Chicken and broccoli casserole is a comfort food that will always be in style. Some people really enjoy the chicken and broccoli casserole that is made with cream cheese and cheese. But when you want to serve chicken broccoli casserole, it can be hard to decide what sides go best with it. You want dishes that will go well with the flavors without taking over.
Here is a list of the 10 best side dishes I think you should serve with chicken broccoli casserole. To round out the meal, these choices offer a good mix of textures and tastes. Read on to get ideas for side dishes, from fresh vegetables to hearty carbs.
Why Serve Sides with Chicken Broccoli Casserole?
While chicken broccoli casserole can certainly stand on its own, serving complementary side dishes allows you to transform the meal into a complete dinner Side dishes help to
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Add nutrition and variety. Since the casserole is pretty heavy, salads and steamed vegetables are good sides that give you fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
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Contrast flavors and textures. The soft, creamy casserole benefits from sides that offer crunch like roasted veggies or salad greens. Acidic and tangy sides also cut through the richness.
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Make it a meal. Add starchy sides like bread, potatoes, or rice to the plate to make sure it’s a complete dinner.
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Bring color to the table. Brightly colored sides give your plate a vibrant, appetizing appearance.
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Suit different preferences. Not everyone may like the casserole, so sides please picky eaters.
10 Best Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Broccoli Casserole
- Garlic Bread
Warm, buttery garlic bread is a no-fail pairing with chicken broccoli casserole. The crunch of the toasted bread contrasts the creamy textures of the casserole. And the hit of garlicky flavor is always a crowd-pleaser.
For extra flavor, use a bakery Italian loaf or bake your own bread with herbs and Parmesan. Brush the loaf with melted butter mixed with minced garlic before toasting until golden brown.
- Mixed Green Salad
A simple green salad tosses well with vinaigrette is a light and refreshing choice. The crisp lettuce and veggies paired with the tangy dressing help cut through the casserole’s richness.
Make it colorful by including sliced bell peppers, shredded carrot, grape tomatoes, and red onion. Top with croutons or nuts for crunch.
- Roasted Broccoli
For another take on broccoli as a side, try roasting florets or broccoli crowns with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The high heat caramelizes natural sugars, yielding a sweet, nutty flavor. Roasted broccoli makes a more interesting side than steamed.
- Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf, cooked in broth with aromatics like onion and garlic, offers a starchy, soothing contrast to chicken broccoli casserole. The rice soaks up flavors and gives you another opportunity to incorporate veggies like peas or diced carrot.
- Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey glazed carrots are a simple yet elegant side for serving with casseroles. The lightly caramelized carrots have a touch of sweetness to balance the cheese and cream. They also provide vitamin A and beta carotene.
- Dinner Rolls
Warm, soft dinner rolls are perfect for sopping up any delicious leftover sauce from the chicken broccoli casserole. Choose potato, sweet potato, or buttermilk rolls and serve them with softened butter on the side.
- Creamed Spinach
Buttery, smooth creamed spinach makes a rich side to pair with the casserole. Sautéed onion and garlic add savory depth to the creamy spinach. Sprinkle crispy fried onions on top for texture.
- Roasted Potatoes
Crispy roasted potatoes are an easy starchy side dish for chicken broccoli casserole. Roast halved baby potatoes or diced russets tossed in oil, garlic, and herbs. The potatoes can soak up any extra sauce, too.
- Side Salad
For a lighter complement, a side salad with vinaigrette brings out other flavors and textures. Spinach, arugula, or mixed greens with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and bell peppers give you color and crunch.
- Quinoa with Herbs
Protein-packed quinoa makes a wholesome, gluten-free side dish. Cook it in chicken or vegetable broth for extra flavor, then stir in fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or chives. Lemon zest also brightens it up.
Perfectly Pairing Flavors and Textures
Chicken broccoli casserole tastes indulgent and comforting. Rounding out the meal with lighter, brighter sides creates balance and variety. Crunchy, crisp vegetables or salad contrast the dish’s creaminess. Starchy options like rice, potatoes, or bread complement with soothing textures.
Leverage acidic components like vinaigrettes, zesty herbs, and citrus to cut through richness. And don’t forget eye-appealing colors to refresh the palate and plate! With a carefully chosen side or two, chicken broccoli casserole becomes a well-balanced dinner.
How To Make Chicken & Broccoli
• Chicken Broth: I prefer to use low-sodium chicken broth in the sauce (bonus points if it’s homemade!). You can use water instead of chicken broth if you only have full-sodium broth to keep the stir-fry from being too salty. • Soy Sauce: I also recommend using low-sodium soy sauce here. If you only have full-sodium, just use slightly less, and remember that you can always add more to taste. • Garlic: I’m a big garlic fan, so I use 3 cloves here, but feel free to taste and adjust based on your preferences. • Honey: Honey adds that necessary sweetness to the sauce to balance out all of that umami goodness. Cornstarch: You must use cornstarch because it thickens the sauce and coats the chicken and vegetables so that every bite is full of flavor. • Ginger: You’re going to want to peel and finely grate your ginger. This will get added to our sauce alongside our garlic, adding a bright, zingy flavor. • Toasted Sesame Oil: This adds a nutty, slightly smoky, caramelized flavor to our sauce. • Chicken: You can use chicken breasts or thighs for this stir-fry, but chicken thighs tend to be more flavorful, as they’re slightly higher in fat. The fat also helps keep the meat nice and moist. • Broccoli: I recommend using fresh broccoli here, but you can use frozen in a pinch.
First, whisk all of your sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved—I don’t want to see any lumps!.
Next, slice and cook your chicken until it’s golden-brown and fully cooked through. Once done, set aside on a plate.
Now, it’s broccoli time. Chop your broccoli florets up, then place in the pan alongside your sauce. Cover the broccoli and sauce and let it steam until the broccoli is crisp-tender. Cooking the broccoli with the sauce not only makes the sauce thicker, but it also makes the broccoli taste even better.
Once the broccoli is tender enough, add your chicken back in, and toss everything together. Keep cooking and stirring until the sauce is thick and evenly coats every piece of chicken and broccoli. When everything is combined and well coated, spoon servings over bowls of rice, and top with sesame seeds. Or, serve this dish however you want—you really can’t go wrong.
Full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.
Chicken & Broccoli Variations
If you’d like to add some diversity to this dish, you can replace some of the broccoli with other veggies. Bell peppers, onions, snap peas, green beans, or even asparagus would all work well. The key to adding any vegetables to this dish is to cut them into equally sized pieces. This way, the dish will cook at the same time and you won’t end up with any undercooked, crunchy veggies or any wilted and sad bites.
You can keep leftover chicken and broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 3 Tbsp. honey
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp. finely grated peeled ginger
- 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp. neutral oil
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1/2″ pieces .
- 2 medium heads broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
- Serve with brown or white rice that has been cooked and toasted sesame seeds.
- 1. Mix broth, soy sauce, garlic, honey, cornstarch, ginger, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Whisk until the cornstarch is gone. Step 2: Heat neutral oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Leave the chicken to cook for one to two minutes, or until it comes out of the pan easily. Stir and keep cooking, stirring every now and then, for another 5 minutes or so, until the food is golden brown on all sides and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Step 3: Put the broccoli and broth mixture in the same skillet and heat it over medium-low heat. Put a lid on the pan and steam the broccoli for two to three minutes, until it is crisp-tender. 4. Take the lid off and add the chicken and any juices that have collected back to the skillet. Stirring often, cook for another 1 to 2 minutes or until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken and broccoli well. Step 5 Divide rice among plates or bowls. Spoon stir-fry over. Top with sesame seeds.
Easy Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
FAQ
What is a good side dish for a chicken casserole?
16 Delicious Side Dishes for Your Chicken DinnerCrispy 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 can you have chicken casserole with?
Serve with mashed or boiled potatoes, or rice. The sauce tastes better with bone-in chicken thighs, but if you’d rather have boneless chicken, that’s fine too; just read the recipe tips to see how to change the steps.
What to serve with broccoli stuffed chicken?
Here are some ways to serve broccoli cheese chicken: – You could also serve it with an orzo or pasta salad. – You can even do some mashed potatoes or polenta and your favorite steamed or roasted veggie. – Cauliflower rice and roasted vegetables would also be good here for a low-carb option.