Pinot Grigio Food Pairings That Will Make Mouth-Watering Meals

Last Updated on August 1st, 2023

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If you are looking for a perfect food pairing for Pinot Grigio – you are in luck! Pinot Grigio pairs well with a lot of different options and is a great choice for lunch during the summertime.

We will discuss some popular food pairings as well as some that you will want to avoid. We will explain the reasoning behind our choices so that you can create your own recipes to pair with Pinot Grigio as well.

 

What snack goes with Pinot Grigio?

There are plenty of great snack options to pair with Pinot Grigio! We will go through a few different options, and you have plenty of different choices based on your preference.

Pinot Grigio is high in acidity, so saltier snacks are a great pairing choice, so a classic staple would be salty crackers or salty potato chips. 

Crackers and wine are one of the most common snack pairings, but if you are in the mood for something a little bolder – you can’t go wrong with potato chips as another alternative.

Another option that would be a great choice for a dinner party would be antipasti, an Italian appetizer consisting of meats, cheeses, olives, and anchovies. This requires more work to prepare, but it gives everyone various options that pair well with Pinot Grigio.

Close up of a wine glass - Pinot Grigio Food Pairings.

What meat pairs Pinot Grigio?

There are a couple of different meat options that pair well with Pinot Grigio. However, you will want to stick with something on the lighter side because it compliments the light body of the Pinot Grigio nicely.

The first and most popular meat option would be chicken. The reason being is that the texture is just right and has a mild flavor, but you can always experiment with different seasonings to find the best fit for you.

Another good choice, but one that is less common than chicken, is pairing Pinot Grigio with turkey. It does have more flavor than chicken, but it is a good option if you are in the mood to switch things up a little from the classic chicken and Pinot Grigio pairing.

 

Does Pinot Grigio go with steak?

Traditionally, steak pairs better with red wine because it has higher tannins than white wine – a white wine like Pinot Grigio can be paired with steak. The reason for this is because of the high acidity compared to other white wines.

If you do pair Pinot Grigio with steak – a good tip would be to chill the wine so that it contrasts nicely with the heat of the steak. Again, we recommend pairing steak with red wine, but Pinot Grigio is a great choice if you prefer white.

 

Does Pinot Grigio go with ham?

While it may not be the first food pairing you think of – Pinot Grigio does pair well with ham as well. We discussed earlier that Pinot Grigio pairs well with salty snacks, so this pairing works because ham is rich and salty.

This may not be a pairing you incorporate all the time, but it is another great choice when you want to mix it up.

 

Does Pinot Grigio go with spicy food?

When it comes to pairing Pinot Grigio with spicy foods – a good choice would be to pair it with an off-dry Pinot Grigio.

A dish that we would recommend is pairing Pinot Grigio with chicken tikka masala because Pinot Grigio pairs well with chicken in general and chicken tikka masala is a great introduction to Indian food.

 

Best Foods To Pair With Pinot Grigio

We have mentioned a variety of different Pinot Grigio and food pairings, but there are some that stand above the rest.

A good pairing that we have not discussed yet that could possibly be the best food pairing with Pinot Grigio is seafood. Pinot Grigio has a light body and high acidity, which pairs very well with seafood.

Some seafood recommendations would be crab cakes or baked cod. An extra tip would be to squeeze some lemon onto the seafood to enhance the dining experience.

 

Foods to Avoid Pairing with Pinot Grigio

We mentioned earlier that Pinot Grigio can be paired with steak, but that we would generally recommend pairing steak with red wine. Likewise, you will want to avoid lamb, goat, or anything with a very heavy sauce that nullifies the Pinot Grigio.

Final Thoughts on Pinot Grigio Food Pairing

Pinot Grigio is a great option because it pairs well with a variety of different foods. It is high in acidity and has a light body, so generally, you will want to pair it with lighter food like chicken and seafood, among the other food pairings we mentioned.

You will not run out of options anytime soon, so make sure to try and experiment with different pairings to discover what works best for you.

 

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