What to serve with soup? Make any soup the main course by pairing it with any of the following side dishes. Check out 25 delicious sides that go well with any soup.
We love soups; they are probably the food I cook the most, not only in winter but all through the year, from creamy, seasonal ones like the Creamy Carrot Soup to chunky ones like the Beef and Bean Soup. Traditional German or Romanian soups are standard in our house, but Asian-style soups like the Mushrooms Noodle Soup are also excellent.
But how to serve soup as a main course? Because soup is rarely just an appetizer for us (unless we have guests and serve several courses).
Choose the appropriate side dish, and you will not need anything else. Here you will find many ideas of unique dishes or pieces of bread that go well with the soup.
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Homemade bread to eat with soup
Bread is always the first side dish choice for soup. It doesn’t always have to be homemade, but it has to be good quality.
And when it’s homemade, it’s fantastic! Hearty dark bread, crusty French baguettes, Italian loaves, here you will find some amazing recipes for homemade breads that go well with any soup.
1. Yogurt Flaxseed Bread
This yogurt flaxseed bread is a bread I bake very often. It is easy to make, it is baked in a Dutch oven, and thanks to that, it is crusty and has a fluffy, delicious interior. If you ever thought that baking your own bread was difficult, you will change your mind after baking this loaf.
Try it this hearty Swede Soup with sausages.
2. Vegan Cornbread
Mealtime is always fun when you have a piece of fluffy cornbread to go along with it. It's filled with lots of corn flavor, it's tender on the inside and crisp on the outside. Try it with a vegan soup like this Rice and Beans Soup.
3. Easy Savory Cheese Bread
I love quick bread. They save you a trip to the store; they are versatile and delicious and always a good reason to heat the oven and bake something. Serve this delightful bread to guests alongside a Healthy Mushroom Soup for instance.
4. Honey Herb Beer Bread
This loaf of tasty bread harnesses the power of baking powder and bread flour to create a fluffy yet semi-dense, moist, chewy texture that toasts well and tastes amazing! Try it our Cream of Turkey Soup.
5. How to Make Italian Bread
Homemade Italian bread is actually very easy to make and tastes delicious! While you could buy a loaf of Italian bread from the grocery store, baking bread is fun and satisfying. Warm, toasty bread from the oven is pure comfort food. It goes well with any soup you can think of! Try it with German Lentil Soup or with Red Cabbage Soup.
Rolls and biscuits perfect for soup
A fluffy roll or a flaky, buttery biscuit is a fantastic side for soup as well. They might not be an everyday affair like a loaf of bread, but the fact that I don’t make them that often makes them special.
When deciding what to serve with soup for a holiday meal or when guests are coming, they are my first choice.
6. Easy Bread Rolls
These are our favorite breakfast bread rolls! Soft, fluffy, and crusty rolls that you could make together with your kids. How about serving them with this Bratwurst Soup or this creamy Kohlrabi Soup?
7. The Best Vegan Pretzels
Aren't these pretzels gorgeous? The recipe uses simple & affordable ingredients, most of which you already have lying in the cupboard (think flour, salt, sugar, yeast, oil). With the detailed step-by-step images, you will be guided through every step of making this! Try the pretzels with Cauliflower and Almond Soup.
9. Cheese Drop Biscuits
If you find yourself buying a tube of store-bought biscuits because you are intimidated by making biscuits from scratch, then this recipe is for you! There is no rolling, no yeast, and no biscuit-cutting tools involved, and they are mixed by hand.
Try them with Potato Dumpling Soup or with Mexican Chickpea Soup.
10. No-Knead Yeast Rolls (Spoon Rolls)
Do you want to serve homemade dinner rolls but don't have time to let them rise twice, shape them into balls, and watch to make sure they don't overproof? Make this super easy recipe! Have the rolls with Chicken Cauliflower Soup or Spinach Soup with Eggs.
Sandwiches and spreads
Sandwiches are another side dish top choice, besides plain bread probably the most popular side dish for soups. You can make a simple ham and cheese sandwich (no need for a recipe for that), more elaborate grilled cheese sandwiches, or a quick bread spread; they all go well with soups.
11. Smoked Salmon Sandwich
We do love open sandwiches, they are a quick and always satisfying kind of food, you can have them not only with soup but also for breakfast or dinner, for a quick lunch or as a snack in between. Try this salmon sandwich with Butternut Squash and Red Pepper Soup for instance.
12. Best Garlic Hummus without Garlic
We all love hummus, but we can’t always have it when we work in an office or still go to school. This no-garlic hummus recipe, though, is the answer to that problem. Incredibly creamy, flavorful, delicious hummus without garlic that you can enjoy every day, no matter how many people you have to see or how many meetings you have to attend. Serve it with this creamy Pumpkin Soup with Ginger.
13. Smoked Burgers
Whether it is a BBQ on a hot summer day or a cold night in December, there are not many things better than a yummy burger. A smooth smoky flavor with all of your favorite toppings, you will enjoy every single bite. You can only serve this amazing burger alongside a simple soup. How about trying it with Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup?
14. Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Crunchy Air Fryer Grilled Cheese is a new take on the comfort food classic you grew up with. You will love how crunchy the bread is and how you get perfectly melted cheese straight out of the air fryer. You can serve them with most anything, how about this creamy Broccoli Soup with Coconut Milk?
15. Toast Points with Topping Ideas
Small triangles of toast that you can pair with just about anything. The crispy crunch, browned edges, and dusting of spices make them fancier than basic slices of bread. They go really well with a creamy soup like the Pumpkin Orange Soup.
Salads and vegetable side dishes
Simple, fresh salads, roasted vegetables, or vegetable salads are also a great choice. I prefer to serve them alongside soup when the dish is consistent, something more than just a creamy concoction.
16. Roasted Buckwheat Salad
If you've never had buckwheat before, you should definitely try it! It tastes amazing, and it makes excellent hearty salads perfect to serve with a creamy light soup like this Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Soup.
17. Pan-Seared Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts
These quick balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts are crispy, lightly sweet, and utterly delicious. Perfect healthy and easy side dish for your holiday menu ready in 20 minutes! I love Brussels sprouts in any form, but roasted, they are at their absolute best. Serve them with German Leek and Cheese Soup if you like.
18. Lemony Arugula Salad
This simple lemony arugula salad with avocado and artichoke hearts is tangy, refreshing, tasty, and satisfying. It will take you under 5 minutes to make and have you begging for more. Serve it for Easter brunch alongside a hearty Lamb Bone Soup.
19. Strawberry Spinach Salad
It really is the best salad to make for any sort of gathering as it has something for everyone. Dark leafy greens, fresh sweet strawberries, tangy feta, crunchy pecans, and a homemade balsamic dressing made without refined sugar! Try it with a Cream of Asparagus Soup with Milk in spring.
20. Panzanella Salad
A fresh and colorful salad that’s perfect for summer entertaining! This Panzanella salad is the perfect side dish for any light soup. Try it with the Spicy Tomato Soup with Egg, for instance, we love the combination.
Meaty and cheesy sides for soup
I also love to serve small cheesy snacks or bite-sized pieces of meat when making soup for guests. A big pot of soup in the middle of the table, a good loaf of bread, some olives and vegetable sticks, and several bowls of crackers, meatballs, and chicken wings.
Trust me! Your guests will love the meal more than you will probably expect.
21. Turkish Cheese Rolls
Turkish Rolls with cheese is a type of pastry made with thin filo pastries called yufka, filled with cheese and then shallow-fried for extra crispness. These delicious pastries have a cylindric shape that looks like cannolis or taquitos but is much different in taste. Serve them with Spanish Vegetable Soup, for instance.
22. Easy Garlic Bread
This garlic bread recipe is the crispiest and most garlic-filled bread you’ve had! I like my garlic bread butter, packed with flavor, and toasted until it’s golden brown. You can have it with basically any soup. How about serving it with this Fish Vegetable Soup?
23. Chicken Muffins
Serve these healthy savory muffins at room temperature with a salad or soup (Lentil Pasta Soup) or as an appetizer. They also make the most perfect savory breakfast muffins.
24. Baked Chicken Thighs
The dish is perfect for lunch or dinner. Crispy and juicy chicken that anyone loves. Pair the baked thighs with a simple vegetable soup like this Broccoli and Sweet Potato Soup.
25. Turkey Meatballs without Breadcrumbs
Healthy turkey meatballs packed with flavor, moist, and super-easy to make. They would be great served with a hearty Irish Leek Soup.
We hope you liked our collection of soup side dishes and that we could provide some valuable and delicious ideas of what to serve with soup.
mjskitchen says
A lot of great ideas! We usually serve soup with either cornbread or tortillas. Any one of these would be a delightful change. Thanks!