Need ideas for salads that go with spaghetti and meatballs?
You’re in the right place!
Right here, I’m going to share the best ideas to serve up at your next Italian inspired dinner, with easy to follow recipes and instructions.
Make sure that you also check out my guides the best starters for meatballs, and desserts to serve after spaghetti.
You’ll be pleased to know that one of the most delicious salads to pair with a spaghetti and meatballs dinner is super simple to make! It’s a rocket salad with parmesan shavings, and it’s elegant, easy to prepare, and requires just a handful of top quality ingredients. Make it sing by adding a homemade dressing with balsamic, extra virgin olive oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Some other tasty ideas include Italian chopped salad, zingy courgette and spinach salad, panzanella salad, broccoli salad, Caesar salad, and easy kale salad with lemon dressing.
Keep reading to discover more ideas, plus get the tried and tested recipes that produce excellent results every time!
Spaghetti and meatballs is a substantial meal, so you might decide that you want to go for a light and simple salad so your main course is given space to shine, and you’re not overwhelming your guests with too many flavours and too many filling dishes.
The peppery flavour of rocket leaves will really perk up your tastebuds, without attempting to steal the show. Add shavings of good quality parmesan cheese and a simple homemade dressing, and you’ve got a delicious side dish that’s ready to go.
This Italian chopped salad is one of my go-to choices when I’m serving up an Italian main course, and it’s colourful, crunchy, and a real crowd pleaser.
The best thing about this option is that you can tailor it depending on the ingredients that you have in your kitchen, and your own personal tastes. I like to include plenty of red onion for extra texture, as well as sun-dried tomatoes to complement the flavour of the meatballs.
If you like, add some of your favourite grated cheese for a little extra indulgence.
You can’t go wrong with a green salad alongside spaghetti and meatballs! This courgette and spinach side dish requires just a handful of fresh ingredients, including a red chilli which brings a satisfying little kick of heat.
I particularly like serving this salad during the winter months, as it can be enjoyed warm.
Just make sure that you add the dressing right before serving, so it’s at its very best.
Panzanella is a Tuscan style tomato and bread salad that’s fresh and summery, and I love serving it with spaghetti and meatballs when I’m looking for a heartier side with lots of personality!
It’s a great way to use up any leftover bread that you might have (tip – try using leftover garlic bread and you’ll never look back!), and you can also throw in any extra veggies that you might have in your kitchen that need using up. If you’re trying to be a little thriftier in the kitchen and create less waste, this is a salad that you can enjoy time and time again using your leftovers and fresh produce that might otherwise end up in the bin.
You can grill your vegetables if you like (I find that this is a great option if they’re slightly past their very best and are starting to turn a little soft), or use your favourite seasonal produce that you can pick up locally.
This tasty broccoli salad doesn’t require tons of complicated ingredients, and in fact you’ll need just three items to make the creamy, tangy dressing. Most of us are used to eating cooked broccoli, but it can be a real treat when served raw, with plenty in the way of crunch and texture.
If you’re a meat lover, toss some crispy bacon through your salad before serving.
This option for salad to serve with spaghetti and meatballs ensures that you’re getting an extra portion of greens in your diet, without compromising when it comes to flavour and satisfaction.
A caesar salad could be considered to be a main course in its own right, with plenty of chicken and crispy, crunchy croutons.
It’s more than a side dish, but I do love to serve it with spaghetti and meatballs when I’m feeding a crowd and I want to offer up a selection of choices, buffet style!
This caesar salad recipe creates delicious results every time, and the creamy, garlicky dressing is absolutely delicious.
BLT pasta salad is another example of a main course style salad that’s perfect for offering to your guests alongside spaghetti and meatballs as another option!
I choose this combination as a nice change from a traditional Sunday lunch, and it’s always a big hit with the whole family. Best of all, you can prepare it in advance so it’s ideal if you want to be able to spend some time just enjoying the conversation, instead of being stuck in the kitchen all afternoon.
This easy kale salad recipe comes with a delightfully zingy homemade dressing, as well as offering plenty in the way of colour and crunch. It’s super classy and sophisticated, and this makes it the ideal choice if you’re hosting a dinner party and you want to impress your guests.
Don’t skip the step that suggests that you massage the leaves. Yes, it might sound slightly bizarre, but it makes a big difference and will help to eliminate any bitterness!
As you can see, there are plenty of wonderful choices for salads that go with spaghetti and meatballs.
Choose from:
Which of these will you be making tonight?
