Name: What To Serve With Italian Beef Sandwiches
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 portion Italian beef sandwiches

Table of Contents

If you’re wondering what to serve with your Italian beef sandwiches, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 36 of the most popular side dishes for Italian beef sandwiches.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with Italian beef sandwiches are buttermilk coleslaw, zucchini chips, Cajun sweet potato fries, and beer batter fried mushrooms. You can also serve stuffed cherry peppers, Italian antipasto salad, Greek potato salad, or Italian street corn. A gravy for dipping is a must too.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Buttermilk coleslaw

This buttermilk coleslaw is an excellent substitute if you’re not a fan of the traditional giardiniera (pickles) in your Italian beef sandwiches.

The dressing is made with a mixture of buttermilk, sour cream, and a secret ingredient – horseradish.

This gives your slaw an extra tangy bite with a hint of heat to cut through the rich beef.

Why we love this recipe: it’s way better than store-bought slaws.

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Buttermilk coleslaw
Make it dairy-free
Sweet vinegar coleslaw
Make it different
Apple, cucumber, and witlof slaw

Cajun sweet potato fries

I love turning sweet potatoes into these addictive Cajun fries.

The seasoning has a smoky, slightly spicy flavor that will have you reaching for fry after fry.

Psst… don’t forget the dipping sauce – the recipe shares a blue cheese yogurt sauce, but ranch dressing will do the trick too.

Why we love this recipe: they’re baked, not fried.

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Cajun sweet potato fries
Make it fancy
Parmesan truffle fries
Make it different
Baked eggplant sticks

Beer batter fried mushrooms

These fried mushrooms boast a deliciously crisp and golden exterior (thanks to the easy beer batter), with juicy button mushrooms inside that are packed with umami flavor.

Pro-tip: ensure your oil is hot enough so these tasty morsels cook quickly and don’t get too greasy.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a fun way to enjoy mushrooms.

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Beer batter fried mushrooms
Make it familiar
Beer-battered onion rings
Skip the batter
Italian-sauteed mushrooms

Air fryer zucchini chips

Chips are the easiest way to add crunch to your Italian beef sandwiches.

You could stick with commercial, store-bought chips, but if you have half an hour to spare, why not make your own?

All you need for these chips is some zucchini and half a tablespoon of oil.

Why we love this recipe: each serving only clocks in at 40 calories.

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Air fryer zucchini chips
Fire up the oven
Homemade baked potato chips
Make it tangy
Dill pickle chips

Red leaf salad with lemon vinaigrette

A simple side salad is never a bad idea.

You can toss whatever you want into the salad, but just make sure you’ve got something crunchy (cucumbers), something juicy (tomatoes), and a tart dressing to add acidity.

I’m a big fan of chucking some creamy avocado in too.

Why we love this recipe: you can have it on the table in 10 minutes.

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Red leaf salad with lemon vinaigrette
Add a fruity note
Apricot salad with arugula and feta
Skip the leafy greens
Broccoli salad with honey dijon dressing

Greek potato salad

Stick with a European theme and give your potato salad a Greek twist.

Aside from the Greek yogurt-mayo dressing, it’s also loaded with chopped cucumbers that give this salad a cooling texture.

Its creamy, zesty flavor makes it a superb partner to a savory, meaty beef sandwich.

Why we love this recipe: it’s lighter and healthier than traditional potato salad.

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Greek potato salad
Stick to the basics
Classic potato salad
Make it lighter
Dill cucumber salad

Italian street corn

This recipe shares two ways of putting a tasty Italian flair on the classic Mexican street corn dish.

The first version involves slathering your boiled corn with pesto and then covering it with parmesan cheese.

And the second version is a play on cacio e pepe. The corn is smothered with mascarpone cheese, then coated with a pecorino, parmesan, and black pepper mixture.

Why we love this recipe: both versions are guaranteed crowd-pleasers.

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Italian street corn (two ways)
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Rosemary ricotta corn
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Creamy avocado corn salad

Italian antipasto pasta salad

You can’t go wrong with an antipasto salad if you’re looking for a hearty side dish.

The salad is loaded with classic Italian flavors, including cured meats, olives, artichokes, pepperoncini, mozzarella balls, and fresh tomatoes.

And everything is tied together with an herby vinaigrette.

Why we love this recipe: it’s Insta-worthy.

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Italian antipasto salad
Make it fun
Antipasto skewers
Change the flavor
Ranch pasta salad

Roasted broccoli rabe

Roasted broccoli rabe is a quick and easy veggie side that’s filled with good-for-you nutrients.

It has a naturally bitter taste, but the addition of some freshly squeezed orange juice will balance that out.

For other flavor combinations, you can try lemon or fresh garlic.

Why we love this recipe: it only takes 15 minutes to make.

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Roasted broccoli rabe
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Steamed green beans
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Broccoli salad

Stuffed cherry peppers

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/22729173102848850/

Italian beef sandwiches don’t usually have cheese, so you need to get your cheese fix another way.

The little peppers might look like tomatoes, but they actually have a spicy bite to them, which is mellowed out by the cream cheese filling.

They’ll work great as an appetizer, or a tapas-style side.

Why we love this recipe: you make these up to a week in advance.

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Stuffed cherry peppers
Make it crunchy
Wonton mozzarella sticks
Make it fun
Baked jalapeno poppers

Marinated roasted bell peppers

Looking for some more toppings for your Italian beef sandwiches? These roasted bell peppers are a must-have.

They’re tender and full of sweet, garlicky flavors that will add some sophistication to your meal.

Why we like this recipe: your kitchen will smell divine after making these peppers.

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Marinated roasted bell peppers
Ditch the oven
Grilled peppers and onions
Make it Italian-style
Peperonata

Au jus

This technically isn’t a dish, but I couldn’t not include au jus in this list – it’s the ultimate accompaniment for Italian beef sandwiches!

It’s made with beef drippings, red wine, broth, herbs, and spices, giving you a rich and flavorful sauce.

This recipe’s secret ingredient? Porcini mushrooms! Don’t skip them.

Why we love this recipe: it’s fingerlicking-ly good.

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Ultimate au jus
Make it zippy
Creamy horseradish sauce
Make a starter
French onion soup

The best side dishes to serve with Italian beef sandwiches

Buttermilk coleslaw
Cajun sweet potato fries
Beer batter fried mushrooms
Air fryer zucchini chips
Red leaf salad with lemon vinaigrette
Greek potato salad
Italian street corn
Italian antipasto pasta salad
Roasted broccoli rabe
Stuffed cherry peppers
Marinated roasted bell peppers
Au jus