50 Best Side Dishes to Serve With Chicken
Preparing a meal with a chicken entrée can be as simple or complex as you like. You can pair chicken with just about anything! It can be as flavorful as a Chicken Cordon blue paired with wild rice pilaf and asparagus or as satisfying as my Potato & Mushrooms Infused with Chicken Au-Gratin.
I want to share 50 of the best side dishes to serve with chicken that I think you’ll love. I want to explore dishes as unique as the diverse cultures that inhabit our world. Below are a few of my favorites, a few of your favorites, and everything fantastic in between.
1. Edamame Sautéed with Ginger
A creative twist on your typical chicken side dish. Perfect for a warm summer’s day, add some fresh-cut zucchini and bell peppers. Mix together soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, and honey and serve with sautéed veg and beans.
2. Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
While these may not be a typical side dish, they’re absolutely delicious and super easy to make. Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans as they’re also known, are healthy legumes packed with protein and fiber.
3. Moong Dal (Yellow Mung Beans)
Moong dal makes a wonderful chicken side dish. It’s mild and easy to digest, making it a great first food for babies and kids. For adults, moong dal is a convenient way to get protein when you don’t have meat or fish on hand.
4. Cauliflower Popcorn
Cauliflower has a sweet, mild flavor that is similar to broccoli and can be used as a substitute in recipes. Try replacing half or all of your popcorn with cauliflower for a healthy snack. Serve it alongside a classic chicken dish.
5. Tahini Broccoli Salad
Tahini broccoli salad is one of my favorite side dishes. Blending flavors and textures with warm tangy tahini, freshness from chopped almonds, crunch from seeds, and fresh parsley & lemon juice is divine. This salad also works well as a main dish (make chicken the side one night) or can be served on its own as a snack.
6. Avocado Fries
Avocado fries are a great alternative to traditional fries. With all that creamy avocado, they’re almost like getting two sides in one. These go great with chicken sandwiches or chicken tenders!
7. Orange Glazed Carrots
Since carrots are so versatile, they also make a great base for an entrée. Try these orange glazed carrots with roasted chicken.
8. Grilled Pineapple Skewers
Unique chicken dishes are great for dinner parties because guests are more likely to be impressed by exotic recipes than your run-of-the-mill cooking skills. Try grilling chicken with pineapples on skewers. This is a great summer dish the entire family will enjoy.
9. Lemon Garlic Mashed Broccoli
The great thing about lemon garlic mashed broccoli is that it’s loaded with fiber, which means you’ll feel fuller longer. And thanks to its creamy texture and garlic-lemon taste, mashed broccoli also happens to be a favorite side dish for chicken.
10. Broccoli Soup
Creamy, gluten-free broccoli soup is always a hit and keeps your taste buds wondering what else you might be hiding from them. This goes well with chicken casseroles, grilled chicken, or a chicken sandwich.
11. Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
Lasagna is a great recipe for any night, but it can get a little boring. To keep your taste buds interested in your chicken entrée dishes, try making zucchini lasagna roll-ups. Try these with the healthy butter chicken.
12. Couscous
Many people have never heard of couscous, a type of pasta made from semolina flour. This goes well with just about any protein and is the perfect side dish for chicken.
13. Refreshing Orange Lettuce Salad
Orange salads have had a bit of a renaissance in recent years, with chefs and foodies alike highlighting their bright and tangy flavors. It will quickly become a family favorite.
14. Wild Rice Pilaf
This is a delicious and easy classic dish that goes well with tender chicken thighs. It’s cooked wild rice with carrots, onions, celery, and chicken broth.
15. Roasted Potatoes
Comfort food at its finest. If you want to serve something simple, roasted potatoes are always a great idea.
16. Gluten Free Pasta
If you are going gluten-free, it is nice to enjoy pasta every once in a while. It has a great taste and cooks up just as well as regular pasta. Serve it cold on a hot summer day with sliced grilled chicken, or a pile of steaming hot gluten-free fettuccine alfredo is always a good option with chicken.
19. Moroccan Rice
Chicken and rice is a simple meal all on its own. We’re delving into Moroccan culture and adding a few exotic flavors to create a flavorful dish. Serve the rice as a side or make it into one delicious Moroccan Chicken and Rice dish.
20. Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts can be prepared in a variety of ways. The simplest way to prepare them is by roasting them whole. This adds extra texture and crunch. Roasted Brussel Sprouts go great with chicken entrée dishes!
21. Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach is one of my favorite simple side dishes and one of my go-to comfort foods. It’s absolutely amazing when served with a nice juicy roasted chicken. It also comes ready-made from the freezer section for those nights that you need a quick addition.
22. Sautéed Zucchini
Zucchini is a unique type of vegetable that pairs well with both acidic and savory dishes. A little butter, salt and pepper is all you need to bring out the vegetables’ flavors.
23. Cumin-Citrus Roasted Carrots
Ever wanted a side dish that didn’t look like every other vegetable on your plate? These roasted carrots pack in the flavor, and a good dose of antioxidants.
24. Eggplant
It’s no secret that eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables. Whether it fried, grilled, or baked; It’s always a crowd-pleaser.
25. Faro Salad
Faro is an ancient grain that can be found in most Italian dishes. It’s high in fiber and has a similar texture to brown rice.
26. Sugar Snap Peas
A satisfying side dish that won’t weigh you down as you dig into a piece of grilled chicken. Enjoy it on its own or serve alongside your favorite protein.
27. Grilled Asparagus
What better way to break up the monotony of chicken than by grilling it alongside an asparagus stalk or two?
28. Cauliflower Salad
For an unusual mix of flavors, try cauliflower salad. Cauliflower is blended with spices, pine nuts, and raisins for a sweet-and-sour taste that complements any main dish.
29. Grilled Balsamic Mushrooms
Grilled balsamic mushrooms are an excellent side dish that will pair well with just about anything.
30. Moroccan Salad
A summer favorite and a great side dish to serve with chicken dishes. These 3 Moroccan salad recipes are sure to please everyone in your family.
31. Risotto
This classic Italian dish is full of flavor. Made with Arborio rice, you’ll learn how easy it is to create your own risotto.
32. Sautéed Apples
Sautéed apples are great for breakfast and dessert, but are also a delicious addition to any Throw in some onions and a little extra spice to make this simple side more savory.
33. Mushy Peas
These gooey mushy peas—they’re basically green peas mashed into peas pudding. They are really tasty and full of nutrients!
34. Baked Acorn Squash with Blueberry-Walnut Filling
Baked Acorn squash takes on a savory dimension when combined with blueberries and toasted walnuts in a buttery-nutty topping.
35. Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice With Kale
If you want to impress your family and friends with a meal that has a unique twist, then you are going to love this Garlic Butter Cauliflower Rice.
36. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Sweet Potatoes
If you want a break from French fries and baked potatoes, these garlic parmesan roasted sweet potatoes add flavor and nutrients for a nice fall side dish
37. Sweet Potato Noodles with Almond Sauce
Sweet potatoes have a unique flavor that is more complex than your average white potato. This side dish is delicious, but what makes it even better is how easy it is to prepare.
38. Velvet Corn Soup
Velvet corn soup is typically a side dish made with fresh or frozen corn kernels, which are cooked in milk until they are almost creamy. Really, most any vegetable-based soup is going to go perfect with tonight’s chicken dinner!
39. Fried Cabbage
The next time you are putting together a dish that includes chicken, think about serving it with some crispy fried cabbage on top. This is one unique side dish you won’t want to pass up.
40. Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash
Bake cubed butternut squash in a luscious butter sauce topped with crispy bacon and grated Parmesan cheese. The result is perfect served alongside a chicken entrée.
41. Gluten-Free Oatmeal Bread Roll
This gluten-free oatmeal bread roll is so good you will not miss wheat at all. Its the perfect addition for any meal that needs a roll (or two).
42. Broccoli Au Gratin
This rich and creamy side dish will have you scraping every bit from your plate, perhaps with that bread roll just mentioned. It complements grilled and baked chicken well.
43. Moroccan Carrot “Zaalouk” Salad
The word Zaalouk comes from two Arabic words meaning olive oil and pulp. So, it makes sense that olive oil is what gives Zaalouk its distinct flavor—and also why it pairs so well with chicken dishes!
44. Cabbage Salad
This cabbage salad recipe is a creative twist on coleslaw. What’s more? Cabbage is low in calories and high in fiber. Take this to your next family outdoor picnic to go with the grilled chicken.
45. Cheesy Cauliflower Bake
This cheesy cauliflower bake is a casserole-like side dish that combines cauliflower, and cheese. It’s a creamy filling side to go with a simple chicken dish.
46. Zucchini Manicotti
Zucchini adds a wonderful taste and texture to any dish. Zucchini Manicotti will go perfectly with whatever protein you plan on serving alongside them, especially chicken.
- Roasted Radishes
So fresh and so delicious, roasting radishes brings out their sweet, earthy flavors that pair amazingly well with chicken.
48. Apple Slaw
Apple Slaw is a unique twist on a traditional coleslaw that pairs tart, crisp apples with savory and creamy dressing.
49. Baked Beet Fries
Baked beet fries are healthy and delicious. It’s a unique fun way to change things up and try something new.
50. Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes, however you make them, pair wonderfully with chicken and are quite healthy.
Chicken is the perfect blank canvas to showcase your creativity and make a dish that’s simultaneously delicious and beautiful. I hope these dishes inspire you to re-think chicken in your diet!
This list is not only great for those who love chicken, but it also makes for a great list of side dishes for any meal. Which ones are your favorite? Share in the comments.
