Serve Antipasto Salad alongside Italian Mushrooms, Stuffed Zucchini Flowers, Spinach Cheese Balls, Asparagus with Basil, Lemon, and Parmesan Cheese, and Any Homemade Italian Pasta.
Italian Mushrooms
There is nobody who can say no to the good'ol Italian mushroom dish.
For a lighter option, try Any Homemade Italian Pasta. Because antipasto is rich in flavors of tanginess and spicy, even the simple olio Aglio pasta goes well with it.
Did someone say cheese and meat? Antipasto salad has a timeless flavor that combines the two palates of spice and tanginess into one.
It is a favorite for any kind of social gathering, from weekend picnics to Christmas dinners.
Probably you've had the salad since time immemorial; perhaps you want to get a little creative with the food menu next time.
If yes, then we are here to help.
Because antipasto suits almost every taste palate, making side dishes for the salad is a cakewalk.
10 Side Dishes to Serve with Antipasto Salad
Let us look at some of the best side dishes you can serve with an antipasto salad.
This isn't an exhaustive list, and you can always bring in your own creativity while making them - or consult antipasto squares side dishes for similar pairings.
1 - Italian Mushrooms
There is nobody who can say no to the good'ol Italian mushroom dish.
The fresh flavors of the antipasto salad combine great with the buttery and mushy taste of fresh cooked mushrooms.
Mushrooms are loved by many, and since they don't have a distinctively strong flavor, you can pair them up with any other dish.
You can add other vegetables to the mixture too, if you don't want only mushrooms - or try Italian meatloaf side ideas for hearty vegetable mixes.
Simply slow-cook the mushrooms, slices of onions in butter, and Italian salad dressing.
The side dish is quick to make and goes well with an antipasto salad.
It is a combination where fresh and crunchy meets soft and buttery.
2 - Stuffed Zucchini Flowers
Zucchini flowers are best paired with dishes that are tangy and spicy, just like the antipasto salad.
By adding stuffed zucchini flowers to your antipasto platter, you can amp up your dinner table.
The stuffing can be anything of your choice, such as mozzarella balls (that's if you are using other cheeses in the antipasto salad), salty prosciutto, and more.
The recipe is easy and quick to make.
Simply stuff the flowers, dip in batter and deep fry them.
You can use any ingredient for the batter, such as cornflour and eggs with some seasoning or only all-purpose flour - for other stuffed-ingredient ideas see stuffed mushrooms side suggestions for fillings.
3 - Spinach Cheese Balls
These cheese balls make a great side dish with antipasto salad because it is crunchy and gooey at the same time.
It is similar to sausage cheese balls or corn cheese balls which are much loved by many.
Spinach is a healthy delight that comes with many benefits.
Adding it as a side dish enhances the whole dining experience.
Also, it is a great way of feeding spinach to those who don't like vegetables so much.
This tasty treat is best eaten with fresh salads like antipasto or other soupy dishes - for more spinach-friendly pairings try spinach dip serving ideas for party sides.
4 - Asparagus with Basil, Lemon, and Parmesan Cheese
You can never go wrong with the combination of asparagus and lemon.
Roast the asparagus, and it makes an excellent side dish that goes along with any kind of dish, such as antipasto salad.
The zing lemony taste with the hint of basil and topped with parmesan cheese makes the roasted asparagus pair with the salad really well.
Since antipasto salads come with cured meats and cheese, the combination with roasted asparagus is a pop of different flavors melding together into one - for a meatier take see bacon wrapped asparagus side pairings.
It is easy to make.
You only need to roast the asparagus in little olive oil, squeeze lemon op and finish it off with parmesan cheese and basil.
5 - Any Homemade Italian Pasta
Now, we say any homemade pasta because antipasto salad blends smoothly with all kinds of pasta, such as shrimp scampi or pasta Napoletana.
Because antipasto is rich in flavors of tanginess and spicy, even the simple olio Aglio pasta goes well with it.
Pasta is easy to make, and you can use either homemade or commercially available sauce - or pair with Italian chicken cutlets side suggestions for fuller meals.
It is without a doubt that pasta sauces made fresh at home are the best, but packet sauces are good too.
The prep time for this side dish will be about 20 minutes, and you can add any toppings of your choice.
A tip here is to choose your favorite greens that couldn't make it to your antipasto salad.
6 - Two-bean Tomato Bake
Now, for the bean lovers, you can make this easy 30-minute baked side dish that's delicious and super healthy at the same time.
This baked dish harmoniously brings together the flavors of tomatoes, onions, beans, mushrooms, and garlic.
In short, it has everything an Italian loves - for lighter tomato-led pairings see tomato soup side pairings for cozy menus.
The dish is topped using bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, thus giving it a cheesy yet crunchy feel.
Since it contains a combination of delicious vegetables, the dish tastes great with antipasto salad that comes with its flavored proteins.
7 - Mediterranean Chicken
Mediterranean chicken is a delicious main course dish that would make anybody drool.
If your antipasto salad doesn't have much meat in it, then adding this chicken recipe as a side dish will smoothly balance the meal - see Mediterranean chicken side suggestions for balanced plates.
The combination of capers, sun-dried tomatoes, and set artichokes in a bed of creamy, lemony sauce makes Mediterranean chicken one of the top choices with salads.
If you want to spice things up, then you can add garlic with extra herbs and vegetables to the chicken.
Vegetables such as potatoes, zucchini, or carrots are healthy additions to your full-course meal.
8 - Focaccia Bread
Get ready for the springy and spongy mattress bread that is rich in olive oil and tastes great with any kind of dish, including the antipasto salad.
The extra olive oil adds texture as well as flavor to the bread, which you can slice up and have with the salad.
The antipasto salad has fresh vegetables and cured meats which you can add on top of sliced focaccia.
It is best if you can toast the bread a little to give the crunch with every bite.
9 - Parmesan Risotto
Parmesan Risotto is anything but delish.
It makes a heavy side dish with an antipasto salad.
This creamy Italian rice dish is slow-cooked in wine and seasonings, thus giving it a distinct flavor.
The cook time is 30 minutes, so you can start with this side dish first and then prep the salad.
The rice is heavily flavored with parmesan, chicken broth, garlic, and wine, so it blends well with the antipasto salad's freshness.
10 - Italian Beef Ragu
This Italian side dish is one that even non-Italians love.
It makes a great combo with the antipasto salad if you want to go all out with your dining experience.
The dish has a meaty and sweetish flavor that blends with the spice and tanginess of the antipasto.
This side dish takes a long time to prep (about 2 hours) if you want the classic Italian ragu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Italian Mushrooms There is nobody who can say no to the good'ol Italian mushroom dish. By adding stuffed zucchini flowers to your antipasto platter, you can amp up your dinner table.
Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.
For large groups, go with sides that can be made in big batches and hold well at room temperature. Italian Mushrooms There scales up easily.
Grain-based dishes and roasted vegetables stay good on a buffet without becoming soggy.
Not always. A vegetable-only pairing works when the main course already includes starch.
Add rice, bread, or potatoes only if the meal needs more substance.
Roasted frozen vegetables, pre-cooked grains, or a quick pan sauté all come together in under 15 minutes with minimal prep and no special equipment needed.
For pasta-forward menus consider orzo salad side pairings for versatile spreads. For classic composed salads try chef salad side ideas for hearty meals.