One of the easiest things you can do when it comes to putting together your wedding reception menu is to just make the menu themed. You can save so much thought and energy by opting to do all Italian food, Mexican, Thai, BBQ, etc. Curating the dishes of a certain culture or cuisine can help make the experiences great (and the process easier) for the couple and the guests.

Italian dishes are among the most popular choices when it comes to weddings and include everything from cheese sticks, pizza, pasta, pastries, and cured meats. Food has the power to bring people together, and it’s part of the tradition of Italy and what makes Italian food so special. Below is a round-up of Italian side dishes that are great for weddings.

8 Italian Side Dishes for Wedding

Cauli Risotto Carbonara

When it comes to finding a universally loved Italian dish, Carbonara is considered a classic. This hearty side dish is a staple at formal events like weddings, and brings a sense of comfort with the rich flavor profile.

Ingredients

1½ cups Cauliflower rice, raw (already riced) - 57 calories

3 Uncured bacon, slice - 132 calories

1 Egg, large - 72 calories

1 Egg yolk - 55 calories

¼ cup Cheese, Parmesan, grated (cups) - 86 calories

¼ tsp Black Pepper, ground - 0 calories

¼ tsp Garlic powder - 0 calories

Instructions

Cut bacon into small pieces with kitchen shears, or slice with a knife.
Add bacon to a pan and cook on lowest heat until cooked through, stirring occasionally.
Remove bacon from the pan, and drain away most (but not all) of the bacon grease.
Add in cauliflower rice, stir fry on medium-low until cauli rice has become a bit transparent and you see some browning, ~6 minutes.
While cauli rice is cooking, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, Parmesan, and seasonings in a bowl.
Add bacon back to the pan with the cauli rice, then slowly add in sauce, stirring your pot while you do so.
Cook for another ~3 minutes, or until your desired consistency.
No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese.

Bruschetta Chicken Skillet

The thicker slices of bruschetta make this crusty bread dish a filling option to offer alongside a lighter entree. The mix of fresh produce with the heavier, toasted crust works perfectly as a side for a plated sit down dinner or even as an appetizer if serving in bite size portions.

Ingredients

6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories

1½ cups Broccoli - 36 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 84 calories

½ cup Pasta, penne, cooked - 100 calories

½ cup Fresh Salsa (Pico de Gallo) - 40 calories

1 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) - 41 calories

⅛ tsp Cumin - 0 calories

½ tsp Garlic salt (tsp) - 0 calories

½ tsp Red pepper flakes (tsp) - 0 calories

2 Tbsp Cilantro - 0 calories

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Cook pasta as instructed on package
Slice chicken and broccoli into small pieces
In a large bowl, mix chicken, broccoli, oil, and spices
Add bowl’s contents to an oven-safe pan (like a cast-iron pan) and stir fry until cooked through (about 8-10 minutes) on medium heat
Mix in pasta into the skillet, then top with fresh salsa and cheese
Bake for 10 minutes, then broil for 2-3
Serve with chopped cilantro and enjoy!
No gluten? Use gluten-free pasta. No dairy? Top with diced avocado after cooking. No chicken? Use black beans.

Italian Caprese Salad

Perfect for spring or summer weddings when you want a fresh bite to break up a heartier dish.

Ingredients

½ cup Pasta, cooked - 100 calories

1 cup Tomatoes, grape - 32 calories

1 Cucumber, small - 32 calories

1 oz Salami - 104 calories

1 oz Cheese, sliced, mozzarella, full fat/ regular - 70 calories

2 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar - 28 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

Instructions

Cook pasta as instructed on package.
Slice tomatoes, cucumber, and mozzarella into small pieces.
Combine all ingredients and toss with vinegar and seasonings.
No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese or avocado. No gluten? Use a gluten free pasta. No meat? Use extra cheese.

Gnocchi Sheet Pan

Ingredients

2 oz Mozzarella balls, mini - 140 calories

6 oz Chicken breast tenders, raw - 195 calories

½ cup Gnocchi, regular - 140 calories

1 cup Tomatoes, grape - 32 calories

⅛ tsp Italian seasoning - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Garlic salt - 0 calories

1 tsp Avocado oil (tsp) - 41 calories

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
Slice chicken into bite sized pieces
In a large bowl, mix chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, gnocchi, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, avocado oil
Spray a baking sheet with an oil spray
Bake chicken mixture for 20 minutes, until chicken has cooked through
Top baking sheet with mozzarella, then bake for another 5 minutes
Enjoy!
Optional: Top with balsamic glaze
No chicken? Use tofu. No dairy? Mix with dairy-free pesto, available at most stores.
Note: you will likely get some extra liquid from the cheese in your sheet pan. Just don’t plate that liquid, when you’re plating.

Nectarine Caprese Protein Salad

Ingredients

1 cup Leafy greens, spinach, raw - 7 calories

½ cup Tomatoes, grape - 16 calories

1 Nectarine, medium - 63 calories

2 oz Mozzarella balls, mini - 140 calories

5 oz Rotisserie chicken - 250 calories

⅛ Onion, red - 6 calories

2 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) - 6 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Italian seasoning - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Black Pepper, ground - 0 calories

Instructions

Dice nectarine, tomatoes, mozzarella, red onion, chicken.
Optional: cut up spinach with a knife or scissors.
Mix all ingredients together.
No dairy? Use avocado.

Creamy Lemon Pasta

Ingredients

2 cups Zoodles (zucchini noodles), raw or frozen - 42 calories

⅓ Tbsp Garlic, minced (Tbsp) - 0 calories

4 slice Lemon, slice - 0 calories

0 cup Heavy Cream (cups) - 50 calories

2 oz Cheese, Parmesan, shaved (oz) - 222 calories

¼ tsp Black Pepper, ground - 0 calories

¼ tsp Basil, dried - 0 calories

Instructions

Note: we’re using the lemon peel of 1/2 a lemon, not 4 lemon slices here.
Spray a pan with an oil spray. Add in garlic. Cook zoodles on stovetop – if cooking from frozen, drain away any excess liquid once cooked through.
Once cooked through, add lemon peel and cream to the pan, heat for 3-4 minutes.
Remove lemon peel.
Transfer to a bowl, top with basil, shaved parm, and black pepper.

Chickpea, Artichoke & Goat Cheese Salad with Pasta

Ingredients

1 Cucumber, small - 32 calories

1 cup Tomatoes, grape - 32 calories

¼ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked - 67 calories

¼ cup Pasta, cooked - 50 calories

3 slice Artichokes, canned (pieces) - 30 calories

¼ Onion, red - 11 calories

2 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 10 calories

1 oz Cheese, goat - 103 calories

1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 119 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Black Pepper, ground - 0 calories

¼ tsp Basil, dried - 0 calories

¼ tsp Oregano - 0 calories

Instructions

Cook pasta as instructed on package.
Chop cucumber, tomatoes, and onion.
Combine all ingredients and top with oil and seasonings.
No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese or use an additional Tbsp oil.

Shrimp Risotto with Bok Choy

Ingredients

7½ oz Shrimp, fresh or frozen - 210 calories

2 cups Cauliflower rice, raw (already riced) - 76 calories

⅓ cup Cheese, Parmesan, grated (cups) - 115 calories

1 cup Leafy greens, bok choy, raw - 10 calories

⅛ tsp Garlic salt - 0 calories

⅛ tsp Red pepper flakes - 0 calories

Instructions

Chop bok choy into medium sized pieces.
Spray pan with an olive oil spray.
Stir fry shrimp from frozen (if buying from frozen), then drain any excess liquid. Remove any hard tails if necessary.
Respray pan with oil spray. Add in cauli rice.
Stir fry ~7 minutes on medium-low heat, until you see the cauliflower browning a bit.
Add in all ingredients, turn heat to low, stir fry ~4 minutes.
No dairy? Use bacon bits or oil instead of an oil spray. No shrimp? Use chicken, tofu, or beans.

How To Choose Side Dishes For A Wedding

Consider your main dish

Some sides are just expected depending on the main dish. For example, if you are serving pizza, a garden side salad is almost always expected. Same with pasta, garlic bread or breadsticks make the perfect vessel for scooping up every ounce of the yummy tomato sauce on the plate.

Think balance

If your main dish is on the heavier side, lighten it up with a side dish that offers a bite of fresh ingredients like a side salad, soup, or roasted vegetables. On the contrary, if your main dish is light and airy, like fresh seafood, you’ll want to opt for a side dish that’s more filling and dense like a risotto or gnocchi.

Consider the season

When in doubt, picking a side dish that pays homage to the time of year is never a bad idea. For instance, if you’re having a fall wedding, side dishes that incorporate pumpkin and apple spice would be favored (ex: roasted pumpkin with yogurt sauce and pine nuts). For a spring wedding, including fresh asparagus, spring carrots or a cucumber salad works great.

Dreaming up the perfect Italian wedding food? You can’t forget about italian wedding cookies! We’ve got the perfect recipe to try them out for yourself.