19 Best Foods to Eat with Cracked Chicken

Cracked chicken has taken the world by storm because it is so tasty, creamy, and addicting. The word “crack” comes from the way this shredded chicken looks after being cooked in a creamy ranch dressing or sauce. It’s easy to make and everyone loves cracked chicken because it’s smooth and full of flavor. But eating the chicken by itself might not be enough to make a full and satisfying meal. In order to have a complete meal, it’s important to pair it with a tasty side dish. These 19 foods go great with cracked chicken.

Starchy Sides

Starchy sides like rice, potatoes or pasta make great pairings with cracked chicken. The creaminess of the chicken pairs perfectly with the fluffiness of these sides. Some great starchy side options include:

• Rice – White or brown rice, cauliflower rice, fried rice or rice pilaf all make excellent bases for cracked chicken. The rice soaks up the delicious sauce while providing carbohydrates.

• Potatoes – Baked, mashed or fried potatoes pair wonderfully with cracked chicken The starchiness provides balance to the richness of the chicken.

• Pasta – Buttery noodles like fettuccine or bowtie pasta complement the texture of the shredded chicken. The sauce clings nicely to the pasta.

• Breads – Fluffy dinner rolls, buttery biscuits or slices of crusty bread are great for dipping into the cracked chicken sauce.

Vegetables

Fresh vegetables add nice color, texture and flavors to balance out the creaminess of cracked chicken. Some vegetable side options include:

• Roasted Vegetables: Cauliflower, brussels sprouts, carrots, or broccoli taste great with chicken because the natural sugars in them caramelize when you roast them.

• Salad – A fresh green salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots makes for a refreshing and healthy side.

• Coleslaw – Tangy coleslaw with cabbage and carrots cuts through the richness of the cracked chicken.

• Steamed Vegetables – Quick-cooking veggies like green beans, asparagus or spinach steam up nicely as a bright side.

More Protein

While cracked chicken is protein-packed, pairing it with other protein sources makes for a hearty and satisfying meal. Consider these protein sides:

• Beans – Black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas and lentils provide fiber and vegetarian protein.

• Eggs – Hard boiled eggs, deviled eggs or a simple fried egg on top lends protein.

• Tofu – Crispy baked tofu cubes or sautéed tofu pair nicely.

• Meat – Grilled chicken, pork chops or turkey sausage links work well.

Snacks and Appetizers

For a fun change, try eating your cracked chicken with a strange snack or appetizer. Some ideas include:

• Chips – Crispy potato or tortilla chips are great for scooping up the sauce.

• Fries – French fries, tater tots or sweet potato fries provide irresistible vessels for the chicken.

• Crackers – Sturdy crackers like Ritz or Club crackers hold up well when dunked.

• Quesadillas – Chicken quesadillas with the crack chicken inside are next level.

• Nachos – Pile cracked chicken onto a platter of cheesy nachos for an appetizer-style meal.

Creative Combinations

If you want to try something new with your side dishes, try these flavour combinations with cracked chicken:

• Mac and Cheese – The ultimate comfort food pairing of ooey-gooey macaroni and cheese.

• Chili – Hearty beef or turkey chili complements the chicken’s richness.

• Stir Fry – A colorful medley of sautéed vegetables in a teriyaki glaze.

• Fried Rice – Chicken fried rice with peas, carrots and eggs.

• Tacos – Crispy taco shells stuffed with cracked chicken, lettuce, cheese and more.

Simple Sides

Sometimes simple is best! You can never go wrong with these easy sides for cracked chicken:

• Dinner Rolls – Soft, fluffy rolls for mopping up the sauce.

• Corn on the Cob – Grilled or roasted corn provides a sweet, starchy side.

• Garlic Bread – Slices of toasty, buttery, garlicky bread.

• Side Salad – An easy mix of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers.

• Steamed Broccoli – Quick vitamin-packed florets.

No matter what you choose to accompany your cracked chicken, you can’t go wrong pairing this addictive shredded chicken dish with a delicious side. Using fresh vegetables, starchy favorites and creative combinations allows you to turn a simple chicken dinner into a complete and satisfying meal. So next time you whip up a batch of this popular Instant Pot or slow cooker chicken, don’t forget to serve it up with a side that perfectly complements its creamy, comforting flavor. Your tastebuds will thank you!