Wondering what to serve with meatballs? Whether you’re making a classic Italian-style meal, a cozy family dinner, or a fun party spread, I’ve got you covered with the best recipe ideas.
From traditional pasta pairings to fresh salads, comforting side dishes, and warm, crusty breads, there are endless ways to create an easy, tasty meal when you start with delicious meatballs.
This roundup of 30+ best recipes from top food bloggers will help you choose the tastiest accompaniments for any type of meatballs you’re serving.
Looking for a fresh take on classic spaghetti and meatballs dinner? We’ve got the perfect pasta suggestions. Want a lighter, fresher option? Pair meatballs with a crispy salad. Need something hearty and satisfying? You’ll love these flavorful side dishes that complement meatballs beautifully.
And of course, no meatball meal is complete without a great bread to soak up all the delicious sauces! Whether you’re using prepared frozen meatballs or our flavorful ground beef and Italian sausage meatballs, these recipe ideas will help you make dozens of yummy, memorable meals.
Why meatballs make the perfect easy meal
Meatballs are inexpensive to make and don’t require any fancy ingredients.
They’re perfect for meal prepping. Since meatballs are easy to reheat in the microwave, oven or stovetop, you can make them ahead of time for easy meal prep meals.
They freeze well. Make a double (or triple) batch and freeze some for future meals.
In a hurry? Prepared frozen meatballs are convenient and easy to reheat in minutes.
How many meatballs per person for dinner?
Your servings will depend on the size of the meatballs, and the sides you choose.
In general, plan for about 6 medium meatballs per person as a main course, or 4 medium meatballs per person over pasta. If you’re using large or small meatballs, adjust accordingly.
Pasta Recipes
Nothing complements juicy, flavorful meatballs quite like a plate of perfectly sauced pasta, whether it’s classic spaghetti, creamy gnocci, or a hearty baked ziti.
Rigatoni Arrabbiata
A classic Italian pasta dish, this rigatoni dinner plate will go well with meatballs. The sauce to make the pasta is made with dried red chilis and sweet San Marzano tomatoes so you know you’re getting lots of flavor. It’s also easily customizable so you can adjust the spices to your preference.
Quick, easy, and irresistibly creamy, this burrata pasta recipe features sautéed cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and rich burrata cheese—perfect for a simple dinner the whole family will love. Best of all, you can make it in just 30 minutes!
This quick pesto pasta dish is packed with flavor and perfect for serving with meatballs. The pasta is made with garlic, basil, and parmesan cheese to give you a dinner that's bursting with flavor.
Enjoy a luscious and comforting dish of Gnocchi with Homemade Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce after just 30 minutes in the kitchen! With store-bought gnocchi, meatballs, and a few more basic ingredients, this easy dinner recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Alfredo, Boursin, tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese makes for a delicious weeknight dinner to pair with meatballs. The recipe is also perfect for entertaining or family style meals.
A crisp, fresh salad balances the richness of meatballs, and adds a satisfying contrast of textures.
Best Easy Italian Chopped Salad Recipe
Loaded Italian chopped salad recipe with fresh veggies, salami, provolone, kalamata olives, chickpeas, and homemade zesty Italian dressing enlivened with Dijon mustard. A light and delicious salad that pairs beautifully with beef, pork, or turkey meatballs.
Romaine lettuce, cheese, croutons, and a creamy homemade garlic dressing turn this classic salad into a beautiful and delicious dish that pairs perfectly with savory meatballs.
Antipasto Chopped Salad combines romaine lettuce with fresh veggies, chickpeas, olives, mozzarella cheese, salami, and a creamy Italian Dressing. This vibrant salad is full of flavor and can be served as a first course for an Italian meal or as a main dish!
The perfect side to your meatball dinner, this salad features fresh arugula dressed with lemon and olive oil. It's a light side dish that comes together in just five minutes.
Whether you’re soaking up sauce or building the perfect meatball sliders, a loaf of warm, crusty bread or soft, homemade roll is the ideal accompaniment for any meatball dish.
Garlic Knots
Make homemade garlic knots for your meatball dinner. This easy to make recipe gives you a flavor packed side dish. If you're a fan of garlic, you'll love the taste of these baked garlic knots!
Italian Herb Bread is a soft, dense bread that is simple to make and delicious too. This bread makes excellent garlic bread or an Italian meatball sandwich.
Caprese Focaccia with Pesto features a light Italian oven-baked bread topped with pesto sauce and filled with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil. This flavorful treat has the perfect texture and makes a perfect sandwich that the whole family will love!
From roasted vegetables to buttery mashed potatoes, the right side dish enhances the flavors of meatballs and turns them into a complete meal.
Skillet Roasted Asparagus
Crispy but tender, this roasted asparagus is cooked in the skillet for a side dish worthy of any weeknight. Serve the roasted asparagus with meatballs for a flavorful and filling meal.
With just 5 ingredients needed, this cilantro lime rice is an easy side dish that you can make in the instant pot to serve with your meatballs. The fresh and zesty rice will bring some extra flavor to the dinner table.
This Zucchini and Squash Au Gratin is full of fresh summer squash and coated in a creamy and cheesy sauce. It makes a great side dish to pair with your favorite meals.
Smooth and creamy, these roasted garlic mashed potatoes are always a popular side dish to serve with meatballs. This pairing makes a cozy dinner the whole family will enjoy.
An authentic Italian Peperonata is the perfect meal to enjoy with your meatballs. It's an easy dish that's bursting with flavor thanks to the bell peppers, onions, and ripe tomatoes.
This cheesy potato pie is made with red onion for a savory dinner everyone will be enjoying with their meatballs. It's also incredibly versatile so you can play with the ingredients added to the mashed potatoes.
Ready in just 10 minutes, this dishes uses frozen zucchini noodles that's tossed with a savory garlic, parmesan, and oil mixture. It's a perfect side dish that's quick and easy to make for busy weeknights with your favorite meatball recipe.
Cauliflower, gooey cheese, and a buttery breadcrumb topping is baked to perfection for a delicious side dish. The hearty meatballs paired with the creamy casserole is a meal that'll be loved by all.
An easy to make vegetable side dish that you can have ready to go in around 5 minutes. These sugar snap peas get seasoned with sesame seeds to make a delicious side dish.
Tender roasted sweet potatoes are cooked in the air fryer to create a side dish everyone in the family will love. The seasoned potatoes are perfect for enjoying with meatballs.
Crispy Green Beans Recipe (Din Tai Fung Copycat) Little Spice Jar
Green beans get fried with garlic to make them crispy but tender, and so flavorful. This is a copycat recipe from a popular restaurant that everyone loves!
This easy Brussels Sprouts recipe features crispy bacon and a flavorful Balsamic vinegar glaze. The sprouts are pan roasted with bacon until they’re perfectly tender and sweet,.
Eliza Cross is the creator of Happy Simple Living, where she shares ideas to help busy people simplify cooking, gardening, holidays, home, and money. She is also the award-winning author of 17 cookbooks, including Small Bites and 101 Things To Do With Bacon.
What a fantastic roundup of delicious dinner ideas! Can’t wait to try so many of these recipes!