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What to Serve With Meatloaf

By: Melissa Erdelac · On: · Updated:

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Looking for side dishes to go with meatloaf? If you are undecided about what to serve meatloaf, find everything from healthy, easy, and comforting sides plus vegetables here, along with expert storing, freezing, and reheating tips!

a slice of face up meatloaf on a white plate

A meatloaf recipe comes in a variety of savory flavors, tastes and textures, such as turkey meatloaf, pork meatloaf, and even gluten-free meatloaf, all which go great with the classic side dish – mashed potatoes.

Other recipes, such as Italian meatloaf, may be served with butter and parmesan cheese pasta, while stuffed cheddar cheese Mexican meatloaf goes well with rice and sour cream. Some recipes, like instant pot meatloaf cooks the mashed potato side right in the same pot!

Besides carb-heavy dishes, like potatoes, garlic bread, or rice, you may be wondering what other sides go with meatloaf. Below are the most popular choices, including easy vegetables, salads, and unique sides.

Since leftovers make the best meatloaf sandwich, storing, freezing, and reheating tips are also included with a huge range of side dishes to serve with it!

Best sides to go with meatloaf

Since meatloaf is a filling meal, finding the perfect sides can be just as tricky as figuring out what to serve with lasagna or sides to go with mac and cheese.

Of course mashed potatoes makes a classic side dish to go with meatloaf (and always popular with kids!), but there are many other great side dish options, such as veggies and salads. Below are the most popular sides to go with meatloaf, while further down find easy side dish recipes.

  1. Mashed potatoes
  2. Crispy Oven French Fries
  3. Coleslaw
  4. Applesauce
  5. Vegetables (see full list below)
  6. Rice
  7. Baked Potatoes
  8. Cornbread
  9. Fruit Salad
  10. Rolls
  11. Velveeta Mac and Cheese
  12. Sautéed Apples
  13. Risotto
  14. Roasted potato wedges
  15. Sweet Potatoes – mashed, roasted, or sweet potato fries
  16. Jello Salad
a close of up of two smashed potatoes stacked on top of each other
Browned Butter Smashed Potatoes

Vegetable sides for meatloaf

Generally meatloaf is served with some sort of starch, such as potatoes, rolls, or garlic bread, but it’s nice to serve veggies along with it to balance the meal out. Below are the best vegetables to go with meatloaf, as well as many healthy side dish options.

  1. Zucchini
  2. Broccoli
  3. Roasted Squash
  4. Peas
  5. Green Salads
  6. Steamed corn
  7. Green Beans
  8. Carrots
  9. Creamed spinach
  10. Cauliflower
  11. Corn on the Cob
  12. Brussels Sprouts
a close up of a serving bowl of beans, blue cheese and tomatoes
Marinated Green Bean Salad

Storing and freezing tips 

A classic meatloaf recipe is the perfect freezer-meal or make-ahead comfort food dish. If you’d rather not assemble, bake, and serve immediately, refrigerate it or freeze it baked or unbaked.

To store unbaked meatloaf, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking. If freezing, protect the ground beef against freezer burn by wrapping foil over the plastic wrap. Freeze up to three months.

When ready to bake, it’s best let it thaw overnight first. Let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking to take some of the chill off.

I prefer to freeze the glaze separate from the meatloaf in a ziplock freezer bag. It makes storage easier, and the sauce can be thawed and brushed on right before baking.

Best way to reheat meatloaf 

For oven reheating, place leftovers in an oven-safe baking dish. Sprinkle with a touch of water or broth to keep it tender, and cover with foil. Bake in a 250ºF oven for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through.

To microwave, I recommend reheating slices instead of an unsliced loaf. Reheat at 50% power for 2-3 minutes, or until almost heated through. Finish at full power until hot.

Alternatively, place a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Lightly grease the pan and heat for 3-4 minutes per side.

More easy meatloaf sides 

Looking for the perfect side dish recipes? Find many vegetables, starches, salads to fit a variety of tastes and flavor!

Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole
Enjoy the best gluten-free green bean casserole, so delicious it will rival the classic Thanksgiving dish you grew up on! It's made from scratch with no canned soup so it can easily be adapted into a dairy-free gluten-free recipe!
Get The Recipe
a close up shot of gluten free green bean casserole on a marble surface
Harvest Salad
Harvest Salad is the perfect fall salad recipe with fresh greens, candied pecans, crisp apples, dried cranberries, and tangy blue cheese all tossed together in a deliciously easy maple vinaigrette dressing.
Get The Recipe
maple vinaigrette being poured from a white dressing container onto the apple pecan salad
Roasted Green Beans and Potatoes
Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans turns a classic southern-style recipe into a one pan, hands-off dish! Fresh green beans, red baby potatoes, onions and bacon are baked together in the oven until golden, crispy, and absolutely divine. 
Get The Recipe
overhead shot of a baking sheet with roasted potatoes and green beans with a wooden spoon resting on it
Mini Hasselback Potatoes
Mini Hasselback Potatoes recipe are sliced, baby new potatoes, seasoned with garlic butter, roasted until golden, and then topped with cheesy parmesan. These garlic hasselback potatoes are guaranteed to be a hit at the dinner table or as an appetizer!
Get The Recipe
a wooden spoon going into a serving bowl of potatoes
Baked Tomatoes
Baked Tomatoes are cheesy, oven roasted tomato slices with golden parmesan or mozzarella cheese and sprinkled with fresh basil. Easy Baked Parmesan Tomatoes make an allstar appetizer or an easy side dish in minutes!
Get The Recipe
a pan of baked tomatoes with broiled cheese on top
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Crispy Roasted Ranch Potatoes are the ultimate hands-off side dish with only 5 ingredients. Easy ranch potatoes are tossed with Hidden Valley ranch seasoning, parmesan cheese, and baked till brown and crisp. 
Get The Recipe
a roasted ranch potato being dipping into ranch dressing
Crispy Oven Roasted Cabbage Steaks
Oven Roasted Cabbage Steaks make an easy, hands off side dish to compliment any meal! Buttery roasted cabbage slices are baked till golden brown with crispy edges. 
Get The Recipe
overhead shot of roasted cabbage on a baking sheet
Marinated Green Bean Salad
Make-ahead, marinated Green Bean Salad is an easy, healthy recipe perfect for summer! Simply toss green beans, tomatoes, and red onions with a balsamic vinaigrette and serve cold with blue or feta cheese.
Get The Recipe
a close up of a serving bowl of beans, blue cheese and tomatoes
Southern Spoon Bread
Best Southern Spoon Bread recipe is an old-fashioned cornbread casserole with a soufflé pudding texture. This elevated recipe adds silky mashed sweet potatoes and warm cinnamon flavor to make a comforting side dish perfect for holiday gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Get The Recipe
overhead shot of spoon bread casserole with a scoop taken out
Strawberry Salad
Fresh Strawberry Salad layers fresh greens, juicy strawberries, toasted nuts, and feta cheese all covered with tangy, sweet vinaigrette dressing. 
Get The Recipe
overhead shot of strawberry green salad with feta cheese on top
Smashed Potatoes Recipe
Smashed Potatoes recipe is an easy take on Pioneer Woman’s popular recipe. Creamy red potatoes are crushed, drizzled with a toasted browned butter, and baked up to gloriously crispy and brown in the oven.
Get The Recipe
a close of up of two smashed potatoes stacked on top of each other
Sauteed Zucchini with Lemon and Garlic
Learn how to make sauteed zucchini and squash with this quick and easy lemon garlic recipe. In little as five minutes you'll have a healthy, yet richly flavorful, zucchini recipe ready to enjoy!
Get The Recipe
close up shot of cooked zucchini being held by a wooden spoon
Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Easy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole is cheesy baked gluten-free broccoli casserole loaded with fresh or frozen veggies in a creamy sauce. This keto, low carb recipe is quick to throw together, plus make-ahead and freezer-friendly!
Get The Recipe
close up of melted cheese on broccoli and cauliflower in a casserole dish
Salt Potatoes Recipe
Salt Potatoes, also known as Syracuse potatoes, have an insanely creamy texture inside because of the amount of salt they’re boiled in. Yet, they are perfectly seasoned and heavenly tasting with drizzled melted butter poured on top.
Get The Recipe
butter being spooned over a bowl of salt potatoes
20 Minute Roasted Zucchini (Not Soggy!)
Learn how to roast zucchini the best way so it isn't soggy! Roasted Zucchini is an easy, oven baked recipe perfect all year round. Golden, roasted summer squash is flavored with garlic and seasonings for a healthy side dish everyone will devour! 
Get The Recipe
roasted zucchini on a white plate with fresh herbs next to it.
Sweet Potato Salad
Sweet Potato Salad recipe has roasted sweet potatoes, pecans, apples, and dried cranberries tossed in an easy maple mustard vinaigrette dressing. Flavorful and comforting Roasted Sweet Potato Salad is healthy, vegan, and a gluten free recipe that may be served warm or cold. 
Get The Recipe
an antique silver spoon holding up a serving of sweet potato salad recipe from a serving dish

 Click here to see a web story slideshow of the recipes!

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collage of side dishes to go with meatloaf

This post contains affiliate links. My opinions are always my own. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I make a small commission – at no cost to you. Read full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Dennis Littley says

    So many delicious sides and I can’t wait to try each and every one of them!! Thank you for the cooking inspiration

    Reply

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