Easy stuffed pepper serving ideas, from baked sweet potato fries to roasted artichokes, and fresh arugula salad to sautéed spinach. Discover what to serve with stuffed peppers today.
Stuffed peppers are a delicious dish with roots in cuisines from all over the world, including Hong Kong, Spain, India, and the Mediterranean. Because of this, the range of fillings and side dishes that pair with them are endless.
These easy side dish ideas complement your best stuffed pepper recipe’s flavors and can be served up in minutes. Whether you’re planning a huge meal platter or a quick weeknight dinner, here’s what to serve with stuffed peppers.
Garlic Sautéed Green Beans
Some stuffed pepper recipes are pretty filling, which is why a vegetable side dish is a good idea to provide some freshness. These sautéed green beans are refreshing but not bland thanks to the strong garlic flavor.
Garlic and green beans are the main ingredients, but you will also need olive oil, salt, and pepper. Start by blanching the green beans, then finish in a skillet with minced garlic.
Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
These sweet potato fries are a great snack, but also go well with stuffed peppers. They are savory with a hint of sweetness but lack the fatty heaviness of regular fries. Plus, the crispy element makes any meal more fun.
Besides sweet potatoes, you will need cornstarch, salt, and olive oil. Cut the potatoes into strips and toss in the cornstarch and salt. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and bake. After the fries bake, you can season with paprika or other spices if you’d like.
Arugula Salad
A nice salad goes well with stuffed peppers because it cuts through the heaviness of the dish thanks to the freshness of the vegetables. Switch out your regular salad routine with arugula, which has far more flavor than lettuce.
Besides arugula, you will need toasted almonds, dried cranberries, and parmesan for this recipe. Make a dressing out of lemon juice, olive oil, and honey. Toss all the salad ingredients together and serve. Skip the parmesan and switch out honey for agave syrup if you want to make it vegan.
Potato Wedges
The humble potato is an ingredient that pairs well with any main dish, including stuffed peppers. This recipe for potato wedges packs the potatoes with spices and savory flavors, but they are still light enough to avoid overpowering the main meal.
Besides potatoes, you will need olive oil and seasonings such as salt, pepper, and paprika. Slice the potatoes into wedges, toss in the oil and seasonings, then bake. Add parmesan if you are not vegetarian or vegan or nutritional yeast if you eat plant-based.
Easy Sautéed Spinach
Spinach is packed with valuable nutrients, so if you are thinking about the nutritional value of your meal, it is a great side dish for stuffed peppers. Sauteing it like in this recipe helps enhance its flavors.
For this simple recipe, you only need spinach, olive oil, garlic, and salt. Sauté minced garlic in a pan with olive oil, then add the washed spinach. Cook the spinach only until wilted, then drain the excess liquid to prevent it from getting soggy.
Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
If you want to add a bit of spice to your dinner table, these baked cauliflower wings with Buffalo sauce have just the right amount of heat. Plus, this recipe can easily be made vegan or gluten-free to accommodate different diets.
Besides cauliflower, you will need flour, spices, and water or milk to make the batter. Whisk the flour to make the batter, then dip the cauliflower florets. After baking the cauliflower, top with store-bought or homemade Buffalo sauce.
Roasted Zucchini
Zucchini is a fresh, delicious side dish, particularly if you are lucky enough to scoop up an in-season farmer’s market zucchini in the summer. This recipe enhances zucchini’s natural flavors by roasting them.
Besides zucchini, you will need grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, and olive oil. Quarter the zucchini, then drizzle with the oil and seasonings. Bake on an elevated rack and finish with the broiler.
Roasted Artichokes
Artichokes are a delicious vegetable that pair well with stuffed peppers due to their natural sweetness. However, many people are too scared to make artichokes because of the extensive cleaning and prep work. This roasting recipe is easy and enhances the natural flavor of artichokes.
Besides artichokes, you will need olive oil, garlic, herbs, lemons, salt, and pepper. Trim the artichokes and halve them, then brush with olive oil and herbs. Roast the artichokes in the oven until they are tender.
Sun-Dried Tomato & Quinoa Salad
A bright salad is the perfect accompaniment for a rich stuffed peppers dish. This salad is filling thanks to the quinoa, without feeling heavy or overwhelming.
To make the salad, combine cooked quinoa with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, sliced almonds, and olive oil. Make a dressing out of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and Dijon mustard, and drizzle over the salad.
Sautéed Yellow Squash
Light summer squash makes the perfect accompaniment to stuffed peppers, particularly if it is in season. If you are looking for a new way to prepare squash, this recipe will help you switch it up.
Besides yellow squash, you will need olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, and Panko breadcrumbs. Slice the squash into thin rounds and sauté until soft. Toss with herb-infused garlic oil and top with the breadcrumbs.
