Prime rib isn’t your typical standby dinner fare. This meaty slice of meat is usually reserved for dinner at high-end restaurants and holiday dinners.
With a decadent entrée such as prime rib, you’ll want to ensure you’re serving side dishes to your guests that complement the rich and meaty slab of beef perfectly.
The following 17 delicious side dishes pair well with prime rib and will help you determine what to serve next time you host a celebratory dinner.
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17 Side Dishes to Serve with Prime Rib
1. Roasted Vegetables
With a decadent entrée such as prime rib, a lighter side dish such as roasted vegetables is a great way to balance out the overall nutrition of the meal.
Roasted vegetables are not only healthy, but satisfying and tasty. Brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, and broccoli are all great options, but you can mix and match your favorites.
2. Herbed Mashed Potatoes
When it comes to serving a traditional holiday dinner, go all out with classic mashed potatoes and gravy. The starchiness of the potatoes is a great balance for the chewy, meaty texture of the beef.
You can also use garlic in your mashed potatoes in lieu of gravy, or just use butter, salt, and pepper. Either way, you’ll have a filling and hearty meal.
3. Bacon-Roasted Potatoes
Bacon-roasted potatoes seasoned with thyme are a great selection to serve alongside your prime rib that complete the meal just right, especially for a large holiday feast.
The addition of bacon offers an upgrade to your basic roasted potatoes, and the thyme offers a hint of seasonings to your overall meal.
4. Cheesy-Baked Potatoes
Cheesy-baked potatoes will have your guests’ mouths watering when paired alongside the juicy, meaty texture of prime rib.
The cheese in the potatoes introduces dairy into the meal and enhances the overall flavor of prime rib, while the soft and smooth texture of the baked potato offers a nice contrast to the chewiness of the meat.
5. Mashed Cauliflower
With a heavy entrée such as prime rib, you may want to opt for something a bit lighter, yet still satisfying. In that case, mashed cauliflower can do the trick.
Just boil a pot of water, then boil the cauliflower for 10 minutes. Drain the water, then mash cauliflower in a food processor. Add garlic or butter and salt and pepper to mimic mashed potatoes without the high calorie content.
6. Crispy Beet and Mozzarella Salad
This zesty salad with arugula, beets, mozzarella and radishes drizzled with olive oil and red wine vinaigrette will be your go-to salad when serving prime rib to a tableful of guests.
A light and healthy salad chock-full of vegetables and zesty vinaigrette is just what is needed to offset the rich and hearty prime rib meat.
7. Balsamic-Roasted Carrots
Roasted carrots glazed with balsamic vinaigrette lightens up the heaviness of the prime rib beef, while still enhancing the flavor of the dish.
For a side dish that isn’t too heavy and rounds out the nutrition of your meal, balsamic-roasted carrots are a winner.
8. Garlic-Butter Mushrooms
The earthy flavor and chewiness of the mushrooms pair so well with the chewy and meaty texture of prime rib beef, and garlic and butter bring some additional flavor to your entrée.
Sauté baby portabella mushrooms in minced garlic and butter to serve alongside your prime rib for a mouth-wateringly tasty dinner.
9. Lemony-Herb Couscous
Couscous with lemon juice, parsley, olive oil, and a pinch of red pepper flakes is a healthy grain with a flavor profile that will complement nearly any main entrée, including prime rib.
With classic flavors like zesty lemon juice and savory olive oil, lemony-herb couscous is a lighter and lower-calorie pick to serve for a romantic dinner for two.
10. Roasted Cauliflower
The cruciferous cauliflower is pretty plain on its own, but transforms into a flavorful side dish to serve with prime rib when roasted.
Slice pieces of cauliflower into small florets or flat slices, place on a baking sheet, then drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper, or even garlic or parmesan. Then bake until lightly golden and serve.
11. Garlic Bread
The crunchy texture of garlic bread coupled with the meaty texture of prime rib beef can’t be beat. Throw in the garlicky and buttery flavor, and you’ve got yourself a great meal.
For a carbohydrate that isn’t quite as starchy as potatoes, a loaf of crusty, toasted garlic bread will do the trick.
12. Roasted Broccolini
Broccolini is a higher-tier broccoli of sorts, with a longer stem and less florets. Roasted vegetables are a big hit when paired with prime rib, and broccolini is no exception.
Place stems of broccolini on an oven tray and douse with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. You’ll know the broccolini is ready to come out of the oven when it is crisp and tender.
13. Thyme and Shallot-Roasted Butternut Squash
To add a pop of color and an earthy flavor to your prime rib entrée, roasted butternut squash is a great match-particularly when seasoned with thyme and accompanied by shallots.
Drizzle maple syrup over your roasted butternut squash to add a little sweetness to the tough texture of the prime rib entrée.
14. Romaine Salad with Lemon-Pecorino Vinaigrette
Red onion, grated cheese, toasted hazelnuts and garlic over a bed of romaine hearts and topped with homemade lemon-pecorino vinaigrette dressing is a light and refreshing salad to serve with your prime rib entrée.
This salad offers a healthy dose of vegetables to your meal and is a light and refreshing contrast to the heavy and hearty thick meat.
15. Caramelized Onion and Rye Bread Stuffing
Stuffing doesn’t have to be for just Thanksgiving dinner. The sweetness of the caramelized onions combined with rye bread pay a flavorful complement to the tough exterior of prime rib.
This upgrade on your traditional Thanksgiving stuffing is a hearty side dish to serve alongside prime rib that is perfect for celebratory dinners with a houseful of hungry guests.
16. Mushroom and Chile-Garlic Green Beans
This twist on green beans offers a healthy and delicious side dish to serve alongside your prime rib that won’t leave your guests feeling like they overate.
Juicy mushrooms and steamed green beans are doused in chile-garlic butter for a mouth-watering vegetable dish your dinner guests won’t soon forget, offering a much-needed side of vegetables with your entrée.
17. Vanilla-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
The addition of vanilla and red chile to these roasted sweet potatoes offers a much-needed sweetness with a touch of heat to the thick and hearty prime rib meat.
Sweet potatoes are a lower-calorie and healthier potato option to serve alongside your entrée and the vanilla and red chile make these sweet potatoes an exciting choice.
Wrap Up
From filling and hearty to light and satisfying, there are so many delicious side dishes to serve alongside meaty and mouth-watering prime rib.
Whether you’re serving holiday dinner guests or a romantic anniversary dinner for two, we think you’ll enjoy trying all these various combinations the next time you make prime rib.
What to Serve With Prime Rib
Ingredients
- Roasted Vegetables
- Herbed Mashed Potatoes
- Bacon-Roasted Potatoes
- Cheesy-Baked Potatoes
- Mashed Cauliflower
- Crispy Beet and Mozzarella Salad
- Balsamic-Roasted Carrots
- Garlic-Butter Mushrooms
- Lemony-Herb Couscous
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Garlic Bread
- Roasted Broccolini
- Thyme and Shallot-Roasted Butternut Squash
- Romaine Salad with Lemon-Pecorino Vinaigrette
- Caramelized Onion and Rye Bread Stuffing
- Mushroom and Chile-Garlic Green Beans
- Vanilla-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe from the list above.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prepare and enjoy in 30 minutes or less!