Making eggplant parmesan for dinner and wondering what side dishes to pair with it? This list of 55+ side dishes has you covered. This list includes recipes ranging from fresh salad and bread to pasta or soup.
Choosing the right side dishes can be one of the hardest parts of making a complete meal. With this list you are sure to find a side or two to pair with your eggplant parmesan that the whole family will love.

What is Eggplant Parmesan?
Eggplant parmesan also known as eggplant parmigiana is a classic italian meal. The dish consists of eggplant slices that are coated in breadcrumbs and baked in layers with marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese. Top with fresh parsley to brighten up the dish. Try this eggplant parmesan recipe next time you make this italian classic.
What to Serve with Eggplant Parmesan
One Pot Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup
One Pot Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup is a hearty soup your taste buds will love. It's filled with sausage, pasta, carrots, onion, spinach and tomatoes. This soup is a great option for cold winter days.
Homemade French Onion Soup
Homemade French Onion Soup is loaded with perfectly caramelized onions and topped with crusty bread and melted cheese. This soup is a great choice to pair with eggplant parmesan.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan
These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan are an impressive but easy and delicious side dish to make! They are salty, crunchy and cheesy. If you love Brussels sprouts you are sure to love this recipe. Roast the brussels sprouts on a large baking sheet in a single layer for extra crisp.
Italian Pasta Salad
Italian Pasta Salad loaded with meats, cheeses, olives and vegetables. This recipe makes a delicious side dish or main meal! Meat lovers are sure to love this as a side to their eggplant parmesan dish.
Basil Parmesan Risotto
Basil Parmesan Risotto is creamy, easy to make and a perfect side dish or meal. Grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil make give this recipe lots of delicious flavor.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Buttermilk biscuits are super soft with a hint of sweetness. Great to pair with soup or pasta dishes! These biscuits are brushed with melted butter instead of egg wash for a perfect golden brown color.
Warm Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
This Warm Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad is the side dish you didn't know you needed! It is a delicious combination of warm brussels sprouts, garlicky caesar dressing, salty parmesan cheese and fresh ground pepper. Give this salad a little extra heat with some crushed red pepper flakes.
Easy Air Fryer Green Beans
These Easy Air Fryer Green Beans are simple to make and seasoned with salt and dill! Serve these green beans as a side dish with any of your favorite meals.
Easy Oven Baked Zucchini Chips
These Baked Zucchini Chips are lighter than fried zucchini but still as delicious! They are breaded and baked until your desired crispiness and color. Serve them as an appetizer, snack or as a side to your main dish.
Fig Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
Mixed greens are tossed with fresh figs, pecan halves, and blue cheese then topped off with a sweet honey balsamic vinaigrette for the perfect fall salad.
Parsnip Mashed Potatoes
Parsnip and Potato Mash is an earthy flavored twist on classic mashed potatoes. You’ll love that these mashed potatoes are just as easy to prepare as the classic, just with an added boost of flavor.
Mediterranean Farro Salad
You are going to love this tasty Mediterranean Farro Salad. Made with juicy tomatoes, salty olives, and crumbles of feta over crisp greens, this salad is finished with a simple homemade dressing.
Classic Caesar Salad
This Caesar salad is simple, easy to prepare, and has all the classic flavors! It's made with crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a classic Caesar dressing!
Italian Meatballs
These Italian meatballs are soft, tender & melt-in-your-mouth delicious! They're made with ground beef and breadcrumbs then baked in the oven for easy cleanup!
Air Fryer Puff Pastry Garlic Cheese Twists
These air fryer puff pastry garlic cheese twists are a tasty side dish. They're crispy, buttery and loaded with garlic and cheese flavor.
Vegan Cacio e Pepe
These vegan cacio e pepe mini cakes feature spaghetti in a creamy vegan cheese sauce with lots of pepper. They’re like a fancier Italian version of mac n cheese.
Rustic Italian Sausage, Kale and White Bean Soup
This Italian kale and white bean soup is the perfect precursor to a hearty eggplant parmesan main. It's quick and easy and such a crowd pleaser.
Goat Cheese Croquettes
These crispy goat cheese croquettes are an appetizer that everyone will love! Creamy goat cheese mixed with thyme, breaded with Panko and fried until crispy and golden. Then drizzled with honey, and sprinkled with finely chopped walnuts and almonds.
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
This strawberry goat cheese salad is the perfect spring and summer salad! Made with fresh strawberries, goat cheese, spinach, walnuts & pine nuts. Then drizzled with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette with a hint of cinnamon.
Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
This Olive Garden minestrone soup is loaded with vegetables, beans and pasta in a tomato broth. It’s a copycat of the restaurant version that tastes even better than the original recipe!
Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus
This Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus Recipe is the perfect quick and easy keto side dish recipe. It pairs perfectly with just about any protein. Tender asparagus, tossed with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper, roasted and then topped with smoked cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
Green Bean Salad with Almonds
This green bean salad with almonds is made with fresh green beans, toasted almonds, and a quick homemade honey mustard dressing. Serve it warm or cold for an easy side dish!
Apple Fennel Salad
This apple fennel salad pairs beautifully with a bold, flavorful dish like eggplant parmesan. With light flavors and a crisp texture, the fennel highlights both the apples and the flavors of the main dish.
Lemon Basil Rice
This Lemon Basil Rice pilaf is the perfect side dish! Tart zippy lemon and fresh basil are a classic combo that pair well with any protein or veggie.
Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze
Baked Asparagus with homemade Balsamic Glaze is deliciously easy and healthy! The sweet and sour balsamic reduction is the perfect pairing to perfectly cooked asparagus in the oven. All you need is 6 ingredients and 25 minutes for this perfect side dish!
Easy Garden Salad Recipe
Fresh, chopped lettuce and veggies tossed together into a gorgeous, healthy salad. Add nuts, seeds, cheese or croutons if desired and serve with a simple lemon vinaigrette or your favorite salad dressing.
Roasted Broccoli And Cauliflower Recipe (The Easiest Side)!
Crisp broccoli and cauliflower roasted with olive oil and seasonings. This quick, easy and healthy side is the perfect accompaniment for almost any meal!
Kale Pumpkin Salad with Feta and Pesto Dressing
This Kale Pumpkin Salad with Feta and Pesto Dressing is easy-to-make, fast, healthy and delicious. It’s the perfect fall kale salad with squash and it comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Balsamic Tomato Basil Salad
Made with garden-fresh tomatoes, spicy red onions, delicious sweet basil, and an easy three ingredient balsamic dressing, this Tomato Basil Salad takes just 10 minutes to prepare start to finish. Enjoy this gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb Tomato Basil Salad as a light lunch or delicious side to all your favorite main courses.
Burrata Caprese
Burrata caprese salad is easy to make, in only about 15 minutes! Ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy burrata cheese are all drizzled with a tangy balsamic dressing.
Pan con Tomate
The ultimate Catalan tapas: this pan con tomate will highlight any meal. This simple toasted bread is grated with raw garlic and topped with tomato, olive oil and salt.
Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
These broccoli florets are air fried to golden crispy and best of all you can make them from frozen! Easy, convenient, and economical.
Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
You will love this quick, EASY, and healthy cucumber tomato avocado salad recipe that's made with fresh herbs and ready in 15 minutes! This is best serve with your favorite main dish.
Zucchini Noodle Salad
This cold zucchini noodle salad recipe is a delicious, healthy way to enjoy raw spiralized zucchini noodles. Quick & easy with common ingredients!
Oven Roasted Tomatoes Recipe with Pasta, Pine Nuts, and Mozzarella
Serve this Oven Roasted Tomatoes recipe as a side dish, appetizer, salad, or a perfect lunch on top of pasta with pine nuts, mozzarella, and fresh basil! Roasted Tomatoes are sweet, juicy, and perfectly accented with garlic, olive oil, and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
Italian Beef Braciole Recipe with Spinach and Provolone
This beef braciole recipe is a spin off the beautiful classic Italian dish: rolled and stuffed steak that’s slow-cooked with tomato sauce to tender perfection. Instead of a more traditional breadcrumb mixture, we stuff it with a cheesy, garlicky, spinach filling.
Spaghetti Marinara Recipe
This Spaghetti Marinara Recipe is an easy meal that cooks in under an hour, but tastes like it simmered all day! Naturally sweet San Marzano tomatoes are cooked down with garlic and basil in extra-virgin olive oil for a delicious tomato sauce that’s absolutely perfect tossed with pasta.
Roasted Zucchini and Broccoli
Seasoned fresh zucchini and broccoli are tossed in herbs and parmesan cheese, then roasted to perfection in the oven. An easy and flavorful side dish for your next meal!
Soft Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
Soft and buttery, these fluffy Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls are so easy to make and much better than anything you would get in the store! In only a few hours, you'll have the most delicious rolls to serve with your dinner!
Italian Pasta with Broccoli Recipe
Ready in under 20 minutes, this Italian Pasta with Broccoli recipe is the perfect meatless Monday meal or a busy weeknight dinner!
The Best Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Amp up your Eggplant Parmesan game by serving it with our yummy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes. Easy to make and so delicious, they are the perfect side!
Easy Homemade Baguette Recipe
This Homemade French Baguette is easy to make following these simple directions. Crusty on the outside and fluffy and warm on the inside, it’s the perfect side for eggplant Parmesan.
Chickpea Pasta Salad
This chickpea pasta salad is made with pasta, cucumber, pepper, tomatoes, chickpeas, and feta cheese. We topped this salad with our favorite greek salad dressing.
Easy Swirled Vegan Garlic Bread
This easy swirled Vegan Garlic Bread recipe is the best, not only because it’s made without eggs or dairy, but because it has only 129 calories and 1 gram of fat per slice! Homemade from scratch, using only 7 ingredients, this is a buttery vegan garlic bread that‘s crusty on the outside, fluffy on the inside and pairs perfectly with many dishes.
Crispy Greek Fries (Oven Baked)
These crispy greek fries are tender on the inside and extra crispy on the outside and are coated with dried herbs, lemon zest, garlic, and olive oil. Then they are topped with fresh herbs and crumbled feta cheese.
Make your Own Easy Bread Loaf (Traditional Italian Recipe)
This Crusty Traditional Italian Bread, called Pagnotta, makes the perfect pairing for eggplant parmesan, so you can sweep off all that tomato goodness from the plate. Also, it is super easy to make!
Healthy Broccoli Kale Salad
Delicious broccoli kale salad tossed in a healthy creamy dressing. Made with all fresh ingredients and comes together in 15 minutes.
No Knead Bread: Unbelievably Easy, Incredibly Delicious!
Make crusty artisan-style bread in your home oven without ever touching the dough with your hands! It's the easiest no-knead bread recipe, ever!
Parmesan Polenta with Basil (Foolproof Recipe!)
Creamy Parmesan Polenta with fresh basil is a delicious Italian side dish that's made with yellow cornmeal, milk, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just 30 minutes, this homemade polenta is the ultimate comfort food.
Italian Rice Salad
This Italian rice salad can be put together in 10 minutes and is packed with fresh, zingy flavour.
Simple Caprese Salad (Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella)
This authentic Caprese salad is a simple dish of tomatoes and fresh basil, finished with a drizzle of EVOO and sea salt.
Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
This crispy, salty roasted broccolini is cooked alongside savory golden garlic. It's an easy, delicious side perfect for Italian meals.
Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus
This simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus recipe is a healthy, delicious side dish that's full of lightly sweet, deeply browned flavor. Finished with a rich drizzle of olive oil, these savory roasted veggies are a perfect pairing for eggplant parmesan!
Arugula and Prosciutto Salad
This delicious prosciutto salad is a quick and easy, recipe! This salad features arugula, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts and crispy sourdough croutons. We serve this yummy salad with our homemade fig and balsamic vinaigrette.
Homemade Semolina Pasta Dough (How To Make Fresh Pasta)
This fresh Italian pasta recipe will transport you right to nonna’s cozy, Italian kitchen. This recipe can be used to make various pasta shapes including fettuccine, pappardelle, ravioli, lasagna noodles, farfalle, tube pastas like rigatoni and paccheri and more.
Rocket and Pear Salad
This arugula (rocket) and pear salad is fresh and delicious. With sharp parmesan and crunchy seeds it's the perfect side dish or makes an excellent light lunch.
Air Fryer Garlic Bread
This air fryer garlic bread is ridiculously quick and easy. With just six ingredients it's on the table in ten minutes. A great side dish or a delicious snack.
Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon
This lemon garlic kale salad has pecorino, toasted pepitas, and a garlic confit Green Goddess dressing. Fresh, vibrant, and light, this is a perfect side for a hearty eggplant parmesan.
For a behind the scenes look at Return to the Kitchen, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest! Also, if you make this recipe or any of our recipes be sure to tag us @returntothekitchen!