What to Serve with Pasta Arrabiata: 10 Best Side Dishes

Pasta arrabiata is a traditional Italian dish that consists of spicy peppers and tomatoes. Pairing with pasta arrabiata is simple. A simple salad like a green salad or a fresh vegetable salad is perfect. The heat of the sauce and the spicy flavors of the peppers make it a great side for a variety of dishes.

One of my absolute favorite pasta dishes is Pasta Arrabiata. This spicy Italian dish can be made with a wide variety of ingredients, though the most common include tomatoes, garlic, chili peppers or red pepper flakes, and basil.

There are infinite variations of this dish, so feel free to experiment with the ingredients!

However, as delicious as Pasta Arrabiata is, it’s important to have a good side dish to serve with it.

To help you decide what to serve with Pasta Arrabiata, here are some of our favorite side dishes!

Read Also: Arrabiata Wine Pairing – Best Wines To Pair With Arrabiata

What to Serve with Pasta Arrabiata: 10 Best Side Dishes

Remember that you can use any of these side dishes to serve with other Italian dishes as well!

1. Rice Pilaf

Rice Pilaf is a great side dish for any Italian dish. It’s a great source of carbohydrates and the perfect accompaniment for Pasta Arrabiata.

My family loves Rice Pilaf, and it’s one of the easiest side dishes to make.

Tips when serving rice pilaf:

1. Don’t be afraid to mix in vegetables to your rice for a healthier side dish. Some of our favorite mix-ins include carrots, celery, onion, and red pepper.
2. Switch up the seasonings in your rice to give it a different twist every time. Some of our favorite seasonings include grated Parmesan cheese, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
3. Get creative with the presentation! Place your rice in muffin tins or ice cube trays for individual servings, or layer it into a casserole dish for a more elegant presentation.

2. Cheesy Garlic Bread

Cheesy Garlic Bread is the ultimate Italian side dish!

If you’re not sure what to serve with Pasta Arrabiata, you can’t go wrong with this classic!

Tips for cheesy garlic bread:

1. Try grating your own cheese to avoid prepackaged ingredients with questionable ingredients.
2. Add some variety by switching out the bread for tortillas or flatbread!
3. Serve it alongside grilled chicken or steak for a heartier dish!
4. Make your own marinara sauce for dipping by sautéing garlic in olive oil, adding tomatoes and seasonings, and simmering for 20 minutes.
5. Add a spicy kick by using pepper jack cheese!

3. Tomato Salad

Tomato salad is a great way to incorporate your favorite summer produce into your side dish.

It’s also an ideal accompaniment for any Italian dish, especially Pasta Arrabiata!

Tips for making a tasty tomato salad:

1. Start with a base of greens and add tomatoes and vegetables of choice. Some of our favorites include cucumbers, olives, and bell peppers.
2. Add your favorite dressing to give it a delicious finishing touch!
3. Combine with other side dishes for a colorful meal that will impress dinner guests.

4. Creamy Cucumber Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad is an amazing side dish that goes great with Pasta Arrabiata as well as all kinds of Asian dishes.

It’s made with fresh cucumbers, sour cream, and seasonings to give it a creamy taste.

Tips for making Creamy Cucumber Salad:

1. Start with a base of greens and add tomatoes and vegetables of choice. Some of our favorites include cucumbers, olives, and bell peppers.
2. Add your favorite dressing to give it a delicious finishing touch!
3. Combine with other side dishes for a colorful meal that will impress dinner guests.

5. Roasted Asparagus

Roasted Asparagus is an easy and scrumptious way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet.

It’s the perfect side dish for Pasta Arrabiata and other Italian dishes.

Tips for roasting asparagus:

1. Gently wash the asparagus and, if needed, remove the tough ends.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and season to your preference! Some of our favorite seasonings include salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and chili flakes.
3. Roast at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes, or until tender.

6. Sauteed Zucchini and Tomatoes

Sauteed Zucchini and Tomatoes is a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your side dishes!  

It’s also a wonderful accompaniment for Pasta Arrabiata as well as many other Italian dishes.

Tips for making Sauteed Zucchini and Tomatoes:

1. Gently wash the zucchini and, if needed, remove the tough ends.
2. Add your favorite seasonings for an Italian twist! Some of our favorite seasonings include salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, chili flakes and oregano.
3. Heat up oil in a pan on medium-low heat and sautee for about 5 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes for some extra flavor.

7. Broccoli Salad

Broccoli salad is a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your side dishes!  

It’s also an ideal accompaniment for Pasta Arrabiata as well as all kinds of Asian dishes.

Tips for making Broccoli Salad:

1. Start with a base of greens and add vegetables of choice. Some of our favorites include red onion, cheese, and almonds!
2. Add your favorite dressing to give it a delicious finishing touch!
3. Combine with other side dishes for a colorful meal that will impress dinner guests.

8. Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is an Italian classic and one of the most popular side dishes to serve with Pasta Arrabiata!

If you don’t want to make your own, almost all grocery stores offer frozen garlic bread that can be heated up in just a few minutes.

Tips for making Garlic Bread:

1. Make sure you have French or Italian bread on hand; it’s what’s traditionally used and makes all the difference!
2. Slice into pieces and place them on a baking sheet.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and season to your preference! Some of our favorite seasonings include salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, chili flakes and oregano.
4. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes until golden brown.

9. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are another popular side dish that goes great with Pasta Arrabiata and all kinds of Italian dishes.  

They’re also a traditional accompaniment for Easter dinner!

Tips for making mashed potatoes:

1. Start with peeled, chopped potatoes and add milk and butter to the pot.
2. Cook for about 10 minutes until fork tender, then mash using a potato masher or whip in a mixer.
3. Season to your preference! Some of our favorite seasonings include garlic powder, salt, pepper, and thyme.
4. Combine with other side dishes for an extra delicious meal.

10. Green Beans with Herbs

Green beans are a great vegetable to serve with Pasta Arrabiata and other Italian dishes!

Tips for making Green Beans with Herbs:

1. Start by washing your green beans thoroughly.
2. Add butter, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, and garlic powder to the pot.
3. Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes before adding the green beans. Cook another 5 minutes, or until green beans have reached your desired tenderness.
4. Combine with other side dishes for a colorful meal that will impress dinner guests.

Why Consider Serving a Side Dish for Pasta Arrabiata?

Pasta is one of the most popular side dishes available to the world today.

However, while this seems like a great thing, pasta can sometimes be a bit bland.

This means that the side dish has to complement the pasta in order for the meal to be balanced.

So, while pasta dishes are great, there’s nothing wrong with serving other side dishes to your favorite pasta.

For example, consider serving side dishes that contain a different kind of seasoning or sauce that would suit the dish.

As long as you don’t go overboard with adding too many ingredients, you can ensure that your meal tastes great.

For instance, you could try serving spaghetti with pesto or tomato sauce.

These options would complement each other well, and you could have a fantastic pasta dish without sacrificing any flavor.

Need Ideas for Serving Pasta?

If you’d prefer to serve the pasta as a main dish instead of a side dish, there are lots of options!  You could always go traditional with the classic Italian tomato sauce, or try something new with a creamy alfredo sauce or olive oil!

You can also experiment with restaurant-style pasta dishes, whether it’s spaghetti and meatballs, pesto pasta salad, or an Italian panzanella salad.  And of course if you’re looking for something quick and easy to cook, pasta is always a great option!

Conclusion

Pasta Arrabiata is an Italian dish that typically consists of spicy tomato sauce and spaghetti.  Here, we’ve provided some great side dishes that complement the spicy flavor of Pasta Arrabiata.

Some of our favorite side dishes include garlic bread, mashed potatoes and green beans with herbs. We hope you find these recipes helpful and they inspire you to make a delicious meal!

Thanks for reading!