For Italian sausage sandwiches, you will want a side dish that has a robust flavor. One of the best side dishes is a hearty potato salad. It’s a great option because it’s hearty and will hold up to the heat of the sandwich.
Italian Sausage Sandwiches are my absolute favorite sandwich.
There’s something about the combination of cheese, crusty bread, and spicy sausage that just makes these sandwiches so satisfying.
And they’re so easy to make. Simply mix all the ingredients, roll them up, and voila!
The only problem is, you can’t just eat them on their own. It’s always nice to have a side dish to go with such a savory sandwich.
But there are many side dishes to serve with Italian Sausage Sandwiches.
Some of the best side dishes include salads, roasted veggies, potato salad, and even pizza!
So let’s dive into the list of best side dishes to serve with Italian sausage sandwiches.
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What to Serve with Italian Sausage Sandwiches: 15 Best Sides
One of my favorite lunches is a simple Italian sausage sandwich paired with a delicious side dish.
Whether you’re cooking for just yourself or inviting friends over for a quick lunch, these 15 side dishes are sure to be crowd-pleasers.
1. Potato Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/401242648059137504/A traditional potato salad is the perfect accompaniment to any type of sausage sandwich, as the creamy dressing is just what you want to accompany the savoury meat. It’s also pretty easy to prepare.
You’ll need to make sure that you drain off excess water from the potatoes, before tossing them in some oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.
Then add your favourite salad ingredients – I like to use celery, sweet corn, and peas.
2. Roasted Veggies
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/220957925458691098/A side of roasted veggies is always a great choice with an Italian sausage sandwich. You can enjoy it alongside your main course, and it’s also perfect for a starter as it’s so quick and easy to prepare.
I like to slice up a handful of sweet potatoes, broccoli, and carrots, and drizzle them with some olive oil and some seasoning.
Roast them for about 30 minutes in a hot oven, until they’re soft, golden, and delicious!
3. Caesar Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/443956475777481378/This classic salad can be made up in a million different ways, but a great way to serve it is as a side serving alongside Italian sausage sandwiches.
It’s easy to prepare and super tasty, and you can have it on the table in less time than it takes to prepare the sausage sandwiches! It’s also super healthy and packed full of essential nutrients.
4. Creamed Spinach
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1618549857980682/Creamed spinach is another simple side dish that goes really well with Italian sausage sandwiches. It’s easy to make and very quick to prepare, so you’ll have plenty on the table in no time.
Just boil some chopped spinach until soft, drain well, and stir in some milk, cream, butter, and seasoning. You can add your choice of flavouring like parmesan cheese or dried chilli for extra spice.
5. Mashed Potato
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/46654546131245838/The classic pairing for Italian sausage sandwiches is a side of mashed potato.
Mashed potatoes offer lots of flavour and texture, and they’re a really filling meal in their own right. Just be sure to choose a brand that’s low in fat and sodium if you’re watching your salt intake.
I also like to mix it up and add some cheese to the mash, or try adding a handful of peas for extra protein.
6. Baked Sweet Potato
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/47850814781489442/A baked sweet potato is a classic and satisfying side dish that works really well with sausage sandwiches.
Just place a baking tray in the oven, cut up your sweet potato into cubes, and add some butter, salt, and pepper. Bake at 180°C for approximately 45 minutes.
7. Creamy Polenta
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/46443439898391016/When I’m in Italy, I always enjoy a plate of creamy polenta with my sausage sandwiches. Polenta is a traditional side dish made from cornmeal which is slowly cooked with water until it’s thick and fluffy.
It’s best served warm, so it’s definitely one of those dishes that can be made ahead of time and reheated at your convenience.
8. Baked Beans
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/4855512089519783/Baked beans are one of my absolute favourite side dishes to serve with Italian sausage sandwiches.
They offer such a satisfyingly hearty flavour, and are full of fibre, protein, and healthy fats. In fact, they’re so filling that they make a great lunchtime option on their own.
Soak a few beans overnight to make things easier, or just use canned beans and skip this step. Serve with some crusty bread for dipping, or a baguette if you’re in a hurry.
9. Cornbread
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/7529524367954119/For this one, you’ll want to make sure that you choose a cornbread that has a soft crumb rather than a hard crust.
You can buy it pre-made from the supermarket, or you can easily make your own if you’re a fan of the stuff.
10. Sweet Potato Wedges
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/42502790223360495/Sweet potato wedges are one of my absolute favourite side dishes to serve with Italian sausage sandwiches.
They’re so versatile and taste great with so many dishes. I like to slice them into wedges, dip in a little oil, sprinkle with salt, and grill until they start to turn golden and crisp up.
They also go well alongside a salad or even a plate of pasta, for a quick and easy side dish that’s bursting with flavour.
11. Sautéed Summer Vegetables
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/323203710757919101/Sautéed vegetables are another really versatile option for what to serve with an Italian sausage sandwich.
I like to chop a bag of peppers into small batons and sauté them in a little olive oil for around 10 minutes.
You can also try adding some broccoli and mushrooms to the mix. If you want to add some more flavour, you can add a little minced garlic and a squeeze of lemon before serving.
12. Corn on the Cob
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/46232333696031754/I love eating corn on the cob. The natural sweetness of the corn and the fresh crunchy texture are a perfect foil for an Italian sausage sandwich.
Just boil or roast the corn, then cut off the kernels, and enjoy.
13. Cucumber Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/493214596704553558/A simple cucumber salad can really be a real crowd-pleaser.
Just chop up some cucumber and add it to a bowl along with some chopped red chilli, some black pepper, and a little sesame oil and vinegar.
14. Pasta Salad
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172051648256296820/I love to make pasta salads myself because they’re really versatile and really easy to prepare.
You can add whatever ingredients you like to make them truly your own. I like to mix it up so I’ll sometimes swap in whole cooked tomatoes for the chopped ones.
Or, if you have any leftover roasted vegetables from dinner, you can add those to the salad for extra flavour.
My favourite is to serve mine in the middle of a bed of spinach leaves, topped with some crumbled feta cheese.
15. Sweet and Sour Coleslaw
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/795237246710740946/Sweet and Sour Coleslaw is the perfect side dish to eat alongside a sausage sandwich. You can use any type of coleslaw that you like here – but I find that cabbage-based varieties work really well.
I also prefer using a natural sweet and sour salad dressing rather than a mayonnaise based one.
4 Tips For Serving Sides Alongside Italian Sausage Sandwiches
Serving Italian sausage sandwiches is a great way to feed a crowd, but if you’re also serving side dishes, it can quickly get complicated. You have to worry about plenty of plates, cups, and utensils.
You have to make sure you’ve got enough side dish options for all your guests, and their various tastes and dietary restrictions.
We’re here to tell you: don’t panic! It doesn’t have to be that complicated.
Here are 4 tips for serving side dishes alongside Italian sausage sandwiches so you can really enjoy the party… instead of stressing about the details:
1. Consider your guests
Make sure you know what type of sandwich fillings your guests like, and what kind of sides they prefer. Think about any dietary restrictions they might have—and then make sure your side dishes suit all their needs without overcomplicating things for yourself.
2. Keep it simple
Don’t try to pile on too many sides (unless you just have endless time to spend in the kitchen). A handful of side dishes is perfectly enough! Pick a few favorites or try some new recipes out—just don’t stress out about getting everything perfect. It’s not worth it!
3. Texture Matters
It’s always a good idea to make sure that your side dishes have the same kind of “mouth feel” as your main dish, and this is especially true of when you’re serving Italian sausage sandwiches.
After all, you don’t want to start chewing into some nice crisp veggies only for a mouthful of soft bread and meat to follow! Choose something soft and chewy like pasta, potato salad, or fruit salad for an easy bite that won’t confuse your guests’ taste buds!
4. Easy To Eat
Make sure that your side dish can easily fit on your plate with the rest of your food, and that it’s easy to eat with your hands! You don’t want anyone in danger of spilling their macaroni salad all over their lap.
3 Reasons For Serving Sides Alongside Italian Sausage Sandwiches
You’ve got your Italian sausage sandwich, and you’re gearing up for the big game—but wait. It’s a little… lacking, isn’t it?
You know why? Because you forgot the side dishes. Don’t get us wrong: we love that sandwich, but we also know that side dishes can make ALL the difference.
Here’s why we think you should be serving sides alongside your Italian sausage sandwiches:
1. Side dishes make the sandwich more filling
If you want to really satisfy your guests’ appetites, you’ve got to serve up a little something extra with that sandwich. When they’ve got some side dishes to go with it, they won’t be hungry again before halftime!
2. Sides are easy to prepare
We’re not saying your Italian sausage sandwich is hard to make—but let’s be real: side dishes can be even easier! Just stick them in a bowl, put out some toothpicks or napkins for your guests, and bam! You’re done.
3. Add More Flavor
Italian sausage sandwiches are a comfort food favorite, but adding the right side dishes can make them feel more unique. Explore some of the flavors you can add to this classic meal with some delicious side dishes.
The most important thing to remember when you’re looking for sides for your Italian sausage sandwich is that you want to add more flavors, not more meat. A sausage sandwich with a side of sausage will get overwhelming very fast. Instead, look for side dishes that complement the flavor of the Italian sausage in your sandwich.
The first thing you should consider is whether or not your Italian sausages are sweet or spicy. Sweet sausages pair best with dishes like potato salad, while spicy sausages go well with coleslaw or other pickled vegetable dishes.
Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.