What To Serve With Cabbage Rolls – 51 TASTY Sides

If you’re wondering what to serve with your cabbage rolls, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 51 of the most popular side dishes for cabbage rolls.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with cabbage rolls are mashed potatoes, apple fennel slaw, pierogies, dinner rolls, and roasted baby carrots. Try mashed cauliflower, dill pickles, or jajik for healthier options. You can also serve kopytka, sauteed beets, scallion pancakes, fried rice, or egg drop soup.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Eastern European classics

Making Eastern European-style cabbage rolls? Pair them with classic dishes like pierogies and borscht for the ultimate comfort meal!

You can also grill up kielbasa links if you want more protein.

Pierogies

Hosting a holiday party? 

Take inspiration from Polish cusine and make these pierogies to go with your cabbage rolls. 

Little dumplings filled with mashed potatoes and cheese? 

Sign me up! 

These tasty treats are so irresistible that you’ll be able to demolish a plate of them without even noticing. 

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Pierogies
Switch up the filling
Mushroom pierogies
Make it fusion
Philly cheesesteak pierogies

Borscht

It might seem indulgent to serve borscht with cabbage rolls, but it doesn’t hurt to over-indulge in delicious comfort food once in a while, right? 

Eat this soup on a cold winters day and let the warm and tangy flavors make you feel cozy. 

Psst… in the summer try the more refreshing green borscht.

Pro Tip: add a dollop of sour cream to this soup to really take it up a notch. 

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Borscht
Skip the beets
Green borscht
Another variation
Polish white borscht

Kopytka (Polish potato dumplings)

Making Polish cabbage rolls (also known as golabki)? 

Polish cabbage rolls go superbly with a generous serving of kopytka (potato dumplings).

Kopytka are made with mashed potatoes, flour, and egg. And end up feeling pretty similar to gnocchi.

Except the have a distinct diamond shape that sets them apart.

Curious about this dish?

Crunchy Creamy Sweet has a great, easy-to-follow recipe for these Polish potato dumplings.

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Kopytka
Make it comforting
Polish potato soup
Keep it simple
Polish potatoes with dill  

Kashe varnishkes 

Craving a pasta dish to go with your cabbage rolls? If you’re up for something new, give kashe varnishkes a try. 

It’s a Jewish pasta dish made of bowtie pasta and buckwheat groats.

Stir in some mushrooms and truffle oil to add a delectable umami flavor, and you have a winning dish.

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Kashe varnishkes
Another classic
Noodle kugel
Go Polish
Haluski

Chinese favorites

Chinese-style cabbage rolls are often rice-free so I love pairing them with fried rice for a healthier “take-out” meal. 

Or you can keep things light with a soup for dipping. Egg drop soup is an easy option, or try hot and sour soup for some spice.

Egg drop soup

Cabbage rolls are a popular dish worldwide and many countries have their own versions.

In China, cabbage rolls are treated like dumplings and they’re normally stuffed with an all-meat filling.

Egg drop soup is a classic accompaniment. It’s warm, comforting, and made using simple, easily accessible ingredients. 

Psst… don’t let the idea of eggy soup put you off. I promise you it’s delicious.

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Egg drop soup
Another Chinese classic
Hot and sour soup
Add more veg
Bok choy soup

Fried rice 

If you want a more substantial side dish with your Chinese cabbage rolls, fried rice might be what you’re looking for.

It’s the perfect base for meat-filled cabbage rolls. 

And it’s packed to the brim with veggies and seasonings to amp up the flavor.

Pro tip: for a really tasty dish, using chicken, duck, or bacon far to fry your rice in.

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Egg fried rice
Keep it simple
Greek lemon rice
Make it healthier
Quinoa fried “rice”

Scallion pancakes 

Planning to have Chinese cabbage rolls as a snack?

Turn it into lunch with a serving (or two) of these scallion pancakes. 

The pancakes are incredibly flaky and chewy – which makes them ideal for dipping. Thie recipe goes for a sesame-soy and ginger sauce. 

You can dip your cabbage rolls in it too!

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Scallion pancakes
Go Malaysian
Roti canai
Make it different
Fried scallion and toasted sesame buns

Starches

Starchy side dishes are the way to go if you want a guaranteed hearty meal. 

I always go with a slice of crusty bread to soak up the cabbage rolls’ delicious sauce, but anything with potatoes is a great option too.

Mashed potatoes

Serve your cabbage rolls with a heaped helping of creamy mashed potatoes for a dinner that will make everyone smile.

Because let’s face it, nothing comes close to the joy a bowl of buttery, fluffy mashed potatoes can give you. 

I like to take inspiration from the Swedes by serving these mashed potatoes with a serving of lingonberry jam on the side.

Psst… want to know how to reheat mash? I tested 6 different options.

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Southern mashed potatoes
Preheat the oven
Parmesan roast potatoes
Make it crispy
Smashed potatoes

Garlic butter noodles 

These garlic butter noodles are an ideal side dish for a labor-intensive main dish like cabbage rolls. 

They’re effortless to make – you only need a handful of ingredients.

And besides cooking the noodles, everything comes together one pot (which means less mess for you to clean up after dinner!)

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Garlic butter noodles
Make it spicy
Garlic chili oil noodles
Make it creamy
Fettuccine alfredo

Dinner rolls

You can’t go wrong serving your cabbage rolls alongside these golden-brown dinner rolls.

They’re soft, fluffly, and perfect for soaking up the flavorful sauce from your cabbage rolls. 

And the best part?

They’re ridiculously easy to make – even beginner bakers can make them. 

This soft dinner rolls recipe is basically fool-proof.

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DInner rolls
Make it fancy
French bread rolls
Make it keto-friendly
Cloud bread 

Vegetables

You can’t have too many vegetables in a meal! I like serving my cabbage rolls with a side of steamed green beans for added texture. 

But you can also try roasting carrots or beets for a more filling dinner. 

Roasted baby carrots

Cabbage rolls can be a meal on their own, except they lack a veggie element for a fully nourishing meal (yes – I’m not counting the cabbage!).

These roasted baby carrots are an easy-breezy addition to your cabbage rolls. 

They’re glazed with olive oil, honey, and cinnamon, giving them a lightly crisp and caramelized outside. With a soft and tender inside.

Yum. 

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Air fryer roasted baby carrots
Keep it fresh
Carrot sesame salad
Make it cozy
Carrot soup

Mashed cauliflower 

Want a light side dish to pair with your cabbage rolls?

This mashed cauliflower has your back.

It’s a low-carb alternative to your run-of-the-mill mashed potatoes. 

The secret to getting this almost as velvety as potatoes? Buttermilk – it’s creamy and low-fat at the same time.

Pro tip: I like to roast some of the cauliflower to add extra depth of flavor and make sure the mash isn’t too watery.

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Mashed cauliflower
Another low-carb alternative
Parsnip puree
Skip the stovetop
Seasoned roasted cauliflower

Dill pickles

If you’re looking for that something extra to finish off your meal but don’t want a full on side, these garlic dill pickles are what you’re looking for.

They have the right balance between spicy and tangy flavors.

Plus, they have a delicious crunch that will perfectly contrast your delicate cabbage rolls.

And they’ll last a while in the fridge so you can enjoy them for weeks to come!

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Spicy garlic dill pickles
Another favorite
Pickled red onions
Add more veg
Quick pickled vegetables 

Bacon-wrapped green bean bundles

Serving cabbage rolls at your holiday dinner? 

These bacon-wrapped green bean bundles are an excellent dish to serve alongside them.

The brown sugar, pepper, and rosemary sprinkled over the bean bundles elevate the dish from normal to special, and it’s tasty too!

Psst… keep an extra tray of these treats hidden from your guests so you don’t run out immediately.

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Bacon-wrapped green bean bundles
Fire up the stovetop
Skillet garlic green beans
Add a sauce
Dijon tahini green beans 

Sauteed beets

The Ukrainian version of cabbage rolls (also known as Holubtsi) aren’t the easiest dish to make.

So if you want to keep things simple after working on your cabbage rolls, try these sauteed beets.

The beets are cooked with vegetable broth until soft, and then a squeeze of lemon is added to offset their sweetness.

They’re great for making ahead of time too.

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Sauteed beets
Ditch the stovetop
Balsamic roasted beets
Make it tangy
Refrigerator pickled beets

Salads

 A crisp salad is an easy, fresh addition to your cabbage rolls meal. 

My favorite is a simple cucumber salad for a contrasting crunch to the tender cabbage rolls. 

But you can also try a dijon carrot salad for a French twist or a cucumber jicama slaw for some delicious Mexican fusion.

Apple fennel slaw

Add a refreshing element to your cabbage rolls with a serving of this apple and fennel slaw.

The slaw has a lip-puckering tart flavor, which provides a delicious contrast to richy and meaty cabbage rolls. 

And the apples, fennel, and red onions all have a satisfying crunchy texture to balance out the tenderness of the rolls.

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Apple fennel slaw
Make it refreshing
Cucumber jicama slaw
Go Asian
Thai carrot slaw

Jajik

Go on a culinary adventure and try Lebanese cabbage rolls with a side of jajik. 

Jajik is a fancy name for a cucumber yogurt salad hailing from the Middle East.

You only need six ingredients to put it together, and it’s easy to customize it depending on your tastes.

I always use lots of garlic, because I LOVE garlic (who doesn’t?!).

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Jajik (cucumber yogurt and mint salad)
Make it dairy-free
Chinese smashed cucumber salad
Go Mexican
Cucumber pico de gallo

The best side dishes for cabbage rolls

• Pierogies
• Borscht
• Kopytka
• Kashe varnishkes
• Egg drop soup
• Scallion pancakes
• Fried rice
• Mashed potatoes
• Garlic butter noodles
• Dinner rolls
• Roasted baby carrots
• Mashed cauliflower
• Dill pickles
• Bacon-wrapped green bean bundles
• Sauteed beets
• Apple fennel slaw
• Jajik (cucumber yogurt salad)

What To Serve With Cabbage Rolls – 51 Ideas

In this short recipe, I show you exactly what to serve with your cabbage rolls.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: All

Keyword: cabbage rolls side dishes, what to serve with cabbage rolls

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 1 person

Calories: 114kcal

Ingredients

• 1 portion pierogies
• 1 portion fried rice
• 1 portion mashed potatoes
• 1 portion jajik
• 1 portion bacon-wrapped green beans
• 1 portion borscht

Instructions

• Prepare your cabbage rolls according to your favorite recipe.
• In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
• Side dishes include: pierogies, borscht, kopytka, kashe varnishkes, egg drop soup, scallion pancakes, fried rice, mashed potatoes, garlic butter noodles, dinner rolls, roasted baby carrots, mashed cauliflower, dill pickles, bacon-wrapped green bean bundles, sauteed beets, apple fennel slaw, and jajik.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 114kcal