You can serve soft pretzels with many side dishes and toppings, including salmon and cream cheese, chocolate and caramel, peanut butter, and jelly. They can also be enjoyed with various dips and sauces. Here are ten dishes you can eat with your soft pretzels to make them taste even better!
10 Side Dishes You Can Serve With Soft Pretzels
- Artichoke Dip
- Cream Cheese and Salmon
- Cheese Fondue
- Chocolate and Caramel Dip
- Hummus
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Caramelized Onion Dip
- Seasoned Olive Oil
- Beer
1. Artichoke Dip Goes Well With Soft Pretzels
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Tip: Can be easily made vegan.
The ever-so versatile artichoke dip is a great side dish to enjoy with your soft pretzel. Not only can you sneak in as many veggies as you like, but you can also add other crowd favorite toppings like bacon or cheese. Mix your veggies with mayo and sour cream, and pop the mixture in the oven. Yes, it is that easy. You will have a great dip for your pretzels in no time.
2. Cream Cheese and Salmon Can Be Eaten With Soft Pretzels
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Tip: Good for sneaking in some much needed Omega-3.
For a savory treat, give the classic cream cheese salmon bagel a pretzel twist!
Slice your pretzels in the middle, spread your favorite cream cheese on them, and add some smoked salmon. You can sprinkle some capers and red onion slices for flavor. Top it all off with a drizzle of olive oil, et voila! Depending on the size of your pretzel, you can make miniature versions as well.
3. Cheese Fondue Can Be Served With Soft Pretzels
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Tip: Good for using up leftover cheese.
What is better than cheese? Melted cheese! All you need to do is put your favorite meltable cheese into the fondue pot and let it melt away. We suggest cheddar or Emmental, but you can alter it to your taste. If you’re lactose intolerant or vegan, you can try making your own creamy dip since vegan cheese doesn’t melt properly. You can also add spices like paprika, chili, or pepper to taste.
After you put everything into the pot and let it melt, take your pretzel pieces and dip away. Here is a fondue pot that comes with a set of forks to eat mess-free.
4. Chocolate and Caramel Dip
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Tip: Will satisfy your sweet tooth
If you’ve never had chocolate with your pretzel, you’re missing out. The salty coating of the pretzel pairs well with the sweetness of the chocolate. This side dish appeals to people of all ages and is easy to put together. You can simply use your favorite chocolate spread if you’re looking for something super-quick. You can also get your favorite chocolate and melt it in the microwave or on the stovetop bain-marie style, adding a little bit of cream for a more decadent spread.
If you prefer caramel over chocolate, try this salted caramel sauce. The sweet and salty taste of the sauce will accentuate the salt crystals of the pretzel. You can serve the sauce hot or cold; it will be delicious either way. Well, you can also do BOTH; we won’t judge!
5. Hummus
Preparation Time: 15 minutes (with pre-boiled chickpeas)
Tip: A good source of extra protein and fiber.
This easy-to-make Middle Eastern dip is packed with flavor. Hummus gets its creamy texture from soft-boiled chickpeas, and you can add tahini, another Middle Eastern delicacy that is made from mulled sesame, for a more authentic flavor. Here is a helpful guide to find tahini in your grocery store.
Hummus comes together in less than 30 minutes, shorter if you have the chickpeas ready. Put soft boiled chickpeas, tahini, garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and olive oil into your blender, with some salt and pepper to taste. You can also add cumin and sumac if you want to take things a step further. Blend until smooth and creamy, and it’ll be ready to serve.
6. Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Preparation Time: 35 minutes
Tip: Can be easily made vegan.
This chunky and scrumptious soup is a meal on its own, but it pairs particularly well with soft pretzels. The hearty combination is guaranteed to leave you satisfied, or better yet: looking for more.
Preparing it requires some patience as the soup is made with roux, a thickening paste made from flour and butter, but the taste is worth the hassle. It comes together fairly quickly and can be served at big friend and family get-togethers.
You can also order this soup online from Amazon Kitchen!
7. Peanut Butter and Jelly
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Tip: Peanut butter can be swapped with other nut butters.
This iconic duo goes well with pretty much anything, and it’s effortless to make. Just grab your favorite peanut butter, depending on whether you’re preference is chunky or smooth, and slather it on the pretzel. You can top it off with some strawberry or banana slices. If you are allergic to peanuts, almond butter and cashew butter will also work with your favorite jelly.
8. Caramelized Onion Dip
Preparation Time: 50 minutes
Tip: Great for using up not-so-fresh onions
This dip is a no-brainer! It’s sweet, it’s savory, and you can store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Grab your favorite onion (or that one onion you’ve had lying around in your fridge for ages), slice it thinly, and cook it over low heat in a pan. The key to this dip is waiting for the onion to caramelize properly. After your onions are caramelized, mix them with sour cream and cream cheese, and you are done.
You can swap the sour cream with mayo and add toppings of your choosing. If you want some texture, add crushed walnuts for a crunchy end result.
9. Seasoned Olive Oil
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Tip: Good for trying out new spice combinations
This may sound very simple, but there is a reason you are served some olive oil and bread before your meal at Italian restaurants. Dipping your soft pretzel in some extra virgin olive oil will not only make it taste better but will also amp up the satiety of your snack. Just put some olive oil on a plate and season it with thyme and/or rosemary. You can also add a drop of balsamic vinegar for taste and some olives to enjoy as you dip. Simple as it sounds, it is very tasty and will come together in a matter of seconds.
Even though you can use any olive oil you might have at home, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil is preferable for a gourmet dish. It has a more floral and distinct flavor and is very good for your health!
10. Beer
Soft pretzels are originally from Germany, and they pair well with another German classic: beer! The pretzel’s crispy coating and salt crystals match the barley taste of the beer very well. Weihenstephaner’s Hefe Weissbier or Ayinger’s Oktober Fest-Märzen have after notes that compliment the taste, but your favorite beer will also do.
In German pubs, you’ll see bite-sized pretzels served with beers, so why not bring the experience to your own home? Next time you are having soft-pretzels crack open a cold one and enjoy!
