31 Best Italian Side Dishes (Authentic and Delicious)

Bring Italy to your home with these wonderful Italian side dishes! Easy, delicious and full of flavors.

If there’s a food item without borders, it’s Pizza. And who invented Pizza? Italians. So, Italian food is one of the most popular cuisines around the world.

Italians are very particular with their food, the ingredients they use, and the seasonings they add to their dishes. Even their sides are finger-licking good.

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What Are Good Italian Sides?

Some of the most famous Italian dishes you shouldn’t miss on your next trip to Italy are Peas and Pancetta, all kinds of Italian Salads, and Lemon Butter Gnocchi with Crispy Prosciutto.

Italian Vegetable Side Dishes

If you love veggies or you are on a health kick, adding veggies to your diet can help you eliminate fat while enjoying your favorite Italian sides. Here are 9 recipes for veggie lovers.

1. Roasted Fennel Pomodoro

Source: swirlsofflavor.com

Roasted Fennel Pomodoro is a delight in every bite. With a hint of sweet licorice flavor, this recipe is perfect as a great side dish for a hearty main dish.

The key ingredient is Fennel. Apart from that, you will also need grape tomatoes. Red onions, olive oil, and garlic powder. This is a lovely side dish to serve with lobster.

2. Pesto Broccoli Rice

Source: mysequinedlife.com

Garlic and Basil are two staple flavors in Italian food, and these two are also the main flavors of Pesto Broccoli Rice.

Most kids and adults aren’t too keen on broccoli, but you can make your broccoli delicious by roasting it and making Pesto Broccoli Rice.

3. Zucchini Basil Salad

Source: littlesugarsnaps.com

Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables. It’s versatile; you can use it with any dish and make it look and taste great. I love it best when it’s added to a fresh salad like Zucchini Basil Salad.

It’s a light side that works well with a heavy meal. Moreover, it’s effortless to throw together and enjoy.

4. Roasted Fennel

Source: momsdinner.net

Fennel is a perfect side dish on its own. When you roast Fennel, it beautifully caramelizes and gives off the perfect sweet flavor that’s finger-licking good.

Just roast your Fennel with olive oil and add a bit of salt to release the moisture for caramelization. Add a bit of pepper, and you are good to go.

5. Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables

Source: veronikaskitchen.com

Here’s a dish to entice every palate. The Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables don’t only taste good; they look even better.

The rainbow colors and popping caramelized veggies are the perfect combinations for a side dish. This is a perfect side dish to serve with grilled chicken.

6. Roasted Cauliflower with Black Olive Pangrattato

Source: fromachefskitchen.com

You can make Roasted Cauliflower with Black Olive Pangrattato and serve it to your vegan friends as an Italian side dish.

This mouth-water side dish will earn you the badge of a master chef from your friends and family. In addition to that, this is a relatively easy dish to make.

7. Mediterranean Style Steamed Artichokes

Source: whatagirleats.com

The nutty flavor of Artichokes is all you need for your side dish. To make Mediterranean-style steamed Artichokes, you will need artichokes, dried mixed herbs, garlic, lemon, and other seasonings.

Try these wonderful side dishes for ham.

8. Marinated Roasted Bell Peppers

Source: cookingmydreams.com

If you want your Marinated Roasted Bell Peppers to taste fresh and super awesome, make sure you source your bell peppers from a local source that sells fresh vegetables.

To prepare your marinated bell peppers, you will need Yellow and Red Bell Peppers, Olive Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic cloves, and seasonings.

It’s a perfect side dish for fish.

9. Roasted Vegetable Panzanella

Source: throughthefibrofog.com

Salads are the most common side dish in Italy, they are easy to prepare, and they tend to complement all kinds of main courses.

If you want to put together an Italian salad, you should look at this Roasted Vegetable Panzanella recipe.

Italian Side Dishes for Christmas

Feeling festive? Give your Christmas spread a twist this year with these incredible side dish recipes for the holidays!

10. Roasted Beet and Burrata Salad

Source: theviewfromgreatisland.com

Roasted Beet and Burrata Salad are made with sweet nectarines, ripe cherry tomatoes, and Burrata cheese, hence the name.

It’s a common holiday dish perfect for a Christmas or Thanksgiving spread.

11. Peas and Pancetta

Source: thisitaliankitchen.com

Peas and Pancetta is a crowd-pleaser for a few reasons. Firstly this is one of the most authentic Italian side dishes that is very easy to cook.

Secondly, so much flavor is produced, and easy on the taste buds. And thirdly, it’s the perfect side dish that goes with all kinds of main courses.

12. Baked Tomato and Goats Cheese with Salami, Olives, and Pesto

Source: littlesugarsnaps.com

One Italian food that is effortless to put together is Baked Tomato and goat cheese with Salami, Olives, and Pesto.

All you need is a baking tray, butter paper, tomatoes, olive oil, Goats cheese, Salami, olives, and Green pesto.

This is a perfect side dish for hot dogs.

13. Homemade Garlic Knots

Source: thebellyrulesthemind.net

Here is the best dinner roll recipe ever, but we call it garlic knots. They are Italian-inspired dinner rolls that will put all the other dinner rolls and garlic bread to shame.

14. Calabrese Potato Salad

Source: bigflavorstinykitchen.com

Here’s a quick salad recipe that will become a family favorite on Italian night for adults and kids. Since it’s a mayo-free salad, it’s pretty light on the stomach.

Pro-tip, this salad tastes even better after sitting in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. This is a lovely side dish for your burgers.

The instant pot has become a family favorite for many reasons. For one, you can cut down cooking time to half with it. For another, it makes the most complex and authentic dishes in the easiest way possible.

16. Pepperonata

Source: pepperbowl.com

Pepperonata is a popular Italian side dish that is made with peppers, potatoes, and onions.

To make mouth-watering Pepperonata, you need potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, onions, seasoning, and Balsamic vinegar. Put it all together and have the best Italian salad ready for your dinner.

17. Shrimp Scampi Zucchini Boats

Source: balancewithjess.com

Planning on a three or five-course meal and need an Italian side dish? Say no more; we have the best Italian side dish for your dinner party; Shrimp Scampi Zucchini Boats.

This dish doesn’t only taste good, but it looks like a recipe out of a five-star restaurant.

18. Air Fryer Eggplant

Source: wholesomeyum.com

Here’s a healthy recipe that is both cheesy and crispy, air fryer eggplant. Slice your eggplant in circles. Make sure your slices are half an inch thick.

Add olive oil, seasoning, parmesan cheese, and air fry for 10 to 20 minutes. There you are, the easiest yet yummiest Italian sideline ever.

19. Lemon Basil Caprese Salad

Source: apaigeofpositivity.com

Lemon Basil Caprese Salad is a summer salad with a twist of lemon and mozzarella balls that melt in your mouth. Every spoonful leaves you craving for more.

It’s a perfect side dish for stuffed peppers.

Easy Italian Side Dishes

Learning to cook? We’ve got your back! Here are some super simple Italian side dish recipes that you can prepare while learning your way around the kitchen.

20. Whipped Ricotta Toast

Source: masalaandchai.com

Whipped Ricotta Toast is a Godsent for those who are always short on time.

But that’s not all; a Whipped Ricotta Toast is the perfectly effortless side dish you can make and impress your guests without any hassle.

21. Chopped Italian Salad

Source: theviewfromgreatisland.com

Here’s a salad side dish that is hearty enough to be a meal. It’s the perfect salad for road trips or picnics. You won’t find a more colorful salad in any cuisine around the world.

This is a great side dish for chicken as well!

22. Caprese Salad

Source: ameessavorydish.com

You can’t beat a fresh summer salad made with tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella. The flavor of this fresh salad comes from tangy Italian vinaigrette.

Once you have added your ingredients to the salad bowl, drizzle some olive oil, Garlic-finely minced, salt, and pepper, to taste.

23. Italian Pasta Salad

Source: twohealthykitchens.com

Did you know an average Italian typically eats 23 kg (51 lbs) of pasta yearly? It’s no wonder they add pasta to their salads too.

This colorful Italian Pasta Salad is so easy to make, but your friends and family don’t need to know this secret.

24. Italian Zucchini Bake

Source: sweetpealifestyle.com

If you love Zucchini, you will also fall in love with this Italian-baked Zucchini recipe. Roast your sliced Zucchini and onions drizzled with seasonings and olive oil in the oven for 20 minutes.

25. Grilled Corn Panzanella Salad

Source: chocolatemoosey.com

Italians never do anything halfheartedly. Their food, as well as romance, is full of flavor and passion, respectively. To make Grilled Corn Panzanella Salad, you will need to take a trip to the farmer’s market.

26. Lemon-Basil Rice

Source: balancewithjess.com

Need to impress some guests? Make Lemon-Basil Rice as your side dish and receive a plethora of praises.

To make this zesty rice recipe, you will need jasmine rice, chicken or vegetable broth, butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, and Basil.

27. Caprese Chickpea Salad

Source: belleofthekitchen.com

If you are looking for a very light side dish for your health-conscious friends, you should put together a Caprese Chickpea Salad.

Made with avocado, tomato, mozzarella, and fresh herbs, this salad is the perfect Italian touch for your dinner.

28. Lemon Butter Gnocchi with Crispy Prosciutto

Source: thesavorycipolla.com

Here’s a cosy Italian side dish that will warm you up from the insides, Lemon Butter Gnocchi with Crispy Prosciutto. It’s one of the most popular dishes if you are entertaining, and the menu is Italian.

29. Orzo Pesto Salad

Source: kellyneil.com

Orzo Pesto Salad is a very refreshing bowl of green with all fresh ingredients. The Italians know how to present their food in the most impressive manner possible.

This bright green pesto salad is everything you need on your dinner table to add the right Italian touch and color.

30. Italian Shaved Artichoke Salad

Source: cookingmydreams.com

Artichokes have a slightly nutty flavor. To not lose that subtle flavor, you need to be very careful with the other ingredients you add to any dish with artichokes as its main ingredient.

With only salt, Artichokes, lemon, and Parmigiano, you can make the best Shaved Artichoke Salad and also preserve the health benefits of Artichokes.

31. Italian Seafood Salad

Source: carolynscooking.com

Paired with seafood, you get herbs and lemon in this salad; these two ingredients make the salad refreshing and flavorful.

As far as cooking the many types of seafood like octopus and shrimp for this salad, you only need a big pot of water and wine with salt to cook the seafood one at a time.