What to Serve With: 1,000+ Side Dish Pairing Guides

PERFECT PAIRINGS

What to Serve With: 1,000+ Side Dish Pairing Guides

You know what you are making for the main course. We help you figure out the rest. Over 1,000 pairing guides with sides that actually work together on a plate.

Find Your Pairing

POULTRY SIDES

Chicken and Poultry Pairings

Roast chicken, fried chicken, chicken parm. Each guide lists 10-15 sides that balance the plate, from quick weeknight options to something worth the extra effort.

SEAFOOD SIDES

Seafood Pairings

Salmon, shrimp, fish pie, crab cakes. Seafood needs sides that complement without overpowering. These guides get the balance right.

BEEF & PORK

Beef and Pork Pairings

Steak, ribs, pork chops, meatloaf. Hearty mains need sides with enough character to hold their own. These guides cover classic combos and some less obvious ones.

Want more like this? Get weekly picks delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe Free →

VEGETARIAN

Vegetarian Pairings

When the main is already a vegetable, picking sides gets tricky. These guides build complete meals from plants without repeating textures or flavors.

GLOBAL DISHES

International and Fusion Pairings

Katsu curry, caponata, shakshuka, bibimbap. When the main crosses borders, the sides should too. Guides organized by cuisine with traditional and modern options.

10 BEST Pairings for Watermelon Smoothies 10 BEST Sauces for Polenta to Consider 10 BEST Sauces to Serve with Turkey Sandwiches 10 Cheeses That Go Well with Pesto Pasta 10 Dressings that Go Well on Cobb Salad 10 Dressings that Go Well with Greek Salad 10 Light Desserts After a Heavy Meal 10 Must-Try Herbs and Spices for Vegetable Soup 11 BEST Herbs and Spices for Split Pea Soup 12 Easy Sides to Serve with Soup Besides Bread 12 Kinds of Meat that Go with Red Beans and Rice 12 Tasty Sides to Serve with Chocolate Hummus 13 Tasty Dipping Sauces for Carrots

16 Sweet-and-Savory Vegetable Mixes for Balanced Meals

18 Low-Sodium Side Dishes with Clean Flavor

21 Delicious Sides Built Entirely from Frozen Vegetables 7 BEST Sauces that Go Well with Couscous 7 Best Side Dishes for Corn Cakes 8 Best Herbs For Bolognese (Herbs & Spices)9 BEST Sides to Eat with Pasta (Besides Salad)Best Bread for Philly Cheesesteak Best Cheese for a Cold Ham Sandwich: 10 Options Best Cheese for Cold Roast Beef Sandwiches: 10 Options Beyond Pasta: Delicious Meatball Pairings to Try Now Complete Your Feast: What to Serve with Stuffed Shells Craving Tater Tots? Find Out What Goes Well with Them!Delicious Pairings: What Goes with Sweet Potato Fries?Elevate Your Garlic Bread Game: What to Eat with It Enhance Your Dinner: What to Serve with Turkey Meatballs Enhance Your Meal: What to Eat with Baba Ganoush Perfect Caviar Matches: Choosing the Right Cracker Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Shrimp and Grits?Revamp Your Meal: What to Do with Boiled Potatoes Savor the Spice: 10 Irresistible Sides for Enchiladas Serving Ideas: What to Pair with Stuffed Chicken Breast The 10 BEST Dipping Sauces for Mozzarella Sticks The 10 BEST Noodles for Chicken Noodle Soup The 10 BEST Pasta Side Dishes for Salmon The 10 BEST Salads to Serve with Lasagna The 10 BEST Spices for Alfredo Sauce to Consider The 10 BEST Types of Pasta for Pesto The 10 Salads that Go with Corned Beef and Cabbage The 12 BEST Breads to Use for Bruschetta The 12 BEST Butter Chicken Vegetables to Consider The 12 Best Dressings for Grilled Chicken Salad The 12 BEST Kinds of Chips to Eat with Hummus The 12 BEST Rice Side Dishes for Salmon The 12 BEST Sauces for Corned Beef The 12 BEST Sauces for Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli The 12 BEST Sauces That Goes with Philly Cheesesteak The 5 BEST Dressings for Farro Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Fish Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Green Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Jerk Chicken Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Kani Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Lettuce Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Lobster Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Macaroni Salad The 5 Best Dressings for Mandarin Orange Salad The 5 Best Dressings for Mango Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Mediterranean Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Mesclun Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Mexican Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Nicoise Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Orzo Salad The 5 Best Dressings for Potato Salad The 5 BEST Dressings for Salmon Salad The 8 BEST Cheeses that Go Well with Pastrami The 8 BEST Dressings for Lamb Salad The 9 BEST Dressings for Lentil Salad Unleash Flavor: Pulled Pork Toppings Revealed What Cheese Goes Best with A Salami Sandwich? 12 Best Sides What Cheese Goes Best with Chicken Sandwiches? 12 Best Sides What Cheese Goes in Caesar Salad? 12 BEST Options What Cheese Goes with Buffalo Chicken? 12 BEST Options What Cheese Goes with Fig Jam? 12 BEST Options What Dessert Goes with Tacos? 10 BEST Desserts to Choose What Dessert to Serve with Taco Salad? 10 BEST Options What Dipping Sauce to Eat with Egg Rolls? 7 BEST Options What Dressing Goes with Tuna Salad? 11 BEST Options What Goes Well with Lemon in Desserts? 9 BEST Options What Meats Go with Mac and Cheese? 13 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Chicken Cordon Bleu? 12 BEST Sauces What Sauce Goes with Chicken Kiev? 12 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Empanadas? 10 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Falafel? 10 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Gammon? 10 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Hush Puppies? 9 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Lemon Ricotta Ravioli? 10 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Salmon? 10 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Schnitzel? 12 BEST Options What Sauce Goes with Taquitos? 10 BEST Recipes What Sauce Goes with Tuna Steak? 10 BEST Options What Sauce to Serve with Salmon en Croute? 12 BEST Options What Spices to Put in Mac and Cheese? 10 BEST Options What to Eat with Guacamole? Try These Amazing Combos!What to Serve at A Pig Roast? 10 BEST Side Dishes What to Serve at an Afternoon Coffee Party? 10 Best Sides What to Serve at An Oyster Roast? 10 BEST Side Dishes What to Serve at Taco Bar? 10 BEST Side Dishes

View all 1066 guides →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many side dishes should I serve with a main course?

For a weeknight dinner, one or two sides is plenty. For a dinner party, three sides gives variety without overwhelming the table or the cook.

Should sides match the cuisine of the main dish?

Usually, but not always. A Japanese-style cucumber salad works with grilled chicken just fine. The key is matching flavor intensity, not geography.

What are the easiest side dishes to make?

Roasted vegetables, steamed rice, and simple green salads. All three take under 20 minutes of active cooking and go with almost anything.

How do I avoid serving sides that clash?

Vary the textures and temperatures. If the main is soft and hot, add something crunchy or cool. Avoid two heavy starches on the same plate.

Can I make side dishes ahead of time?

Many sides reheat well or taste good at room temperature. Grain salads, slaws, and roasted vegetables all hold up. We flag make-ahead options in each guide.