Did you know that the longest Ravioli ever made was around 29.28 m? Yes, it was so big that it even made the Guinness Book of World Records. (*)
That’s 96ft. Can you just imagine
Unfortunately, we can’t recreate the largest Ravioli in our kitchen (we certainly wish we could!).
But there’s one thing we can do– create an excellent ravioli spread on our dining table.
We need more than just the perfect ravioli recipe to achieve this—we need the best ravioli sides!
What to serve with Ravioli? We’ve already tried and tested different types of sides, so you don’t have to! Keep on reading to find out what our recommendations are!
What to Serve with Ravioli? 14 Best Sides to Serve!
We’ve been serving Ravioli at our dining tables for as long as we can remember, so trust us when we say that we’ve already tried almost all potential sides, and these are the best that we’ve come across:
1. Italian Bread
What to serve with Ravioli? A bread, of course! Since you’re already serving one of the best Italian pastas globally, it makes sense to serve it with one of their best breads on the side, right?
Ravioli has an ooeey gooey filling, so having a soft and spongy bread to soak it all up! With that said, the best bread pairings for it would be no other than Ciabatta or Focaccia.
2. Garlic Bread
But if you wish to step out from the Italian route, another bread option that would pair well with Ravioli would be garlic bread.
With this type of bread, you won’t just have bread to soak all the sauces, but you get to add a savory and garlicky flavor to your pasta.
The best type of bread for garlic bread would be crusty breads like baguette and sourdough bread.
Pro Tip: For a stronger garlicky flavor, try roasting the garlic before combining it with melted butter. You may want to add basil leaves for an earthy taste and a dash of red pepper for a spicy touch.
3. Bruschetta
Do you want to have a bread for your pasta and add a tomato twist to your Ravioli at the same time? A tomato bruschetta can hit these two birds with one stone. (*)
Bruschetta may sound like a fancy name, but it’s quite an easy appetizer to prepare. First, you need to marinade diced tomatoes and chopped basil in balsamic vinegar and minced garlic and use it as a topping for your crispy baguette slices.
Pro Tip: Top off your bruschetta with shredded mozzarella for an extra cheesy twist!
4. Cipollini Onions
The name seems intimidating, but it’s an Italian term that means little onions. Cipollini onions are smaller, flatter, and lighter than regular onions.
But here’s the fun part: While these onions may be tiny, they are big on flavor! These small onions taste a lot sweeter and less pungent than the regular ones, so they are perfect for roasting.
The best part about these small onions is that they get extremely caramelized and extra tender, giving your tangy, salty, and cheese ravioli a slightly sweet taste.
Pro Tip: If you don’t have time for roasting, another efficient option would be to sauté it in butter.
5. Broccoli Rabe
If you’re serving butternut squash, you may need to go for a side dish with big and bold flavors that can take its sweet and subtle flavors to a whole new level.
Broccoli rabe or rapini is a green leafy vegetable that looks like broccoli. However, it doesn’t form a large head and tastes slightly bitter compared to broccoli.
To create an exciting dish, you just need to grill it, mix it with roasted peppers and sliced tomatoes, season with vinegar, and toss everything in Romesco sauce.
Pro Tip: Top it off with shaved almonds for a crunchy touch.
6. Roasted Vegetables
Roasted sides go well with Ravioli because it adds a smoky twist to the entire meal. However, if you’re preparing chicken and cheese Ravioli, go for vegetable sides to well-rounded your meal.
The good news is you have plenty of vegetable options to choose from, but the best ones would be root crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, and the like.
In addition to the fact that these vegetables can truly fill you up, these will also give your Ravioli a naturally sweet taste. (*)
7. Roasted Tomatoes
Tomatoes and cheese are a match made in heaven. That’s why we highly recommend serving your cheese Ravioli with roasted tomatoes.
Not only are these easy and quick to make (just 15 minutes!), roasted tomatoes will provide you with a tangy and smoky flavor that would go oh so well with your cheesy pasta dish.
Pro Tip: In addition to salt and pepper, try seasoning your tomatoes with oregano and balsamic vinegar to balance the tomatoes’ tart flavor.
8. Apple, Grape, and Walnut Salad
Contrary to popular belief, salads aren’t meant to be bland and boring. On the contrary, they are probably the most versatile side dish you can ever have.
You can have it all in a salad, and the apple, grape, and walnut salad is one proof of that. You enjoy a fruity and refreshing taste from the grapes, a sweet taste and crisp texture from the apples, and a nutty flavor and crunchy texture from the walnuts. All of these are sitting on top of a bed of nutritious greens. What more can you ask for?
9. Prosciutto-wrapped Asparagus
The perfect match for a sweet Ravioli would be a crispy and savory side dish like roasted asparagus.
The roasting process gives asparagus a nice charred and crispy texture which goes oh so well with the chewiness of Ravioli.
To boost the dish’s savory and salty taste, try wrapping a Prosciutto around it. This simple addition can upgrade your asparagus side dish.
10. Charred Snap Peas
If you love green beans, you’ll surely enjoy snap peas too. Snap peas are as versatile as your typical green beans, but it’s considered healthier and more nutritious. (*)
Not only that, snap peas have this natural sweetness that shines through when they are charred. Its mildly sweet flavor tastes fantastic when paired with lobster ravioli.
Pro Tip: If you want something sweet and salty, go for a soy-glazed sugar snap pea side dish, which would work best for sweet ravioli dishes.
11. Fried Zucchini
The softness of Ravioli is just craving to be paired with a. crispy and crunchy side dish, so we always have Fried Zucchini to the rescue.
This is also a quick and easy side dish to make. You just need to coat your zucchini slices with a combination of breadcrumbs and grated parmesan. Then, you can deep fry it or take the healthier route by cooking it in an air fryer.
Pro Tip: Serve this with a marinara sauce, and you get yourself the best tomato and cheese combination.
12. Smashed Brussels Sprouts
You may have already tried Roasted Brussels Sprouts, but what about Smashed Brussels Sprouts? We bet no. Well, you’re in for a treat!
This side dish also has the same caramelized taste as the roasted version. But more than that, it has an extra crispy texture that gives contrast to the Ravioli’s chewy bite.
Pro Tip: You have two fantastic topping options for Smashed Brussels Sprouts—cheese (Fontina, Burrata, or Mozzarella) and crispy bacon bits.
13. Buttery Ranch Mushrooms
Buttered mushroom is a typical side dish, and we love pairing it with our chicken ravioli recipe.
Here’s the exciting part: we found a way to make it even better! How? Add a ranch mix to it! With this, you’ll enjoy the sweet, tangy, and creamy flavor on top of your earthy mushrooms, the richness of your butter and chicken, and the pasta’s chewy texture.
Pro Tip: Sprinkle it with parsley and dill for an earthy touch.
14. Polenta
Are you serving lobster ravioli tonight? If so, think about which other food items pair with lobster well? Of course, that would be cheese, butter, and corn!
Serving lobster ravioli with a creamy and cheesy Polenta would be a great move. You may even want to go for a four-cheese Polenta made of goat cheese, gorgonzola cheese, fontina cheese, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.
Pro Tip: You can cook your polenta in an Instant Pot for minimal supervision.
The Bottom Line
To be honest, Ravioli is already a complete meal in itself. It has carbohydrates (pasta), proteins (meat and cheese), and fiber (tomato sauce and if you decide to add spinach to your filling). Despite this, having a few side dishes will add depth and texture and can undoubtedly do wonders for your ravioli meal.
What to serve with Ravioli? There are a bunch of side dishes that you can choose from, and the list that we’ve shared with you are just some of our personal favorites.
We hope that you can find your favorite sides in our list too. Let us know if you did! Then, comment down which side you enjoyed the most below.
