What to Serve With Paninis: 15 Best Side Dishes

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Discovering the best side dishes to serve with paninis can elevate your meal into a delightful culinary experience. Sweet potato chips offer a nutritious and flavorful crunch, while onion rings add a savory twist. French fries are a timeless favorite, and sweet potato fries bring a natural sweetness that's hard to resist. For a heartier option, potato wedges are perfect with their crispy exterior and fluffy interior. Each option pairs beautifully with paninis, enhancing your meal with complementary textures and tastes. To explore more mouth-watering side dishes that pair well with paninis, keep going and see what else delights your taste buds.

Sweet Potato Chips

crunchy homemade healthy snack

Sweet potato chips offer a nutritious and flavorful accompaniment to paninis, providing a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips.

This delicious side dish is easy to make in an air fryer and retains a crispy texture without excess oil.

Rich in vitamins and fiber, sweet potato chips can be seasoned with spices like paprika or sea salt, making them a delightful, healthy alternative.

Onion Rings

fried crispy onion rings

Onion rings present a classic, crispy side dish that pairs exceptionally well with paninis, enhancing the meal with their rich, savory flavor. Made by dipping onion slices in batter and deep frying them, these rings boast a crispy texture.

Seasoned with spices like paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper, they add a satisfying crunch, perfectly complementing the warm, melty fillings of a panini.

French Fries

comfort food during quarantine

Following the delightful crunch of onion rings, French fries offer another timeless and popular side dish that pairs beautifully with paninis.

These crispy treats can be seasoned with spices like paprika or garlic for extra flavor. Homemade versions, either fried or oven-baked, guarantee a satisfying crunch.

Complement them with dipping sauces like ketchup or aioli to enhance your meal experience.

Sweet Potato Fries

tasty and crispy snack

A versatile and nutritious side dish, sweet potato fries offer a delightful balance of crispy texture and natural sweetness that complements any panini.

These fries, with their crispy exterior and sweet flavor, can be baked for a healthier alternative.

Rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, sweet potato fries pair excellently with various dipping sauces like garlic aioli, chipotle mayo, or sriracha ketchup.

Potato Wedges

comfort food easy recipe

Potato wedges, with their crispy exterior and fluffy interior, make an excellent and satisfying side dish for paninis. These thick-cut potatoes, seasoned with herbs and spices, are easy to prepare and versatile.

They provide a delicious contrast when served with sandwiches, adding a tasty crunch. Whether baked or fried, potato wedges are a hearty, crowd-pleasing addition to any meal.

Pico De Gallo and Tortilla Chips

salsa and crunchy chips

Pico de Gallo and tortilla chips offer a revitalizing and crunchy side dish that pairs perfectly with the warm, savory flavors of paninis.

This fresh salsa, made with diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime juice, adds a vibrant and tangy flavor.

The tortilla chips provide a crunchy side to scoop up the pico de gallo, enhancing your sandwich experience.

Potato Soup

comforting winter dinner option

Warm and comforting, potato soup serves as a hearty companion to the savory flavors of paninis. This creamy and versatile side dish can be customized with bacon, cheese, or herbs, enhancing its appeal.

Easy to prepare, potato soup pairs well due to its satisfying nature, making it an ideal choice especially during colder months, providing a cozy and delicious meal experience.

Tomato Soup

comforting winter meal option

Serving tomato soup alongside paninis creates a classic and comforting pairing that enhances the meal's overall flavor profile. This creamy soup, made from ripe tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs, complements grilled sandwiches beautifully.

As a versatile option, it can be served hot or cold and customized with toppings like croutons or fresh herbs, making it a delightful and comforting side dish.

Clam Chowder

new england comfort food

Following the comforting pairing of tomato soup with paninis, clam chowder offers another rich and hearty option that complements the savory flavors of these grilled sandwiches.

This creamy soup, a staple of New England cuisine, can be served in a bread bowl for added heartiness. The blend of tender clams and vegetables in this seafood soup makes it an excellent side dish for paninis.

Broccoli Soup

comforting bowl of goodness

Broccoli soup, with its creamy texture and rich flavor, serves as a nutritious and versatile side dish that pairs perfectly with paninis.

This comforting soup can be easily customized with cheese, cream, or herbs, enhancing its delightful taste.

Packed with vitamins and minerals from the broccoli, it is a healthy option that can be enjoyed hot or cold, adding another layer of satisfaction to your meal.

Green Salad

healthy vegetable side dish

A green salad, with its invigorating mix of fresh vegetables, offers a rejuvenating and nutritious complement to paninis. This versatile side dish can include leafy greens, fresh herbs, and your favorite salad dressing.

For added flavor, a balsamic glaze can be drizzled on top. The crisp texture of the green salad contrasts beautifully with the warm, savory panini, enhancing your meal.

Tomato Salad

fresh basil and mozzarella

Enhancing the crisp freshness of a green salad, a tomato salad offers a vibrant and juicy side dish that pairs exquisitely with paninis.

This invigorating salad, made with ripe tomatoes, fresh herbs, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, highlights seasonal produce.

It's a flavorful accompaniment, with options to enhance it using mozzarella cheese, basil, red onions, or avocado for added depth.

Macaroni Salad

macaroni salad recipe details

Macaroni salad, with its creamy texture and versatile ingredients, stands as a quintessential side dish that harmonizes perfectly with the robust flavors of paninis.

This chilled delight, often customizable with diced onions, celery, and hard-boiled eggs, complements sandwiches beautifully.

The creamy and tangy dressing of macaroni salad balances the savory notes of paninis, creating a revitalizing and satisfying meal combination.

Pasta Salad

refreshing summer pasta dish

Pasta salad, with its medley of pasta, fresh vegetables, and flavorful dressings, serves as an ideal side dish to enhance the dining experience with paninis.

This great side dish is exceptionally versatile, allowing you to customize it with ingredients like cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese.

Whether served cold or at room temperature, the variety of dressings adds a delightful balance of textures and flavors.

Are the Best Side Dishes for Onigiri Also Suitable for Serving with Paninis?

Yes, the best side dishes for onigiri can also be suitable for serving with paninis. Some options like pickled vegetables, miso soup, or a simple green salad can complement the flavors of both onigiri and paninis. These versatile dishes can add variety to any meal.

Broccoli Salad

healthy and tasty dish

Broccoli salad offers an invigorating and nutritious side dish that perfectly complements paninis. This delightful mix features fresh broccoli florets, red onions, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds, all tossed in a creamy dressing.

The combination of crunchy broccoli, sweet cranberries, and savory dressing creates a delicious flavor profile. Easy to prepare in advance, broccoli salad adds color and texture to your meal.