The best sides for Butternut Squash Ravioli are Ravioli Sauce, Roasted Tomato Basil Soup, Sautéed Spinach, Crispy Baked Polenta Fries, and Greek Cucumber Salad.
Ravioli sauce, grilled zucchini, and Greek cucumber salad.
For a lighter option, try Greek Cucumber Salad. Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Butternut Squash Ravioli?
Ravioli are a kind of pasta and originated as a traditional food in Italian cuisine.
The pasta typically contains a filling made of vegetables, meat, cheese, or seafood.
Butternut squash ravioli is one of the varieties, and they're as tasty as any other ravioli.
Like other pasta, they're filling and addictive.
They're also versatile to enjoy the ravioli with multiple items.
So, what to serve with butternut squash ravioli? The exciting news is you can serve multiple dishes like perfect roast cauliflower, lentil soup with ham, sautéed green beans, ravioli sauce, grilled zucchini, and Greek cucumber salad.
10 Best Side Dishes for Butternut Squash Ravioli
Here is a look at all the best items you can serve with butternut squash ravioli - and butternut squash soup side ideas for cozy meals that complement the flavors.
1 - Ravioli Sauce
How can we make a list of side dishes for ravioli without adding ravioli sauce - or exploring lobster ravioli side dish ideas for richness that highlight saucy pairings?
Hence, it's a must-have item on the list.
Ravioli sauce may seem like a complex item, but it isn't like that.
If you have made sauces before, making them will be even easier.
The key is to use the right ingredients, and the sauce will be perfect.
Spices, chicken broth, tomatoes, cheese, and seasonings all work together to make the sauce thick, flavorful, and a perfect match for butternut squash ravioli.
You can add two-three types of cheese to make the sauce even better.
2 - Roasted Tomato Basil Soup
Ravioli also matches perfectly with soups, so it would be nice to add at least one variety to the list - like roasted carrot side pairings for sweet soups that echo roasted flavors.
How about a thick and creamy roasted tomato basil soup?
If you haven't tried the combo yet, you must because it's one of the tastiest soups you can make.
Of course, it suits butternut squash ravioli very well too.
For this particular dish, you will need fresh Italian plum tomatoes like Roma and canned tomatoes for a creamy texture.
It's also important to use chicken stock for more flavor.
3 - Sautéed Spinach
When serving a delicious and hearty dish like butternut squash ravioli, serving a variety of side dishes can make your mealtime fun and exciting.
Add sautéed spinach to the list as it combines well with the ravioli - similar to spinach dip side ideas for gatherings that showcase versatile greens.
Making sautéed spinach is also quite simple as you don't have to undergo numerous steps.
There is also no need for many ingredients to make the leafy greens delicious.
However, matured spinach shares a similar taste profile with beet and chard, so it's slightly bitter, but younger leaves are milder, so you must use them instead.
When cooked, you'll have slightly sweet leafy green ready to go with the butternut squash ravioli.
4 - Crispy Baked Polenta Fries
Fries also make a nice combo with ravioli, so adding them to the menu will be nice - consider baked potato side options for hearty fries as alternate potato-based sides.
But though potato fries are the most popular, it would be nice to add something different.
What about baked polenta fries? They may not be as popular as regular fries, but they're on par with any fries with regard to taste.
Polenta is a dish from Northern Italy, and it's made of coarsely ground cornmeal.
You can use pre-cooked polenta or quick cook polenta to make the fries.
Both types taste good, but the former is more convenient to use as it saves time.
Hence, you should use a pre-cooked one.
5 - Greek Cucumber Salad
What can be better than a fresh veggie salad and a filling dish like butternut squash ravioli? Try Greek pasta salad side ideas for Mediterranean flair for another bright option.
Some versions of Greek cucumber salad include lettuce, but the traditional variety doesn't have lettuce.
For this list, we're going with the traditional salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, and red onion.
Olives also have a presence in Greek cucumber salad, so you should use them.
You can use fresh basil as garnish and a dressing made with red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and olive oil.
6 - Sautéed Green Beans
When you have a nice dish like butternut squash ravioli as a centerpiece, a simple item like sautéed green beans can add more depth and character to your meal - much like fried green tomato side ideas for texture contrast that play off crisp vegetables.
Sautéed green beans need only salt, pepper, garlic, and olive oil or butter, but they taste lovely.
However, you have to cook them perfectly; they should be crisp-tender, or they won't taste good.
Green beans grow throughout the year, and they grow all over the world, so you'll easily find the legume in produce aisles and farmers' markets.
7 - Lentil Soup with Ham
Two hearty dishes will do the trick if you want all your guests to go home with bellies full of food - pairing with lentil soup side ideas for filling meals keeps the menu comforting and substantial.
Lentil soup with ham and butternut squash ravioli are filling items, but they don't overpower each other.
Lentil ham soup isn't difficult to cook, even though it looks like a complex dish.
You have to put everything in one pot and cook until all the ingredients are fully cooked.
You can use fresh or preserved ham, but it should be cooked variety, or it will take longer to cook.
Make sure to add chicken broth to add more flavor to the dish.
8 - Grilled Zucchini
Butternut squash ravioli can work fine with any veggie dish, so you'll see a maximum number of vegetable dishes on the list.
Grilled zucchini is one item that tastes pleasant with ravioli, and it's easy to make the dish too.
It takes about fifteen minutes to make grilled zucchini, including prep time.
But we guarantee that the result will make you smile and everyone will love the dish.
Along with length-wise sliced zucchini, you will need only salt, garlic powder, olive oil, Italian seasoning, and balsamic vinegar, adding a slightly tangy flavor.
9 - Perfect Roast Cauliflower
Cauliflower tastes lovely raw or cooked, but when roasted, it tastes even better.
Perfect roast bite-size cauliflower florets make an excellent side dish with ravioli, so we have added it to the list.
A roasted cauliflower dish doesn't need too many ingredients to make it flavorful.
Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and parsley are enough to bring out the flavors.
But make sure to get fresh veggies to obtain the best taste.
Buy cauliflower with white heads and tightly clustered florets.
They mustn't have any spots or discoloration, or they'll taste bad and smell.
10 - Creamy Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are among the most versatile dishes, and they're tasty too.
Hence, let's end the list with one of the most widely eaten items.
It's a guarantee that your guests will enjoy the meal.
Mashed potatoes typically contain milk, butter, salt, and pepper.
But you can make it creamier by adding cheese and not only one variety but different ones.
Parmesan, cheddar, and cream cheese are popularly used in mashed potato dishes, so that you can use these.
You can use Yukon Gold as they're neither too starchy nor too waxy.
Frequently Asked Questions
ravioli sauce, grilled zucchini, and Greek cucumber salad. How about a thick and creamy roasted tomato basil soup?
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
Look for sides with brightness or acidity to cut through richness. This side dish brings the right contrast.
A squeeze of citrus or a vinegar-dressed salad achieves a similar effect if you want something lighter.
A good side dish either contrasts or goes with the dominant flavor. If the main is rich and savory, something with acidity or crunch balances the plate without competing.
Can side dishes be swapped based on dietary needs?
Yes.
Most classic pairings have easy swaps - substitute roasted vegetables for grain sides, or use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice for a lower-carb option.
Butternut squash risotto pairs well with many of the same sides - butternut squash risotto side pairings for rich meals. Delicata squash also slots into similar menus - delicata squash side ideas for sweet-savory pairings.