Stuffed shells are jumbo sea shell-shaped pasta stuffed with a creamy, cheesy, flavorful filling and smothered with a mouthwatering sauce. This dish is indulgently hearty and can easily be the highlight of your dinner spread. And when you serve them with the right side dish, you can create a delicious meal to remember!
If you don’t know what to pair with this delicacy, we’ve got your back. These 15 mouthwatering side dishes for stuffed shells, ranging from salads and breadsticks to green beans and onion rings, will give you enough inspiration!
1. Arugula Salad
This versatile recipe is a quick, healthy side to serve with stuffed shells. You can make it by tossing peppery arugula, some nutritious veggies (use whatever you have on hand), and parmesan shavings with a bright lemon balsamic dressing. The dressing enhances the salad’s appeal without making it wet or soggy!
2. Best Fruit Salsa
This juicy, fruity salsa is fantastic when served alongside stuffed shells! The sweet-tart side dish is made with mango, strawberries, and pineapple and has a bright tropical flavor you’ll love. The best thing? It’s perfect for serving at a pool party alongside cinnamon sugar tortilla chips. Talk about versatility!
3. Classic Cobb Salad
This refreshing salad pairs well with hearty stuffed shells. You can make this dish with cherry tomatoes, romaine hearts, thick-cut bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, blue cheese crumbles, and seasonings. Drizzle it with homemade ranch dressing to serve. The creamy and fresh salad brings a great texture and flavor profile to the stuffed shells dish!
4. Classic Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are rich and creamy — the perfect accompaniment to stuffed shells. To make these savory delights, boil the eggs first. Then, pair the egg yolks with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, vinegar, and seasonings and stir until creamy. Serve them garnished with a sprinkle of paprika for a hint of spice!
5. Crispy Garlic Baked Potato Wedges
Crisp-tender potato wedges are an iconic side dish that you can serve with anything and will go especially well with stuffed shells. They’re seasoned with onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper and get a boost of mouthwatering flavor from garlic and parmesan cheese. There’s also no pre-soaking or parboiling involved, so you can have them on the dinner table in under an hour!
6. Easy Broccoli and Bacon Salad
Colorful, simple, and delicious, this salad makes for a wonderful side dish. It calls for smothering savory bacon, cheese, broccoli, cranberries, and sunflower seeds with a tangy mayonnaise-based dressing to produce the ultimate treat. You can season it to your heart’s content to delight your taste buds.
7. Easy Bruschetta
Bruschetta and pasta are a match made in heaven. To make this swoon-worthy side dish, toast bread until golden brown, then serve it with a bright tomato sauce. The sauce is made with balsamic vinegar, basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, tomatoes, and seasonings. Enjoy this Italian appetizer with extra Parmesan if needed.
8. Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
Serve this sweet and spicy side with stuffed shells for a delicious meal. To make, caramelize Brussels sprouts in the oven to bring out their natural flavors. Next, drizzle the Brussels sprouts with a flavorful honey sriracha sauce that will infuse every bite with tantalizing flavors. It will take only 30 minutes to prepare, which is a huge plus!
9. How to Make Garlic Bread
Garlic bread and stuffed shells go together like mac and cheese. To make this outstanding side, you’ll require three ingredients — bread, butter, and garlic. Spread garlic butter on baguette slices, then bake until they turn crispy and golden brown. Serve hot with a sprinkle of parsley!
10. Instant Pot Onion Rings
Crunchy and crispy onion rings come together in only 10 minutes! Make them by coating onion rings with a flour mixture, which is made with baking soda, flour, paprika, and salt. Next, dip the onion rings in the egg mixture, coat them with breadcrumbs, then air fry until crisp. Serve them with chili or mustard dip.
11. Pizza Hut Breadsticks
This copycat recipe tastes better than the original! The Parmesan, butter, and garlic make these breadsticks absolutely irresistible! You can serve them with tomato sauce for dipping — or use them to soak up the flavors of stuffed shell sauce. These breadsticks also freeze well, so prepare a large batch and save some for a rainy day.
12. Roasted Carrots {2 Ways!}
In this recipe, carrots are roasted at a high temperature until they’re lightly caramelized. It brings out the natural sweetness of carrots, which pairs well with the contrasting flavors of stuffed shells. The recipe also offers options to make these roasted carrots sweet or savory! So, give your palate free rein, and watch the magic unfold.
13. Roasted Parsnips
Sweet and tender parsnips can enhance the flavor of stuffed shells. To make this fantastic side, toss parsnips with melted butter (or olive oil) and your choice of seasonings. Then, layer them on a baking sheet, cover them with aluminum foil, and bake until they’re crispy and caramelized. Serve them sprinkled with chopped parsley.
14. Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic
When it comes to sides, you can never go wrong with sautéed green beans. This stunning recipe uses just three ingredients to produce a crowd-pleasing dish. For best results, boil green beans until they’re slightly tender before tossing them in a skillet. Finish with minced ginger and sesame seeds for a boost of flavor.
15. Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers
Deliciously cheesy and loaded with flavor, these vegetarian stuffed peppers will quickly become a favorite! The peppers are stuffed with a Mexican filling of pinto beans and juicy tomatoes seasoned with cilantro, lime juice, chili powder, and cumin. Add cheese on top and bake until the cheese develops some golden spots. Serve hot!
