Stuffed peppers are a delicious and versatile main dish that deserves equally great side dishes to complete the meal. Whether you're making classic Mexican-style peppers or Italian-inspired versions, the right sides can transform a simple dinner into a memorable feast.
From fresh salads and warm breads to quick vegetable dishes and flavorful grains, we've gathered 20 easy side dish ideas that pair beautifully with stuffed peppers. Many can be prepared while your peppers bake or made ahead for stress-free weeknight dinners!
What to Serve with Stuffed Peppers - 20 Side Dishes
The beauty of stuffed peppers is that they're hearty enough to stand on their own, but pairing them with complementary sides adds variety, balances flavors, and helps feed a crowd.
From fresh, crisp salads that provide a cool contrast to warm peppers, to comforting bread sides perfect for soaking up sauce, to quick vegetable dishes that add color and nutrition.
Our favorite stuffed pepper dishes include Crockpot Stuffed Peppers, Stuffed Pepper Soup, and Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers.
Let's dive into the best sides to serve with your stuffed peppers!
Fresh Salad Sides That Complement Stuffed Peppers
Fresh salads are the perfect complement to hearty stuffed peppers, offering a cool, crisp contrast to the warm, savory main dish. Whether you prefer a light Greek cucumber salad with tangy feta, a creamy pasta salad loaded with fresh vegetables, or a Southwest-inspired black bean and corn combination, salads help balance your meal without making it feel too heavy.
Most can be prepared ahead of time, which is especially helpful when your oven is occupied with baking peppers. For Mexican-style stuffed peppers, try the Southwest black bean salad or BLT pasta salad, while Italian-style peppers pair beautifully with a classic Caprese pasta salad.
These fresh, flavorful sides not only add color and nutrition to your plate but also provide a refreshing palate cleanser between bites of rich, filling stuffed peppers.
Caprese Pasta Salad (Italian-Inspired Pairing)
The tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves in a Caprese salad, also named after the Italian island of Capri, are meant to resemble the colors of the Italian flag.
This fresh pasta salad is an ideal side for stuffed peppers, especially when you're making Italian-style peppers. The light, refreshing flavors balance the heartiness of the main dish, and it can be made ahead for easy meal prep.
BLT Pasta Salad (Crowd-Pleasing Classic)
This deconstructed version of the BLT sandwich is a fantastic way to use up juicy, in-season tomatoes and makes a crowd-pleasing side for stuffed peppers.
The bacon can be cooked while your stuffed peppers bake in the oven to save time, and the lettuce can be added alongside the bacon so it stays crisp. This hearty pasta salad is filling enough to balance lighter stuffed pepper recipes and works well for potlucks or family dinners.
Greek Cucumber Salad for Light, Refreshing Balance
Are you tired of the usual lettuce-dominant salad lineup? This bright and refreshing Greek cucumber salad is the perfect light side for stuffed peppers, especially when you want something crisp and tangy.
The cool cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese provide a refreshing contrast to warm stuffed peppers. This salad pairs particularly well with Greek or Mediterranean-style stuffed peppers, and it comes together in just minutes with no cooking required.
7 Layer Salad Recipe (With Homemade Dressing)
This traditional seven-layer salad is perfect for potlucks, parties, or family dinners alongside stuffed peppers. The layers of lettuce, tomatoes, peas, hard-boiled eggs, cheddar cheese, homemade dressing, and bacon make this salad epic.
It's a hearty side that can hold its own next to stuffed peppers, and the make-ahead nature means you can prep it hours in advance. The creamy dressing and bacon add richness that pairs beautifully with any style of stuffed peppers.
Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe
This creamy Hawaiian-style macaroni salad makes a delicious side for stuffed peppers, offering a cool, tangy contrast to the warm, savory main dish.
The creamy texture and mild flavor complement both Mexican and Italian-style stuffed peppers without competing with their bold flavors. It's also a great make-ahead option that actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours.
Broccoli Bacon Salad
Broccoli Bacon Salad with homemade dressing makes a delicious side for stuffed peppers! You won't believe the secret ingredient in the dressing-it makes all the difference in creating a fantastic flavor combination.
This crunchy, savory salad adds texture and freshness to your meal while the bacon provides a smoky element that complements both Mexican and Italian-style stuffed peppers. Plus, it can be made ahead, making weeknight dinners easier.
Southwest Black Bean and Corn Salad (Perfect for Mexican-Style Peppers)
This refreshing and flavorful salad is not only a diversion from the typical lettuce and tomato salad but also has four different types of vegetables!
Serve it alongside Mexican-style stuffed peppers for a complete southwestern-inspired meal. The bright, fresh flavors and slight crunch provide the perfect contrast to warm, hearty stuffed peppers. This salad can be made ahead and actually improves in flavor as it sits, making it ideal for meal prep or entertaining.
Warm Bread Sides to Soak Up Every Bite
Warm bread is a classic accompaniment to stuffed peppers, perfect for soaking up every last bit of delicious sauce left on your plate. From sweet and moist Jiffy cornbread to savory beer bread and buttery Olive Garden-style breadsticks, these options add comfort and satisfaction to your meal.
Cornbread pairs exceptionally well with Mexican-style stuffed peppers, while Italian breadsticks are the natural choice for Italian-filled peppers.
The best part? Most of these bread recipes use simple pantry staples and can bake alongside your peppers in the oven, or be prepared in advance and reheated just before serving.
Whether you're looking for a quick 3-ingredient beer bread or traditional cornbread with a tangy sour cream twist, warm bread sides turn a simple stuffed pepper dinner into a complete, restaurant-worthy meal that brings everyone to the table.
Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream (Southern Comfort)
Whether you eat a piece on the side or use it to soak up the delicious sauce, cornbread is a classic side dish that pairs excellently with stuffed peppers! We make ours with Jiffy Cornbread Mix for an effortless, semi-homemade version.
The sweetness of the cornbread pairs perfectly with the sour cream to create a great texture and flavor that complements both Mexican-style and Italian-style stuffed peppers.
You can also make this into cornbread muffins for easy individual servings.
Easy Beer Bread Ready in 45 Minutes
This three-ingredient Beer Bread Recipe is fantastic and makes a wonderful side for stuffed peppers! Seriously, how can you go wrong with a loaf of bread with only three ingredients?
And they are not even crazy ingredients you have to search for. They are pantry staples! This easy beer bread recipe is perfect for serving alongside stuffed peppers-it's great for soaking up any sauce and can bake while your peppers cook. One of our favorite easy side dishes!
3 Ingredient Guinness Beer Bread Recipe
This Guinness Beer Bread Recipe is a great addition to any stuffed pepper dinner! While it's perfect for St. Patrick's Day, honestly, it tastes great any day of the year as a side dish.
If you don't have any Guinness in the house you can make this beer bread recipe with your favorite beer. Just make sure you use the same amount of beer that the recipe calls for. The hearty, slightly malty flavor pairs wonderfully with both beef and vegetarian stuffed peppers.
Olive Garden Breadsticks (Restaurant Copycat)
With this recipe using pantry staples that may already be in your kitchen cabinets, you'll never be too far from a basket of fresh-from-the-oven Olive Garden Breadsticks that are perfect for serving alongside stuffed peppers.
These buttery, garlic-brushed breadsticks are especially delicious with Italian-style stuffed peppers, and they're ideal for soaking up any sauce left on your plate.
Hearty Potato Sides for Filling Meals
Hearty potato sides are a satisfying addition to stuffed pepper dinners, especially when you want to create a more filling meal for hungry family members or guests.
From creamy garlic mashed potatoes made effortlessly in the crock pot to crispy air fryer baked potatoes and flavorful red breakfast potatoes, these dishes add substance without stealing the spotlight from your stuffed peppers. Potatoes are wonderfully versatile, keep them simple with just butter and salt, or load them up with sour cream, cheese, and bacon for extra indulgence.
The beauty of these sides is their flexibility: mashed potatoes can stay warm in the slow cooker while you finish preparing dinner, air fryer potatoes cook quickly without taking up oven space, and stovetop breakfast potatoes are ready in minutes.
Whether you're serving beef, turkey, or vegetarian stuffed peppers, a good potato side rounds out the plate and ensures no one leaves the table hungry.
Air Fryer Baked Potatoes (Crispy Outside, Fluffy Inside)
Baked potatoes are one of the most stress-free and customizable side dishes you can make in your kitchen, as all you need to do is prep the potatoes and decide what toppings go on them. The air fryer lets you prepare a few without heating the whole oven while your stuffed peppers bake!
This makes it easy to have both dishes ready at the same time. Load them with butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon for a hearty side, or keep them simple to let your stuffed peppers shine.
Red Breakfast Potatoes (Works for Dinner Too!)
How to make potatoes at home that taste like you have gone out to eat. This easy red breakfast potatoes recipe takes minutes to prep and they taste amazing as a side for stuffed peppers.
Don't let the name fool you-these crispy, seasoned potatoes work perfectly for dinner too! They're a hearty side that pairs well with any style of stuffed peppers and can be cooked on the stovetop while your peppers bake in the oven.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes Made Easy in the Crock Pot
These easy-to-make Crock Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes are perfect for serving with stuffed peppers at family dinners. They're effortless to make; you only need potatoes, garlic powder, butter, water, and milk.
The creamy, garlicky flavor complements stuffed peppers beautifully, and using the crock pot frees up your oven for baking the peppers. This is an ideal make-ahead side that stays warm and ready whenever dinner is served.
Simple Vegetable Sides Ready in Minutes
Simple vegetable sides are an excellent choice for stuffed peppers, adding color, nutrition, and fresh flavors without overwhelming your meal. Quick-cooking options like air fryer asparagus (ready in just 7 minutes!), air fryer corn on the cob, Southern fried cabbage with bacon, and classic green beans ensure you can have a complete dinner on the table without spending hours in the kitchen.
These vegetables complement the bold flavors of stuffed peppers while providing a lighter balance to the hearty main dish. The air fryer is particularly handy since it frees up your oven for the peppers and delivers perfectly crispy-tender vegetables every time.
For added flavor, Southern-style green beans and fried cabbage incorporate bacon for a smoky element that pairs beautifully with both Mexican and Italian-style stuffed peppers. Keep seasonings simple with olive oil, salt, and pepper to let the natural vegetable flavors shine through, or amp them up with garlic and herbs for extra depth.
These veggie sides are perfect for weeknight dinners when you need something fast, fresh, and family-friendly.
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob (Summer Favorite)
Easy Air Fryer Corn on the Cob that turns out amazing and tastes great as a side for stuffed peppers. This is the perfect easy side dish for dinner that's ready in minutes while your peppers bake.
The sweet, buttery corn provides a nice contrast to savory stuffed peppers, especially Mexican-style varieties. The air fryer makes it quick and easy without heating up your kitchen or taking up oven space.
Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Easy Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon is the perfect comfort food side dish for stuffed peppers. In less than 15 minutes, you can have an excellent cabbage side dish everyone loves.
The smoky bacon and tender cabbage create a flavorful pairing that doesn't overpower your stuffed peppers. This quick stovetop side is ideal when your oven is full with baking peppers and you need something fast and delicious.
Quick Air Fryer Asparagus (10 Minutes or Less)
Seven minutes in the air fryer is all you need to achieve perfectly crisp on the outside, yet tender on the inside, asparagus-making it an ideal quick side for stuffed peppers.
As a base seasoning, we toss ours in olive oil and salt, which keeps the flavor simple and allows your stuffed peppers to remain the star of the meal. Always trim your asparagus stalks for the best results. This is perfect when your peppers are baking in the oven and you need a fast vegetable side ready in minutes.
Southern Style Green Beans Recipe
These Southern-style green beans cooked with bacon make an epic side dish for stuffed peppers that everyone will love!
The smoky bacon flavor and tender green beans complement both Mexican and Italian-style stuffed peppers beautifully. This classic Southern side comes together easily on the stovetop while your peppers bake, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
Rice and Grain Sides for Complete Meals
Rice and grain sides are light, flavorful options that complement stuffed peppers perfectly without making your meal feel too heavy.
Cilantro lime rice brings a bright, zesty element that pairs beautifully with Mexican-style stuffed peppers, offering that restaurant-quality touch you'd find in burrito bowls and taco plates. Simple fried rice is another versatile choice that works well with any stuffed pepper variety, plus it's a fantastic way to use up leftover rice and turn it into something special in under 20 minutes.
Both options cook quickly on the stovetop while your peppers bake in the oven, making them ideal for efficient weeknight cooking. These grain-based sides help stretch the meal to feed more people, soak up any delicious sauce from the peppers, and add satisfying texture to your plate.
Whether you're craving the fresh citrus notes of cilantro lime rice or the savory comfort of fried rice with eggs and vegetables, these simple sides round out your stuffed pepper dinner with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Cilantro Lime Rice (Restaurant-Style at Home)
Cilantro lime rice is a fresh, zesty, and flavorful side dish made by mixing cooked white rice with fresh cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, and sometimes garlic or onion-making it the perfect pairing for Mexican-style stuffed peppers.
This restaurant-quality side complements the bold flavors of stuffed peppers without overwhelming them. It's also a great way to stretch the meal and add a bright, citrusy element to your dinner plate.
Easy Fried Rice Using Leftover Rice
Simple fried rice is a quick, customizable dish of day-old cooked rice stir-fried with eggs, basic vegetables (like peas and carrots), and aromatics (garlic, onion) in a hot pan or wok, seasoned with soy sauce and often finished with green onions-making it a versatile side dish perfect for stuffed peppers.
This savory rice pairs well with any style of stuffed peppers and is an excellent way to use leftover rice. It's ready in under 20 minutes on the stovetop while your peppers finish baking in the oven.
FAQ Section
What are the best side dishes for stuffed peppers? The best sides for stuffed peppers include fresh salads like Greek cucumber or pasta salad, warm bread like cornbread or beer bread, simple vegetable sides, and light grains like cilantro lime rice. These balance the heartiness of stuffed peppers without overwhelming the meal.
What salad goes with stuffed peppers? Greek cucumber salad, BLT pasta salad, and Southwest black bean corn salad are excellent choices. For Mexican-style stuffed peppers, try the Southwest salad. For Italian-style peppers, Caprese pasta salad is perfect.
Should I serve bread with stuffed peppers? Yes! Warm bread like cornbread, beer bread, or breadsticks is perfect for soaking up the sauce from stuffed peppers. Cornbread pairs especially well with Mexican-style peppers.
Can I make stuffed pepper sides ahead of time? Many sides can be made ahead including pasta salads, beer bread, mashed potatoes, and salad components (dress just before serving). This makes weeknight dinners much easier.
What vegetables go well with stuffed peppers? Simple vegetable sides work best: corn on the cob, roasted asparagus, green beans, or fried cabbage. Keep vegetables lightly seasoned so they don't compete with the peppers' flavors.
How many sides should I serve with stuffed peppers? One substantial side is usually enough since stuffed peppers are filling. For larger gatherings, serve one salad plus one warm bread or potato side.
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