35+ Amazing Healthy Sides for Meatloaf (Easy and Delicious!)
Updated Jun 11, 2026
These healthy sides for meatloaf will turn your meatloaf dinner into a satisfying, feel-good meal that tastes amazing and the whole family will love. These easy side dishes for meatloaf range from healthy vegetables and crisp salads to classic comfort-food favorites.
The Best Healthy Meatloaf Sides
Move aside creamy mashed potatoes and homemade garlic bread, here is what I suggest you serve with my best meatloaf, especially if you’re after a menu that is on the lighter, more nourishing side.
Simple Glazed Carrots
I love finding new ways to make and serve carrots – these glazed carrots are so easy and so delicious, you won’t believe they only have 3 ingredients.
Serve with a moist turkey meatloaf.
Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
Creamy, cheesy healthy cauliflower casserole with a buttery, crispy crumb topping.
It’s ready in 30 minutes and is a seriously craveable healthy alternative to baked macaroni and cheese.
Candied Brussels Sprouts
Add some sweetness to your meal with Candied Brussels Sprouts.
Their caramelized flavor, enhanced with maple syrup and bacon, provides a delicious pairing with the savory meatloaf with brown gravy.
Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli
These crispy Air Fryer Broccoli florets get topped with chili flakes for a little kick. Despite their flavor, they are light and healthy and the perfect side to my easy Lipton meatloaf recipe.
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
You could of course bake them, but it’s just so easy and quick to make soft, fluffy sweet potatoes in the instant pot.
You could also go for microwave baked potatoes, as another quick potato side.
Pan-fried Asparagus
Light and elegant, pan-fried asparagus is a healthy and delicious side that complements meatloaf’s rich flavors.
This stovetop method is so simple and quick.
Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant
My crispy air fryer eggplant is just a healthier version of classic fried eggplant cubes.
To air fry them makes them way lower in oil but deliver all the crispy goodness you’re after.
Miso Carrot Mac and Cheese
My Miso Carrot Mac and Cheese is loaded with carrots and miso for a lighter twist on good old fashioned baked macaroni cheese.
You will love the umami-goodness in this recipe and the pretty orange color from the carrots. (Of course, if you prefer the traditional mac, try my ultra creamy cheese sauce for mac and cheese.)
Tossed Green Salad
A simple, fresh tossed green salad with this yummy lemon dressing that I used on couscous salad can add a refreshing touch.
It’s light, crisp, and balances the richness of meatloaf perfectly and it’s such an easy side dish recipe.
Perfect Brown Rice
Don’t miss out on trying my Indian mother-in-law’s amazing basmati rice recipe that requires NO MEASURING, cuts down the cooking time, and also works perfectly with brown rice.
For other rice options, try my Instant Pot Mexican Rice or super-easy microwave rice.
Tomato Soup
Pair your meatloaf with a comforting bowl of the best tomato soup.
Made with milk instead of cream, the mild flavor is reminiscent the comforting canned soup of childhood. It’s so delicious and lighter than typical cream soups.
Kale Caesar Salad
A kale Caesar salad is a nutient-packed and flavorful option.
Its creamy dressing and crisp texture are a great match for meatloaf.
Sweet Potato Fries
Baked sweet potato fries are a colorful and healthier alternative to traditional fries.
They offer a sweet and crispy side that pairs well with meatloaf (or meatloaf sandwiches the next day!).
Panzanella Salad
An Italian classic, Panzanella salad offers a mix of tomatoes and toasted bread in a zingy dressing.
It provides a light yet satisfying side dish for meatloaf.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
For a fresh and fruity option, try a strawberry spinach salad. Its sweet and tangy flavors are a nice complement to almost all meatloaf seasonings.
In the winter months, swap strawberries for in-season citrus fruit or pomegranate arils.
Mexican Corn Salad
This recipe for Mexican Street Corn Salad brings all the flavors of classic grilled Mexican street corn into a delicious salad.
Crispy Zucchini Fritters
These zucchini fritters deliver the same crunch as crispy potatoes (without being potatoes).
They are a veggie-packed, tasty side for meatloaf.
Crispy Kale Cauliflower Chickpea Salad
Crispy Kale Cauliflower Chickpea Salad with wonderful lemony yogurt. The combination of roasted cauliflower florets, crispy kale chips and crunchy baked chickpeas is so irresistible.
Cabbage Slaw
Cabbage is underrated in my opinion – this slaw for fish tacos is perfect with so many dishes other than tacos and is loaded with tangy flavor.
So full of nutrients and color, and lighter than a traditional coleslaw recipe. You’re sure to love it.
Zucchini and Mushroom Side
This tasty side is flavored with garlic and herbs. It’s lighter than the usual creamy mushrooms served alongside meatloaf but just as delicious.
You can grab this recipe off Diethood.
Crunchy Green Beans with Almonds
I struggle to imagine serving meatloaf without a side of bright green beans. This recipe gets topped with toasty almonds for an extra (classic) crunch.
Grab this recipe from Fool Living Proof.
Grilled Peppers with burrata
These peppers have that wonderful charred look on the edges . I love the rustic crunchy bread and pulled burrata cheese – a total showstopper.
Grab the recipe off How Sweet Eats. It looks so good!
Vegan Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
This vegan mushroom side is a crowd-pleaser and real comfort food – gluten-free, vegan, and oil-free. They are full of savory flavors like garlic, onion, and walnuts. These make a lovely main course for vegetarians or vegans and, of course, as a healthy side to your meatloaf.
This simple recipe from At Elizabeth’s Table is perfect.
Swiss Chard with Peas
This healthy side has a wonderful texture and adds loads of color to your table. It’s one of the best side dishes if you’re looking for a warm, sautéed green side.
You can find this recipe on Jernej Kitchen’s lovely blog.
Marinated Lentil Salad
This Marinated Lentil Salad from Delish Knowledge looks like an incredible blend of satisfying and hearty while still offering a fresh and punchy counterpoint to a rich meal.
Love the vibrant pops of pink from the radishes.
Lightened-up Creamed Spinach
I could eat a whole bowl of creamed spinach. This recipe is a must for those who love the creamy texture of creamed spinach but want a healthier, lighter version.
This easy recipe from Sinful Nutrition is delicious and a great side dish to try.
Spice Roasted Parsnips
Parsnips are the best alternative to carrots, in my opinion. I recommend trying them as a meatloaf side dish. They come out golden brown and have a great texture. I love these as a healthy alternative to sweet potato fries.
This delicious and lightly spiced recipe is from Cooked and Loved.
Beets and Sweets Gratin
This is such a pretty pan of veggies – I love the look of this rainbow spiral of beets and other earthy veggies. The flavors are lovely and simple in this dish, but you could add parmesan cheese, spices, etc. if you wanted to.
Here is a great recipe from Imperfect Foods for you to try out.
Tomato and Oregano Potato Bake
This healthy tomato and oregano potato kale is a delicious side dish that is on the lighter side. I love this as an alternative to a heavy, creamy potato bake (which I love too, but this is a go-to when you want to create a lighter menu).
Try this recipe from Tesco is easy and delicious.
Chickpea Kale Salad
If you love kale, you need to try this recipe – light and lemony. I love the inclusion of tahini to flavor kale with its warming, toasty flavor. This is not a classic side dish to meatloaf, but it works really well with it.
Try this bright recipe from The Yummy Bowl.
Butternut Squash Salad
There’s no such thing as a perfect side dish when it comes to meatloaf, but this one is pretty close.
The dried cherries and chili make a vibrant combination. Try this recipe from Eating Well if you are looking to upgrade your regular salt and pepper-seasoned butternut squash.
Vegan Polenta with Spinach and Mushrooms
I sometimes forget about polenta as a side to meatloaf and an alternative to rich mashed potato. This is a lovely loaded polenta recipe – topped with cozy mushrooms and spinach to amp up the veggies on your menu.
Grab the recipe from Bianca Zapatka’s blog.
Shaved Zucchini Salad
How pretty is this ribbon salad? I love a good shaved ribbon salad on the table – it just looks fresh and adds lightness to the look of the spread.
Try this quick and simple recipe from Plays Well With Butter with pistachios and shaved parmesan!
Classic Side Dishes for Meatloaf
Want more classic side dishes for meatloaf? These crowd-pleasing comfort-food favorites round out any meatloaf dinner.
Homemade Garlic Bread (That’s Better Than a Restaurant!)
My homemade garlic bread is better than any restaurant version — crusty outside, soft and buttery inside, and loaded with garlic. Perfect for mopping up meatloaf and gravy.
The BEST Easy Coleslaw Recipe
This easy coleslaw is crisp, creamy, and tangy — a refreshing, crunchy contrast to rich meatloaf. Make it ahead; it only gets better as it sits.
Crock Pot Potatoes (Fluffy + Foolproof!)
These crock pot potatoes turn out fluffy and foolproof with zero oven space needed — ideal when the meatloaf is already taking up the oven.
Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Soft, pillowy pumpkin dinner rolls are subtly sweet and perfect for soaking up every bit of sauce — a cozy bread side for any meatloaf dinner.
Wild Rice Salad
My wild rice salad is nutty, chewy, and studded with dried fruit and herbs — a hearty grain side that makes a nice change from potatoes alongside meatloaf.
Old Fashioned Mac and Cheese
Here’s my out-of-this-world old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese recipe.
Creamy, saucy, and topped with a crusty layer. This macaroni cheese is absolute perfection and a must alongside your meatloaf.
Cornbread Casserole
While we are on the classics, add this cornbread casserole recipe to your list. It only takes 10 minutes to prepare and cooks quietly as you prepare your other sides.
It’s the moist, tender, fluffy cousin to the denser, more crumbly regular cornbread.
Simple Steamed Rice
Choose white rice, brown rice, steal my mother-in-law’s simple, foolproof basmati rice recipe, or try my Instant Pot mexican rice.
Rice is always a classic side dish that’s perfect for the family table.
Quick Pan-Fried Asparagus
I like making this easy asparagus on the stove as a side dish. It’s a lovely partner to meatloaf.
Pan fried asparagus is a crisp-tender, fresh and simple side dish I love.
Creamy Shortcut Scalloped Potatoes
This gluten free au gratin potatoes recipe is hearty and comforting yet doesn’t require making a roux (butter and flour paste) which means it is naturally free from gluten.
Also known as scalloped potatoes, this is a got-to-have side dish with your meatloaf – it has all the silky, soft goodness you’d expect from a scalloped potato recipe yet it’s also light.
Bonus? It’s all made in one skillet that goes from stovetop to oven. Top with a little more parmesan cheese for a delicious, golden crust.
The Ultimate Potato Salad
I often get asked for my favorite creamy potato salad – and this is it!
You’ll love it for its creamy and tangy dressing and the rich inclusion of eggs. This is a great base for you to add other ingredients.
Skillet Cornbread
My skillet cornbread is buttery, fluffy and so easy to make. It has a rich corn flavor and is the perfect comfort food.
You can easily add other ingredients like onions, peppers or mushrooms to it.
Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions
This Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions is a classic way to make green beans in the most delicious way.
The crunchy fried onion topping goes beautifully with the silky cream sauce and tender beans.
Crispy Butternut Squash Fries
I love to serve baked butternut squash fries as an alternative to a regular white potato fries.
These ones turn out crispy every time.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Since I’m sharing my love of squash, I have to give you another one.
I love how gorgeously this roasted butternut squash caramelizes in the oven. Make it with or without the yummy seasoning blend.
Either way, you must try this easy side dish recipe.
Fluffy Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
This is another one of those side dishes that everyone just loves.
Check out this recipe for easy buttermilk drop biscuits. It’s the only biscuit recipe I make!
Light and Crispy Onion Rings
This is the perfect side dish if you’re trying to impress your friends. These onion rings with a light batter are crunchy and delicious and one of my best side dishes.
You’ve got to try this delicious side dish.
Creamy Garlic Sauteed Mushrooms
Creamy and garlic go hand in hand with meatloaf and Holiday feels. This recipe is a super quick, easy, and savory side dish by Salt and Lavender.
Duchess Potatoes
Get fancy with these Duchess potatoes – loaded with butter and fresh cream; don’t hold back.
This is a great recipe from Momsdish to start with if you haven’t made them before.
Fondant Potatoes
These are also a touch fancy, and I love them alongside one of my homemade meatloaf recipes. As far as vegetables and potato dishes are concerned, this is a must-try side dish to meatloaf.
I love this easy beginner recipe by Closet Cooking.
Smashed Potatoes with Pesto
This viral potato side dish is so simple, and yet, you’d find them in any good restaurant.
I love this version with its pop of green pesto by Rasa Malaysia.
Hedgehog Roasted Potatoes
This is a great way to add visual interest and texture to simple potatoes.
Serve these easy potatoes by Easy Weeknight Recipes.
Asparagus Gratin
Pretty much any veggie done au gratin is a winner. I like to serve this with garlic bread to mop up the extra sauce.
Try this recipe by The View From Great Island.
Meatloaf Side Dish FAQs
What do you serve with meatloaf?
The most popular things to serve with meatloaf are creamy mashed potatoes, a roasted or glazed vegetable, a crisp green salad, and warm bread or rolls. For a lighter meal, lean on a vegetable side or salad; for classic comfort, go with mac and cheese, scalloped potatoes, or cornbread.
What vegetable goes with meatloaf?
Almost any vegetable works. Roasted Brussels sprouts, glazed carrots, green beans, broccoli, butternut squash, and sautéed mushrooms are all excellent vegetable sides for meatloaf — roasting brings out a natural sweetness that balances the savory meatloaf.
What goes with meatloaf besides potatoes?
If you want to skip the potatoes, try a grain like wild rice or a couscous salad, a fresh slaw, a green salad, roasted vegetables, or warm garlic bread.
The Best Meatloaf Recipes
Here is a collection of my beloved meatloaf recipes and related posts to read – I love making homemade meatloaf and know you will love these recipes and guides.
- My Lipton meatloaf recipe: this ground beef meatloaf makes a delicious, succulent meatloaf in record time. Nobody will know your secret ingredient.
- The ultimate meatloaf recipe: If you are nervous about making meatloaf, this is the recipe for you. It’s so flavorful and moist, everyone will rave.
- Easy meatloaf glaze : This super simple glaze is the only one you’ll ever need.
- For a classic sauce try my meatloaf with brown gravy.
- Here’s my meatloaf temperature guide to help you get top results.
- Here’s my article on what to serve with meatloaf that includes more hearty, stick-to-the-ribs ideas.
35+ Amazing Healthy Sides for Meatloaf (Easy and Delicious!)
Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes
- Brussels Sprouts
- Green Beans
- Salad
Instructions
- Pick your favorite healthy sides from the collection above, and enjoy a satisfying, feel-good meatloaf dinner!
Love your meatloaf recipes and I appreciate these suggestions for side dishes. Thank you!
This is Great! Thankyou for sharing!
amazing. Thank You So Much!
I’m very impressed with what you’ve written in this blog, it’s really very inspiring for me as a reader who is visiting your site for the first time.
Haha, you’ve put my mind at ease with all these ideas.
Haha! Glad to be of service 🙂
I appreciate the variety of vegetable sides you’ve included here. It’s a great way to get more veggies into our meals. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Collins!
These sides are a perfect match for meatloaf. I tried the polenta with spinach and mushrooms, and it was a hit. Even the kids loved it!
Oooh yum! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Meatloaf is a family favorite, but I’m always looking for new sides to pair with it. These options are so creative. Thanks Jenn!
You’re so welcome Mariana!
This list of sides is a game-changer for serving with meatloaf. It takes the classic comfort food to the next level. Can’t wait to try these ideas!
Yay!
Thanks for this awesome roundup of sides! So many great ideas for our next family dinner.