What to Serve with Cabbage Rolls (49 Ideas)

Wondering what to serve with great-grandma's cabbage roll recipe? Well, here are some ideas to get you started!

The best side dishes offer lighter, simpler ingredients to balance out the tomato soup and ground meat mixture stuffed inside the tender cabbage leaves.

Jump to:

• What sides go well with cabbage rolls?
• Vegetable side dishes
• Bread and rolls
• Grain-based sides
• What's for dessert?
• What side dishes don't go with cabbage rolls?
• These sides are also great with...
• 💬 Comments

What sides go well with cabbage rolls?

Cabbage rolls (Galumpki) are a classic, hearty dish that a lot of people grew up eating. Though there are many different versions of cabbage rolls from all over the world, eastern Europe played the largest role in creating the yummy main dish.

However, now that you've chosen your meal's main attraction, it's time to figure out what to serve with the savory cabbage rolls to complement their delicious flavor.

We've divided this list by category so that you can find the perfect side dish to serve with cabbage rolls—and create a hearty meal that is sure to make your taste buds tingle with excitement!

The best part? There are tons of easy side options, so the only thing difficult is choosing which to try first! Let's go!

Vegetable side dishes

The crispy texture of a versatile salad is the perfect accompaniment to tender meat-filled cabbage rolls. However, leafy greens aren't the only quick side dish you can serve with your main course. Root vegetables are a great option when you're craving something comforting yet light!

1. Apple slaw with red onions and caraway seeds
2. Bacon-wrapped green beans
3. Cucumber salad (shown above)
4. Fried apples
5. Green beans and potatoes
6. Green bean salad
7. Maple syrup-glazed baby carrots
8. Mashed cauliflower
9. Mashed potatoes
10. Potato pancakes
11. Potato salad
12. Sauteed beets
13. Sauteed mushrooms and onions
14. Smashed red potatoes
15. Sweet potatoes
16. Three-bean salad

Bread and rolls

Warm, soft bread and tomato-based sauce make a perfect match! Don't even think about serving stuffed cabbage rolls without something to sop up every last drop of the delicious meal.

17. 30-minute homemade baguettes
18. Cheese and bacon fougasse
19. Cheesy bread
20. Dinner rolls in a half-hour
21. Garlic bread
22. Garlic herb breadsticks
23. Homemade Jewish rye bread
24. Potato rolls
25. Ready-made bread
26. Rustic cloche bread loaf
27. Sweet Hawaiian rolls
28. Whole wheat dinner rolls

Grain-based sides

Cabbage, meat, a little rice, and sauce—just add a complimentary grain to make it a complete meal! Noodles are a simple side dish that help highlight the flavor of the cabbage rolls, without overpowering them.

Be careful, though. If you use a lot of rice in the cabbage rolls it's best to choose some other type of side dish.

29. Baked macaroni and cheese (or cauliflower mac)
30. Barley pilaf
31. Buttered egg noodles
32. Homemade pasta
33. Noodles Romanoff (shown above)
34. Orzo pasta with lemon juice
35. Pearl couscous with cherry tomatoes and cucumber
36. Pierogies (with a dollop of sour cream!)
37. Spaetzle

What's for dessert?

No meal is complete without a bit of something sweet. So, the next time you're wondering what to serve with cabbage rolls, don't forget dessert! With such a traditional dish, choose something simpler to finish off the filling, delicious dinner.

38. Apple spice bundt cake (shown above)
39. Brownies
40. Butter cookies
41. Chocolate mayonaise cake
42. Chewy butterscotch cookies
43. Homemade fudge
44. Ice cream sundaes
45. Pineapple upside-down cheesecake
46. Pudding
47. Red Hot apple pie
48. Strawberry rhubarb pie
49. Vintage buttermilk cake

What side dishes don't go with cabbage rolls?

Choosing a great side dish to serve with cabbage rolls isn't difficult. However, there are a few types of ingredients that don't go as well with the savory, tangy flavors and textures of your main meal. Here are some examples:

• Brussels sprouts—too similar to cabbage leaves
• Cabbage roll casserole—for obvious reasons
• Ground beef-based sides—avoid doubling up on the meats
• Hearty stew—too heavy to use as a side for cabbage rolls
• Tomato sauce—already used in the classic dish

These sides are also great with...

Too many great sides to choose just one or two? Well, I have good news! These easy and delicious sides also are great with more of your favorite dinner recipes. Choose a few from this list and you've got dinner planned all week! Way to go, you!

• Baked eggplant parmesan
• Cracker Barrel hamburger steak (shown above)
• Easy deviled chicken
• French onion chicken bake
• Homemade meatloaf
• Old-fashioned stuffed peppers
• One-pot "lazy" cabbage roll casserole

With all of these delicious options you can choose something different every time you have cabbage rolls for dinner!