Stew is one of the most comforting dishes in the world, and in fact, every country and cuisine has their own versions of stew. No matter what stew you are making, here are the top 100+ side dishes to serve with veggie to beef stew. I guarantee, no matter your recipe, that you'll find the perfect side dish here.
Use the table of contents to jump to the type of side you want, or browse all the best side dishes to take your favorite stew to the next level.
(Looking for more side dish ideas? Check out the best side dishes to pair with BBQ Shrimp, sides for flank steak, sides to pair with grilled cheese or Recipe Collections for all the recipe round-ups!)
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Potatoes
Classic mashed potatoes, roast potatoes and other potato recipes are always a great option with hearty beef stew, Irish stew, and vegetarian mushroom and lentil stews. Try out one of these tried and true recipes for a great side dish, guaranteed.
Mashed Potatoes
Roasted, Smoked + Boiled Potatoes
Individual Serving Potato Side Dishes
Potato Casseroles
Mashed Veggies
Instead of the classic starchy foods, why not serve up a big bowl of cauliflower mash or a perfect combination of mashed carrots or sweet potatoes topped with feta cheese? Easy, healthy, and delicious, they're a great way to add in more veggies and bring a mild, sweet flavor.
Rice
Plain white or brown rice is classic comfort food and goes well with almost any stew but there are more exciting rice recipes too. Rice pilaf, risotto and sticky rice balls are all here. Pick the rice side dish recipe that best pairs with the flavors in your stew!
Pair up chicken stew with the fluffy texture of rice pilaf or a vegetarian curry stew with coriander studded rice. Creamy risotto is a one of the best sides for Italian stews like osso bucco and Turkish rice pairs well with Mediterranean stews.
Cook rice simply with a little chicken broth or get fancy with turmeric. Shape it into Japanese onigiri rice balls to pair with a Japanese flavored stew or stir it for a creamy and rich side dish.
Noodles
Sometimes the best side dishes are the simplest. You can't go wrong with a bowl of fresh egg noodles or brown butter pasta. It makes a perfect side dish for any stew recipe. Make your own or dress up some boiled dry pasta and let it soak up the rich broth from your stew.
Polenta + Bulgur
Here are two more great side dishes that pair with hearty stews around the world. Polenta can be served creamy like risotto or mashed potatoes, or it can be made thick and sliced into squares.
Bulgur cooks up similar to rice and adds a nice nutty flavored grain side dish that pairs well with rustic stews.
Salads
Classic, light cucumber salad, boldly flavored Greek salad, crisp salad of apple and nuts, simple green salad, slaw and more, all make easy side dishes that bring crisp fresh vegetables. Salads are a versatile dish. They make a great palate cleanser and a nice contrast to any hearty stew.
Mushrooms
If you're a mushroom lover, these savory and delcious funghi recipes are the perfect companion to a rich stew. Serve up crispy mushroom fritti on the side or fry up the garlicky oyster mushrooms to serve alongside or stirred right into the main dish!
Vegetable Side Dishes
Veggies are always a great side dish for stew, especially it's a rich beef stew. Crunchy and refreshing, these side dishes are a welcome addition to rich hearty stew recipes.,
Bread, Biscuits, Buns + More
A French baguette, garlic bread or hearty sourdough from your local bakery are always good sides for a hearty stew, but if you have the time, why not make your own? Homemade bread makes your home smell delicious and comforting on a cold day and pairs great with a bowl of beef stew.
Popovers, Biscuits + Scones
Buns
Cornbread
International Breads
Gluten-Free Breads
Top 10+ American Stew Recipes
The classic American hearty meal, stew is always a favorite. From a favorite vegetarian, mushroom, bean, seafood, chicken, pork or beef stew recipe, there is one for everyone!
Best 15+ International Stew Recipes
With extra flavor from herbs, spices and seasoning from around the world, here are some of the best stews from other countries.
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Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
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