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Kimber Matherne
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If you’re in the mood for a big delicious bowl of spaghetti, here is a list with over 30 of our best side dishes to turn your spaghetti dinner into a well-rounded meal the whole family will love. From classic Italian appetizers, to a variety of easy salads, and some options to satisfy your sweet tooth too, these recipes are guaranteed to take your weeknight spaghetti dinner up a notch.
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Sauce Recipes for Spaghetti
I have tried and made many spaghetti sauce recipes! I finally have my tried and true spaghetti sauce recipes to share with you. Whether you’re looking for a traditional sauce like spaghetti marinara or if you have enough time you can try my crock pot spaghetti sauce, I have you covered! For a true dump-and-go my crock pot meatballs in marinara is always a HUGE hit!
Classic Side Dishes to Serve with Spaghetti
If you’re looking for the PERFECT side dish to serve with spaghetti, here are a few quick options that will appeal to everyone in the family.
- Brown Butter Broccoli– Roasted broccoli is always a crowd favorite around here!
- Your favorite Ciabatta bread – slice it up, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with fresh herbs.
- Best Ever Garlic Bread or if you prefer rolls, try these No Yeast Dinner Rolls
- Baked Asparagus
- Meatballs – What’s spaghetti without the classic meatball?
The Most Popular Appetizers to Serve with Spaghetti
If you know your family or guests will be hungry before dinner is ready, have some appetizers prepared. You can serve these alongside your spaghetti, but these are some of our crowd favorite recipes for appetizers:
- Antipasto
- Easy Caprese Salad
- Oven Roasted Vegetables
- Bruschetta – Mix tomatoes, olive oil, salt, garlic and pepper together. Top your sliced bread with the mixture and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.
- Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Balls
- Pesto Cheese Bread – For an unexpected flavor, try this!
Kid-Friendly Sides to Serve with Spaghetti
These family-friendly options are sure to appeal to both kids and adults, making them ideal for family dinners and picky eaters.
- Parmesan Broccoli – My favorite way to get my kids to eat veggies.
- Garlic Green Beans
- Sheet Pan Carrots
- Buttermilk Dressing goes great with sliced cucumbers and carrots.
- The Best Buttermilk Biscuits
- Garlic Cheese Bread – Because cheese makes everything better!
Our Favorite Salads and Antipasto to Serve with Spaghetti
Fresh salads or antipasto platters filled with vibrant ingredients are a great way to balance out the richness of your pasta. Add a healthy side dish to round out your meal:
- Classic Cucumber Salad
- Tomato Salad with Basil and Mozzarella – You can make this with any tomato, but I love cherry tomatoes!
- Kale Salad
- Caesar Salad – Combine chopped romaine lettuce with parmesan, croutons, and your favorite caesar dressing for a simple classic caesar salad.
- Arugula Salad
- Italian House Salad
- Side Green Salad with a quick homemade ranch dressing, healthy vinaigrette, or blue cheese dressing.
Quick and Easy Veggie Sides to Serve with Spaghetti
These are some of the best side dishes to complement your spaghetti. Adding one will help stretch your meal and round out your wholesome dinner. You can’t go wrong with any of these popular vegetable sides:
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Sautéed Mushrooms – The garlic butter is irristable on these mushrooms.
- Sautéed Spinach
- Garlic Roasted Vegetables – The BEST recipe!
- Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Desserts That Pair Well with Spaghetti
Any of these desserts would be a great way to finish off a delicious meal.
- Lemon Meltaway Cookies – a reader favorite!
- Fudge Brownies
- Cinnamon Glaze Butter Cookies
Other Favorite Italian Recipes
A classic marinara with your favorite noodle is always a homerun, but if you want to try some new recipes, check out our reader favorites below.
- Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti
- Million Dollar Spaghetti Squash Casserole –For a healthier version try it with spaghetti squash.
- Meatball Pasta Bake
- Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Baked Ziti with Ground Turkey
- Pepperoni Ravioli Lasagna
These quick and easy recipes will come in handy when deciding what side you should serve with your spaghetti dinner.
If there are any favorite spaghetti side dishes I left off this list, make sure and let me know in the comments.
Is spaghetti a main dish?
Pasta can be a main dish, especially when it’s coated in a flavorful sauce. Adding a salad or a vegetable as a side just makes it more balanced. Or serve it as a side dish alongside my Baked Italian Chicken or Italian Turkey Meatballs.
Why shouldn’t you rinse your spaghetti noodles?
Don’t rinse your spaghetti noodles (or any other pasta) unless you are eating it cold, like in pasta salad. The starch in the water helps the sauce stick to the pasta, giving it better flavor.
Is it okay to break the spaghetti noodles to fit in the pot?
If possible, use a larger pot! You can also let the ends stick out for a minute, then stir and let them submerge. Pasta should be long enough to twirl around your fork.
Traditional Spaghetti Marinara
By: Kimber Matherne
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This traditional Spaghetti Marinara is a simple, made-from-scratch sauce that will become your go to recipe! It requires just a few basic ingredients, takes a quick 10 minutes to prep, and yields the most flavorful marinara. Serve over spaghetti or another type of pasta or use in another recipe!
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
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Ingredients
- 16 ounces spaghetti, or other pasta
For the Homemade Marinara
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 6 cloves garlic, pressed
- 29 ounces stewed tomatoes, (2 cans)
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, (1 large can)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
In a large pot or dutch oven, saute the onions over medium heat until translucent. Add the garlic and stir for 30-60 seconds.
Add the remaining ingredients and simmer covered, for 20-30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Use an immersion blender to blend the sauce together. If you prefer a chunky marinara sauce, you can just use a wooden spoon to break the larger tomatoes into pieces instead of using a blender.
Cook spaghetti per package directions to al dente. Once done, drain, then transfer pasta to the sauce and toss.
Alternately, serve pasta plain and pour marinara sauce over the top.
Last step!Share a picture on Instagram and tag me at @easyfamilyrecipes!
Recipe Notes
Substitutions:
- Broth – Beef broth or veggie broth will work in place of the chicken broth.
How to Store: To store leftovers, separate into meal-sized portions, then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-5 days
- in the freezer up to 6 months
How to Freeze: Making this easy marinara sauce recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Prepare the marinara sauce as instructed, simmer as long as you like, then cool completely.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container and store.
- When you’re ready to enjoy again, thaw the sauce overnight in the fridge, then warm and serve as desired.
How to Reheat: To enjoy leftovers, thaw in the fridge if frozen, then reheat on low on the stove until warmed through.
How to Scale: This recipe yields 8 cups of marinara sauce. It can be easily doubled if you’re making a larger batch or halved for a smaller amount.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 323kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 61g (20%), Protein: 11g (22%), Fat: 5g (8%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 1086mg (47%), Potassium: 732mg (21%), Fiber: 6g (25%), Sugar: 12g (13%), Vitamin A: 674IU (13%), Vitamin C: 23mg (28%), Calcium: 106mg (11%), Iron: 4mg (22%)
