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Here are 25+ of the best side dishes to serve with Meatloaf! Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food that never fails to bring a sense of home to the dinner table. While the meatloaf steals the spotlight, choosing the right sides can take your dining experience from good to downright amazing. I’ve put together from perfect pairings that’ll make your meatloaf shine like never before!
Meatloaf is like a savory hug on a plate, a classic comfort food made with a blend of ground meats, sometimes a mix of ground beef and pork, seasoned generously with herbs, spices, and sometimes a touch of Worcestershire sauce for that extra kick. It’s typically bound together with breadcrumbs or oats, eggs, and often includes diced onions, garlic, and sometimes bell peppers or carrots for added flavor and moisture. Once mixed, it’s shaped into a loaf and baked until it’s beautifully golden brown on the outside and irresistibly juicy and flavorful on the inside, topped with a sweet brown sugar and ketchup glaze. Leftover meatloaf makes for a perfect easy dinner for those busy weeknights, so if you have some left over, cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Ketchup is a simple yet traditional topping to meatloaf that locks in the moisture while also providing its signature sweet vinegary taste. If you don’t like ketchup or for whatever reason don’t want to use ketchup as a glaze, here are a few other options:
- BBQ sauce
- grated cheddar cheese
- marinara sauce (for an Italian meatloaf)
- salsa (for a Mexican inspired meatloaf)
- strips of bacon
- cream of mushroom soup
For more on how to make THE BEST Meatloaf just click on this recipe. And keep scrolling to find the perfect side dish to pair with your meatloaf dinner!
What To Serve With Meatloaf (25+ of the best sides)
Buttery Mashed Potatoes: I don’t know about you, but I cannot eat meatloaf without mashed potatoes. This Mashed Potatoes Recipe is smooth, silky and buttery! Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish to meatloaf.
Maple Glazed Carrots Recipe: Maple Glazed Carrots are the perfect, easiest side dish for meatloaf. Who doesn’t love the sweet flavor of maple syrup?
Roasted Cauliflower: This basic, Roasted Cauliflower Recipe is a tasty, low-carb, simple side dish to throw together any day of the week. All you need is olive oil, salt, pepper and a little oven time to get the maximum caramelized, brown, super flavorful cauliflower.
Coleslaw: Classic Coleslaw with Homemade Coleslaw Dressing – you can’t go wrong with this amazing coleslaw recipe. It gives a nice cool touch to the heavy meatloaf.
Cucumber Salad: Cucumber Salad is cool, crunchy, refreshing, and easy to throw together! Add it as an appetizer or side dish for meatloaf.
Scalloped Potatoes: This easy recipe for Scalloped Potatoes is one you will make again and again. Extremely creamy and a delicious option if you you’re looking for something cheesy and you love potatoes!
Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta: Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta is a super easy recipe that is fast and SO flavorful! It will be the first side dish to be devoured!
Fondant Potatoes: Fondant Potatoes are deliciously crispy on top, chewy on bottom and pillowy soft inside. A super fancy side dish to meatloaf.
Garlic Bread: Softened butter stirred together with fresh minced garlic, a few herbs, and two kinds of cheese with a little extra hit of garlic from garlic powder! I promise this is the best cheesy garlic bread you will ever try. Try my Slow Cooker Garlic Bread too!
White Rice: My Famous Butter Rice is seriously the best! Add a few simple ingredients to make the most buttery, delicious rice you’ve ever had!
Roasted Acorn Squash: Cinnamon and nutmeg make this sweet Roasted Acorn Squash more of a seasonal dish while smoked paprika gives this an unexpected (but delicious) smoky flavor!
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: This is an easy side dish recipe, brussels sprouts with a brown, crispy exterior and a tender middle. They are a perfect and simple accompaniment to meatloaf.
Roasted Root Vegetables: Move over salad…make room for earthy, hearty, caramelized deliciousness in the form of oven roasted root vegetables. These are the perfect accompaniment to meatloaf.
Roasted Green Beans: Oven roasting is a quick and easy way to not only cook your vegetables but a great method for adding more flavor to any vegetable. I like to add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for a little extra flavor!
Garlic Mashed Potatoes: If you’re looking for a new way to serve mashed potatoes, try these! So buttery, creamy, and so so garlicky. The perfect mashed potato recipe for garlic lovers!
Cauliflower Au Gratin: Creamy and flavorful Cauliflower Au Gratin uses only a few simple ingredients and is an easy side dish perfect for meatloaf!
Mashed Sweet Potatoes: Mashed Sweet Potatoes are everything you love about mashed potatoes mixed with the flavors of sweet potatoes. Smooth, creamy and buttery!
Sausage and Peppers Stuffed Zucchini Boats are baked tender soft zucchini stuffed with a hearty sausage, onion and bell peppers and marinara sauce then topped with melty mozzarella cheese. Such a tasty side for meatloaf.
Macaroni and Cheese: There is nothing better than Macaroni and Cheese with meatloaf. Get this simple, classic, cheesy recipe for Macaroni and Cheese featuring three kinds of cheese and a crispy, salty topping. Or try my Instant Pot Mac and Cheese if you’re in a hurry!
Kale Salad: This Kale Salad is healthy and makes a great side dish to your heavy meatloaf! Use ingredients you already have and you’ll make a delicious salad in no time!
Butter Drop Biscuits: So buttery and delicious, these Drop Biscuits will blow your mind! No rolling or cutting, simply make the dough, drop by the heaping tablespoon onto your baking sheets and bake!
Salad: Any green salad would be a great side dish for meatloaf, but I think this Bacon Bleu Cheese Chopped Salad really pairs nicely.
Dinner Rolls: Potato rolls are fluffy, soft, slightly sweet, and nearly perfect in every way! Meatloaf just begs to be served with warm dinner rolls and these are so delicious. Serve with roasted garlic to really take these rolls over the top.
Vegetable Risotto: A light and comforting meal that you can have ready in no time! Vegetable Risotto is perfect for those warmer spring evenings!
Sweet Potato Fries: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries are a quick and easy way to get some real tasty fries! Cook them to perfection and then dip into your favorite sauce and serve alongside meatloaf.
Potato Salad: This Creamy Potato Salad recipe is is a great side dish to serve with meatloaf, especially when the weather is a little warmer and the cool potatoes just really hit the spot.
Cucumber Tomato Salad: A classic and delicious salad, this Cucumber Tomato Salad is light, refreshing and so so easy to make! Made with sweet english cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions and a simple homemade dressing.
Corn Casserole: Is there anything more comforting than a buttery and cheesy Corn Casserole? This slightly sweet and savory side dish is a 1-bowl, quick, fix it and forget it wonder that is a perfect side dish to serve with meatloaf.
Broccoli: Simple steamed broccoli with butter or cheese is an easy but delicious side dish to meatloaf.
Green Bean Casserole: This creamy, crispy, bacon loaded Green Bean Casserole is everything you need and more in a side dish.
Whether you stick to the classics like mashed potatoes and veggies or get wild with some roasted goodness or tangy slaw, trust your taste buds! With these side dishes in your back pocket, every meatloaf meal is a chance to create a delicious, unforgettable experience for everyone sharing the table.
Other Meatloaf-y Recipes To Try
- Thanksgiving Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
- Turkey Meatloaf Florentine
- Best Salisbury Steak Recipe
- Turkey Salisbury Steak Recipe
If you make these recipes, I would really appreciate it if you would give them a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
