Wondering what to serve with mussels for dinner? I’ve got you covered with this handy guide of delicious sides. These dishes pair with all your favorite mussel recipes.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Platings + Pairings.
Wondering what side dishes go with mussels?
Imagine crusty bread, a blank canvas for soaking up that irresistible broth, or fluffy angel hair pasta dancing with the mussels in a garlicky sauce.
Crave something a touch lighter? A vibrant quinoa salad is your new best friend. Want more adventure? Take your taste buds on a trip to Thailand with a fragrant green curry or add a Spanish kick with chorizo sausages.
Whether you’re hosting a casual gathering or a fancy soirée, this guide is your passport to mussel side dish nirvana. So, ditch the boring and embrace the extraordinary.
PS – Don’t forget the sauce! Here are 15+ Sensational Sauces for Mussels too!
The BEST Side Dishes for Mussels
This vegetable paella is colorful, aromatic, and has a savory smoky flavor that’s truly unforgettable. Flecked with artichoke hearts, piquillo peppers and green peas.
Vegetarian Paella
These Air Fryer Frozen Shoestring Fries come out exactly like your favorite fast food fries! They’re crispy, golden on the outside and perfectly fluffy inside. SO much better than deep frying or baking! Plus, you can cook different types of fries – waffle fries, steak fries and more!
Air Fryer Fries
This Fideuà recipe (also known as broken pasta paella) is a Catalan seafood specialty and is perfect for your next party!
Fiedua
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.
Crostini
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
Make this copycat Costco Quinoa Salad at home for a healthy, hearty, and delicious grain-based salad studded with fresh veggies and fresh lemon dressing.
Quinoa Salad
Deliciously rich and aromatic Thai Green Chicken Curry with homemade curry paste. Make it mild or spicy with a vibrant creamy sauce. Recipe: Kitchen Sanctuary
Green Curry
This Seafood Paella Recipe is served with saffron aioli and brimming with shrimp, clams, chicken & chorizo. It’s an impressive yet low-key Spanish dish that’s perfect for parties!
Seafood Paella
This easy Lemon Pasta is deliciously tangy and creamy, plus it comes together in under 15 minutes!
Lemon Pasta
How to cook perfect asparagus sous vide. Bright green, perfectly cooked spears. With three options for flavoring – garlic, parmesan or lemon.
Sous Vide Asparagus
Israeli couscous with tomatoes is an amazing side dish full of flavor. Toasted pearl couscous is tossed with a burst tomato sauce and finished with a squeeze of lime for a delightful tang. Yum!
Tomato Couscous
These copycat Din Tai Fung Green Beans are deliciously crispy and coated with lots of savory garlic and a spicy chili crisp. It’s the best umami-forward side dish to pair with all of your takeout-inspired favorites!
Garlic Green Beans
Fluffy and fragrant, this recipe for saffron rice is quick, easy, and comes together in less than 30 minutes, adding vibrant color and bold flavor to your weeknight dinner routine.Recipe: The Mediterranean Dish
Saffron Rice
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
With these tips you’ll see it’s simple to learn how to cook perfect rice in the Instant Pot . The result is fluffy & flavorful rice that’s easy to prepare with minimal measuring.
Instant Pot Rice
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Lemon Tarragon Aioli are perfect for snacking. Strips of zucchini, coated in panko cook up perfectly crispy in the air fryer. Dip them in an easy-to-prepare creamy aioli flavored with tarragon and lemon.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
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
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
Here’s the BEST recipe for homemade garlic bread! It starts with softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, and a few other ingredients. Recipe: Little Spice Jar
Garlic Bread
This Fennel Celery Salad comes together quickly and has such a delicious light lemon-parmesan vinaigrette and wonderful crunch. It's the perfect side salad for rich and hearty dishes like pasta or braised short ribs.
Shaved Fennel Salad
This always rich and warming Butternut Squash Risotto is the perfect meal for fall. Roasted squash, creamy and tender rice, and fresh sage come together to form dreamy and heavenly flavors in every bite.
Butternut Squash Risotto
Shrimp Fra Diavolo features sautéed shrimp tossed in a spicy tomato sauce spiked with white wine. It's a quick & easy delicious pasta recipe perfect for the weeknight dinner table.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo
This copycat Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad is bursting with flavor. Beautifully marinated cucumbers drizzled in chili oil is an outstanding vegetarian appetizer you can enjoy for any special occasion!
Get the RECIPE
Indulge in this luxurious Lemon Risotto with Mascarpone. Rich, creamy, and tangy – Its bright flavor makes a perfect vegetarian entrée or a delicious side dish.
Lemon Risotto
This Zucchini Pasta Salad recipe may be the best I've tried to date! Packed with sauteed zucchini, loads of parmesan cheese, fresh dill and crunchy walnuts.
Zucchini Pasta Salad
Hawaiian Coleslaw with pineapple, cabbage, carrots, sesame seeds and a ginger-soy lime vinaigrette brings a tropical taste to traditional slaw.
Hawaiian Coleslaw
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 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
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
Crispy parmesan Green Bean Fries are baked in the oven for a healthy, delicious treat. Served up with three dipping sauces – green goddess, honey mustard & creamy sriracha. A secret ingredient makes them extra delicious! Air Fryer directions included.
Green Bean Fries
This Cioppino (Italian Seafood Stew) recipe is made with freshly cooked seafood in a bright and aromatic tomato-wine base. It’s easy to prepare ahead of time and can be ready to eat in just 1 hour.
Cioppino
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and covered in a sweet and spicy kung pao sauce. Toss with roasted peanuts and red chilis for a crazy delicious spin on a classic roasted vegetable.
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Instant Pot Risotto is hands-down the best way to make risotto! It has the signature creamy, rich goodness you expect without all the stirring and fuss of making it on the stove. Plus there are 6 add-in options to make your risotto extra flavorful.
Instant Pot Risotto
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
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
This easy recipe for Shrimp Piccata is delicious. Shrimp tossed in a lemon-garlic, butter sauce flecked with capers. Made in just 30-minutes!
Shrimp Piccata
Red Cabbage Slaw is a super simple side dish recipe made without mayo. It’s tangy, delicious and crunchy.
Red Cabbage Slaw
This Shrimp Risotto has a rich seafood flavor and is deliciously creamy. It’s easy to make at home and perfect for an elegant dinner.
Shrimp Risotto
Learn how to make the BEST Instant Pot Corn on the Cob. This pressure cooker corn on the cob recipe uses a simple, secret ingredient to guarantee that your corn is sweet, tender and delicious!
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
These Blistered Shishito Peppers are the perfect finger food. They’re so easy to make too. Lightly seasoned and slightly smoky, you’ll find that most are mild… one out of every ten might surprise you.
Blistered Shishito Peppers
Apple Celery Root Slaw is an exciting twist on your basic coleslaw. Crisp apples and celery root combine with jalapeno, cilantro & pickled onions. It's sure to be a stand out side dish!
Apple Celery Root Slaw
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.
Grilled Broccolini
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
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Almonds make a quick and easy appetizer that's a definite crowd pleaser.
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Rosemary focaccia recipe with almond flour, a delicious gluten free and low carb bread that doesn’t use yeast, it’s a delicious no grain bread.Recipe: Butter & Baggage
Rosemary Focaccia
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these mussel 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 Side Dish Recipes
- Sides for Burgers
- Sides for Shrimp
- Sides for BBQ
- Sides for Salmon
- Sides for Steak
- Sides for BBQ Chicken
- Potato Side Dishes
- Sides for Ribs
Did you Make Any of These Mussel Side Dishes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of what to serve with mussels. 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.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
What to Serve with Mussels: 45+ Side Dishes
Wondering what to serve with mussels for dinner? I've got you covered with this handy guide of 45+ delicious side dishes! For one of the easiest sides, try these Air Fryer Frozen Shoestring Fries. They’re crispy, golden on the outside and perfectly fluffy inside.
Print
Pin
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 bag frozen french fries
- Salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400-degrees.
- Arrange frozen fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
- Air fry at 400-degrees for 10-minutes (or according to the chart below). Toss halfway through.
- Season with salt while the fries are still warm and enjoy!
Notes
Shoestring Fries: 8-10 minutes
Curly Fries: 10-12 minutes
Steak Fries: 10-12 minutes
Crinkle Cut Fries: 12-14 minutes
Waffle Fries: 12-14 minutes
Sweet Potato Fries: 12-14 minutes
Curly Fries: 10-12 minutes
Steak Fries: 10-12 minutes
Crinkle Cut Fries: 12-14 minutes
Waffle Fries: 12-14 minutes
Sweet Potato Fries: 12-14 minutes
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Equipment
Nutrition
Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 613mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 6g | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 2mg
