25 Side Dishes For Sandwiches To Complete Your Perfect Lunch
A sandwich is kind of a perfect lunch meal, and not in the least because they are so versatile. They can be comforting like a PB&J, or exciting like our burrata pizza sandwiches. You can keep it simple, like in a classic tuna melt or ham & cheese sandwich, or go wilder with the fillings, like we did in our fried chicken Caesar sandwich or our muffuletta sandwich. The only thing you really shouldn’t do is enjoy it all by its lonesome. That’s where this list comes in! A bag of chips or a piece of fruit isn’t your only option to serve alongside your perfect sammie. These 25 sides are just the thing to jazz up the packed lunch standby.
So the thing about figuring out what sides go with sandwiches is that it can be hard to even define what a sandwich even is: Is a burger or hot dog a sandwich? Is a grilled cheese a sandwich? A pita pocket? A quesadilla? A TACO? Before we get TOO existential, I think any and everything can and should count, because it means the list of appropriate sides will grow too (and who doesn’t want more side options?). We’ve got something for whatever mood you’re in, from comforting potato sides like french fries and chips to lighter, fresher fare like a cucumber or Caesar salad, to crunchy snacks like our roasted chickpeas or homemade pickles. Whether you’re brown bagging it or making your lunch a plated affair, these recipes won’t let you down.
Want even more ideas? Check out our top sweet and salty snack ideas, and our favorite healthy-ish store-bought snacks too.
Homemade Pickles
Pickles of all kinds are a good cook's shortcut to better meals. They they taste great with sandwiches or eaten right out of the jar, AND they can add a ton of flavor and texture to nearly any meal. The best part is? You pickle almost every fruit and vegetable (not just cukes!).
Get the Homemade Pickles recipe.
Classic Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is one of our favorite things to pair with a pulled pork or chicken sandwich, which is why it's such a disappointment when it's too dry or soggy. Not to fear—this recipe guarantees perfection ever time.
Get the Classic Macaroni Salad recipe.
Cowboy Caviar Couscous Salad
Also known as Texas caviar, cowboy caviar combines fresh vegetables, beans, and corn to make a colorful meal that can be enjoyed with chips or as a standalone dish. But once you add some pearl couscous? It becomes the star of any picnic or potluck.
Get the Cowboy Caviar Couscous Salad recipe.
Sweet Potato Fries
Sweet potato fries can sometimes have a bad reputation—especially the oven-baked ones. They’re usually a floppy, bland pile of under-seasoned sadness, but it doesn’t have to be that way! There’s a way to get crisp and savory fries fresh out of the oven, and we've got the tips and tricks to help you get there.
Get the Sweet Potato Fries recipe.
Viral Spiral Cucumber Salad
Looking for a fresh twist on your classic cucumber salad? Spiral-ify it. Featuring a spicy sweet harissa dressing and showered with feta and dill, this take on viral TikTok spiral cucumber salad might just have you more excited for lunch than y
Get the Viral Spiral Cucumber Salad recipe.
Greek Chickpea Salad
We’re no strangers to a great chickpea salad, so coming up with a Greek-inspired one was a no-brainer. It’s got all the flavors you love from Greek salad, turned into something more substantial and filling that pairs well with almost anything.
Get the Greek Chickpea Salad recipe.
Air Fryer Deviled Eggs
Don’t look now, but we put deviled eggs in the air fryer. And guess what? They’re real good. Like, never-make-a-deviled-egg-the-same-way-again good. While we love a classic deviled egg, these texture- and flavor-packed air fryer version have got us giddy.
Get the Air Fryer Deviled Eggs recipe.
Homemade Hummus
Hummus is one of our all-time favorite dips, but making it from dried chickpeas can be a tall order. Start with canned chickpeas, however, and homemade hummus suddenly becomes an easy and satisfying snack. Grab some carrots and celery sticks for dipping for the perfect sandwich side.
Get the Homemade Hummus recipe.
Tomato Soup
There's maybe nothing so lovely as the pairing of a piping hot bowl of tomato soup with a toasty, gooey grilled cheese on the side. If you’ve never made homemade tomato soup before, now is the time—you certainly won’t find anything like this in a can.
Get the Tomato Soup recipe.
Giardiniera
This pickled Italian relish is endlessly versatile. Try it on the side of your sandwiches, tossed into a hearty salad, or in place of olives in your martini. Serrano peppers can be very spicy, so opt for a pinch of red pepper flakes instead if you’re heat-averse.
Get the Giardiniera recipe.
Sweet Potato Chips
Sure, no one can resist a bowl of potato chips, but they can be a little boring. Switch things up by making these delicious and absolutely gorgeous sweet potato chips. The natural, earthy sweetness of the potatoes add an another dimension of flavor you'll love.
Get the Sweet Potato Chips recipe.
Broccoli Salad
Lightly coated in a creamy apple cider vinegar dressing and tossed with almonds, carrots, red onions, and bacon, this broccoli salad is loaded with flavor and texture. Ready in around 30 minutes, it’s the perfect make-ahead side for summer BBQs or as a last-minute lunch accompaniment.
Get the Broccoli Salad recipe.
Dill Pickle Popcorn
Whether you're a pickle fan or are just looking for a new way to enjoy the classic salty snack, this pickle-inspired popcorn is the answer. Wondering about the citric acid? This is what will deliver that tangy bite we're looking for when it comes to pickle flavor—don't skip it if possible.
Get the Dill Pickle Popcorn recipe.
Caesar Salad
In our book, the Caesar salad is up there with the salad greats. Creamy yet light with a punch of umami, the flavors of a Caesar salad are altogether distinct and signature. We've made many versions, like our harvest or chicken Caesars, but when we're hungry for a simple, easy side, we go with this classic recipe every time.
Get the Caesar Salad recipe.
Baked Beans
When it comes to year-round American cuisine, baked beans could quite possibly be looked at as one of the most classic side dishes. They’re sweet, tangy, savory, and the best part, surprisingly easy to make. Not to mention, they’re a one-pot wonder!
Get the Baked Beans recipe.
Antipasto Salad
Based on the classic Italian appetizer spread, our antipasto salad has a bit of everything you’d find on a typical platter: cured meat, marinated vegetables, and of course, cheese! This is our favorite combination of these ingredients, but no two antipasto platters are the same, so feel free to customize the salad to your taste.
Get the Antipasto Salad recipe.
Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are good for so much more than just creamy homemade hummus. (Though that's definitely a good use of them!) They also make for a particularly good salty snack and are infinitely adaptable based on what you've got in your spice cabinet.
Get the Roasted Chickpeas recipe.
Classic Coleslaw
A classic, staple side dish, coleslaw is the classic you NEED a go-to recipe for, and we think this is the one you should reach for. Whether you’re hungry for a last-minute side dish or the perfect topping to your meal (we’re looking at you, chicken burgers), this coleslaw recipe has you covered.
Get the Classic Coleslaw recipe.
Classic Chili
While many chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour (sometimes even more), our best-ever beef chili can be made in just 40 minutes. Plus, the uses of this classic meal go way beyond being a simple weeknight dinner—make a batch, freeze it, then defrost some when you've got chili dogs on your mind.
Get the Classic Chili recipe.
Best Hard-Boiled Eggs
Not much beats a perfectly boiled egg. But, short of sacrificing an egg and cracking it open, it can be difficult to know when your egg is perfectly cooked. Rest assured, we have a few tricks to get you that perfect hard-boiled texture without tearing apart the cooked whites.
Get the Best Hard-Boiled Eggs recipe.
Fruit Salad
Sweet syrupy honey, fresh tart orange juice, and bright lemon zest come together to elevate fresh (and even not-so-in-season!) fruit to new heights. This definitely beats pairing your sandwich with just a single bruisey apple!
Get the Fruit Salad recipe.
Best-Ever French Fries
French fries at home can be tricky (all that deep frying!), but we've discovered a genius hack that changes EVERYTHING. It yields astonishingly crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside frites that will take your burgers and dogs to new heights.
Get the Best-Ever French Fries recipe.
Air-Fryer Kale Chips
These air fryer kale chips are a super tasty way to start a healthy chip habit. They take just minutes to prepare and using your air fryer means less grease and guilt. Feel free to customize your chips with different herbs and spices—the possibilities really are endless.
Get the Air-Fryer Kale Chips recipe.
Classic Potato Salad
A classic potato salad is a must-have at every picnic and BBQ, and ours is the best—it's creamy and tangy, with a little bit of crunch from the onion and pickles. What it's not: too sweet, which is one of our potato salad pet peeves. If you’re looking for a classic, no-fuss potato salad that won’t disappoint, this is it.
Get the Classic Potato Salad recipe.
Italian Pasta Salad
In our opinion, pasta salad is a summertime must, but we could eat this classic one all year long. We have plenty of beloved variations of this staple side dish, but this Italian-inspired recipe is our guaranteed go-to when we need a reliable sandwich or BBQ side.
Get the Italian Pasta Salad recipe.
Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is a picnic staple, and for good reason: When tossed in a bright vinegar-based dressing and packed with thinly sliced onions, cukes can withstand warm temperatures and sit out at a sunny outdoor gathering (or in a lunch pail!) for hours.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
You Might Also Like
