• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Side Dishes
  • Substitutes
  • Comparisons
  • Taste Guides
  • Shelf Life
  • Dinner
  • About

Gusto Meadow

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Side Dishes
  • Substitutes
  • Comparisons
  • Taste Guides
  • Shelf Life
  • Dinner
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Side Dishes
  • Substitutes
  • Comparisons
  • Taste Guides
  • Shelf Life
  • Dinner
  • About
×
Home - Recipes - Side Dishes

Latest Updated: Feb 28, 2026 by Andrew Gray

What to Serve with French Bread? 7 BEST Side Dishes

The top sides for French Bread include French Onion Soup, Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Creamy Mushroom Sauce, Strawberry Jam, and Peanut Butter.

French Onion Soup

Bread and soup make a pleasing combination.

For a lighter option, try Peanut Butter. Peanut Butter

Most French people don't eat butter with bread, but there isn't any law that says you shouldn't.

French bread rocks our socks off. Seriously, it's like the universal hand-held comfort wand.

Bold, right? Yet here we are, wondering what magical sides can live up to its glory.

."What next?" we muse. Our mission? To solve that very question.

We've dug deep into our own kitchens, memories full of hits and misses. Now, we're ready to share the top picks.

These aren't just sides; they're the partners in crime to your beloved loaf.

Ready to improve your French bread game?

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • 7 Best Sides for French Bread
    • 1 - French Onion Soup
    • 2 - Scrambled Eggs with Cheese
    • 3 - Creamy Mushroom Sauce
    • 4 - Strawberry Jam
    • 5 - Peanut Butter
    • 6 - Creamy Potato Salad
    • 7 - Classic Chicken Soup
  • Frequently Asked Questions

7 Best Sides for French Bread

Let's take a look at what you can have with French bread - including chili side dishes for parties.

1 - French Onion Soup

french onion soup Save for Later!

Bread and soup make a pleasing combination - much like French toast side ideas for breakfasts.

So, why not begin the list with French onion soup? It's a brothy soup of rich beef stock, caramelized onions, and chicken stock, topped off with melted cheese and toasted bread or croutons.

Making the soup is also easy as you require only a few ingredients and can make it in different ways.

You can use a Dutch oven, slow cooker, or a large soup pot for the dish.

Chefs say your soup will have a more profound flavor if you make it on the stove than in a slow cooker.

However, it will work fine with a slow cooker if you don't have plenty of time or if you don't have the right equipment.

2 - Scrambled Eggs with Cheese

scrambled eggs with cheese Save for Later!

It takes about five minutes to make scrambled eggs, but the finished product is one of the tastiest.

The dish is also compatible with French bread, so you can enjoy its flavors together - try scrambled eggs side pairings for brunch.

You also don't need many ingredients except eggs, cheese, and butter.

However, you can add salt, pepper, and herbs if you wish.

Eating eggs in moderate quantities can also be beneficial as they're rich in nutrients.

They have vitamins, fatty acids, proteins, and minerals.

Since the dish is so simple, you can make plenty at once if you have many guests at your place.

3 - Creamy Mushroom Sauce

creamy mushroom sauce Save for Later!

A good sauce can improve your meal even more, so let's add a creamy mushroom sauce to the list.

It's usually served with steak, but it also tastes great with French bread, and it isn't hard to make - see creamy polenta side serving ideas.

You can use any variety to make the sauce, but button or cremini mushroom are the top choices.

You also need unsalted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, shallots, kosher salt, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce.

You also need beef, chicken or vegetable broth, lemon juice, lemon juice, thyme leaves, and Dijon mustard.

You can also use white wine, but if it's not available, then it's fine.

It takes just about five minutes to prep and twenty minutes to cook the sauce, and you can serve it hot with French bread.

4 - Strawberry Jam

strawberry jam Save for Later!

Any jam is delicious with French bread, but since we can't put them all on the list, we included strawberry as it's the most widely eaten jam.

You can also find strawberry jam in most places and not have to search high and low.

What's more, if you have access to fresh strawberries, you can make jam from scratch at home.

To make a simple but delicious jam, you need fresh strawberries or strawberry purée, granulated sugar, and lemon juice.

You can check out tutorials like how to make strawberry jam because it's easy - or explore strawberry ice cream side pairings for dessert menus.

If you plan to serve the jam with bread during a party, make it in advance so that it's well set when you serve it.

If you don't have time to make it, you can buy readymade strawberry jam.

5 - Peanut Butter

peanut butter Save for Later!

Most French people don't eat butter with bread, but there isn't any law that says you shouldn't.

Peanut butter can also be a fine accompaniment to French bread, especially during breakfast - compare with garlic butter shrimp side ideas for dinners for a very different flavor profile.

If you're in a hurry and don't have anything else to go with the bread, you can put peanut butter on it and enjoy it with coffee, tea, or milk.

Peanut butter is readily available on the market, so you can choose the best brands.

You can also serve it during parties but require large amounts.

In that case, it would be best to serve several other dishes along with the butter.

6 - Creamy Potato Salad

creamy potato salad Save for Later!

The humble spuds taste great with everything, including bread.

Hence, we decided to include a creamy potato salad on the list.

Potatoes can satisfy hunger, so the salad will pair nicely with French bread as you can satiate your cravings - see creamy mushroom chicken side suggestions for similarly hearty pairings.

Potato salad comes in many forms, as every region has a specific recipe.

So, you have many to choose from.

However, creamy potato salad is easy to make, so you can go with it.

It's important to choose the proper spuds for the salads, too, so get fingerlings or new potatoes for the dish.

But in case you don't have either, you can use the Yukon Gold variety also.

7 - Classic Chicken Soup

classic chicken soup Save for Later!

Soup and bread are like a match made in heaven.

So, we have added another variety of soups to the list.

Trust us; you won't be disappointed when you see everyone wiping the remaining sauce from their bowl or plate with the bread.

Chicken soup is one of the most popular soups in the world.

It's comfort food that satisfies your hunger without overwhelming your palate.

The combination is to die for when you eat it with French bread.

It's also easy to make classic chicken soup, and you can cook massive amounts.

The main ingredients required for the dish are chicken broth, pieces of meat, or vegetables.

You can also add roux if you want a creamy version and herbs and spices.

French fries side dish suggestions suits casual sets, and French onion soup side pairings complements brothy starters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best side dish for French Bread?

French Onion Soup Bread and soup make a pleasing combination. The dish is also compatible with French bread, so you can enjoy its flavors together.

Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.

What side adds the most nutritional balance?

A leafy green or fiber-rich vegetable balances the meal best. This side dish is a good pick for adding color and nutrients.

Pairing a protein-heavy main with a lighter vegetable side keeps the meal from feeling too heavy.

How do you avoid overshadowing the main dish?

Keep the seasoning on the side simple. Bold sauces or heavy spices can pull attention away from the main.

Let the supporting dish enhance rather than compete.

Do sides need to match the cuisine style?

Not strictly. Mixing cuisine styles is common in home cooking.

Focus on flavor balance rather than regional matching - the plate will feel cohesive if the tastes work together.

Explore more: This post is part of our Side Dish Pairing Guide.
Andrew Gray

More Side Dishes

  • What to Serve with Beef Barley Soup? 7 BEST Side Dishes
  • What to Serve with Bo Ssam? 7 BEST Side Dishes
  • What to Serve with Antipasto Squares? 7 BEST Side Dishes
  • What to Serve with Beer Battered Fish? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Primary Sidebar

Andrew Gray - GustoMeadow founder

Hi, I'm Andrew

Food Writer & Recipe Developer

Restaurant industry veteran sharing real recipes, honest substitutes, and tips that actually work in a home kitchen.

Our Story →

Related Posts

  • 5 BEST Substitutes for Ground Chicken
  • Satisfy Cravings: 5 BEST Substitutes for Ground Beef
  • 5 Best Substitutes for Peppadews Peppers
  • Umami Boosters: 5 Best Substitutes for Mushroom Powder
  • 5 BEST Substitutes for Bell Peppers
  • 5 BEST Substitutes for Rhubarb

Join 5,000+ Home Cooks

Fresh Recipes Weekly

Easy dinner ideas, smart substitutes, and kitchen tips — every Thursday morning.

Subscribe Free →

Dinner Picks

  • Beef stew recipes
    17 Beef Stew Recipes for Cold-Weather Comfort
  • Steak dinner recipes
    22 Easy Steak Dinner Recipes You Can Make at Home
  • Meatloaf recipes
    20 Creative Meatloaf Recipes for Family Dinners
  • Slow cooker beef recipes
    25 Slow Cooker Beef Recipes to Warm You Up

Browse by Topic

  • Ingredient Substitutes340
  • Side Dishes186
  • Comparisons124
  • Taste Guides89
  • Shelf Life72

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Services
  • Disclosure

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2026 GustoMeadow