Name: What To Serve With Ravioli
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 portion ravioli

Table of Contents

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

In this article, I list 44 of the most popular side dishes (and sauces) for ravioli.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with ravioli are garlic bread, broccoli rabe, Florentine steak, and Italian chicken skillet. You can also serve braised beef tips, vegetable soup, pesto shrimp, peperonata, and garlic pork chops. For salad options, try kale salad with parmesan or asparagus tomato salad.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Garlic bread

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/844565736386227555/

Whether you’re serving ravioli in a tomato or cream-based sauce, a side of garlic bread is always a must-have.

Its crispy and chewy texture is a satisfying contrast to your al dente ravioli, plus the classic garlic, butter, and fresh herbs mixture is always a winning combo.

Pssst… want cheese? Sprinkle some mozzarella during the last two minutes of cooking.

Why we love this recipe: it’s simple but indulgent.

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Garlic swirl rolls
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Cheesy garlic breadsticks

Sheet pan sausage and vegetables

Enjoy a healthy and tasty meal without the work with this sheet pan sausage and vegetable recipe.

You get your protein and vitamins all in one dish.

Still, I love serving them on top of butternut squash-filled ravioli for a complete, nourishing meal.

Pssst… don’t forget to stir everything halfway through to ensure they cook evenly.

Why we love this recipe: aside from the minimal prep, the oven does the heavy lifting for you.

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Air fryer vegetables
Skip the sausage
Shrimp and vegetable skillet

Sauteed broccoli rabe

Also called rapini, this classic Italian side dish is usually served with heavy dishes like ravioli.

The natural bitterness from your broccoli rabe is an excellent contrast to starchy ravioli and its rich sauce.

If you find your broccoli rabe a bit too bitter for your taste, you can blanch it first to remove the bitterness.

Why we love this recipe: it’s ready to serve in 15 minutes.

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Sauteed broccoli rabe
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Broccoli rabe with white beans and cheddar breadcrumbs
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Lemon garlic broccolini

Kale salad with parmesan and pine nuts

The recipe calls for massaging the kale leaves with the homemade lemon vinaigrette to soften and infuse them with a citrusy note.

The parmesan cheese, capers, and pine nuts bring a mix of salty and earthy flavors that pair well with the tangy dressing.

You can enjoy this salad alone, but I especially like frying up some cheese or mushroom ravioli to make this more substantial.

Why we love this recipe: it looks plain but packs a flavorful punch.

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Kale salad with parmesan and pine nuts
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Kale salad with warm bacon vinaigrette
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Burrata and prosciutto arugula salad

Italian chicken skillet

This recipe transforms your plain chicken cutlets into an indulgent dish that’ll have everyone clamoring for seconds.

It features lightly crisp and juicy chicken cutlets smothered with a luxurious, cheesy sauce studded with tart sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.

Serve alongside mushroom ravioli for the ultimate comfort meal.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a heartwarming one-pan dish that will instantly lift your mood.

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Florentine steak (Bistecca alla fiorentina)

This dish features a 3lb grilled porterhouse steak – one of the highest quality cuts of beef available – so you don’t need to add much to make it delicious.

A dash of salt, pepper, and herbs is all you need to make this steak shine.

Serve this with a side of ravioli in brown butter sauce to complete your luxurious meal.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a delectable show-stopper.

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Florentine steak (Bistecca alla fiorentina)
Try another luxurious cut
Herb butter T-bone steaks
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Italian stuffed flank steak

Red wine-braised beef tips

Serve your cheese-filled ravioli with these braised beef tips for the ultimate protein boost.

This recipe involves browned beef stew meat, slowly cooked with red wine and beef broth for about two hours.

This way, your stew meat gets infused with tasty flavors as they cook and become melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Why we love this recipe: it makes your entire kitchen smell amazing.

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Vegetable soup

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/817895982340861681/

It’s a simple dish, but you can’t deny that combining a flavorful broth and tender veggies is super healthy and simply delicious.

This recipe calls for carrots, parsnips, and celery, to name a few, but don’t restrict yourself – use any vegetable you want.

Pro-tip: add leafy greens and other delicate veggies a few minutes before your soup finishes cooking.

Why we love this recipe: it’s ideal for sick days or when you need a pick-me-up.

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Vegetable soup
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Pesto shrimp with mushrooms

Need a low-carb dish to offset your calorific ravioli?

This pesto shrimp is the way to go!

This dish starts as a simple sauteed shrimp recipe, but adding red pepper flakes and pesto gives your seafood a bright and herby flavor with a touch of heat.

I especially love this as an accompaniment to butternut squash ravioli.

Why we love this recipe: you can get this dish from the kitchen to the dining table in less than 30 minutes.

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Peperonata

This recipe involves slowly cooking bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes in high-quality olive oil and seasonings.

One hour later, you’ll have a rich, flavorful bell pepper stew you can serve with your ravioli for a nourishing Italian-inspired meal.

Pssst… you can add a splash of balsamic vinegar to give this dish an extra pop of flavor.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a rustic and tasty one-pot dish.

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Peperonata
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Sauteed peppers and onions
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Garlic pork chops in creamy white sauce

Not up for beef or chicken?

Whip up these garlic pork chops instead.

The juicy, seared pork chops come with a luscious, garlicky, and herby mushroom white sauce that pairs superbly with virtually any ravioli.

Pro-tip: buy bone-in pork chops to ensure you always have juicy and tender meat.

Why we love this recipe: it’s ideal even for busy weeknight dinners.

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Garlic pork chops in creamy mushroom sauce
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Pork schnitzel and mushroom gravy
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Marinara sauce

Regular ravioli is superb with marinara sauce, but I love it as a dipping sauce for fried ravioli!

Jarred versions of this sauce are readily available in grocery stores, but why buy something you can easily make at home?

All you need are five ingredients and 40 minutes to whip up this vibrantly-hued sauce with a prominent, fresh tomato flavor.

Why we love this recipe: you can freeze the excess sauce and use it for other dishes.

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Puttanesca sauce

Asparagus, tomato, and feta salad

Not a fan of leafy green salads? This recipe is for you.

It features crisp asparagus spears, juicy tomatoes, and salty feta cheese, all balanced by a sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

Serve this alongside a platter of ravioli in butter sauce for a satisfying meal.

Why we love this recipe: it’s super nutritious without sacrificing on flavor.

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Asparagus, tomato, and feta salad
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Greek asparagus salad
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Grilled asparagus tomato salad

What sauce goes well with ravioli?

Brown butter sage is the go-to sauce for ravioli. Try marinara, romesco, or vodka sauce if you want a tomato-based sauce. For something creamy, go for alfredo sauce.

Best sauces to serve with ravioli