Whats for dinner tonight? More than likely its super easy, extra delicious chicken in some form. Chicken, especially at dinnertime, is a beautiful thing. Its a friend to special occasions and side dishes everywhere. There’s no denying the versatility of chicken and how it saves us on the most time-crunched of weeknights. What’s not so stress-free? The bad reputation chicken has for being. sort of a blank canvas. So let’s not even risk it. The easiest way to keep a meal feeling fresh and exciting is to simply change up what you’re serving with it, and thats not hard to do with easy recipes like sweet potato gratin and Parmesan crusted Brussels sprouts. Check out our list of 40 extra-tasty sides that go well with our favorite chicken dishes to make sure our chicken dinners always turn out well.
Want more side dish inspiration? Our best side dishes will make any weeknight dinner a thousand times better. And don’t forget dessert!.
Chicken is a versatile protein that can be prepared in endless ways. From oven-baked to grilled, fried, or slow-cooked in a crockpot, chicken works for any meal However, a great chicken dinner needs the right side dishes to complement the main course The possibilities for side dishes with chicken are endless, but some classics rise to the top.
This article will talk about more than 30 tasty side dish ideas that go well with chicken dinners. There are tasty sides for everyone, whether you like a hearty casserole, a fresh salad, or a quick roast vegetable. Here are some recipes that will make your next chicken dinner a hit with everyone.
Most Popular Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken
Here are some of the most popular options for easy chicken side dishes:
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Baked Potatoes Russet or sweet potatoes, loaded or plain – a baked spud is a comforting classic. Top with butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese etc.
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Rice: White or brown rice, long or short grain. Rice is a simple starchy side dish. Toss in veggies or broth for extra flavor.
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Butter noodles, mac and cheese, pesto pasta, or a spinach-artichoke pasta bake are all types of pasta. Carbs pair perfectly with chicken.
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Roasted Vegetables: Roasting green beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, broccoli, or cauliflower caramelizes their flavor.
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Salad: slaw, Greek salad, fresh green salad, pasta salad, or potato salad Crunchy, cold salads balance hot chicken.
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Bread: Dinner rolls, biscuits, cornbread, or garlic bread for dipping and sopping up sauce.
These popular sides for chicken offer variety in flavor, texture, and preparation method. Keep reading for 30+ recipes!
Comforting Casseroles and Potato Dishes
For cold weather or when you want something indulgent, try a creamy, cheesy casserole or potato side dish with chicken. These recipes are easy comfort food at its finest:
- Scalloped Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Topping
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Green Bean Casserole with Fried Onions
- Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Yellow Squash Casserole with Cracker Topping
- Cheesy Potatoes Au Gratin
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
Easy Roasted Veggies
Roasting vegetables in the oven brings out their natural sweetness. These healthy sides round out a chicken dinner:
- Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Parmesan
- Honey Glazed Carrots
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic and Herbs
- Roasted Butternut Squash with Brown Butter and Sage
- Roasted Green Beans with Almonds
- Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese and Pistachios
Fresh and Fast Salads
Salads with crispy greens, veggies, cheese, and zesty dressings complement chicken. Whip up one of these:
- Greek Salad with Feta, Olives, Tomatoes
- Caesar Salad with Romaine, Croutons, and Parmesan
- Cobb Salad with Bacon, Avocado, Eggs, and Blue Cheese
- Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Walnuts, and Poppyseed Dressing
- Apple Walnut Salad with Maple Cider Vinaigrette
- Cranberry Pecan Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
Simple Grains and Potatoes
You can never go wrong with potatoes, rice, or pasta on the side. Some easy options:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Baked Potatoes with Sour Cream, Bacon, and Chives
- Roasted Baby Potatoes
- Rice Pilaf with Peas
- Pasta Salad with Veggies
- Quinoa with Lemon and Herbs
Flavorful Breads
A loaf of crusty bread completes the meal. Enjoy chicken with:
- Skillet Cornbread
- Buttermilk Biscuits
- Garlic Bread
- Focaccia with Herbs
- Dinner Rolls
- Irish Soda Bread
With so many possibilities, you could enjoy a different side dish with chicken every night of the week! Try out some new recipes or stick with beloved classics. Either way, let these flavorful sides inspire your next delicious chicken dinner.
Whipped Feta Roasted Potatoes
When you eat something creamy and something crunchy at the same time, it’s a great feeling. This recipe is a great example of that satisfying texture mix: hot, crispy potatoes are put on top of a fluffy cloud of whipped feta and then lemon zest and fresh herbs are sprinkled on top. It doesn’t get much better than that.
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Wild rice is one of our favorite rice varieties for its nutty flavor and its chewy bite. This recipe uses slowly cooked onions and chicken stock to add a punch of savoriness, but the vegetal, toasty flavor of the rice itself is definitely the star.
Get the Wild Rice recipe.
Your sweet potatoes are tired of being baked. Give them the chance to become something much more exciting and turn them into sweet potato gratin. Just like the OG potatoes au gratin, these sweet potatoes are layered with plenty of cheese and herby cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly. .
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When summer rolls around, we can’t get enough of the fresh flavors of bruschetta. With sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, this classic snack has inspired many of our favorite summer recipes, from our bruschetta pasta to grilled bruschetta chicken. To create an easy side dish worthy of any summer potluck, we returned to the flavors of the tried-and-tried dish.
Get the Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe.
Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo
If you don’t count the salad, soup, and breadsticks, Olive Garden is one of the most popular Italian American restaurants in the country. We think that the fettuccine Alfredo is the main reason for that popularity. Fettuccine Alfredo is the epitome of creaminess with a rich cheese sauce that makes it one of the best comfort foods out there, and we have a few easy tricks on how to nail the dish.
Get the Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo recipe.
LOW EFFORT Chicken Mealprep that anyone can do
FAQ
What to serve with chicken?
Here are five simple ways to cook chicken that made us think of some of our favorite side dishes to go with it. And remember, you can always pair baked chicken with a side for fried chicken, roasted chicken with a side for grilled chicken, and so on. You’ll have a winner-winner chicken dinner no matter the combo.
What are the best side dishes for chicken?
I’m sharing 50+ of the most popular and best sides for chicken. Creamy mashed potatoes, salads, and the most delicious roasted vegetables. You can eat these with any chicken dish you like, like roasted chicken, chicken piccata, or even chicken tenders. You’re guaranteed to find a new favorite side dish here!.
What makes a good chicken dinner?
But a good chicken dinner is more than just the wings, thighs, or breasts alone. It’s also about the side dishes for chicken that help to make the meal complete. And boy are there are ton of options! Here, you’ll find the perfect sides to pair with chicken.
What side dishes go well with chicken thighs?
Light And Tangy Coleslaw is a great side dish for chicken thighs. Made with a tangy vinegar base instead of mayo, it’s especially tasty with skin-on chicken, as its acidity balances out that extra fattiness.
Do You need A side to eat chicken?
Even if you roast, bake, or fry your chicken, it needs at least one side dish to make it a meal. Put a new spin on your family’s favorite chicken recipes by plating them with these tasty, fuss-free sides. From oven-roasted veggies to the best-ever brown rice risotto to unboring dinner salads.
What can I eat with chicken in the winter?
We’ve also got plenty of cold weather comforts like roasted fennel with delicata squash and apples and French onion baked potatoes, and summertime favorites like a Greek salad or summer couscous salad, all of which will help you step up your chicken side dish game year-round. When in doubt, mashed potatoes are always there for you, as well!
What side dishes go well with chicken?
- Crispy Parmesan Potatoes. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm. …
- Creamy Polenta. Elise Bauer. …
- Stir-Fried Mushrooms with Garlic and Chile Oil. …
- Coconut Lime Rice. …
- Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar. …
- 5-Minute Yamitsuki Cabbage. …
- Garlic Fried Rice. …
- Lyonnaise Potatoes.
What tastes well with chicken?
- Sautéed Garlic Green Beans.
- Quinoa Spinach Salad.
- Air Fryer Asparagus.
- Macaroni Salad.
- Creamed Spinach.
- Fettuccine Alfredo.
- Roasted Garlic Parmesan Baby Potatoes.
- Spinach Gratin.
What is good to eat chicken with?
It depends on the chicken dish. If it is fried chicken, I like them with mashed potatoes or fries. If it is baked chicken, I will eat that with rice. If it is barbecue chicken, then corn on the cob.
What goes well with chickens?
Carrots, celery, peas, asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, squash, green beans, snow peas, mushrooms, eggplants, bok choy, and so on and so forth. I cant think of any vegetables that wouldn’t pair with chicken in some way.