What To Serve With Ravioli

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Ravioli are a favorite amongst children and adults alike. The bite-sized pockets of pasta, traditionally stuffed with cheese and meats, are served with sauce or broth.

While nothing is lacking with having ravioli on their own, pairing them with some complementary sides will keep everyone full and happy. Easy enough to make but impressive enough to bring to a party ravioli are an all-around favorite at mealtime.

So what goes great with these scrumptious little Italian dumplings? Read on to find out!

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17 Side Dishes To Serve With Ravioli

Ravioli come in different shapes, sizes and flavors. Whether you like them traditionally or with a twist, we have you covered on what the best sides are for your ravioli meal.

1. Fried Ravioli with Marina Dipping Sauce

Ravioli traditionally served with a sauce or in a broth can be delicious served with a dip as well. While sticking with a classic marinara makes for happy bellies, try something a little different with your ravioli.

Using store-bought ravioli, dredge each piece in flour, egg, and bread crumbs before frying them in 325-degree oil. Serve these with marinara or your favorite sauce or dip.

2. Ravioli Enchilada Bake

There is no shortage of dishes that go well with a little Mexican flair. If you are a fan of Mexican spices, grab yourself an enchilada sauce and go to town with this ravioli enchilada bake.

Start with a layer of sauce, topped with portions of ravioli and cheese. Monterey and jack cheeses are a good choice. Top this with shredded chicken and some more sauce and cheese and bake for the recommended time.

3. Ravioli Served in a Squash

Who would’ve thought squash, with all its vitamins and nutrients, could be so delicious! And guess what? The creamy, sweet flavor of butternut squash goes perfectly with ravioli.

Try something fun tonight and serve your ravioli out of a squash instead of a dish. Halve and hollow out your butternut squash. Drizzle it with olive oil and salt and bake until tender. Put your ravioli and sauce in the halves. Dinner is served!

4. Crusty Italian Bread

There is no bad time to grab a loaf of Italian bread in my opinion, but it truly is a go-to side for completing a meal of pasta, especially ravioli.

The crusty bread can be used to dip, sop and sandwich your sauce and ravioli. Make it at home or head over to your nearest bakery. Either way, serve it fresh and hot and it won’t disappoint.

5. Broccoli Rabe

If you’ve heard of broccoli but never broccoli rabe, it’s time to give it a try. Slightly more bitter than regular broccoli, broccoli rabe is a favorite amongst Italian food lovers.

Try sauteing your broccoli rabe with a good helping of sliced garlic and olive oil. Simple and delicious, this vegetable side dish is a perfect pairing for tomato sauce smothered ravioli.

6. Roasted White Onion

Onions lovers will agree that roasting your onions is a fast and easy way to make a great side dish. It pairs exceptionally well with cheese ravioli too.

Simply cut a white onion in half and drizzle it with olive oil. Give it a sprinkle of salt and throw it in the oven at 425 degrees. Once they’re nice and charred, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar will add flavor to this side dish.

7. Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

Eat your vegetables is never a punishment when they’re covered in cheese. That being said, there are ways to dress up your vegetables without smothering them in Velvetta.

For a side of vegetables that goes really well with ravioli, try making green beans with garlic and parmesan. Once cooked in olive oil and garlic, sprinkle some shredded or grated fresh parmesan over the beans.

8. Spring Salad

Salads of all kinds are a great way to add a healthy side to your main meal but consider serving a spring salad with your ravioli to balance out the sometimes heavy flavors of your ravioli.

Ravioli served with a cream sauce will pair well with a light spring salad tossed in a basic balsamic vinaigrette. Nutrients abound in this salad so add your favorite toppings without regret with a spring mix as your salad base.

9. Ravioli Au Gratin

Anything “gratin” is topped with cheese and breadcrumbs that are baked in the oven to give it a little crisp. You may have heard of potatoes au gratin or have done this with your mac and cheese without even knowing the French term.

Whatever the case may be, you should try your ravioli over a bed of garlic spinach, au gratin. A hearty meal that tickles your taste buds.

10. Ravioli Nachos

This is a unique take on your favorite nacho recipe. A crowd-pleaser, this is a dish that was made for bringing to parties.

Gather your nacho ingredients such as avocado, black beans, cheese, and salsa. Find frozen beef ravioli at your supermarket and bake according to the directions. Top your baked ravioli with your nacho toppings and there you have it. Easy and delicious!

11. Garlicky Bread

We’ve mentioned bread already but if you are a fan of bread you will agree that a good garlic bread deserves its own column.

Garlic is a staple in Italian cooking. A loaf of bread spread with olive oil or butter is baked with a sprinkle of either fresh or powdered garlic to make a mouth-watering starter for a helping of ravioli.

12. Asparagus Tips

It sounds a bit fancy but asparagus tips are easy to make and chock full of vitamins and minerals. Asparagus tips are the more tender portion of the stalk and that’s why they’re more coveted than the whole piece.

Whether you are using just the tip or the whole stalk, a simple butter tossed asparagus can be jazzed up with almond slivers or pine nuts. Asparagus works as a sidekick to both tomato-based ravioli sauce or a cream-based one.

13. Grandma’s Parmesan Zucchini

Breaded and baked zucchini is just as good as a mozzarella stick. That being said, slow cooked zucchini is its own unique thing and should be given a chance to shine next to your ravioli.

Slice your zucchini thin and cook with olive oil, garlic and salt. The salt will bring out the water in the zucchini which will help to soften it while cooking. Give it a long slow boil on the stovetop and when it’s all tender and juicy, throw in a good helping of parmesan cheese. Grandma would be proud.

14. Polenta and Lobster Ravioli

As mentioned ravioli can be stuffed with a variety of things. From an array of cheese to mushrooms to meat, your ravioli insides are just as important as what’s on the outside.

If you are hankering for some seafood, try a lobster ravioli. The flavor of the ravioli goes amazingly well with polenta. Serve it with a butter sauce topped with cherry tomatoes for an extra special meal.

15. Braised Leeks

Admittedly, leeks are not the first thing that comes to mind when planning a side dish. You will be surprised however at how well it goes with ravioli.

Clean your leeks well as they are prone to having some leftover dirt between the leaves. Cut them lengthwise and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt before grilling. The melt-in-your-mouth onion flavor packs the perfect punch with ricotta cheese ravioli.

16. Spinach and Mushroom Masala

A good creamy mushroom Marsala sauce is to die for. This cream-based sauce relies on herbs and spices as well as a sweet Marsala wine to give it its very distinct flavor.

Consider making meat or mushroom-filled ravioli and serving it with this savory sauce. The pairing will go especially well with a good glass of red wine, so treat yourself to a really special meal with this recipe.

17. Ravioli and Salmon

If you are a fish lover you might be wondering if ravioli goes well with your seafood of choice. Well, look no further.

Simple and good for you, salmon is the go-to fish for so many reasons. Any way you cook it, a side portion of salmon filet will be light enough to go with your ravioli without overstuffing yourself.

Wrap Up

If your mouth is not watering yet, then you need to run to the store and grab yourself some ravioli and sides for dinner tonight.

Never before has a meal been so worth the effort. Nutritious and delicious, all wrapped up in a bundle, Italians knew what they were doing when they created the ever-delicious ravioli.

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