36 Best Sides for Meatloaf (What to Serve With Meatloaf)

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I have picked my best sides for Meatloaf, giving you a tasty range of classic and modern side dishes. So if you’ve ever wondered what to serve with meatloaf, don’t worry I’ve got you covered.

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36 Best Sides for Meatloaf

These delicious sides for meatloaf will give you enough inspiration to last years. I have a range of classic and modern sides that will bring your meatloaf to the next level.

1. Roasted Ternderstem Broccoli

This oven-roasted tenderstem broccoli is the perfect side dish to accompany meatloaf. Roasted with garlic and olive oil, it’s not only so tasty but is very easy to make. It has a texture similar to asparagus, is vegan and gluten-free friendly.

It only takes 15 minutes in the oven and can cook alongside your meatloaf. Simply place in the oven for the remaining 15 minutes. 

For more tasty roasted dishes, check out favorite recipes with roasted vegetables.

2. 12-Minute Broccoli Salad

This Broccoli salad is perfect for your meatloaf. It adds a well-needed nutritious kick, so you know you’re eating a healthy meal. It contains six types of vegetables, and the best thing is, it only takes 12 minutes to make.

3. Slice and Bake Potatoes

Meatloaf and potatoes go great together.  It doesn’t get any easier than this classic potato side dish.  Simply slice fresh potatoes, pour melted butter on top, add some herbs, and parmesan cheese. Bake in a cast iron skillet or casserole dish, next to your meatloaf in the oven. 

4. Southern Baked Beans

Delicious Southern-style baked beans are a delicious side for any main course. Sweet and tangy and full of flavor, baked beans are a classic favorite in the South!

5. Gluten Free Au Gratin Potatoes

Just one bite of my Gluten Free Au Gratin Potatoes, and you will be hooked for life. This amazing potato bake is a classic side dish recipe that’s perfect for Sunday supper or the holidays. It’s bursting with flavor from creamy garlic potatoes and a cheesy crust.

6. German Potato Salad

The tangy potatoes pair nicely with the sweet, savory meatloaf. Also, the potatoes roast at meatloaf temps, making for easier preparation. Potatoes are naturally gluten-free, so this dish is allergen friendly (no dairy either). Finally, this recipe is on the lighter side, which is best with a heavier main!

7. Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts

These Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts are tossed with lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. A quick and easy side dish that can be made in less than 30 minutes.

8. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

The perfect complement to your favorite meatloaf. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese has a cheese sauce that’s uniquely rich and creamy with a slight, nutty kick – thanks to nutmeg and a dash of Tabasco sauce.

9. Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Roasted Chickpeas

Stuffed sweet potatoes are the perfect pairing for meatloaf. Simple baked sweet potatoes are loaded with crispy taco chickpeas and fresh veggie fixings, then topped with a cool avocado crema for a healthy and delicious side dish the whole family will love.

10. Gouda Mashed Potatoes

These Gouda mashed potatoes are perfect for a special occasion. Laced with sweet caramelized onions, fragrant garlic, and plenty of cheese and fat, these delectably rich potatoes are bound to be a hit.

11. Mashed Peas (Paleo, Whole30, vegan)

Peas are a classic pairing with meatloaf. But how annoying is it when they fall off your fork and right off the table? A simple, easy solution is to make Mashed Peas! By mashing freshly cooked peas with some butter (or fat of your choice), you can make them as chunky or as creamy as you like. It’s almost like serving meatloaf with mashed potatoes but much healthier and more colorful! Plus they’re naturally gluten-free and can be dairy-free.

12. Bacon Ranch Crispy Smashed Potatoes

While mashed potatoes often get served with meatloaf, why not mix it up? Swap out the usual ‘taters for Bacon Ranch Crispy Smashed Potatoes! Small potatoes are cooked, smashed and then baked until crispy on the outside and creamy inside. Then they’re covered with tangy ranch dressing and salty chunks of bacon. This is way more fun than boring ol’ mashed potatoes.

13. Country-Style Potato Cabbage Casserole

Country-Style Potato Cabbage Casserole with Cheddar and Bacon is a hearty homestyle budget-friendly side dish for simply roasted meat or poultry. When paired with a salad, it makes a satisfying vegetarian main dish when using veggie bacon.

14. Creamy Buckwheat Risotto with Mushrooms

Creamy, healthy, and gluten free this buckwheat mushroom risotto cooks in 30 minutes and makes a delicious entree or side dish to anything!

15. Arakas – Greek Sweet Peas

Arakas – Greek sweet peas is a traditional Greek dish that is so easy & fresh. In Greece, arakas is served as a main course but can be an awesome side dish to grilled steak, chicken, or fish.

16. Garlic Sauteed Mushrooms

Italian sauteed mushrooms (funghi trifolati) are one of those sides that pair well with almost any type of meal. They are flavored with a bit of garlic, chili flakes, parsley and finished with a touch of extra virgin olive oil.

17. Lemon Quinoa

Herbed Lemon Quinoa is a gluten free side dish that you can serve with any of your meatloaf recipes. It comes together easily and packed with the perfect zesty flavors to accompany your meatloaf.

18. Feta and Veggie Bake

Melted Feta and Veggie Bake. Easy and quick. 10 minutes prep time, then for 30 minutes in the oven. High in vitamins A, C and B6, protein and fiber.

19. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes are very similar to Potatoes Au Gratin because they are drenched in a creamy, cheesy, garlicky cream sauce and then covered in more cheese! They make a perfect comfort food side dish

20. Creamy Stovetop Mac & Cheese

This stovetop macaroni & cheese is the creamiest, smoothest Mac & Cheese you’ll ever make, thanks to a simple secret ingredient that keeps it smooth longer.

21. Smoked Corn on the Cob

Smoked Corn on the Cob is the perfect way to cook corn on the cob. The corn steams inside tin foil with butter, while the delicate smoky flavor infuses every kernel of corn. The result is perfectly cooked corn, super juicy, and so flavorful. Gluten-free.

22. Riced Cabbage

This Riced Cabbage is a savory and flavorful side dish that you are going to love. Low in carbs and tender like cooked rice, it has just the right taste and texture to go great with any meal. (clean, keto, GF)

23. Simple Steamed Beet Salad

This deliciously simple steamed beet salad is ready in 15 minutes. And by using the right beets, it’ll leave you with a clean cutting board and clean hands. No red stains that will take forever to get rid of. 

24. Crunchy Ramen Broccoli Salad

Crisp romaine lettuce, fresh broccoli florets, and ripe Roma tomatoes, toasted slivered almonds, and toasted Ramen noodles are tossed in a homemade sweet and sour vinaigrette.  This delicious crispy, crunchy broccoli salad goes with just about anything (especially meatloaf) and comes together in just 15 minutes!

25. Roasted Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

Roasted asparagus with cherry tomatoes is a fresh and healthy side dish for meatloaf. This recipe comes together on a sheet pan in just ten minutes in the oven for a quick and easy weeknight side dish.

26. Marinated Cherry Tomato Salad

Quick marinated cherry tomato salad is a perfect simple side dish to serve with grilled dishes in the summer. This is so flavorful, almost oil-free, colorful, juicy, herby, and ready in just 10 minutes.

27. Garlic Sauteed Asparagus & Mushroom

Garlic sauteed asparagus and mushrooms is a flavorful, vegan side dish to enjoy in spring as well as in the fall season. It goes well with many entrees on weeknight dinners and put together in just a few minutes. Try this herby and pan-fried fresh asparagus with the mushroom recipe.

28. 4 Best Ways to Cook Parsnips

Another fun new way to replace the typical mashed potatoes next to meatloaf is to make mashed parsnips instead. Parsnips look like big white carrots with an earthy, starchy sweetness that’s like a carrot married a potato. By simply cooking them and mashing them, you’ll get all the nutritious benefits of this root vegetable, plus it’s way more flavorful than boring ol’ white spuds.

29. Cauliflower Mash With Sour Cream

This mashed cauliflower with sour cream is a rich, creamy, delightfully delicious, low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes.

30. Haricot Vert Salad

This haricot vert salad is made with French green beans (haricots verts), toasted almonds, and a quick homemade honey mustard dressing. Serve it warm or cold for an easy side dish!

Air Fryer & Instant Pot Side Dishes

Want a ton of delicious instant pot meals? Check out my 42 best instant pot meal prep recipes.

31. Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes

These Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes are perfectly seasoned, cooked until crispy and golden brown. They are crispy little morsels on the outside, yet soft puffs of potato on the inside. Gluten-free.

32. Air Fryer Asparagus

Quick and easy air fryer asparagus makes the perfect accompaniment to meatloaf! Simply seasoned with garlic, salt, and pepper, it turns out perfectly every time!

33. Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes

With this incredibly easy instant pot boiled potatoes recipe, you can have fork tender potatoes in a fraction of the time of boiling them on the stove. They are consistently tender and delicious.

34. Air Fryer Fries

If you want the crispiest fries cooked in an air fryer then this is the recipe you have been waiting for. These easy to prepare steak fries are the perfect side to serve with meatloaf.

35. Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower

You won’t believe how easy it is to make Instant Pot Mashed Cauliflower! This Whole30, Gluten free and Keto friendly side dish comes together in a snap with whole cauliflower and almost no prep work at all.

36. Slow Cooker Mac & Cheese

Delicious and easy crockpot macaroni and cheese with a simple but amazing twist – Old Bay Seasoning. This dish together with a hearty meatloaf make for the ultimate comfort food meal!5.

Frequently Asked Questions about Meatloaf