35 Best Side Dishes for Pasta

Modified: May 5, 2024 by Addison LaBonte · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

Looking to find the best side dishes for your pasta dinners? Well, the hunt is over! We've found you 35 of the best sides to go with your favorite pasta!

The ideas to serve with pasta meals are endless. Instead of plain bread and butter or a simple green salad, try pairing any of these delicious side dish recipes with your main dish and you'll have an amazing complete meal.

Collage of four best side dishes for pasta with text title overlay.

A little history about Pasta

Pasta, is mainly known as Italian cuisine, is steeped in centuries old tradition and innovation. Its origins can actually be traced back to ancient civilizations like the Etruscans and Greeks, who crafted variations of it from grains and water.

However, it was the Italians who elevated pasta-making to an art form. Pasta found its way into Italian hearts and flourished alongside a plethora of side dishes, from vibrant salads to savory meats and cheeses, showcasing the culinary creativity of each Italian region.

Why serve side dishes with pasta meals?

You may be wondering why you should even go through the steps to create a side dish when you're serving pasta.

Well, serving any of these sides shared below means you're getting healthier, tasty options for your family. They aren't just filling their bellies with 100% pasta or carbs for dinner.

These perfect sides are also bursting with so much flavor, you can take any ordinary dinner and make it something extraordinary!

You can have leftovers that are more filling and nutritious to enjoy again later.

If you're looking for some good sides, this list of 35 side dishes was made for you. And all are vegetarian or vegan too!

Let's get down to business and share the best side dishes to pair along with your dinner whether it's spaghetti or any other pasta shape of your choice.

Best pasta side dishes

Air Fryer Eggplant

Air fried breaded eggplant is the perfect companion to your pasta dinner. Add some pasta sauce to this simple recipe and top with cheese for an easy eggplant Parmesan!

Check out this recipe

close-up overhead of eggplant on a white plate with side of sauce

Green Beans Almandine by Debra Klein

You only need a few simple ingredients to make these green beans. Hints of garlic and a crunch from the almonds make this green bean side dish fun for your taste buds.

Check out this recipe

Green Beans Almandine on a dish.

Strawberry Salad by Quiche My Grits

This Strawberry Salad with feta cheese is refreshing and light, making it a great side dish to complement your big bowl of spaghetti.

Check out this recipe

Strawberry Salad in a bowl.

Mediterranian Vegan Corn Salad by Veggies Save the Day

Made with sweet onion, tomatoes, grilled corn, crisp cucumber, and balsamic vinegar (plus a few other ingredients), this great recipe is one with a lot of flavors.

Check out this recipe

Vegan Corn Salad in a bowl.

Italian Style Baked Zucchini with Tomatoes by Christina's Cucina

Fantastic Zucchini slices with breadcrumbs and cherry tomatoes bring this side dish to a new level and is a wonderful combo of delicious flavors.

Check out this recipe

Baked Zucchini on a plate.

Roasted Eggplant by The Forked Spoon

This low-carb Roasted Eggplant side dish is a great way to get more veggies in your diet and add some health benefits to your carb-heavy pasta dinners.

Check out this recipe

Roasted Eggplant on a tray.

Easy Roasted Summer Squash by Nosh Nourish Wander

This is a great option with zucchini, yellow squash, red onion, herbs, and spices. They're all roasted together to bring out the delicious summer vegetable flavors.

Check out this recipe

Roasted summer squash and zucchini in a dish.

Insalata Caprese by Happy Kitchen

This classic recipe only needs a handful of different ingredients. It's quite popular at Italian restaurants and for good reason! It's made with fresh in season tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, a balsamic reduction, extra virgin olive oil, some salt and pepper, and some fresh basil. YUM!

Check out this recipe

Classic Insalata Caprese Tomato Mozzarella Salad on a Wooden board.

Vegan White Bean Salad by Zardy Plants

The main stars of this dish are white beans, seedless cucumbers, onion, avocado, fresh lemon juice, garlic cloves, and more. They're all tossed together to make a wonderful side dish for any type of pasta.

Check out this recipe

Vegan White Bean Salad in a pan.

Italian-Style Impossible Burger Meatballs

These Impossible Meatballs made with impossible ground are the perfect thing to add to your pasta recipes. Add some tomato sauce or marinara with these meatless meatballs on top of your pasta for a super simple embellished main course.

Check out this recipe

Impossible Burger Meatballs covered in sauce in a pan.

Sourdough Panzanella Bread Salad by Veggies Save the Day

Bread and juicy tomatoes are two Italian classics that pair nicely together to create this simple salad.

Check out this recipe

Sourdough Panzanella Bread Salad in a bowl.

Roman-Style Artichokes by Our Plant Based World

This delicious dish is also called Carciogi Alla Romana and it's a great way to enjoy some artichokes by peeling the leaves away and enjoying the artichoke bud itself.

Check out this recipe

Roman-Style Artichokes on a plate.

Roasted Artichokes with Parmesan by Saporito Kitchen

These flavorful artichokes are sliced and stuffed with Parmesan cheese and an herb filling before being roasted to perfection.

Check out this recipe

Roasted artichokes with parmesan in a dish.

Vegan Lentil Salad by A Mummy Too

This vegan salad is made of colorful, earthy ingredients: lentils, roasted cherry tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers, capers, and black olives.

Check out this recipe

Vegan lentil salad in a bowl.

Vegan Garlic Knots by Make it Dairy Free

These dairy-free garlic knots are the perfect bread to serve alongside your pasta dinner. These knots are brushed with a vegan garlic butter sauce and would go really well with a non-dairy creamy garlic shells recipe, but can be used as a side for any pasta dish.

Check out this recipe

Vegan garlic knots on a plate.

Simple Sauteed Vegetables by Eat Something Vegan

These sauteed bell peppers, zucchini, carrots, and summer squash are seasoned with the best herbs and spices and can go with any of your favorite pasta dishes.

Check out this recipe

Simple Sauteed Vegetables in a pan.

Garlic Mushrooms by Cooktoria

These garlic mushrooms are made with white wine and are bursting with flavor.

Check out this recipe

Garlic Mushrooms on a tray.

Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts by Strength and Sunshine

This is the perfect side dish for those who are looking for different ways to enjoy Brussels sprouts with their pasta and simple sauce.

Check out this recipe

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts in a bowl.

Easy Vegan Mushroom Crostini by Happy Kitchen

The next time you whip up your favorite pasta, make sure to make this fantastic Crostini which is made from a crunchy baguette topped with grilled vegan mozzarella, sweet caramelized onions, and mushrooms, with a drizzle of balsamic and Dijon mustard.

Check out this recipe

Mushroom Crostini on a cutting surface.

Roasted Broccoli Rabe by Living Lou

This side dish is also called rabini. It's made with some orange zest and red pepper flakes for an interesting flavored bite!

Check out this recipe

Roasted broccoli rabe on a plate.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

This light side salad is a refreshing, yummy salad made from fresh tomatoes, English cucumbers, red onions, red wine vinegar, and some other herbs and spices. It's so easy and comes together in a matter of minutes.

Check out this recipe

Cucumber Tomato Salad in a white bowl.

Vegan Garlic Bread by Steph Sunshine

An easy garlic bread recipe made from a baguette and a homemade vegan garlic butter spread.

Check out this recipe

Vegan Garlic Bread on a towel.

Italian Celery Salad with Parmesan by Saporito Kitchen

Here's an easy celery salad made with celery, olive oil, spices, and creamy Parmesan cheese shavings.

Check out this recipe

Raw celery salad on a plate.

Healthy Tomato Soup by Veg Buffet

Enjoy a nice bowl of healthy and nutritious tomato soup before you dig into your bowl of pasta.

Check out this recipe

Tomato soup in a bowl.

Air Fryer Garlic Bread by The Aussie Home Cook

This 6 ingredient Garlic Bread will be on your dinner table in 10 minutes and goes with any and all of the best kinds of pasta.

Check out this recipe

Air fryer garlic bread hero on a plate.

Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms by My Pure Plants

This versatile recipe is great for roasting veggies on the grill or in the oven. These veggies are so flavorful, you don't even need many seasonings.

Check out this recipe

Roasted Asparagus and Mushrooms on a plate.

Marinated Tomatoes by Budget Delicious

This super easy, 5-minutes, 5-ingredient tomato dish with fresh herbs is very refreshing and so flavorful.

Check out this recipe

Marinated tomatoes on a dish.

Garden Zucchini Squash Casserole by The Carrot Underground

This beautiful tasty side dish is made with squash, breadcrumbs, and delicious Parmesan. Grab a scoop of this with your pasta!

Check out this recipe

Garden zucchini squash casserole in a glass dish.

Air Fryer Texas Toast Garlic Bread by Always Use Butter

This crispy, buttery garlic bread made in the air fryer is perfect for pairing with pasta and a quick salad!

Check out this recipe

air fryer texas toast on a plate.

Greek Zucchini Fries by Scrummy Lane

These light and crispy zucchini fries with a tempura batter are fried to a golden perfection. Dip these in a homemade Greek Tzatziki sauce.

Check out this recipe

Zucchini fries on a plate.

Balsamic Roasted Asparagus by A Sweet Alternative

Using fresh asparagus and just a few other pantry staples, you can pull of this roasted asparagus with balsamic vinegar.

Check out this recipe

balsamic baked asparagus on a plate.

Broccolini Salad with Mushrooms by The Devil Wears Salad

A tasty, crunchy broccolini salad with mushrooms and roasted garlic combined with a sweet and savory teriyaki salad dressing make a wonderful side dish for any dinner.

Check out this recipe

Broccolini Salad with Pan Fried Mushrooms on a dish.

Air Fryer Mushrooms by Culinary Shades

These tasty mushrooms with soy sauce and garlic make the perfect side for your pasta meal.

Check out this recipe

Air fryer mushrooms on a plate.

Grilled Peppers by In the Kitch

These grilled peppers would be delicious in your favorite marinara sauce served on top of angel hair pasta.

Check out this recipe

Peppers on a grill.

Grilled Broccolini by Saporito Kitchen

This 5 ingredient, 15-minute recipe gives you the perfect broccolini to enjoy with your pasta!

Check out this recipe

Grilled broccolini on a plate.

I hope you were able to surf through all of these easy side dishes that go well with pasta and find the perfect choice to pair with your main course!

With over 30 perfect sides to choose from, you'll be able to find so many new sides that can go with any red sauce, creamy sauce, etc. with your pasta dishes and make hearty, full, and complete meals for your family.

©Watch Learn Eat. All content on this page is copyright protected and is not to be used or republished without prior permission. Images shown in this post are used with permission from the owner(s).

You Might Also Enjoy...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.