What to Serve With Sandwiches: 35+ Best Side Dishes
If you're looking for a side dish to serve with sandwiches for lunch or dinner, we've got you covered. This collection of over 35 recipes will help you find the perfect pairing for your favorite sandwich.
What I love about restaurants like Panera and Hale and Hearty are their duet specials.
Choose a sandwich and find the perfect match (a soup or salad) to go with it. It's the best of both worlds!
But you can easily recreate the same experience right at home, even for your pickiest eaters.
Just add a fresh green salad or hearty soup to this copycat recipe for Panera's Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich or this Chickpea Avocado Salad Sandwich, and you've got a filling meal straight out of your own kitchen.
Another simple recipe is this Chickpea Salad with Olives and Walnuts, which you can serve with homemade onion rings or sweet potato fries.
So next time you're preparing lunch for friends or a quick dinner for family, don't overlook the possibilities of your own sandwich pairings.
Below are over 35 easy sides that are either vegetarian or vegan. They're big on flavor and a great accompaniment to your favorite sandwich.
Broccoli Crunch Pasta Salad by Season and Thyme
This recipe uses Greek yogurt and shredded cheese to add richness to an already delightful pasta dish. The result is a chewy, crunchy, and creamy macaroni salad that you can serve either warm or cold.
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Sweet Potato Chips by The Typical Mom
Get your mandoline and cut-resistant gloves ready - it's time to slice up some sweet but savory spuds to go with your sandwich. Air fry them to get the crispiness of the store-bought bags without the unwanted ingredients.
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Tahini Kale Salad by Frozen Bananas
When handling tough, leafy greens like kale, take two extra steps: remove the kale from the stems and massage them with your hands for 2-3 minutes. Now, you're on your way to a divine tahini and pine nut salad recipe that will balance out any cheesy sandwich.
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Vegan Potato Salad with Dill by Best Served Vegan
The base for this gorgeous potato salad starts with soaked cashews pulverized in a blender with other tasty ingredients. Chill for at least an hour to bring out the creamy texture of this classic side dish.
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Instant Pot Red Lentil Soup by Ambitious Foodie
All the ingredients for this exotic dish are easy to find. And unless you like the red lentils slightly whole, use your immersion blender for a smooth finish. You can also add potatoes for a thicker consistency.
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Cheese Coleslaw by Mrs. Jones’s Kitchen
Greek yogurt adds a creamy, tangy richness to any dish, and here, it's combined with a small amount of mayonnaise. The shredded cheese is a great addition to appeal to kids, and you can also toss in fresh herbs, apples, or celery.
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Salt and Vinegar Chips by Homemade in the Kitchen
This easy recipe introduces you to one smart ingredient to save you time and give your potato chips more vinegar flavor. You'll also find the two sets of instructions for either deep-frying or baking the chips.
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Macaroni Salad by Chicken Fried Kitchen
If you're not crazy about celery, this is the macaroni salad for you. There's plenty of depth from the sweet, vinegary dressing and the well-chosen vegetables. Excite your taste buds with a helping of shredded cheese as well.
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Vegetarian Potato Soup by Wholefood Soulfood Kitchen
What is it about potato soup that is so comforting? Here's proof that you don't need the bacon! You'll get plenty of savory flavor from this great side dish and a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream to make it more indulgent.
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Mediterranean Chickpea Salad by Aubrey's Kitchen
Scoop some of the luxurious kalamata olive dressing onto this chunky salad, and it will elevate a good sandwich into a supreme meal. Use the firmer, canned chickpeas for the best texture, and watch out for those sneaky olive pits.
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Cucumber Feta Mint Salad by Make with Mara
If you like mint, you'll adore this cucumber salad. It's cool and refreshing, with a light kick from the crushed red peppers, and it smells amazing! Also, try the technique of salting the cucumbers to get maximum crunchiness.
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Vegan Pasta Salad by Planted in the Kitchen
This pretty pasta salad features a zesty tahini lemon vinaigrette with a sweet flavor that's anything but boring. Store the salad in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
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Homemade French Fries by Sustain My Cooking Habit
Try these potato wedges if you prefer thicker french fries that are crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. They're fried in oil, a more traditional method, for a quick side dish.
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Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Salad by Christina's Cucina
It's unbelievable how satisfying this simple salad is with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Use high-quality ingredients for a sumptuous meal, and make sure not to add the salt too early, or you'll end up with a watery dish.
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Copycat Chick Fil A Superfood Salad
Here's a superfood salad that's packed with nutrients and big on taste. You might be tempted to leave the broccoli raw, but blanching it allows it to blend better with the kale and take on all the zing of the dressing.
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Watermelon Fruit Salad by Accidental Happy Baker
Here's a refreshing salad featuring three of our favorite fruits. Even if the ones you buy are not as sweet or juicy as you would like, they will be perfect for this juicy fruit salad.
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Vegan Italian Chopped Salad by The Short Order Cook
Any recipe with chickpeas is a party waiting to start! This perfect side dish adds pizzaz with pepperoncini, artichoke hearts, and black olives, similar to the beloved Olive Garden salad.
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Raw Brussels Sprout Salad with Oranges by Free Your Fork
You've seen broccoli slaw but have you ever eaten raw, shaved brussels sprouts? The thinner you cut them, the tastier they are. This fun salad includes sweet oranges, blueberries, and sunflower seeds for a tempting and healthy side dish.
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Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup by Lettuce Veg Out
Here's a chunky vegetable soup that's made from fresh tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. They're roasted in the oven, mixed with broth, and blended into an tasty side dish for your sandwiches.
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Penne Pasta Salad by Mae's Menu
This Mediterranean pasta salad is an excellent choice for a party or BBQ because it doesn't have any ingredients which can spoil quickly. Guests will love the feta cheese, chewy penne, and robust salad dressing.
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Creamy Vegan Corn Salad by The Green Loot
Create an easy side dish that's sweet, creamy, and entirely vegan. Try not to substitute here - use fresh cooked or canned corn for the best flavor and texture.
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Sour Cream and Onion Potato Salad by Cozy Cravings
Inspired by sour cream and onion potato chips, this recipe uses both sour cream and Greek yogurt. It also calls for three different types of onions, along with onion powder, for the ultimate dedication to a beloved chip.
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Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing and Roasted Chickpeas by The Vegan Larder
Lemon-infused kale, crunchy roasted chickpeas, and crispy radishes make a delicious and hearty salad. If you want to enjoy it later in the week as well, keep the ingredients separate and mix one batch as needed.
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Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup
A creamy soup that's also gluten-free and nut-free? Even your sandwich will be asking for more! By the time you add the broccoli and vegan cheese to your pot, you'll already be drooling.
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Citrus Salad by What a Girl Eats
Here's a spectacular bouquet of edible flowers made from fresh fruit. This beautiful salad platter will have you searching your grocery store for a wide variety of rainbow citrus fruits. You'll also find useful tips on making a true vinaigrette dressing.
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Creamy Vegan Macaroni Salad by Veggies Don't Bite
This macaroni salad is a healthy alternative to the store-bought version. It has the tangy bite of mayo without the dairy. The creamy dressing can also be used in other delicious side dishes.
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Tomato Soup from Canned Tomatoes by Champagne Tastes
There is nothing more blissful than a spoonful of tomato soup with your grilled cheese sandwich. This easy recipe adds roasted red peppers and fresh Parmesan cheese to bring out the flavor of the tomatoes.
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Easy Creamy Vegan Coleslaw by My Pure Plants
This coleslaw recipe is one of the best sides if you're scrambling at the last minute. All you need are cabbage, carrots, vegan mayo, and a few items from your pantry. It also shares a few ideas on preventing a watery salad.
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Crispy Potato Wedges by Broke Bank Vegan
Gather your dips because we're making thick and crisp wedges with a mouthwatering salty flavor. You can bake them in the oven or put them in your air fryer - or both at the same time if you're making batches!
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Lettuce Avocado Salad by My Plantiful Cooking
This is a great choice when no one can agree on the right salad dressing to use. It showcases the fresh garden veggies and makes a refreshingly simple side dish.
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Baked Sweet Potato Fries by Resplendent Kitchen
You'll be a pro at making these oven-baked sweet potato fries that taste as if they come from a high-end sandwich shop. There are plenty of helpful tips and recipes for yummy dips as well.
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Easy Caesar Salad by Bites with Bri
Who says you need anchovies and eggs to make a decadent caesar salad? Make a vegetarian dressing that is full of complex flavor and richness. The whole dish takes only 20 minutes, including the time to make homemade croutons!
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Air Fryer Onion Rings by Trop Rockin
Here's a great way to enjoy onion rings without all the grease. Use your handy air fryer to bring out your favorite sweet onions' thick, crispy, savory goodness. Stick with Panko breadcrumbs for the best crunch.
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Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad by I Heart Eating
This 5-ingredient pasta salad is destined to be a party pleaser at your next luncheon. It's quick and easy to make, and you can vary the ingredients for a new twist every time!
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Carrot Soup by Wholesome Made Easy
Once you've perfected this sublime soup, you can experiment with different versions, like coconut curry or carrot ginger. It's comforting, easy to prepare, and looks elegant next to a hearty sandwich.
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Vegan Broccoli Salad by The Devil Wears Salad
There is so much happening in this colorful salad, yet it only takes 15 minutes to put together. Each broccoli floret is lovingly glazed in a tangy mustard dressing and sprinkled with extra fun ingredients like cranberries and radishes.
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Creamy Cauliflower Potato Soup by Occasionally Eggs
Here's a new way to enjoy super-versatile cauliflower. Potatoes and chickpeas add oomph to this beige but tasty soup, and it freezes well for future sandwich duets.
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Whether you're serving hot or cold sandwiches, you can make a complete meal with one of these appetizing side dishes. From creamy pasta salads to crispy potato delights, you're sure to find something to appeal to you and your favorite lunch guests.
But who's stopping at lunch? Make a few different sides for a light and healthy dinner that everyone will enjoy.
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Fantastic list of sides for sandwiches! Thanks for putting these all together!
Thank you so much, Christina! 🙂