Lasagna night at our house? It's basically a holiday. You've got your layers on layers of cheesy, saucy goodness ready to go.
What's missing? The perfect sidekick, or seven, because why stop at one?
We all agree, the right side can turn a great meal into a legendary one. It's all about balance. Craving something crisp? We've been there. Wanting a bit of green? Oh, we get it.
Here's the deal. We've tried a lot (like, a lot) of combos. Some were hits, others-learning experiences.
Sharing our top picks feels like giving away family secrets, yet here we are. Ready to amp up your lasagna game?
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Lasagna?
The truth is you do not necessarily need to find a side dish for lasagna - it works wonders by itself.
But then, a side dish could enhance your meal, especially if you are expecting some guests and you want to impress.
Now, lasagna may be delicious, but it is also a heavy meal.
Therefore, you could find a side dish to complement it, but also to make it feel lighter.
Moreover, a side dish for lasagna will give your guests a bit of extra choice.
What to Serve with Lasagna? 7 BEST Side Dishes
Here are some simple, yet efficient recipes to enhance your lasagna and impress the audience.
1. Mixed Antipasto Platter
Keep your whole meal Italian by bringing in an Italian side dish - how about some antipasto?
This is your opportunity to organize an Italian night - there is not much work to do either, but just waste about 10 minutes of your time or perhaps get the platter from commerce.
Come up with different sliced meats, types of cheese, veggies, and fruits - make a nice arrangement, and you are ready to go.
More colors will make the dish more vibrant.
Other than that, you will have a mix of different tastes and textures - no one can complain about it.
2. Garlicky Breadsticks
In theory, pasta and bread may seem a bit unusual.
However, you will be surprised to find out that many Italians rely on this delicious combo.
Once in the combo, bread becomes a sponge that absorbs all the sauces - plus, it can make lasagna feel a bit lighter on your stomach.
While you can get breadsticks in commerce, it pays off doing them yourself.
In terms of texture, they are super crunchy, so they can match the soft and tender lasagna.
If you can get a dip on the table, too, you are a winner - olive oil works best.
3. Tomato Feta Salad
A tomato and feta salad may feel a bit dull - after all, it is quite simple and less likely to impress.
However, when mixed with lasagna, it will change everything.
First of all, this salad is refreshing and likely to make the lasagna feel lighter.
Second, despite the crunchiness in the top layer of cheese on the lasagna, tomatoes will bring it even more.
You get a fabulous mix of textures in each bite, as well as a complimentary side dish - after all, tomatoes and cheese have always worked well together.
As if all these were not enough, such a salad takes minutes to prepare.
4. Crunchy Green Salad
Finding lasagna a bit too heavy? You are not the only one.
No matter how delicious you find it, you simply cannot have too much of it.
How about making it lighter and more refreshing instead? A crunchy green salad will change everything.
You get a bit of color, all kinds of greens, and a fresh taste.
When it comes to greens, you can use anything you have around - it takes five minutes to prepare such a salad, and it brings in an extra texture, new flavors, and aromas.
Besides, it is healthy and fulfilling - after all, no matter how heavy lasagna is, you always want more.
With a salad next to it, you may stop after a serving.
5. Roasted Chicken Wings
This combo is a bit unusual - after all, you do have lots of meat in the lasagna.
Why would you bring in even more meat?
However, chicken wings seem to be excellent for lasagna.
The meat combination is extraordinary, regardless of how you prepare your chicken wings.
You get the smoky aroma of chicken, the cheesy lasagna, a few different textures, and a fulfilling meal.
What else can you ask for?
6. Crunchy Roasted Vegetables
Most roasted vegetables will complement lasagna with no issues at all - be it green beans or Brussels sprouts.
Brussels sprouts in particular take this venture to another level.
When preparing such a side dish, you need to make sure your guests actually appreciate them - they are not for everyone.
Roasting them takes about 10 minutes.
They get super crunchy on the outside and a bit soft on the inside - excellent for the texture of lasagna.
As for the taste, you get a mix of nutty, sweet, and caramelized aromas - a bit unusual at first glance, but definitely delicious.
7. Honey Coated Carrots
Carrots are most commonly used as secondary ingredients in dishes, but they can also make great side dishes if cooked accordingly.
Carrots complement lasagna because they are naturally sweet.
They should be roasted, though, so they get a bit of crispiness.
Think about the soft lasagna and the crunchy cheese, and you have a top-notch combination.
Coating them in honey makes them even better.
The salty and sweet combination is unusual, but it works in this case.
Preparing this dish takes up to 20 minutes, so it is also great for emergencies.
