Whether you’re whipping up an ooey-gooey cheese sandwich or a hearty sandwich stacked with meat and veggies, you will need a side dish.
And while typical sandwich sides include chips, pretzels, and other not-so-good-for-you dishes, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck on the unhealthy side dish train.
If you’re looking for some healthy side dishes to amp up your lunchtime sandwich, you’ve come to the right place.
Below, we have figured out the top ten best side dish recipes that are healthy and scrumptious – plus, they pair perfectly with your fave sandwiches.
10 Must-try Healthy Sides for Sandwiches
There are plenty of healthier side dishes for sandwiches, whether you’re someone who enjoys a salad, soup, or other crowd favorites. Let’s dive into the best sides for sandwiches!
1. Fruit Salad
There is nothing quite as refreshing as a fruit salad, and there are really no rules.
You can pile on any of your favorite fruits that enlighten your taste buds, such as fresh strawberries, oranges, and apple slices.
The sweet flavor will be a great contrast to hot and cold sandwiches alike. Try it with a savory sandwich to really mix-and-match flavors!
Mix the fruit with some flavored Greek yogurt to create a refreshing summertime salad bursting with flavor!
2. Pasta Salad
Are you a fan of the exotic flavors that pasta salad produces? Then you’ll be happy to know that pasta salad is a winner when it comes to side dishes for sandwiches.
Obviously, you will need some type of pasta. Then, cut up some veggies, such as bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, and olive.
Top the mixture with fresh herbs and parmesan cheese, and you’re good to go!
3. Potato Salad
Nothing says summertime fun like potato salad – right?
With an intricate blend of flavors, including potatoes, vinegar, celery, and yellow mustard, it has that “wow” factor – but it’s not exactly healthy with the mayonnaise.
To make this easy recipe without the mayo, swap it for vinaigrette, pesto, cream cheese, or yogurt. Yes, the flavor will be slightly different depending on which option you choose, but delicious.
You can use the same substitutions in your macaroni salad to make it healthier, too.
4. Tomato Soup (Classic for Grilled Cheese Sandwich)
You know we couldn’t go through this list without mentioning tomato soup!
This classic soup is traditionally paired with grilled cheese sandwiches, but you can serve this refreshing soup with any sandwich if you’d like.
You can make this excellent soup with just a few ingredients to go with your favorite sandwich.
Just cook a can of tomatoes with butter, onion, garlic, water, heavy cream, seasonings, and spices. Yum!
5. Butternut Squash Soup
Not a fan of the tomato-style soup? You can also pair your hot sandwiches with a warming bowl of butternut soup.
This soup mixes butternut squash with a slew of seasonings and spices, creating one of the most healthy recipes with savory flavors on this list. So good.
6. Salad (Easiest Side Dishes for Sandwiches)
If you’re looking for something you can whip together in seconds, consider making this typical go-to healthy side dish.
A simple salad doesn’t require much. You can add lots of spinach to create a spinach salad or piece together a blend of greens and purple cabbage to create a simple green salad.
Whatever combination you come up with, top it with olive oil and some lemon juice to create delicious side dishes that are high up on the health chart.
7. Sweet Potato Fries
I don’t know about you, but french fries with a roast beef sandwich are like peanut butter and jelly – they work together.
But fries definitely don’t fit into the healthy side dishes category.
What can you do?
Choose sweet potatoes rather than regular potatoes. They’re made the same exact way but have a higher nutritional content.
Yum!
Hint: You can also opt for onion rings if you despise sweet potatoes. Just toss them into your air fryer for a few minutes. Any food lover will love it!
8. Roasted/Grilled Vegetables
Are you looking for delicious recipes that double as the best sides for sandwiches? You simply can’t go wrong with roasted or grilled veggies.
The options are limitless and will add some bulk for a truly delicious meal.
Add green beans, onions, zucchini, and all of your other favorites. Cover them in oil and your go-to seasonings. Then, grill, roast, or toss them in your air fryer.
9. Bean Salad
Do you love beans? Then you’ll be happy to know that bean salad is one of the best healthy side dishes for sandwiches that will undoubtedly intrigue your palate.
This salad combines plenty of beans in a vinegar-based dressing that pairs perfectly with all kinds of sandwiches. Delicious – am I right?
10. Baked Beans
Cold beans? Well, that’s not everyone’s favorite go-to side dish.
If you prefer the barbecue, tangy flavor of baked beans, then you will certainly want to place it on your sandwich plate – served warm, of course.
FAQ
What Can You Eat with Sandwiches Instead of Chips?
There are so many things to serve with sandwiches besides chips.
Whether you enjoy cold side dishes like a salad or fruit or prefer a classic side dish like tomato bisque, you can serve it with your sandwiches and feel confident you’re making a healthy choice.
What Vegetables Go with a Sandwich?
Inside your sandwiches, tomato slices, lettuce, and a sweet pepper or two will do the trick. This works for all sandwich flavors, such as a crunchy chicken sandwich or classic ham and cheese.
Using vegetables for side dishes for sandwiches is a breeze, too, because anything goes. You might simply opt for carrot and celery sticks or roast zucchinis, onions, and squash.
