There are so many delicious ways to enjoy traditional meatballs than with a plate of pasta.
From refreshing salads, healthy side dishes, and crowd-pleasing pairings, I share some great dishes made with simple ingredients to enjoy tender meatballs in a whole new way.
And, of course, I've included plenty of low-carb options. Here's a round-up of some of the best side dishes to pair with your favorite meatball recipe.
My favorite way of enjoying homemade meatballs is on a bed of salad or paired with deliciously roasted vegetables.
Since there are so many ways to turn juicy meatballs or leftovers into a quick lunch, dinner, or fun appetizer, I like to meal-prep them often.
They are quickly reheated or incorporated into new dishes, so meals become anything but boring.
All sides below have a lot of flavor and pair well with Italian meatballs in tomato sauce. However, other types of meatballs, like my Curry Bison Meatballs, can also work.
Just consider the flavors you're pairing. Creamy and saucy meatballs work best with a vegetable mash or roasted veggies, while barbecue meatballs might taste better on a bed of rice. Experiment and find your favorite combo. Let's dive in!
Satisfying Salads
These amazing salads are super easy to make and deliciously balance out the heavier nature of meatballs.
Enjoy them together for lunch or as a lighter main dish. They are all so easy to make, and this is a nice variety to switch things up now and then.
Italian Meatball Salad
If you have meatballs ready, this refreshing salad comes together in as little as 10 minutes. It's low-carb, high in flavor, easy to prepare, and incredibly satisfying. It's a great way to add greens to your meal and complement the rich flavors of Italian meatballs.
Check out this recipe
The Best Healthy Cucumber Salad (Fresh and Easy)
Here's another refreshing green salad, seasoned with a simple dressing and nutritiously balanced. It's creamy, crunchy, with a tad of sweetness of the pickles, and so satisfying. It's another perfect side dish for meatball lovers.
Check out this recipe
Warm Potato Salad With Herbs
This amazing potato salad comes together in 15 minutes and is full of flavor. It's loaded with lots of fresh herbs and green beans and coated with a lovely olive oil dressing. Enjoy hot, cold, or at room temperature as a "meatball side."
Check out this recipe
Burrata Caprese Salad
Oh, yes, imagine this salad with some delicious meatballs on the side. It's creamy, juicy, infused with fragrant basil, drizzled with a sweet balsamic glaze, and topped with crunchy pine nuts.
Check out this recipe
Cauliflower "Potato" Salad
This is a great side dish for those seeking a healthier, low-carb "potato" salad option. Instead of mayo, an egg-free and creamy cashew sauce pulls this lovely dish together with ingredients such as lemon, mustard, and garlic.
Check out this recipe
A Zesty Spaghetti Squash Salad
Tossed in a zesty salad dressing with bell peppers, onions, basil, and sun-dried tomatoes, you can enjoy this side dish, either warm or cold. This low-carb "pasta" is especially delicious with Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce.
Check out this recipe
Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
Simple yet so flavorful, this salad goes well with leftover meatballs for a quick lunch. A lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper dressing are drizzled over cauliflower rice, tomatoes, red onions, black olives, and cucumbers. Everything comes together in as little as 15 minutes.
Check out this recipe
Greek Quinoa Salad With Feta
Another salad with Mediterranean flavors that you can meal prep as well and enjoy with leftover meatballs. It's loaded with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, salty Kalamata olives, and creamy feta and flavored with a lemon vinaigrette.
Check out this recipe
Simple Fennel Salad With Cucumber
Fennel salad is light, refreshing, and the perfect side for heavier meatballs. Crispy and juicy, it is topped with a lemon vinaigrette and toasted sesame seeds. It's also so easy to make with just 4 main ingredients.
Check out this recipe
Sweet Potato White Bean Salad With Crispy Quinoa
Sweet potato salad seasoned with an olive oil-based dressing can add a sweet and savory balance to your meatball dish. And this salad is so easy to customize, too. It's a bit more filling than the other recipes and, therefore, more suitable for dinner and you can easily meal prep this as well.
Check out this recipe
Healthy Vegetable Side Dishes
Take your meatball meals to the next level with these favorite side dishes.
You're going to love this selection, and there is something for everyone with plenty of healthy and low-carb options.
Healthy Mashed Cauliflower
This healthy side dish pairs perfectly with saucy meatballs. Drizzle it with some olive oil and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top for a dish that's full of flavor yet light.
Check out this recipe
Roasted Asparagus With Buttered Shallots and Garlic Scapes
It's not just fish and chicken that goes well with this Spring vegetable. Crunchy roasted asparagus and mouth-watering meatballs will kick your dinner up a notch. It's a tasty, no-fuss combo that works well as a main course.
Check out this recipe
Buttery Beets With Sautéed Dandelion Greens and Pecans
Maybe not your classic dish, but these roasted beets are deliciously buttery and caramelized and add a fun and bold twist to your dinner plate when served with meatballs. And everything marries well with sautéed dandelion greens and crunchy pecans.
Check out this recipe
Celery Root Mash
Here's another great low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. This root vegetable is boiled and then mashed with herbs, other veggies, and seasonings. It's an easy and healthy one-pot recipe perfect for weeknight dinners when paired with hearty meatballs!
Check out this recipe
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Of course, who doesn't love potatoes with meatballs. They are topped with olive oil, salted butter, salt, and pepper and baked until crispy. It also comes with a garlic cheddar sour cream dip in case you want to make it on the side.
Check out this recipe
Garlic Parmesan Smashed Cauliflower
For a lighter fair, this browned and crisp baked cauliflower dish probably goes with any protein and certainly with traditional meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Parmesan Garlic Spaghetti Squash
This side dish is warm, creamy, and comforting that's low in carbs, yet loaded with the most incredible flavors. It's a great grain-based alternative to pasta.
Check out this recipe
Authentic Italian Green Beans In Tomato Sauce
It's not your typical green bean dish, but that's exactly why I chose it. First stir-fried and then gently steamed in tomato sauce, this side comes together in 30 minutes and pairs wonderfully with beef, pork, chicken, lamb roasts, or homemade meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Cauliflower Breadsticks
You only need just 10 minutes of prep time to make these cheesy yet healthier breadsticks, and they are great for soaking up any leftover savory meatball sauce. It's delicious!
Check out this recipe
Vegetable Quinotto (Red Quinoa Risotto)
Creamy and hearty, this easy side dish includes mushrooms, spinach, roasted red peppers, peas, asparagus, a variety of herbs and spices, heavy cream, a little bit of dry white wine, and parmesan cheese. Serve with meatballs, and enjoy!
Check out this recipe
Greek Roasted Vegetables
This is an amazing side. It's healthy, hearty, easy to prepare. Tender eggplants, zucchini, sweet peppers, carrots, tomatoes, pine nuts, Greek feta cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and thyme are baked just right and amazingly seasoned. And probably a healthier comfort food to enjoy with meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Baked Zucchini Mac & Cheese
A great pasta replacement yet still a comfort dish in every way. It's quick, easy, gluten-free, low-carb, and fantastic with authentic meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Sautéed Rapini (Broccoli Rabe With Garlic And Oil)
This leafy green vegetable, with its distinctive notes and bitter undertones, pairs so well with a variety of meats and pasta dishes like my Sausage Broccoli Rabe Pasta. It's also so nutritious and a great accompaniment to any type of meatball when sautéed and lightly seasoned.
Check out this recipe
Brussel Sprouts With Bacon And Dates
Oh yes, I love Brussels Sprouts, especially when pan-fried until soft and deliciously seasoned with salty and sweet pairings. Serve alongside your favorite meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Zucchini Rollups
It's another zucchini favorite but one with all the flavors of a good lasagna with ricotta, mozzarella, and naturally sweet Italian marinara! It's light, low-carb, and satisfying next to tender meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
This list would not be complete without some mashed potatoes—no peeling involved. It probably is one of the favorite ways to enjoy meatballs. Yukon gold potatoes are "herbaliciously" flavored and then creamed up with butter and cream cheese or sour cream. It's definitely a richer side dish, but it won't overpower your amazing meatballs.
Check out this recipe
The Crowd-Pleasers
I have a few comforting and breaded selections, too, because, let's face it, they turn meatballs into something special—not your basic selection, so keep reading.
Easy Gluten-Free Drop Biscuits
Not only are they quick and easy to make, but it's an amazing meatball pairing side. They come together in 30 minutes. Just dunk them in meatballs with marinara sauce for one comforting dish.
Check out this recipe
Polenta Pizza Italian Style
Simply slice up your warmed-up meatballs and put them on this pizza. It's a delicious addition to an already amazingly Italian-flavored meal.
Check out this recipe
Easy Garlic Crostini With Olive Oil
If you're looking for a quick appetizer, simply place your Italian meatballs with a little extra marinara sauce on top of these flavorful garlic crostini toasts. Serve on a large plate with your favorite glass of wine or drink. It's a lovely appetizer on a relaxing Friday evening or to entertain guests.
Check out this recipe
Airfryer Parmesan Truffle Polenta Fries
Fries and meatballs? Absolutely. These polenta fries are baked until heavenly crispy, amazingly seasoned and topped with cheese. It even comes with a truffle mayo that, I argue, will taste great with meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Lemon Dill Rice
So much more flavorful than simple white rice, this side brightens up the dinner table with its lovely seasonings, herbs, and a touch of spice. This can work well for any type of meatball, even turkey or Asian-inspired meatballs.
Check out this recipe
Bolillo-Crusty Mexican Bread Rolls
It's like meatball subs but then with homemade bread rolls with an amazing crusty exterior and a soft, pillowy crumb. And it all comes together with rather simple ingredients. Simply fill them up with meatballs, extra marinara sauce, and your favorite cheese—a comforting side so worth making.
Check out this recipe
No Knead Bread
It's another crowd-pleaser and one that's incredibly easy to make. You'll never buy bread again once you've made this, and it all comes together in less than an hour. Serve with meatballs and extra tomato sauce in a bowl as a pleasing appetizer and soak up that sweet and savory sauce.
Check out this recipe
Here you have it, an amazing selection to spice up a family dinner with authentic meatballs and delicious side dishes.
From healthy cauliflower rice to comforting potato salad, there's no chance of getting bored with meatballs. Experiment and find your favorite pairings! Enjoy!
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