21 Delicious Italian Side Dish Recipe Ideas

Italian cuisine is famous for its main dishes and desserts, but let’s not forget about the amazing Italian side dishes! From giardiniera and homemade garlic bread to roasted squash, these authentic Italian sides can really enhance any meal. And don’t miss out on the always popular peach caprese salad!

Giardiniera

Italian pickled vegetables in jars on a wooden table. — Authentic Italian Giardiniera. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

An authentic Italian giardiniera recipe consists of Italian pickled vegetables, making it the perfect condiment for Italian sandwiches, cured meats, cheese, grilled meats, pasta salads, and charcuterie boards. Fresh peppers and veggies add a burst of flavor to any dish.
Get the Recipe: Giardiniera

Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso

Greek salad in a bowl on a wooden table. — Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This colorful, flavourful Italian rice salad is perfect for a picnic, potluck, summer BBQ, or as a versatile side dish for a simple lunch or dinner. Every mouthful of this Mediterranean brown rice salad is bursting with fresh ingredients such as tasty salad vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Italian Rice Salad – Insalata di Riso

Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad

An Italian salad featuring a plate of tomatoes, bread and cheese on a rustic wooden table. — Heirloom Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This authentic Italian burrata caprese salad is a delicious side dish or appetizer that features heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata cheese with balsamic vinegar and truffle salt for added flavor. With every bite, you’ll savor the delicious flavors of this simple yet impressive dish.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Burrata Caprese Salad

Italian Panzanella Salad

A bowl of salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and croutons. — Italian Panzanella Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Panzanella salad is a refreshing summer side dish that combines juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and chunks of crusty bread, all tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. It’s the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats and a delightful way to enjoy the flavors of the season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Panzanella Salad

Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Mushroom risotto, a delicious dish perfect for any occasion, cooked in a pan with a wooden spoon. — Creamy Mushroom Risotto. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

This creamy mushroom risotto bursts with flavor and is a standout side dish for chicken, or turkey, or a satisfying standalone option for vegetarians. Made with white wine or chardonnay, shiitake, and cremini mushrooms, this Northern Italian dish is simple to make yet impressively delicious.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Risotto

Antipasto Skewers

Impress your guests with easy-to-make antipasto skewers, perfect for any occasion! Made with classic Italian flavors, these crowd-pleasing bites are ideal for parties, picnics, and more.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Skewers

Italian Tuna White Bean Salad

A delicious pork and rhubarb salad recipe using pantry staples. — Italian Tuna White Bean Salad. Photo credit: xoxoBella.

Simple ingredients combine to make this Tuscan classic. Juicy fresh tuna pairs with beans for a Tuscan tuna white bean salad everyone will enjoy. It makes a tasty meal, whatever the season.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tuna White Bean Salad

Marsala Mushroom and Onion Focaccia Bread

mushroom onion focaccia — Marsala Mushroom and Onion Focaccia Bread. Photo credit: xoxoBella

Marsala mushroom and onion focaccia is a type of savoury mushroom bread with mushrooms, marsala wine and parmesan. This fluffy focaccia recipe isn’t hard to make and it smells amazing while it cooks. I love Italian focaccia still warm from the oven.
Get the Recipe: Marsala Mushroom and Onion Focaccia Bread

Gluten Free Pasta Salad

A bowl of pasta salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and feta cheese. — Gluten Free Pasta Salad . Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

This Gluten Free Pasta Salad will easily become your favorite summer side dish. It’s full of summer’s seasonal bounty, healthy and gluten-free. Bring it to your next barbecue and watch it disappear.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

An Italian side dish of chickpea salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and feta cheese. — Mediterranean Chickpea Salad. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

This easy Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is a cinch to make and it’s packed with flavor. Using lots of herbs really fills it with seasonal goodness.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Grilled Tomato Salad With Feta And Basil

An Italian side dish of tomatoes, basil and feta on a plate. — Grilled Tomato Salad With Feta And Basil. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

This Grilled Tomato Salad with Feta and Basil is bursting with summer flavor. Serve with grilled chicken or fish for a perfect summer dinner.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Tomato Salad With Feta And Basil

Marinated Tomato Basil Salad

Tomato and basil in a white bowl, perfect for creating delicious recipes. — Marinated Tomato Basil Salad. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

This Marinated Tomato Salad is full of fresh flavor and can be used in many ways as a side dish or a topping for chicken, beef, or fish. You’ll be enjoying this simple tomato salad all summer long.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Tomato Basil Salad

Burrata Bruschetta

This easy-to-make Burrata Bruschetta with a fresh marinated tomato basil topping is the ultimate summer appetizer! Absolutely delicious!
Get the Recipe: Burrata Bruschetta

Mediterranean Eggplant Salad

A plate with tomatoes, cucumbers and feta on it. — Mediterranean Eggplant Salad. Photo credit: Maricruz Valos.

This Mediterranean eggplant salad is the perfect side dish for summer. With the nice addition of heirloom tomatoes, ricotta, fresh herbs, and a touch of crunchiness from the toasted pine nuts.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Eggplant Salad

Grilled Vegetable Napoleon

An Italian side dish consisting of a stack of grilled vegetables on a plate. — Grilled Vegetable Napoleon. Photo credit: My Pure Plants.

This grilled vegetable Napoleon is a showstopper with vibrant, char-grilled layers of veggies like eggplant, zucchini, bell pepper, portobello mushroom, and more. If you want a visually stunning and flavorful side dish, look no further. Served with aromatic basil pesto, it is stunning and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Vegetable Napoleon

Vegan Garlic Bread

An Italian side dish of a stack of garlic bread with parsley on top. — Vegan Garlic Bread. Photo credit: Broke Bank Vegan.

This vegan garlic bread recipe is bursting with savory, garlicky, and cheesy flavors. Each bite is crispy, crunchy, and so delicious you’d never guess it’s completely dairy-free! It’s the perfect side dish for pasta, soup, and more.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Garlic Bread

Baked Zucchini With Mozzarella And Tomatoes

An Italian side dish casserole with tomatoes, zucchini and cheese. — Baked Zucchini With Mozzarella And Tomatoes. Photo credit: Lavender & Macarons.

Baked Zucchini with Mozzarella and Tomatoes is a light and easy side dish and makes a perfect addition to your summer dinners.
Get the Recipe: Baked Zucchini With Mozzarella And Tomatoes

Chopped Italian Pasta Salad

An Italian pasta salad with tomatoes and chickpeas, perfect as a side dish. — Chopped Italian Pasta Salad + Video. Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

The perfect pasta salad for summer, picnics and cookouts. Loaded with vegetables and beans. Vegetarian, easily vegan.
Get the Recipe: Chopped Italian Pasta Salad

Peach Caprese Salad

Italian Side Dish: Peach and avocado salad with goat cheese. — Peach Caprese Salad. Photo credit: Pass Me Some Tasty.

Sweet, juicy peaches, summery tomatoes, slices of avocado, fresh basil, creamy burrata, and a drizzle of olive oil are all that is needed to create this fresh, colorful peach caprese salad in just 5 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Peach Caprese Salad

Roasted Delicata Squash With Parmesan & Dill

Roasted butternut squash with Italian herbs on a white plate. — Roasted Delicata Squash With Parmesan & Dill. Photo credit: Pass Me Some Tasty.

A super simple vegetarian side dish perfect with any meal! Delicata squash is roasted with dill, parmesan, and garlic, and finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Easy, tasty, and naturally gluten-free.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Delicata Squash With Parmesan & Dill

Italian Chopped Salad Recipe

What could be easier and tastier than this almost flawless Italian chopped salad recipe? Give this delightful salad a try as a complete meal or a refreshing side dish. Packed with classic Italian ingredients and topped off with an incredibly flavorful dressing, it brings everything together beautifully.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chopped Salad Recipe