What are the best side dishes for pasta? We’re glad you asked!
We love, love, love pasta. From simple and light dishes like our Mediterranean Pasta to hearty pasta casseroles like Tortellini al Forno, we can’t get enough.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of great Sides for Pasta from GypsyPlate and around the internet.
From classics pasta sides like breads and salads, to some unique pasta parings you may not have thought of, there are so many options on these pasta side recipes list.
Go through all of these great pasta sides , so you’ll always know what to serve with pasta!
Check out our collection of favorite Pasta Recipes!
What to Serve With Pasta:
1. No Knead Bread
We’re starting this fabulous list with one of our favorites, which is baked often in our home… this No Knead Bread!! This artisan quality bread can happen very fast and is super duper simple. You end up with a thick crispy crust and a chewy center with big fat holes like sourdough!
It’s very forgiving and only takes 3 minutes of active effort. Now that sounds unbelievable, right? Not so. Try it yourself today.
2. Antipasto Salad
If you always hover over the antipasto bar in your grocery store, this salad is for you.
It’s full of different flavors and textures from salami, tomatoes, artichokes, pepperoni, olives and cheeses with a delicious homemade Italian dressing.
3. Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
This Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms recipe is cheesy, garlicky, savory, and absolutely delicious.
Portobello Mushrooms stuffed with melted mozzarella cheese, sweet grape tomatoes with a rich balsamic glaze. Each bite is full of flavors that you will surely love!
4. Cucumber Avocado Tomato Salad with Pesto
Spring and summer demand colorful, light, refreshing salads. So here it is our Cucumber Avocado Tomato Salad, but with major flavor bender… delicious basil pesto dressing.
This one is there for you to brighten up any meal!
5. Easy Baked Meatballs
Simple, classic Italian Meatballs… That’s all you need some nights. Tender, perfectly seasoned meatballs are drenched in a simple homemade marinara sauce, and then baked to succulent perfection.
They go great with pasta!
6. Cherry Tomato Gratin
This Cherry Tomato gratin is the newest star on your appetizer spread. It’s the perfect combination of easy, tasty and pretty.
You’ll want to gobble it up before the guests arrive!
7. Cherry Tomato Confit
Bunches of cherry tomatoes, heavy glugs of olive oil, a handful of garlic cloves, a few herbs… That’s all you need for this beauty coming out of your oven… Cherry Tomato Confit!!
Luxuriously soft, melt-in-your mouth, juicy and bright flavor bombs. Welcome this summer delight into your life and it will add savory sweet deliciousness to any dish.
8. Ribollita
It doesn’t get better than a satisfying pot of Ribollita, a classic Tuscan soup that’s made with white beans, vegetables and hearty day old bread.
And you will love the rich Italian flavors, thanks to a couple of herbs and little parmesan cheese magic. Perfect starter for pasta night.
9. Caponata
You will love the combination of savory, sweet and tart flavors in this creamy eggplant caponata, with summer veggies like onion, tomatoes, olives and more!
Serve it on crusty bread along with your pasta.
10. Zuppa Toscana
This delicious and comforting soup is based on the version made famous by Olive Garden. But I don’t want to call it a copycat… because this home made version is much better!
Great starter for pasta night.
11. Pipirrana Salad
Here to celebrate tomato season this summer is a tribute to all those luscious summer tomatoes, ripening on the vines in warm sunshine. Mixed with just a few more cool crunchies, and you have yet another colorful popular traditional dish, pipirrana, all the way from the south of Spain.
12. Panzanella Salad
Have you heard of Panzanella Salad? Meet this Italian classic. All you need is some great ripe tomatoes and some bread along with crunchy fresh cucumber.
Finish it of with fresh basil and mozzarella and you end up with yummy Panzanella…
Get the Recipe @ cookieandkate
13. Garlic Knots
Garlic knots are always great with pasta. This no-fail recipe is super easy to make, and in less than 20 minutes you can have delicious and flavorful Garlic Knots ready on your table.
14. Fried Calamari
Fried calamari… As well as being the most popular way to cook squid, it’s also one of the most popular Italian restaurant appetizers.
This recipe will teach you how to cook it perfectly, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Get the Recipe @ dinneratthezoo
15. Caprese Salad
There is nothing so simple, yet delicious as a salad out of your juiciest and sweetest ripe summer tomatoes. Make this Italian classic. Simple, yet colorful and vibrant Caprese salad!!
Get all the colorful tomatoes and layer them with mozzarella and basil leaves with a drizzle of sweet and tangy balsamic reduction. Take this to your table and see all get impressed with minimum efforts on your part.
Get the Recipe @ loveandlemons
16. Easy Sausage Pesto Ring
Here is a perfect appetizer or snack to impress your guests. This sausage pesto ring looks so delicious.
Country biscuit dough filled with Italian sausage, pesto and loaded with cheese and butter arranged in a ring and baked. Brilliant!
17. Pane Bianco with Tomato, Basil, and Garlic
This Italian Pane Bianco (Italian for “white bread”) is shaped into a figure-8 and filled with sundried tomatoes, cheese, fresh basil, and garlic.
Don’t be intimidate by this gorgeous loaf, it’s easier than you think!
18. Mozzarella Sticks
Craving some cheesy gooey goodness? Then make these Homemade Mozzarella Sticks at home, and you will wonder why you never did before!
This remarkably easy recipe is too good to be true. So dazzle yourself and your family with these wonderfully crispy, gooey, extra cheesy sticks.
Get the Recipe @ thatlowcarblife
19. Olive Garden Copycat Breadsticks
These Olive Garden copycat bread sticks are even better in homemade form! They go great alongside your favorite soup or Italian dinner.
They’re soft, fluffy and chewy, and and have a great garlic butter topping!
Get the Recipe @ cookingclassy
20. Tiramisu
If you need a sweet finisher for your pasta night, look no further than this classic tiramisu.
Perhaps the most iconic of Italian desserts, this creamy and silky coffee flavored dessert is absolutely divine.
Get the Recipe @ natashaskitchen
So there you go, twenty great things to serve with pasta. They all look great.
Check out these other great recipe collections!
Italian Recipes
Salad Recipes
Bread Recipes
Sides for Burgers
Sides for Steak
Sides for Fried Chicken
Side Dishes for Salmon
Sides for Tacos
20 BEST Sides for Pasta
This list of Sides for Pasta includes all of your favorites like breads and salads, as well as some new ideas to try. We love this easy no-knead bread:
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 2 tsp salt
- 1.5 cups water
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add water and mix until you have an even consistency.
- Cover bowl and rest on counter 3 hours.
- Place large (mine is 7 quart) dutch oven in oven and pre heat to 450°F.
- Dust flour on work surface and scrape dough onto surface. Dust more flour atop dough. Fold in the edges and work the dough into a rough ball shape.
- Place ball onto parchment paper and transfer to bowl. If oven is not yet preheated, place dish towel over bowl.
- When oven is pre heated, remove dutch oven. Place dough, along with parchment paper, inside. Cover and return to oven. Bake 30 minutes.
- Remove lid and bake another 20 minutes, until bread has a nice golden color.
- Set bread on rack and let rest 15 minutes before slicing.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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