Lasagna is a mouthwatering and incredibly delicious Italian dish that has captured the hearts and taste buds of people around the world. Its irresistible yumminess can be attributed to several key elements. Lasagna has layers of flavor and is very hearty. Because it’s hearty, it can be hard to know what to serve with it. But this list of easy lasagna sides will keep you from having to guess what to make next.
Easy lasagna sides that pair well with lasagna can enhance your meal by adding variety, contrasting textures, and complementary flavors. We’ve got a variety here from garlic knots to simple green salads. Each side dish listed adds it’s own texture and flavor, while still complementing the tangy, cheesy lasagna. Lasagna has layers of cheese, savory sauce, and pasta creating a culinary masterpiece that’s hard to resist. Whether you’re enjoying it at a family dinner, a cozy Italian restaurant, or as a homemade treat, lasagna’s irresistible deliciousness is sure to leave you craving more. So let’s make sure we have the perfect pairing for the dish, ensuring that everyone is satisfied.
1. Homemade Garlic Knots
Warm, garlic-infused bread is a classic accompaniment to lasagna. The buttery, garlicky flavor complements the rich and savory notes of the lasagna sauce. The crispy exterior and soft interior of the bread also provide a satisfying contrast. This garlic knot recipe ensures you can have homemade garlicky bread in under an hour – easy peasy!
2. Grilled Vegetables
Grilled vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, or portobello mushrooms can add a smoky and charred flavor that pairs well with the lasagna’s rich sauce and cheese. You can use whatever vegetables you like, which keeps this recipe very easy. The vegetables are coated in a delicious marinade which keeps them flavorful and allows them to caramelize a bit on the grill.
3. Lasagna Sides: Honey Lime Glazed Fruit Salad
A fruit salad, whether it’s a citrusy medley or a mix of seasonal fruits, can provide a sweet and refreshing contrast to the savory lasagna. It’s a great way to balance your plate, especially if you’re wanting lasagna during the spring or summer months. It can be heavy, so serving it with this honey lime glazed fruit salad helps lighten things up. It’s a fantastic open for easy lasagna sides.
4. Easy Minestrone Soup
A bowl of hearty minestrone soup can be a warm and comforting accompaniment to lasagna. The combination of vegetables, beans, and pasta in the soup complements the pasta-based lasagna. Not only are you getting a variety of food by serving minestrone soup with the hearty lasagna, but you’re getting varied nutrients and minerals as well.
5. Lasagna Sides: 1 Hour Breadsticks
Like garlic bread, breadsticks are a convenient and tasty side. They can be served with marinara sauce for dipping, adding a tomato-based element to the meal that matches the lasagna. As far as lasagna sides go, this is a classic one! You can easily make tasty breadsticks in one hour (which is about how long the lasagna will take to bake) so it all finishes in a time-efficient manner.
6. Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons
A Caesar salad with its creamy dressing, croutons, and Parmesan cheese offers a creamy and savory component that pairs well with the cheesy and savory nature of lasagna. Caesar salad is another classic on the lasagna sides list. This recipe shows you how quick and easy it is to make the Caesar dressing right at home. The best part is you can customize the dressing to your taste by using anchovies or even choosing not to!
7. Autumn Caesar Salad with Delicata Squash Croutons
The classic Caesar salad gets a little update with this autumn version. Autumn Caesar salad is hearty enough to enjoy all on its own but can be easily topped with crispy parmesan chicken or served with lasagna. It has all the flavor you expect from classic Caesar but adds tons more texture with hearty kale & toasty pine nuts.
8. Lasagna Sides: Garlic Herb Roasted Vegetables
Roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, or bell peppers, provide a healthy and slightly caramelized side dish. The sweetness of roasted vegetables can contrast with the savory lasagna, balancing the overall flavor profile. Even those people that don’t like vegetables, will love these garlic herb roasted veggies alongside their helping of lasagna!
9. 10 Minute Caprese Salad
This simple salad made with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, basil leaves, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze is a perfect side dish. Its fresh and vibrant flavors complement the richness of lasagna beautifully. This quick version takes just 10 minutes, so you can whip it up while the lasagna is cooling. It’ll make you look like a whiz in the kitchen – no one has to know how easy it is.
10. Lasagna Sides: Antipasto Platter
An antipasto platter featuring items like olives, cured meats, marinated vegetables, and cheeses can offer a variety of flavors and textures. It adds a taste of Italy and is a great option for those who enjoy a diverse assortment of bites before or alongside their lasagna. You can customize it to your favorite meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
11. The World’s Best Simple Green Salad
A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette or Italian dressing can provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of lasagna. The crisp, leafy greens, along with tomatoes, cucumbers, and other vegetables, add a healthy element to your meal. This is another dish on the list of lasagna sides that can be made in 10 minutes. It requires a quick homemade dressing that is then served over greens and hazelnuts.
12. Prosciutto, Fig, and Goat Cheese Salad
In case you didn’t know, prosciutto, fig, and goat cheese are an amazing combination. This salad will add bright flavors to contrast the heavy lasagna. It keeps it light but keeps it in the Italian family. With an apple cider vinaigrette, it’s amazing during the fall and winter months which is normally when you’d serve lasagna.
13. Lasagna Sides: Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts in Garlic Butter
These pan-roasted Brussels sprouts are nutty, buttery, and garlicky. All flavors pair perfectly with lasagna. Since they’re pan-roasted, you don’t have to find room for them in the oven, which works well if you’re making a large lasagna. And they can be prepared in under 20 minutes.
14. Cauliflower, Olive, Pepper, and Caper Salad
Probably not the flavor combo you were thinking about when you think of lasagna sides, but cauliflower pairs well with all of these. Not only that, it keeps things low carb, since you’ll be getting plenty of carbs from the pasta heavy lasagna. The olives and capers add a bright burst of flavor that’s needed to cut through the cheesy pasta.
15. Lasagna Sides: Baked Gorgonzola Bites
These baked gorgonzola bites are fun and very different compared to other lasagna sides. They will feel more like an appetizer, but just like bread, goes perfectly with lasagna. Each bite holds tart and pungent gorgonzola so the dish doesn’t feel too heavy. They are easy to make ahead of time.
16. Lasagna Sides: Pesto Zoodles
Four ingredients and a few minutes are all you need to whip up this low-carb side. It’s packed with nutty, cheesy flavor and will balance out a large portion of rich lasagna. When it comes to lasagna sides, you may not think to serve more noodles but think of it as a creamy, cheesy serving of veggies, and it’s the perfect balance.
17. Caesar Grilled Asparagus
If you love the flavor of caesar salad, but don’t want to serve the classic pasta/salad combo, try out these delicious caesar grilled asparagus. The asparagus are tender, and smoky from the grill. The dressing is simple and compliments both the asparagus and a hearty portion of lasagna.
18. Lasagna Sides: Easy Garlic Roasted Carrots
Another easy veggie to serve is these easy garlic-roasted carrots. If you haven’t had roasted carrots, they are a must-try. The carrots caramelize and become slightly sweet which pairs amazingly with the garlic and the tangy, savory lasagna. Roasting whole carrots gives it a beautiful presentation as well.
19. Crispy Mushrooms with Garlic and Parmesan
Crispy Roasted Mushrooms with Garlic & Parmesan are the BEST mushrooms you’ll ever eat! This easy recipe is good enough to convert even non-mushroom lovers. It only takes 8 simple ingredients and the oven does all the work. Roasting mushrooms is the way to cook fresh wild mushrooms. They’re beautifully browned & crispy every single time, and are the perfect hearty add-on for a lasagna dinner.
20. Lasagna Sides: Buttermilk Scallion Flatbreads
Switch up your typical breadstick or garlic knot options, and make these flatbreads instead! They are easy to make (who cares what their shape looks like!) and have an amazing scallion taste. The bite of the onion easily takes on rich lasagna, making these flatbreads a perfect side dish to serve.
21. Ina Garten’s Roasted Brocollini and Cheddar
Broccoli and cheddar absolutely go together, and they pair well as lasagna sides too. Broccolini keeps things small and tender and Ina Garten’s genius allows us to make this dish in under 20 minutes with just five ingredients. No one will mind having a veggie as the side with this recipe.
Lasagna is yummy because it brings together a perfect harmony of flavors, textures, and comforting elements. When selecting side dishes for your lasagna, consider your personal preferences and the occasion. Ultimately, the goal is to create a well-rounded meal that balances flavors, textures, and nutritional elements to enhance your dining experience.
What to Serve With Lasagna: 21 Simple Sides
Ingredients
- 500 g asparagus spears
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil (such as soy, corn, or canola oil)
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, 10 g.
- 1 lime Juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F). In a small bowl, combine the vegetable oil, grated Parmesan cheese, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well to create a flavorful sauce.
- Wash and trim the asparagus spears, cutting off any tough ends. If desired, you can measure and cut the spears to fit the size of your air fryer basket. Save any leftover tender asparagus ends for other recipes.
- Brush the asparagus spears with the sauce, coating them evenly.
- Place the coated asparagus spears in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook the asparagus in the air fryer for 5 minutes for tender results. If you prefer a more toasted texture, cook for 7 minutes.
- Once cooked to your desired level, remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve immediately.
- Optionally, you can garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lime juice for added flavor.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
