Is there any better comfort food than mac and cheese? Piles of tubular pasta, cooked to perfection in a rich cheese sauce, with a topping of golden toasted cheese and breadcrumbs. And that even before we get into different variations. That said, you might just like your mac and cheese ‘as is’… But it can get a little boring, and you want to know what to serve with mac and cheese? Well, fear not, I’ve got a plan. Here’s a list of great ideas for mac and cheese sides that will make it a meal to remember.
16 Mac and Cheese Side Dishes
Knowing what to serve with mac and cheese can really add to the flavor of your meal. We’ve compiled the best sides you should serve next time you have mac and cheese. You’ll also find many different mac and cheese recipes we’ve made on this site too.
1. BBQ Ribs
Is there anyone who doesn’t love ribs? The only downside is that there never seems to be enough of them. Unless you will make a Fred Flintstone-sized portion, it makes sense that they are paired with something substantial… Like Mac and cheese.
We find that the BBQ ribs’ sweetness works really well with the mac and cheese’s creamy, savory flavors. Ribs can also be a little bit of a chore to make, so the fact that mac and cheese is so easy makes them the perfect combo. Plus, if you’re looking for sides to serve with ribs, we have you covered.
2. Sloppy Joes
If you combine your mac and cheese with sloppy joes, you’ve got an all American dinner right there. If you are making mac and cheese, you will already be a fan of using standard store cupboard ingredients. The good news is that sloppy joes sandwiches use things that you’ll find around the house. As the name would suggest, sloppy joes sandwiches are a little messy, so why not go the whole hog and top your sloppy joes with a layer of thick and creamy Mac and Cheese?
3. Coleslaw
Ok, so we know that mac and cheese isn’t always the lightest dish, so maybe you want to dial back on the carbs just a little. Let us suggest a lighter alternative. Coleslaw goes great with mac and cheese. Aside from your waistline, you’ll also find that the strips of crunchy white cabbage, carrots, and onions work really well to cut through the richness of the cheese. For a large splash of color, try using red cabbage in your coleslaw instead of white cabbage to create a little contrast on the plate.
4. Broccoli Salad
Let’s stay low calorie (for the time being). Few dishes won’t work with a simple side salad. Mac and cheese is delicious, but it can be hard to make a plate look a little less ‘boring’. The ideal solution is to throw in a handful of leafy greens, succulent ripe tomatoes, and perhaps a nice dressing. Both ranch and blue cheese dressing go exceptionally well with a side salad, and it also works a treat with mac and cheese, who’d have thought. Give it a go!
See Also: What to serve with lasagna besides salad
5. Little Smokies
Alright, we get it. Just sometimes, you want to add a little bit of meat to your meal. If this sounds like you, then check this for a treat. Little smokies are tiny sausages wrapped in a blanket of sweet bacon. They are crunchy, juicy, and delicious. And here’s the best bit, they are just perfect for dipping into mac and cheese! Served on their own little smokies are the perfect finger food for dipping, so imagine how good they will be with a thick and creamy cheese sauce?
6. Meatloaf
Keeping on a meat theme, we absolutely love meatloaf, but it can be difficult to find the ideal pairing, just like mac and cheese. Well, why not combine them together to make a mega meal. Both are really easy to make, so if you are pushed for time or just want an easy afternoon, they can be prepared ahead and left ready to throw in the oven when the time comes. For a really hearty meal that will leave everyone in the mood for a good old snooze, mac and cheese paired with meatloaf fit the bill.
7. Bacon
Bacon is one of those things that we could never do without. When it comes to what to serve with mac and cheese, bacon sits high on our favorites. It’s so versatile. If you are looking for something really simple, just grill or fry rashers until they are sizzling and crispy and serve alongside. Alternatively, cut your bacon into thick chunks and stir it into the mac and cheese before cooking. Depending on your choice of cheese, mac and cheese can be mild. This works really well with the saltiness of the bacon. It’s like a meaty seasoning!
8. Meatballs
So you like to dip and dunk, right? Well, meatballs are the perfect side for mac and cheese if dunking is your thing. The best bit is that you won’t even need to make a sauce. Meatballs with macaroni and creamy cheese sauce is about as good as it gets. For something slightly different, top your mac and cheese with the meatballs before baking to create a sort of delicious savory layer cake. Absolutely divine!
9. Roasted Broccoli
For a splash of color and a healthy option, roasted broccoli can make the ideal side to serve with mac and cheese. They take about the same amount of time in the oven too, so this is a great option for added convenience. Aside from the color, roasted florets of broccoli make for an ideal little ‘broom’ to mop up all those patches of creamy cheese sauce.
10. Pigs in Blankets
Pigs in blankets are very similar to little smokies, except they aren’t made with brown sugar and therefore aren’t quite as sweet. But they are equally delicious. We like to brown our sausages and allow them to cool before wrapping them in bacon and grilling them to perfection. We use small chipolata style link sausages. However, you can also use full-size sausages to create mega pigs in blankets. These are great if you are wanting to create a much more substantial meal.
11. Chili
Who wants boring old rice with chili when you can have mac and cheese? If you are going to serve a pile of carbs, then you might as well make it tasty. Chili is a great accompaniment to mac and cheese. If you’ve made it a little spicy, you’ll find that the mac and cheese calms down a sizzling palate. For something rich and really filling, layer your chili on top of your mac and cheese before adding an additional topping of cheese and breadcrumbs. It’s like the best bits of Mexican and Italian rolled into one huge lasagna!
12. Fresh Bread
Maybe you want to keep it simple and have something really rustic. There are fewer joys in this world than a freshly baked crusty loaf, spread thickly with a layer of melting butter, ah bliss! You certainly won’t be hungry with mac and cheese paired with bread, and you can use chunks of soft and crispy bread to soak up all of that lovely cheese sauce. Is your mouth watering?
13. Green Beans
If you are cooking mac and cheese, there’s a good chance you are looking for convenience. For a veggie hit that is also easy to make, give green beans a go. You can simply boil them. However, our favorite way to serve green beans as a side for mac and cheese is to parboil them before tossing them with melted butter, seasoning, and lemon juice. We roast them for 10 minutes along with the mac and cheese. They come out slightly crunchy with an acidic and sweet flavor that works, so well with creamy cheese and pasta.
14. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Listen, don’t boil Brussels sprouts. It’s the best way to ruin them. Slice them finely and saute them in a large pan with a little butter, salt, and pepper, before giving them a quick blast in the oven to turn the loose leaves ever so slightly crispy.
For an ultra-tasty addition, add some precooked bacon shards and perhaps a handful of crumbly toasted walnuts. The hardest part will be deciding what to eat first. The sprouts or the mac and cheese. May not have been obvious but it’s one of my favorite dishes for what goes with mac and cheese.
15. Steak
We don’t know why but steak works really well with mac and cheese. Perhaps we just like the simple things in life? We love to cook our steak medium and find that the blushing pink interior looks so good on the plate with a large helping of mac and cheese. Plus if you want to know some great steak sides, some of these options on this page are also fitting.
16. Roasted Vegetables
Ever heard that people first taste food with their eyes? By serving a delicious heap of roasted vegetables along with mac and cheese, you’ll be creating a table that is bright, colorful, and perfect for just digging straight into. We cut carrots, sweet potatoes, red onions, and zucchini and give them a liberal toss in oil before seasoning and roasting for the same amount of time as our mac and cheese.
Extra points awarded for cooking your vegetables al dente and leaving some of that crispness.
17. Grilled Chicken
Adding a protein source like grilled chicken can turn mac and cheese from a side dish into a main meal. Grilled chicken is light yet flavorful, making it the perfect complement to creamy macaroni.
A basic grilled chicken recipe involves marinating chicken breasts in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper before grilling until fully cooked. If you’re pressed for time (or if grilling isn’t an option), consider buying pre-cooked chicken strips from the supermarket.
Just remember to keep the seasoning simple so as not to overpower the macaroni’s flavor. After all, the chicken should complement the dish, not compete with it.
18. Garlic Bread
Garlic bread offers a delightful contrast to mac and cheese – its crunchiness balances out the creaminess of the pasta while its robust flavor adds another dimension to the meal.
Garlic bread is easy to make at home; all you need is some baguette or ciabatta bread, butter, garlic, parsley, salt, and about 10-15 minutes in a hot oven. If homemade isn’t an option, there are plenty of store-bought options available – just make sure they’re not overly greasy or heavy.
19. Fruit Kabobs
Fruit kabobs are an excellent way of making fruit fun for kids. They’re colorful, tasty, and easy to eat – perfect for picky eaters who might otherwise shy away from fruit.
Some great combinations include strawberry-banana-pineapple or apple-grape-melon kabobs. You could also consider adding some cheese cubes for extra protein.
Making fruit kabobs is as easy as chopping up your chosen fruits into bite-sized pieces and threading them onto skewers. Just make sure the fruits you choose are firm enough not to fall apart when skewered.
20. Little Caesars Crazy Bread
Little Caesars Crazy Bread is a fan-favorite item from the popular pizza chain. These breadsticks are soft, warm, and generously covered in a mixture of garlic, butter, and parmesan cheese. Each bite delivers a delightful crunch from the outside, followed by a fluffy and chewy inside – making them the perfect accompaniment to their signature pizzas. Crazy Bread starts with Little Caesars’ signature pizza dough, cut into strips and baked to perfection.
Once out of the oven, they’re tossed in a flavorful mix of garlic and butter, then sprinkled with a generous amount of parmesan cheese. The result is a savory, aromatic side dish that’s practically irresistible. Whether enjoyed on their own, paired with a pizza, or dipped into marinara sauce, Little Caesars Crazy Bread is a delicious treat that’s hard to beat. It’s no wonder that they’ve become a staple item on the menu and an all-time favorite among customers!
21. Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken
Ruth’s Chris Stuffed Chicken is a decadent, flavorful dish that pairs exceptionally well with a comforting side of mac and cheese.
The stuffed chicken features a boneless chicken breast filled with garlic herb cheese, adding a rich depth of flavor to the tender chicken. The chicken breast is first seared to golden brown perfection, locking in the juices and flavors.
It is then stuffed with a generous portion of garlic herb cheese, providing a creamy, tangy contrast to the savory chicken. The stuffed chicken is finally oven-roasted until it’s perfectly cooked and the cheese inside is deliciously melted. The rich and creamy mac and cheese complements the robust flavors of the stuffed chicken wonderfully.
The creaminess of the mac and cheese balances the tangy and garlicky flavors of the chicken, resulting in a meal that’s both satisfying and indulgent. Ruth’s Chris Stuffed Chicken and a side of mac and cheese create a combination that’s hard to resist, making for a meal that’s truly comforting and delicious.
Conclusion
Knowing what to serve with mac and cheese isn’t particularly difficult. You’ll find that it makes a great blank canvas to pair with other side dishes because of the mild flavors in the mac and cheese. What’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments.