what sides go with chicken alfredo

The Best Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken AlfredoChicken alfredo is a creamy, delicious pasta dish that’s a favorite for many But what should you serve alongside this rich, indulgent meal? The right side dishes can take your chicken alfredo from a basic weeknight dinner to a restaurant-worthy meal In this article, we’ll look at 25 of the best side dishes to serve with chicken alfredo.

Garlic Bread
A no-brainer side for chicken alfredo is garlic bread. The combination of the salty, garlicky bread with the creamy pasta is a match made in heaven. Freshly baked garlic bread is ideal, but even just toasting some bread and rubbing it with a garlic clove elevates this simple side.

BroccoliBroccoli is a healthy vibrant side dish that pairs nicely with chicken alfredo. Lightly steamed or sautéed broccoli provides a fresh slightly bitter flavor that cuts through the rich sauce. For added flavor, toss the broccoli with a little olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes.

Caesar Salad
A classic Caesar salad with crunchy romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, and a tangy dressing helps balance the richness of chicken alfredo. It adds freshness as well as a variety of flavors and textures.

BruschettaBruschetta makes an excellent starter or side with chicken alfredo. On toasted bread, fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar make a dish with bright, bold flavors that go well with the creamy pasta.

Caprese Salad
Much like bruschetta, a Caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar provides a refreshing, lighter complement to chicken alfredo. The mozzarella also mirrors the creaminess of the pasta.

Green BeansQuick-cooked green beans are a versatile veggie side. Blanch or briefly sauté them to retain their crunch. Add garlic, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and olive oil to them to make them taste better. Their fresh, slightly grassy taste balances the richness.

Asparagus
Both roasted and grilled asparagus pair beautifully with chicken alfredo. The smoky char flavor from grilling or the caramelized roasted flavor complements the sauce. A squeeze of lemon brightens up the asparagus’s earthy notes.

Tomato Salad: Tossing a simple tomato salad with garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and fresh basil makes a quick and tasty side dish for chicken alfredo. Cherry tomatoes are good because they go well with the rich pasta because they are sweet.

Zucchini
Sauteed or grilled zucchini is an easy, healthy side that provides color to your plate. A drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of parmesan cheese enhances the mild flavor of zucchini. For extra richness, top with alfredo sauce.

Mushrooms
Sautéed, roasted, or grilled mushrooms offer a savory, umami-rich side for chicken alfredo. Meaty portobello mushrooms are ideal for grilling. Wild mushrooms like shiitake or cremini work well sautéed with garlic and thyme.

Spinach
A quick sauté of spinach in olive oil with garlic and red pepper flakes provides vitamin-rich greens. The slight bitterness balances out chicken alfredo’s indulgence. Sprinkle on parmesan cheese or lemon zest for extra flavor.

Breadsticks
Soft, warm breadsticks are pretty much required eating alongside chicken alfredo. Bake or fry up breadsticks from scratch or use ready-made ones. Dip them right into that creamy sauce for an extra hit of richness.

Meatballs: You can make your own or buy meatballs to go with chicken alfredo. They are a hearty, protein-rich side dish. Beef or turkey meatballs seasoned with Italian spices and cooked in tomato sauce go well with the cheese pasta.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes
What better side for a creamy pasta than creamy mashed potatoes? Infuse them with roasted garlic and finish them with cream cheese, butter, and parmesan for an ultra-rich accompaniment to chicken alfredo.

Bacon
Crispy cooked bacon crumbles make a savory garnish for chicken alfredo. They add a hit of smoky flavor and crunchy texture. Cook thick-cut bacon until browned and crispy, then sprinkle on top of the pasta.

Shrimp
For a surf and turf meal, garlic shrimp or bacon-wrapped shrimp complement chicken alfredo wonderfully. The briny seafood contrasts with the rich chicken and pasta. Grilled lemon shrimp also helps cut through the sauce’s creaminess.

Scallops
Like shrimp, seared or grilled scallops add elegance and creamy texture to chicken alfredo in one seafood dish. Their subtle sweetness pairs nicely with the Parmesan in the pasta sauce.

Salmon
Grilled or baked salmon fillets make a lighter protein pairing next to chicken alfredo. Salmon provides healthy fats and a tender, flaky texture to contrast the creaminess of the pasta.

Pesto
A bowl of pasta tossed with pesto makes a delicious pairing alongside chicken alfredo. The pesto’s fresh basil, garlic, and Parmesan offers a lighter, herbaceous foil to the rich sauce.

Polenta
Creamy, cheesy baked polenta is a satisfying alternative to garlic bread or mashed potatoes. For extra richness, top the polenta with sautéed mushrooms, tomato sauce, or a drizzle of alfredo.

Risotto
Like polenta, creamy risotto is a gluten-free, grain-based side option for chicken alfredo. Parmesan risotto has a similar richness to the pasta but with al dente rice as the star.

Grilled Vegetables
A skewer or platter of grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and tomatoes makes a colorful, lighter side for chicken alfredo. Their charred flavors pair well with the smoky chicken and creaminess.