63 Sides That Pair Perfectly with Meatloaf

updated Feb 25, 2024

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Italian meatloaf (sliced meatloaf in a marinara sauce with melted mozzarella cheese on top, similar to an italian baked pasta dish) — Credit: Laura Rege

Oh, man, homemade meatloaf is amazing. I love this savory, flavorful, home-warming dish so much (the crispy bits! The ketchup glaze!) that sides are often an afterthought. When I think about what to serve with meatloaf, I’ll typically head straight for a pair of standbys: mashed potatoes and a side of green veggies ( like broccoli or green beans). But those are far from the only — or the best — dishes to pair with this perennial protein. And meatloaf’s long baking time means there’s plenty of time to get creative.

Here’s a list of 63 sides for meatloaf, whether you want to enjoy the classics or try something new.

In This Article

Potato Side Dishes
Vegetable Side Dishes
Garlic Bread, Rolls, and Biscuits

Potato Side Dishes

Potatoes are a workhorse of the kitchen and their starchy goodness pairs perfectly with meatloaf’s savory deliciousness. No wonder mashed potatoes are such a classic. But you don’t have to stop there: Smashed and roasted potatoes are also a delight.

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Classic Mashed Potatoes

Here's our recipe for how to make the best classic mashed potatoes, with recommendations for potato type, dairy additions, and mashing methods.

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3-Ingredient Garlicky Red Potatoes

Thick chunks of red potatoes are tossed with a generous dusting of garlic powder, then finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon before they hit the table.

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Dauphinoise Potatoes

This classic French side dish is made with sliced potatoes, heavy cream, and plenty of Gruyère cheese.

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Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Mash tender Yukon Gold or russet potatoes with garlic-infused milk and melted butter for the creamiest garlic mashed potatoes.

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Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes

Turn to your air fryer for this impossibly crispy and easy side dish.

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Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes

Traditional mashed potatoes get an extra dose of luxe flavor from sour cream.

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Roasted Garlic Butter Fingerling Potatoes

This simple recipe features fingerling potatoes roasted in butter, olive oil, and garlic.

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French Onion Mashed Potatoes

Stir onion soup mix and sour cream into mashed potatoes for an easy side dish that will outshine the main course.

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Crispy Skillet-Fried Potatoes

A skillet and a lid are all you need to make these crispy potatoes with fluffy, perfect insides.

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Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Cream cheese upgrades classic mashed potatoes into the creamiest, dreamiest side.

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Fondant Potatoes

This easy, impressive recipe for restaurant-quality fondant potatoes is made with just five staple ingredients.

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Cheesy Baked Mashed Potatoes

These creamy baked mashed potatoes are loaded with two kinds of cheese and are make-ahead-friendly.

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3-Ingredient Roasted Dijon Potatoes

Not only do these potatoes have the ultra-crispy, crackly edges you love, but they also have a little added tang and go with everything.

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Mashed Sweet Potatoes

This easy, step-by-step guide to making creamy mashed sweet potatoes is extra special because the potatoes are lightly sweetened with maple syrup.

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Garlic Butter Smashed Potatoes

These mouthwatering smashed potatoes are tossed in a garlic butter mixture and baked until golden and crispy.

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Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes just got a bit more sophisticated with a dairy swap-out.

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3-Ingredient Sheet Pan Cajun Spiced Potatoes

Red potatoes are coated in Cajun seasoning and a few dashes of cayenne pepper hot sauce, then baked until hot and crisp.

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Garlic Confit Mashed Potatoes

Garlic confit improves just about everything, including these buttery mashed potatoes.

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Sour Cream Smashed Potatoes with Fried Shallots

Inspired by potato stuffed pierogi, these sour cream and onion mashed potatoes deserve a spot at your Thanksgiving table.

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Brown Butter Miso Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mixed with nutty brown butter and deeply savory miso paste, these fluffy potatoes will be the Thanksgiving MVP.

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Lemon Butter Melting Potatoes

With a crispy crust and fluffy inside, these roasted potatoes are totally perfect.

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Au Gratin Potatoes

Au gratin potatoes are one of the greatest casseroles of all time. Tender, fluffy potatoes are bathed in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, then baked in a hot oven until bubbly and crisp.

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English Jacket Potatoes

The secret to the best ever baked potatoes? Cook them like the British do.

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Smashed Sweet Potatoes

Here, thick rounds of sweet potato are seasoned, smashed, and roasted, creating crispy-edged medallions with creamy, tender centers.

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Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes and Cabbage)

Learn how to make colcannon — a classic Irish side dish of mashed potatoes and cabbage dressed with browned butter.

Vegetable Side Dishes

These colorful vegetable sides pair perfectly with meatloaf, like roasted broccoli, glazed carrots, sautéed mushrooms, and creamed corn.

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Roasted Broccoli

Perfectly seasoned broccoli florets roasted until crisp and caramelized.

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This classic side comes together in minutes.

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Roasted Asparagus

This hands-off method yields lightly browned, crisp-tender asparagus every single time.

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Oven-Roasted Corn

Here's how to make your sweet corn tastier with just your oven — whether it is husk on or off.

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Sautéed Mushrooms

Here's how to prepare mushrooms on the stovetop so good that you'll want to eat them all on their own.

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Sautéed Green Beans

This two-step technique guarantees perfectly cooked green beans that are vibrantly colored, crisp, and tender.

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Parmesan Crusted Carrots

Sweet, jammy roasted carrots get a salty, crispy Parmesan crust.

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Garlic Broccolini

An easy recipe for sautéed Broccolini with garlic and red pepper flakes that's the perfect weeknight side dish.

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Sweet corn kernels simmered in butter and cream is better than anything from a can.

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Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions

Combine sautéed mushrooms and onions with the slight acidity of lemon juice and white wine for a dish that bursts with umami.

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Roasted Parmesan Asparagus

Roasted asparagus is a quick and easy side dish for any night of the week. We add a little Parmesan and garlic for some serious crave-worthy veggies.

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Air Fryer Carrots

Slender carrot sticks seasoned with garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs air fried until tender and blistered.

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Creamed Spinach

Tender baby spinach, mixed in a flavorful cream sauce, makes one of the best and easiest side dishes for holiday dinners.

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Garlic and Herb Butter Bath Corn

Boiling sweet summer corn in a butter bath with fresh herbs and garlic makes it taste like your favorite steakhouse side.

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Roasted Mushrooms

Not only do these simple roasted mushrooms make a great side dish, but they're also the perfect thing to add to pasta, omelets, and more.

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Sautéed Broccoli

This simple recipe is sure to become a go-to side dish for any night of the week.

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Honey Glazed Carrots

Toss roasted carrots in a sticky honey-garlic glaze and you have the best side dish ever.

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Cacio e Pepe Broccoli

The beloved pasta meets roasted broccoli florets in this place, feel-good side dish.

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Oven-Roasted Parmesan Corn on the Cob

This easy Italian-inspired corn is buttery, garlicky, and extra cheesy.

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Parmesan-Thyme Mushrooms

Just 15 minutes and a handful of ingredients are all you need to bring these hearty Parmesan mushrooms to the table.

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Italian Green Beans

Cheesy toasted bread crumbs and a splash of balsamic vinegar ensure these green beans are anything but boring.

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Smashed Brussels Sprout

These cripsy, carmelized Brussels sprouts take a page out of the smashed potatoes playbook for a truly delicous end result.

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Easy Sautéed Kale

A quick recipe for sautéed kale flavored with lots of lemon and garlic.

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A sauté of corn, peppers, and onion enriched with heavy cream and topped with crispy bacon.

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Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

These perfect Brussels sprouts have a little bit of char and are perfectly crisp-tender: cooked all the way through with a little crunch remaining.

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Miso Butter Glazed Carrots

Miso is a fantastic ingredient that makes simple roasted carrots into something magical.

Garlic Bread, Rolls, and Biscuits

While the oven is hot, why not throw in garlic bread, rolls, or biscuits to bake alongside the meatloaf? Fill your bread basket with these tasty recipes.

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Use both fresh and powdered garlic for the ultimate homemade garlic bread.

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Soft & Tender Dinner Rolls

A step-by-step guide to foolproof dinner rolls.

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Buttermilk Biscuits

The very best Southern-style buttermilk biscuits that walk the line of being both tender and flaky.

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Parker House Rolls

These buttery, tender Parker House rolls are perfect for your bread basket.

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Cheesy Garlic Bread

The secret to better garlic bread? Lots of cheese, a little bit of mayo (yes, really), and scallions.

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Irish Cheddar Potato Rolls

Donal Skehan's Irish cheddar potato rolls are baked to cheesy, buttery perfection.

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Cheddar Biscuits

These easy, flaky buttermilk biscuits are studded with sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, and fragrant green onion.

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Pull-Apart Challah Rolls

Individual knots of challah bread, rich with eggs and ready for a slathering of butter.

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Garlic Parmesan Monkey Bread

Here, store-bought pizza dough is shaped into balls, rolled in garlic butter, and baked in a loaf pan until puffed and brown.

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Buttery Crescent Rolls

Flaky, buttery crescent rolls ready in less than an hour. You can't ask for more than that.

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Butter Biscuits

A simple homemade biscuit dough is baked atop a stick of melted butter, creating light, tender, and extra-buttery biscuits.

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Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls

These tender rolls get their pale orange hue and delicate sweetness from mashed sweet potatoes.

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