, as the smoky flavor on the potatoes will intensify over time. In this case, a little goes a long way.
Credit: kitchenlaughter.com
🥦 Vegetables & Legumes
Even if you’re pressed for time, step away from microwaving frozen veggies as there are better ways you can prep a nice plant-based side dish that goes well with meatballs.
Most of these recipes are easy to prep and plenty of them cook really fast too. You’ll find some make-ahead options as well. They can be life-saving, trust me!
Roasted Broccoli Rabe With Garlic
If you’re looking for new side dish ideas that go well with meatballs, try this easy roasted broccoli rabe with garlic. This cruciferous vegetable is absolutely delicious when sautéed with garlic and oil.
Just don’t forget to blanch the rabe first, as that will remove most of its bitterness.
Credit: skinnytaste.com
5-Ingredient Spinach Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
Zucchini noodles taste nothing like their carb-rich counterpart, although they are still scrumptious in their own way.
Even if you’re not a big fan of spinach, you will surely love it in this recipe. Truth be told, parmesan makes everything better, even for picky eaters!
Credit: twopeasandtheirpod.com
Brisket Baked Beans
Baked beans are a popular dish that’s highly customizable. Every cook will make this recipe their own, but I highly recommend trying this one as is.
You’ll get perfectly balanced flavors and the perfect companion for your meatballs. Best of all, it is a fantastic recipe to use some of your leftover brisket.
Credit: kitchenlaughter.com
10 Min Creamed Spinach Recipe
What goes with meatballs? This creamed spinach sure will! For me, this is soul-soothing comfort food.
If I wouldn’t know better, it would tempt me to categorize this recipe as fast food. It’s ready in 15, so who says you need to spend tons of time in the kitchen to make something delicious?
Credit: diethood.com
Grilled Bourbon And Peach Baked Beans
Bourbon and peach baked beans is a non-traditional side that will definitely add excitement to your meatballs.
While it takes several hours for these beans to cook, the prep time is just 10 minutes (impressive, right?). Trust me, it will be worth the wait!
Credit: kitchenlaughter.com
Whole Smoked Cauliflower Recipe
Whole smoked cauliflower will impress your family! The tomato paste, dry rub and garlic add an amazing flavor that is complemented with a light smoke.
As gorgeous as this dish looks, it’s equally easy to make. Just perfect for a low-carb day.
Credit: kitchenlaughter.com
Grilled Carrots with a Balsamic Glaze
Roasted carrots are a classic recipe and will definitely up your family’s vitamin intake.
Even better, they make a great side dish for meatballs and the balsamic glaze complements the sweetness of the carrots. This is a recipe that goes perfectly with meatballs, but is so delicious, you’ll make it time and again.
Note: We had a bit of trouble serving these, as we ate most of them before the rest of the dinner was even done. We just stood at the counter eating “just one more!”
Credit: kitchenlaughter.com
Mashed Butternut Squash
As nice as mashed potatoes are, you may need to take a break from them once in a while. Well, it turns out you can skip the carbs and still have a fluffy and creamy recipe bursting with flavor.
Making mashed butternut squash doesn’t require peeling it (which can be a bit of a nightmare). You simply need to cut it in half, bake it, and scoop the flesh.
Credit: wellplated.com
Easy Creamed Corn
The friendship between corn and cream cheese produces a mouthwatering recipe which I think should be served more often, not just on Thanksgiving.
Next time you’re not sure what to pair your meatballs with, try this quick recipe. I’m positive there won’t be any leftovers!
Credit: damndelicious.net
🍝 Sauces
Some meatball recipes don’t include the sauce. It doesn’t mean you can’t make one.
Don’t be afraid to try these sauces with various styles of meatballs. They are sooo finger-licking good you will probably use them for other main courses or as appetizer dips. We use the brown gravy sauce for our mashed potatoes too!
Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is often used for spaghetti and meatballs. Feel free to skip the spaghetti and make only this sauce.
It’s so much better than any store-bought version, and healthier too. With just a handful of ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, there’s no excuse not to make it from scratch.
Credit: natashaskitchen.com
Brown Gravy Recipe
This brown gravy recipe is quick and effortless. You don’t need to use drippings and it’s ready in minutes!
It tastes great as is, although you can always customize it with herbs, heavy cream, garlic and other ingredients.
Credit: mantitlement.com
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Roasting red peppers will amplify their flavor, and you can turn them into a mouthwatering sauce for your meatballs.
This sauce goes well with so many foods it’s ridiculous! To speed things up, you can simply purchase a jar of roasted red peppers.
Credit: pinchofyum.com
🍞 Breads
Bread is the absolute universal side dish. And we can use it for such delicious recipes!
The recipes below won’t require you to bake an actual loaf of bread. They are far easier than that and guaranteed hits.
Buttermilk Cornbread
Cornbread is such a wonderful companion to meatballs and not only! Making this recipe is a matter of measuring and mixing the ingredients, scooping the batter in a preheated cast-iron skillet and allowing it to bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
As you can see, this is a simple recipe that is just wonderful to have alongside a plate full of hot, steaming meatballs.
Credit: damndelicious.net
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
The Air Fryer lets you make amazing garlic bread. Crispy, flavorful and quite decadent, might I add.
The whole family is going to love this garlic bread. It makes an excellent side but also an appetizer, especially when paired with a tasty dip.
Credit: savorandsavvy.com
Savory Leek Bread Pudding
Caramelized leeks give this bread pudding an incredible taste. It’s certainly one way to make a side dish for meatballs while using some old bread that may have ended up in the trash can.
Prepare for your home to be filled with an amazing smell. Yes, baking leeks will do that!
Credit: feastingathome.com
🥗 Salads
If you’re on a low-carb diet or you’re simply looking to reduce your carb intake, pairing meatballs with a salad is an excellent idea.
As a general rule, salads are easy to jazz up and once you try some of these easy recipes, don’t be afraid to make changes if you feel like it.
Coleslaw Recipe Chick-Fil-A-Copycat
If you loved Chick-Fil-A’s coleslaw, this recipe will teach you how to make it at home. They don’t serve it anymore, but they were kind enough to offer their recipe to the world.
Pair your meatballs with this simple and delicious coleslaw and your weekday dinner is ready!
Credit: thechunkychef.com
Anytime Arugula Salad
A salad side is an easy way to lighten up a meal. The meatballs will give you plenty of protein and this arugula salad will provide all the fiber, vitamins and other important nutrients we all need.
I am definitely the person who can eat a salad as a main course and I wouldn’t shy away from this one.
Credit: wellplated.com
Marinated Vegetable Salad
Looking for more salad inspiration? Try this marinated vegetable salad full of fresh crunchy veggies.
This is actually a make-ahead salad that needs to rest overnight in order to……. well, marinate.
The dressing is savory, not sweet, which is perfect if you’re counting carbs or trying to cut back.
Credit: iowagirleats.com
Easy Green Bean Salad With Crispy Shallots
Green bean salad is such a simple and tasty side I could eat it any day!
The recipe contains blanched green beans, an exceptional shallot and Dijon mustard vinaigrette, and crispy fried shallots. That last ingredient makes the salad heavenly, as a side or on its own.
Credit: inspiredtaste.net
Conclusion
Homemade meatballs are high on my list of comfort foods and my family loves them! Serving meatballs with spaghetti can get old really quick which is why experimenting with different sides is a simple way to make them more exciting.
If you’re wondering what to serve with meatballs, wonder no more! There’s such an incredible variety of sides that go well with meatballs. I swear you will never want to go back to the staple.
Whether you are enjoying Swedish meatballs, Asian-flavored, Italian-style, Dutch or any other kind, there are plenty of mouthwatering side dishes that will make them shine.
