Wondering what the best Italian side dishes are? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of 40+ delicious recipes. So you can find what you want to serve with pasta, piccata and more!
From classics such garlic bread and bruschetta, to healthier options such as sauteed spinach and grilled peppers, there are so many delicious Italian side dishes.
So, let’s dig in!
PS – Don’t forget about these Italian Appetizers, Italian Cocktails, and Italian Desserts to complete your meal too.
The BEST Italian Sides
This delicious Italian Radicchio Salad is dressed in a creamy lemon-vinaigrette and tossed with buttery calvestrano olives, tasty breadcrumbs and nutty parmesan cheese. And, a special tip ensures that your radicchio won't be bitter!
Radicchio Salad
These Italian White Beans are cooked low and slow with a bit of sage and garlic, resulting in plump, yet firm beans that are delicious dressed with a bit of olive oil or served on top of crostini.
Italian White Beans
This Cherry Tomato Salad with Roasted Lemons is the perfect side dish. Sweet tomatoes combine with a tangy vinaigrette and delicious roasted lemons.
Cherry Tomato Salad
This Creamy Parmesan Polenta recipe makes a delicious side dish. Irresistibly delicious with parmesan cheese, but simple to make with just 5-ingredients: polenta, parmesan, milk, chicken broth and butter. Yum!
Parmesan Polenta
This Arugula Salad recipe with red wine vinaigrette is my go-to green salad. The arugula has a peppery bite to it which pairs wonderfully with the acid in the vinaigrette. It’s the perfect salad for pairing with rich dishes.
Arugula Salad
This creamy tomato risotto features all the flavors of your favorite caprese salad. Fresh tomatoes, basil and melty mozzarella cheese combine with the creamy risotto. Finished off with a balsamic glaze drizzle.
Caprese Risotto
Add a healthy boost of nutrients to your dinner with this easy Sauteed Spinach. Baby spinach is added to a skillet along with garlic and olive oil, then sauteed gently to create a simple side dish that pairs with any meal!
Sauteed Spinach
This Italian Wedding Soup marries delicious Italian flavors together in one pot! Made with homemade meatballs, vegetables, kale, and pasta, this classic soup is easy to make in less than an hour on the stove top.
Italian Wedding Soup
This Kale Caesar Salad is topped with crispy homemade croutons and parmesan cheese. Massaging the creamy garlic dressing into the kale makes it extra tender and delicious.
Kale Caesar Salad
Learn how to make perfectly tender and blistered Grilled Bell Peppers at home! It’s one of the best and easiest side dishes you can add to burrito bowls, fajitas, or pair with grilled meats.
Grilled Bell Peppers
This Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with Mustard and Parmesan is tossed in a light red wine vinaigrette and makes a delicious, crunchy side dish.
Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad
You can serve Sauteed Zucchini and Squash with practically anything! It’s a simple side dish that showcases sliced and seared summer squash and savory Italian flavors.
Sauteed Zucchini and Squash
This Tomato Cucumber Salad features fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. Dressed in a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette, every bite is bursting with refreshing Mediterranean flavors!
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Instant Pot Artichokes are quick and easy to make with the help of your electric pressure cooker. Plus, this recipe gives them SO much flavor!
Instant Pot Artichokes
Air Fryer Ravioli. Coated in a cheesy, breadcrumb mixture and then air fried until crispy and delicious! Serve this yummy appetizer with marinara sauce or alfredo sauce and enjoy!
Air Fryer Ravioli
This Fennel and Chickpea Salad is tossed in a light citrus vinaigrette & topped with parmesan. It’s the perfect make-ahead salad for potlucks or lunches.
Fennel and Chickpea Salad
Pesto Caprese Salad. Fresh cherry or grape tomatoes, vibrant pesto sauce, creamy fresh mozzarella balls, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze, basil, and spices. A perfect summer salad recipe!
Get the RECIPE from Modern Honey
This simple Italian salad is the only side salad recipe you need. It fits perfectly with any pasta dish and finds good company alongside a whole roasted chicken or delicate fish dinner.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
This classic panzanella bread salad recipe is made with tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and capers in a zesty vinaigrette with fresh basil.
Get the RECIPE from Foodie Crush
Toasty, buttery, herby, covered in a dusting of salty parmesan cheese, piping hot and fresh out of the oven—our homemade garlic bread recipe is everything you’re craving right now, and then some.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
This bruschetta is easy to make with fresh, ripe Roma tomatoes, shredded mozzarella cheese and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette over top of a French baguette. Bruschetta comes together quickly and easily!
Get the RECIPE from The Recipe Critic
This flavor-packed Italian Chopped Salad will win over everyone around the table! Hearty meats, crisp vegetables, tons of cheese and a zesty Italian dressing combine to form a highly addictive salad!
Get the RECIPE from No Spoon Necessary
Cold, refrigerated dough is the secret to making delicious focaccia! This recipe takes 5 min to stir together and emerges pillowy and golden.
Get the Foccacia RECIPE from Alexandra’s Kitchen
Peperonata is a recipe for sweet bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and garlic simmered long and slow in olive oil, making a hugely flavorful and tender dish that can be enjoyed as a spread or a sauce. Learn how to make classic Italian peperonata.
Get the Peperonata RECIPE from Chili Pepper Madness
Italian stuffed artichokes are filled with crunchy breadcrumbs, sun dried tomatoes, fresh herbs, and lots of Parmesan cheese for an easy app!
Get the RECIPE from Well Seasoned Studio
Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan is the vegetarian version of a classic Italian dish. Crispy breaded eggplant is quickly cooked in the air fryer before being topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella. It’s crispy, cheesy, and delicious over pasta or rice!
Air Fryer Eggplant Parmesan
We are finally in the home stretch of Super Bowl food sharing. So from now until Friday, I have some recipes that you can throw together in a matter of
Get the RECIPE from Real Food by Dad
These authentic Italian meatballs are so juicy and flavorful, smothered in a rich and delicious homemade pasta sauce. This is a recipe passed down from my Italian grandmother with a few tweaks here and there to make it EVEN better! This is truly the only recipe you’ll EVER need for both meatballs an…
Get the RECIPE from Sprinkle Some Sugar
Sheet Pan Mushroom Parmigiana is a must-try for Meatless Monday. Portobello mushrooms are stuffed with marinara and mozzarella cheese before being roasted in the oven with grape tomatoes. Top each mushroom with a scoop of garlicky breadcrumbs for an exceptional crunch!
Mushroom Parmesan
Caesar salad is a staple on restaurant menus across the country, but we’ve yet to find one as perfectly blended as this one – crisp romaine is tossed with creamy dressing, crunchy croutons and premium Parmesan. All hail Caesar!
Get the RECIPE from Bite Me More
Crostini are easy to make at home using just 3-ingredients – bread, olive oil and salt. This simple crostini recipe is the perfect appetizer for parties. You can make them ahead of time and serve them with a variety of toppings.
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This grilled broccolini is topped with a tangy apple cider vinaigrette and marcona almonds for a delicious crunch. It’s a perfect side dish for autumnal menus or Thanksgiving.
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Sausage Bites are simmered in white wine & served with a creamy, spicy mustard dipping sauce. They’re a delicious party appetizer that cooks up quick.
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These bites of Prosciutto Wrapped Grana Padano with Fig Preserves are the perfect party snack. This easy to make, no-bake finger food comes together in under 10-minutes.
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Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic cook up crispy and delicious with minimal oil with the help of your air fryer! Dressed simply with balsamic vinegar and a sprinkle of salt. You'll love these!
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This easy Olive Spread (Olive Tapenade) comes together in just 10 minutes in your food processor or blender. It's amazing as an appetizer for parties, served as part of a charcuterie board, or used as a sandwich spread.
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This baked goat cheese appetizer is super simple to throw together at the last minute with just 3 ingredients! Chevre is baked in marinara sauce until hot and bubbly – Perfect for spreading on crostini.
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How to cook perfect asparagus sous vide. Bright green, perfectly cooked spears. With three options for flavoring – garlic, parmesan or lemon.
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These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction & Cranberries make a simple and elegant side dish that both kids and adults love!
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These Stuffed Artichoke Hearts take all the work out of actually stuffing an artichoke. Canned artichoke hearts are arranged in a dish and topped with a “stuffing” of breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and garlic.
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Sunchokes are a knobby root vegetable that can be prepared in more ways than you can imagine! In this recipe, you’ll learn how to roast them with olive oil, garlic, and thyme. It’s an easy side dish you can pair with anything.
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This Shaved Fennel Salad comes together quickly and has such a delicious light lemon vinaigrette and wonderful crunch. It's the perfect side salad for rich and hearty dishes like pasta or braised short ribs.
Get the RECIPE
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these Italian side dish recipes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
More Italian Dishes to Try
- 35+ Italian Appetizers
- 25+ Italian Soups
- 29+ Italian Desserts
- 20+ Italian Cocktails
- MORE → 85+ BEST Italian Foods
- And Wine. Here are 7 bottles that pair perfectly with pasta.
Favorite Pasta Recipes
- Roasted Fennel Pasta with Ricotta
- BLT Pasta
- Lemon Pasta
- Garlic and Oil Pasta Recipe (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)
- Butter Roasted Tomato Sauce
- White Bolognese Meat Sauce
More Side Dish Recipes
- Sides for Burgers
- Sides for Chicken
- Sides for BBQ
- Sides for Brisket
- Sides for Salmon
- Sides for Steak
- Sides for Ribs
Did you Make Any of These Italian Side Dishes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of Italian sides. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
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40+ EASY Italian Side Dishes
Wondering what the best Italian side dishes are? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of 40+ delicious recipes. So you can find what you want to serve with pasta, piccata and more! Try this delicious Italian Radicchio Salad is dressed in a creamy lemon-vinaigrette and tossed with buttery calvestrano olives, tasty breadcrumbs and nutty parmesan cheese.
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Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
Breadcrumbs:
- 2 thick slices crusty sourdough bread (cut into large cubes (2 heaping cups))
- 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
Salad:
- 2 medium heads radicchio (about 1 pound)
- ⅓ cup chopped Castelvetrano olives
- 1 ounce parmesan (finely grated)
Dressing:
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- 1 large garlic clove (grated or minced)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 3 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Discard any browned outer leaves of the radicchio. Quarter the heads, and cut into them at a diagonal to remove the core. Cut into bite-sized pieces. Add radicchio to a salad spinner or a large bowl. Fill bowl with ice water and set aside.
- Meanwhile, make the breadcrumbs. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Toss until evenly coated. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the bread is brown and crisp. When cool enough to handle, roughly chop the cubes on a cutting board or process in a food processor to make coarse crumbs.
- Make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a small mason jar or small container. Shake to combine, or whisk. Taste, and adjust seasonings with additional salt and pepper, or sugar.
- Drain the radicchio and spin it dry or pat dry with a large dish towel. Transfer to a large bowl and toss with the dressing. Add olives, parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Nutrition
Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 720mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 1mg
