Have you ever wondered what to serve with cabbage rolls? We definitely have had the same thought!
Cabbage rolls are a fantastic side dish, but they often need a main course to go with them. It is very important to pick flavors and textures that go well with cabbage rolls so that your meal is perfectly balanced and tasty.
We can help you find the best dishes to serve with cabbage rolls!
We consider the meaty ground beef inside cabbage rolls and the tender cabbage on the outside. Cabbage rolls often cook in tomato sauce, so we also kept this flavor in mind!
Take a look at our list of amazing recipes, and you will never wonder what to serve with cabbage rolls ever again!
Baked Cabbage Rolls with Tomato Sauce and Ground Meat
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Best Cabbage Roll Sides
From creamy mashed potatoes to perfectly roasted carrots, we have covered all side dish possibilities. Choose one of these tasty side dishes, and you are sure to have a fantastic cabbage roll meal.
1. Brussels Sprouts
Our simple sauteed brussels sprouts are an incredible side to serve with stuffed cabbage rolls. Brussels sprouts are actually miniature cabbages, so they taste perfect with the flavor of the cabbage rolls.
Our brussels sprouts are mixed with a bit of coconut oil, giving them a great tropical taste. This side dish is very quick to make, so you can have a complete meal ready in no time. Cabbage rolls do take a while to make, so easy sides are definitely great!
2. Mashed Potatoes
Stuffed cabbage rolls are usually baked in a tangy tomato soft until they are soft and tender. They go perfectly with a soft, tender side dish. Mashed potatoes can be the perfect answer!
Image Source: Spend With Pennies
We love this recipe for mashed potatoes from Spend With Pennies. The fresh garlic cloves add a powerful taste to the creamy mashed potatoes. The amount of butter is almost excessive, but we love it!
Be sure to use Yukon gold or Russet potatoes, which have the perfect amount of starch to make mashed potatoes.
3. Green Beans
Garlicky green beans are a delicious side dish to serve with stuffed cabbage rolls. The bright green color even matches perfectly!
Image Source: Cafe Delites
A vegetable side dish is always a good idea to answer the question of what to serve with cabbage rolls. Since traditional cabbage rolls are stuffed with hearty ground beef, you may need a lighter side to serve with the meal.
These easy green beans from Cafe Delites are made with fresh garlic and parmesan cheese. They are roasted in the oven, so you can cook them right alongside your cabbage rolls!
4. Rye Bread
Rye bread and cabbage rolls are a classic combination. While you could just opt to buy a loaf of rye bread at the store, making it from scratch is such a better idea!
Image Source: Simply Recipes
Simply Recipes will show you the step-by-step process to make freshly baked rye bread. You will need a few specialty ingredients like rye flour, caraway seeds, and molasses.
However, once you taste fresh-baked rye bread, you will want to make it all the time!
5. Roasted Carrots
Serve cabbage rolls with a bright orange side dish like roasted carrots. Your dinner plate will look (and taste) fantastic! Try this recipe for roasted carrots from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.
Image Source: Chelsea’s Messy Apron
The flavor of carrots grows as they roast. They develop a rich, caramelized taste that is pretty irresistible. You can make the carrots even sweeter by roasting them with honey and extra butter.
6. Garlic Bread
Cabbage rolls are often baked in a tangy tomato sauce. You may want some delicious garlic bread to help sop up any of that extra sauce!
Image Source: The Cookie Rookie
Homemade garlic bread is very easy to make when you follow this recipe from The Cookie Rookie. The key to good garlic bread is fresh garlic, butter, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a little parsley.
Be sure to roast the bread until the top just begins to turn golden brown. This means the top of the bread will be crispy while the inside is still soft and tender.
7. Egg Noodles
Cabbage rolls are made with tender, fresh cabbage leaves and hearty ground meat. There is a vegetable and a protein. All you need now is tasty starch to make a complete meal.
Image Source: Tastes Better From Scratch
We love making fresh egg noodles to serve with cabbage rolls. Fresh noodles have an unbeatable taste and are also fun to make.
We love exciting, new cooking projects! This recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch will show you how!
Serve cabbage rolls right on top of the egg noodles, scooping some of the tomato soup-like sauce over the top of the noodles. You will love this classic dish! It is one of our favorite bean salads ever.
8. Bean Salad
Lemon and parsley bean salad is a bright, tasty side dish to serve with cabbage rolls. Fresh lemon juice adds a vibrant taste to the hearty bean dish.
Image Source: Cookie and Kate
Fresh parsley and fresh dill also help bring the salad to life. A few bites of crisp red onion add a nice spice to the salad.
This bean salad from Cookie and Kate is a nice, cold contrast to hot stuffed cabbage rolls. It is a great side to help a cabbage roll dinner be acceptable in the summer. No matter what time of year, it will surely be a delicious meal!
Sprinkle a little brown sugar on top for a sweet taste. Stick to the original recipe for a light meal.
9. Sweet Potatoes
Baked sweet potatoes are a wonderful side dish with stuffed cabbage rolls. They not only taste great, but they look fantastic on the plate with the greenish-red cabbage. They are certainly one of the prettiest side dishes on our list.
Image Source: Skinnytaste
This recipe from Skinnytaste is really fantastic. Potatoes are pricked and roasted until tender. The bright orange center is fluffed and then topped with butter, salt, and pepper. We like to add a little maple syrup to make the potatoes even sweeter!
Sweet potatoes are actually quite healthy. They are completely fat-free, loaded with vitamin C, and full of beneficial fiber. They are rich in beta carotene and can promote eye health. It sounds like one of the best side dishes to serve with cabbage rolls!
10. Potato Pancakes
Potato pancakes are one of the most delicious side dishes to serve with cabbage rolls. These potato pancakes from Archana’s Kitchen will definitely make your taste buds sing.
Image Source: Archana’s Kitchen
Shredded potatoes, flour, eggs, and seasonings are mixed together. The mix is pan-fried to golden perfection.
Top the potato pancakes with sour cream. You can also put sound cream on top of your stuffed cabbage rolls. It makes a delectable sauce!
11. Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is a wonderful lighter side dish option that definitely answers the question of what to serve with cabbage rolls. You can lay the stuffed cabbage rolls directly on top of the rice pilaf for a perfect meal.
Image Source: Erren’s Kitchen
We love this rice pilaf recipe from Erren’s Kitchen. It is classic and simple. It will taste fantastic with the tomato-based sauce you cook your cabbage rolls in.
You can also try to stuff the rice pilaf in the cabbage rolls along with the ground meat. Mix the cooked meat and rice together and then wrap them in the cooked cabbage leaves. This is definitely one of our favorite recipe ideas!
12. Cucumber Salad
A tangy cucumber salad is one of the tastiest side dishes to serve with stuffed cabbage rolls. We like this light, vibrant salad from Stay at Home Chef.
Image Source: Stay at Home Chef
Thinly sliced cucumbers are tossed with onions, vinegar, and spices. The vinegar flavor is really good with the tomato soup-like sauce you use to roast a cabbage roll.
Add even more summery flavor to the cucumber salad by tossing in a few cherry tomatoes. Use fried onion instead of fresh onions for a crispy twist.
13. Perogies
Homemade perogies are always a treat. If you have never made perogies, you should definitely try this recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Image Source: Half Baked Harvest
The cheddar perogies are truly amazing. The best part is that they pair perfectly with tender stuffed cabbage rolls.
The first step to making perogies is to make the dough and the potato filling. The dough is rolled into small circles and stuffed with the filling. We love the cheddar cheese that is added in, making traditional recipes even better!
Perogies are cooked in boiling water or pan-fried to get crispy edges. We personally like the little bit of crunch alongside the cabbage rolls.
14. Sauerkraut
Traditional sauerkraut is a great side dish for stuffed cabbage rolls. This is like German comfort food at its finest! The more cabbage leaves on a plate, the better!
Image Source: Pioneer Woman
This recipe from Pioneer Woman is very easy to make. Keep in mind that homemade sauerkraut does take a few days to make. Fermented food needs time to marinate and sit.
Once the vegetables are done fermenting, you will have one of the most scrumptious sides on our list. Soft cabbage rolls, tangy sauerkraut, and maybe a slice of rye bread make a perfect main dish.
15. Braised Leeks
Soft, juicy braised leeks are a side dish that you absolutely must try. While braised leeks and cooked cabbage leaves have a very similar texture, the flavor is completely different.
Image Source: Inspired Taste
Leeks are vibrant and have a spicy kick, while cabbage is soft and sweet when cooked. They pair perfectly!
Try this recipe for lemon braised leeks from Inspired Taste. We like to add a little smoked bacon into the pan before roasting for extra flavor. It also makes the side a more hearty dish.
Delicious Side Dishes for Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
You now have 15 different answers to the question of what to serve with cabbage rolls. We know that one or more of these amazing side dishes will make you and your cabbage roll dinner quite happy. Enjoy!
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