What to Serve With Swedish Meatballs (20 Perfect Side Dishes)

Swedish meatballs are typically served with egg noodles. But there are plenty of other wonderful side dishes to try!

From mashed potatoes to lingonberry sauce to roasted broccoli, the sides make the meal complete.

Discover the secrets to creating a mouthwatering Swedish meatball feast. Each dish will delight your tastebuds and impress your guests!

Let’s get cooking!

1. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Serving potatoes with Swedish meatballs isn’t a bad idea. It’s just a matter of finding the right potatoes. Baked potatoes work, but they aren’t my favorite choice. 

Instead, I prefer roasted garlic mashed potatoes. They’re fluffy and creamy. They’re perfect for scooping up the meatballs or dipping in the sauce. 

Plus, they have a ton of robust garlic flavor that complements the meatballs well. 

2. Lingonberry Sauce

You’re missing out if you haven’t tried lingonberry sauce with your meatballs. It’s probably the most traditional thing you can pair with Swedish meatballs. 

It’s sweet and tangy, and its brilliant red hue makes your meatballs look better, too. 

3. Buttered Noodles 

Buttered noodles are one of the most common sides to pair with Swedish meatballs.

They’re a simple dish with light flavors that allow the meatballs to be the stars of the show.

These mild, buttery noodles taste wonderful when jazzed up with savory Swedish meatballs. 

4. Swedish Rye Bread (Limpa)

When serving Swedish meatballs, why not look for other Swedish foods to go with them? Swedish rye bread is the perfect choice. 

It’s thick and crusty, so it’s perfect for dipping in Swedish meatballs’ flavorful sauce. It also has plenty of flavor of its own, thanks to the fennel, brown sugar, and molasses. 

5. Rice Pilaf with Peas and Carrots

Sometimes, the best side dish for Swedish meatballs is something mild. That way, the side doesn’t outshine the meatballs’ flavor. 

That’s what makes rice pilaf such an excellent choice. It’s filling and tasty, but it’s not overpowering. Try it with or without the nutty topping, as you prefer. 

6. Garlic Parmesan Orzo Pasta

Orzo is also filling and mild, unless you load it down with garlic, of course. That’s what this recipe does. 

It’s a bold dish, but it complements the meatballs so well. It makes for a true stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal.

7. Swedish Beet Potato Apple Salad

I adore this lovely pink side dish for its appearance alone. But it’s also delicious. It has the tangy, earthy flavor of beets.

Fortunately, the apples add sweetness and help cut through the beets’ bitterness. Still, taste and appearance aren’t the only things that make this salad worth eating. 

You’ll also appreciate its unique texture, and it pairs well with most meats. 

8. Spring Leek and Mushroom Gratin 

This gratin has it all: leeks, mushrooms, garlic, thyme, and Parmesan. It’s thick, creamy, cheesy, and out-of-this-world good. 

It’s indulgent comfort food that the whole family will enjoy. It’s also incredibly hearty and vegetarian-friendly. Keep that in mind even when you aren’t looking for a meatball side. 

9. Cheesy Boiled Baby Potatoes 

These garlicky boiled baby potatoes are another great side dish for meatballs. They’re gluten and dairy-free, vegan, and wonderfully herby. 

Plus, you can have them ready in just over half an hour, and that’s always a good thing.  

10. Swedish Pickled Cucumbers (Pressgurka)

Want something simple to make that encompasses the entire spectrum of flavors? Try pressgurka, or Swedish pickled cucumbers. 

This no-cook side dish is simultaneously sweet, sour, fresh, earthy, and delicious. It has a crisp bite and a tart pickled flavor, making it perfect for meatballs. 

11. Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic and Almonds

Green beans are a quick, easy side dish that pairs well with anything. Unfortunately, many people think they’re “too plain.” 

You can remedy that with this recipe. Sure, it’s a simple sauteed green bean recipe. But it also incorporates almonds, garlic, and a touch of brown sugar. 

Try it once, and you’ll never want to make green beans another way again. 

12. Creamed Spinach 

Creamed spinach is another side dish that pairs well with loads of things. You can whip it up in 20 minutes with only a handful of ingredients, too. 

I especially like this recipe because it has a lot of flavor. Add cayenne pepper, nutmeg, garlic, and onions. It turns “boring old creamed spinach” into something incredible. 

13. Weeknight Spicy Fried Rice

Want to add a little spice to your meatball meal? Try spicy fried rice, a simple Asian dish that dials up the heat. 

It’s full of veggies, rice, and so much flavor. It’ll soak up the sauce from the meatballs, too. As a bonus, it’s so easy to make!

14. Red Cabbage Slaw 

If beets aren’t your thing, here’s another colorful red side dish you can enjoy. It’s a tangy mix of cabbage, onions, carrots, and cilantro. It also has a sweetly tart vinaigrette dressing.

It’s a great choice for meatballs and other meats. But it’s also great on hot dogs. 

15. Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta 

This creamy garlic chicken pasta is a complete meal all by itself. It needs nothing to go with it. However, you can substitute your meatballs if you leave out the chicken. 

If you’re a super meat eater, you can enjoy both. Either way, it’s a hearty, savory, herby pasta with a rich and creamy sauce. 

It tastes so good (with or without meatballs), you’ll want to lick the plate. 

16. Roasted Broccoli

Roasted broccoli is like green beans and spinach: it goes with anything.

It’s crisp and tender, earthy and garlicky, healthy and delicious. You can’t ask for much more in a side dish. 

17. Curried Chickpea Cauliflower Bake

Serving a vegan dish with meatballs seems counterintuitive. But it’s so delicious and low-carb!

This dish is spicy and flavorful. It’s packed with nutrients and things that are good for you. Plus, it tastes fantastic! You don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy it. 

18. Kale Salad

This 20-minute salad is sweet and savory. You’ll want to serve it with everything. 

It’s full of yummy, healthy ingredients. There’s kale, apples, carrots, almonds, and more. 

The vinaigrette mixes lemon juice, Dijon, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup. And it tastes just as spectacular as all the veggies. 

Substitute vegan cheese for cheddar to make it vegan-friendly. 

19. Glazed White Pearl Onions with Bacon

My grandmother used to make pearl onions every time she made a roast. Oh man, I loved those little morsels of yum. Unfortunately, I never got to try them with anything other than a roast. 

Then, I discovered this recipe that paired the onions with bacon. It blew me away! Now, I make this eight-ingredient side all the time. 

It pairs well with meatballs, steak, chicken, fish, and more. I will never stop loving these juicy, flavorful onions. 

20. Celery Root Puree

Believe it or not, those aren’t mashed potatoes. Instead, it’s a bowl of celery root puree. It’s an easy side dish that takes 30 minutes to make. 

It’s soft and fluffy, mild in flavor, and easily tweaked with butter, chives, and other ingredients. It’s a lot like mashed potatoes, but it’s a less starchy variation.