If you are wondering what to serve with lasagna, you are not alone. Everyone around the world loves this famous, delicious food but not everyone knows what pairs well with lasagna. It is already loaded with cheese, sauce, and noodles so what else could you possibly need? There are actually lots of side dishes that go great with lasagna and will help round out your table.
When thinking about a great side dish, it is good to consider the origin of the food. Lasagna is a true Italian dish which means it will go well with Italian-style sides.
Lasagna
Garlic, basil, or red wine are all classic Italian flavors. Side dishes that have a lot of these ingredients are good accompaniments. You also want to choose a side that isn’t too heavy or filling as lasagna is a very hearty dish. Keep these tips in mind when you think about what to serve with your favorite pasta dish!
We have found the 15 most amazing side dishes that are perfect when paired with lasagna. Try one or try them all! These lasagna sides will transform and complete your meal.
Contents
1. Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
The wonderful flavor of Brussels sprouts is powerful enough to stand up next to a rich lasagna. Our recipe has lots of garlic and olive oil which compliments the Italian style pasta dish. We also use fresh lime juice and red pepper powder to jazz up the Brussels sprouts even more. Skip the pepper powder if you are not a big fan of spicy foods. It only takes a few minutes to put this recipe together so it’s a perfect choice for when you are short on time.
2. Arugula Salad
Salad is a classic dish to serve alongside lasagna as it is not very filling and also adds a veggie to the meal. Arugula salad is especially delicious as the arugula leaves have a wonderful, peppery taste. This salad recipe from Well Plated By Erin is made with parmesan cheese, cherry tomatoes and herbs then drizzled with a homemade balsamic dressing. The flavors of the salad mimic those in the lasagna making it a perfect side.
Image Source: Well Plated By Erin
3. Garlic Bread
Garlic bread should be a staple on the table when you are serving lasagna. It is one of the best and easiest sides! This recipe from Simply Recipes features warm, crusty bread, salty butter, and fresh smashed garlic. Garlic bread is perfect for dipping into any extra sauce from the lasagna. You can bake the garlic bread right in the preheated oven alongside your lasagna. A few minutes is all you need to throw together a great garlic bread.
Image Source: Simply Recipes
4. Garlic Green Beans
This recipe for garlic parmesan green beans from Cafe Delites is simply perfect. Fresh green beans are covered in grated parmesan and garlic then baked in the oven. The green beans are still crispy when they come out of the oven but tender enough to be devoured easily. The parmesan cheese and garlic pair well with the flavors of lasagna. The bright green color also looks fantastic when served next to a big, red lasagna.
Image Source: Cafe Delites
5. Glazed Carrots
Carrots are a wonderful side dish to serve with lasagna. This glazed carrots recipe from Dinner at the Zoo is a great way to make carrots more flavorful and exciting. The carrots slices are cooked with butter, brown sugar, salt, and herbs to create a sticky, sweet glaze. Kids and adults alike will love this almost candy-like version of a classic vegetable. Be sure to pour the extra sauce over the top of the carrots on your plate. You don’t want any of that sweet glaze to go to waste!
Image Source: Dinner at the Zoo
6. Zucchini Fries
Roasted zucchini fries are a fun way to make a traditional vegetable more modern and fun. In the recipe from Damn Delicious, the zucchini is sliced into strips, dipped in flour, egg, and a mix of breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. The fries are baked on a sheet tray until golden. Add Italian seasoning in place of simple parsley for an even more flavorful zucchini fry. This finger food is a perfect lasagna side dish that everyone is sure to eat right up.
Image Source: Damn Delicious
7. Chopped Salad
You have likely seen a chopped salad served next to lasagna in the past. It is a perfect go-to recipe that is tried and true. There are many ways to make a chopped salad, and you can add almost any fresh vegetables, fruits, or nuts that you’d like, just keep those Italian flavors of the lasagna in mind! We love this salad recipe from Cookie and Kate, which is full of red onion, celery, tomatoes, and pepperoncini peppers, then drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette dressing. These are all traditional Italian ingredients and, therefore, go great with a classic lasagna! This salad is also vegetarian, so that it would pair well with a meatless lasagna, too.
Image Source: Cookie and Kate
8. Crispy Broccoli
Cooking some broccoli is a quick and simple way to add tasty vegetables to your table. Broccoli is high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals so it is a healthy side to serve with your lasagna dinner. We absolutely love this recipe from Chew Out Loud which shows how to make perfect, crispy broccoli florets. The broccoli is tossed in a mix of olive oil, parmesan, garlic powder, and onion powder. The vegetable is then spread on the tray of an air fryer and baked until browned. If you do not have an air fryer, use the convection setting on your oven to help make the veggie nice and crisp. Serve the roasted broccoli with a squeeze of fresh lemon to brighten the flavor.
Image Source: Chew Out Loud
9. Simple Asparagus
Simple can be best when it comes to cooking flavorful vegetables like asparagus. Our recipe for roasted asparagus highlights the natural, earthy flavor of the veggie. The smoked paprika adds depth and a unique taste that will wow all your guests. You may even want to sprinkle some smoked paprika in your lasagna to give it a more complex taste as well! Both fresh lemon juice or lime juice works well to add a nice zing to the roasted asparagus.
10. Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers use many of the same ingredients as traditional lasagna. Both are filled with a tomato sauce, packed with ground beef, and seasoned with delicious herbs. However, stuffed peppers are made using rice rather than noodles. These pretty, packed peppers are a wonderful side to serve with lasagna, and Cooking Classy will show you how to easily make them in 15 minutes! Choose a variety of bell peppers and take advantage of the beautiful, natural colors. They will look as good as they taste!
Image Source: Cooking Classy
11. Tomato Salad
A fresh, tomato salad is a light yet flavorful dish to serve with your lasagna. We love to make this tomato salad recipe from Spend With Pennies in the summer when tomatoes are in their peak season. Use multi-colored cherry tomatoes to get a sweeter taste with a pretty presentation. Let the salad marinate overnight, if possible, to allow the flavors to grow stronger.
Image Source: Spend With Pennies
12. Breadsticks
When you make lasagna, you need to make a lot of sauce. Make a little extra so that you can dip these warm, soft breadsticks in the sauce for an extra treat. Breadsticks are one of the best, traditional sides to any good Italian meal. We love this recipe from Handle the Heat which is coated in powdered garlic, butter, and salt. While the recipe is simple and pretty easy to follow, it does take a little time to put together so prepare accordingly!
Image Source: Handle the Heat
13. Chicken Wings
Round off your lasagna dinner with a big bowl of perfectly seasoned chicken wings. We are crazy about the dry rub seasoning method used in his recipe by a Chunky Chef. Rubbing the spices onto the chicken makes the flavor even more powerful. The gorgonzola dipping sauce is also fantastic and will give your dinner that little something extra it needs. Try using blue cheese in place of gorgonzola for a whole new taste. Serve these chicken wings as an appetizer or with the main course.
Image Source: Chunky Chef
14. Roasted Vegetables
This roasted vegetable recipe from Cooking Classy is easy and beautiful. The vibrant colors of bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and carrots will make your dinner table look wonderful. Of course, vegetables also taste amazing! They are tossed in olive oil, garlic, salt, and Italian seasoning. The veggies are roasted for about 25 minutes to make them perfectly golden brown and tender. Squeeze a little lemon over the veggies and serve next to a piping hot lasagna for a complete, easy meal.
Image Source: Cooking Classy
15. Antipasto
A classic antipasto platter will make your dinner even more authentically Italian. Antipasto is easy to put together but looks very impressive. The recipe from Taste of Home will help you create a wonderful appetizer. However, you can use any of your favorite sliced meats and cheeses to make your own, perfect antipasto plate. Drizzle the platter with your best olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to get even more flavor.
Image Source: Taste of Home
With so many fantastic sides that pair perfectly with lasagna, it is hard to choose which of the recipes to make first! You may have to choose more than one. Lasagna is ideal for serving large crowds so you may need a few different sides anyway. From bread and butter to perfectly crafted salad, there is something here for everyone. Let us know which sides you like the best and which one is the top choice in your home. We want to hear from you! And we hope you enjoy your next complete, lasagna dinner!
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