For what to serve with chicken, take a look at this list of easy and delicious side dish recipes that pair well with this classic protein! Whether you like your chicken grilled, baked, seared, or fried, I have all the best side dishes for turning it into an incredible meal. From noodles to vegetables and everything in between, there's something here for everyone!
Recipes That Go With Chicken
Chicken is one of the most used proteins in the world. In fact, it comes in second only to pork with about 44 billion pounds of chicken produced annually in the U.S. alone!
It is partially due to chickens' incredible versatility! It can lend itself to a wide variety of flavors and textures making it an easy choice for dinner any day of the week. The next time you have chicken on the menu, be sure to try out some of these delicious complementary side dishes!
Jump to:
- Recipes That Go With Chicken
- Sides To Serve With Chicken
- 1. Yellow Mashed Potatoes
- 2. Sauteed Green Beans
- 3. Creamed Spinach
- 4. Ranch Roasted Potatoes
- 5. Wedge Salad
- 6. Steamed Broccoli
- 7. Velveeta Mac and Cheese
- 8. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- 9. Boiled Potatoes
- 10. Creamed Corn
- 11. Sour Cream Cornbread
- 12. Air Fryer Asparagus
- 13. Turmeric Rice
- 14. Potato Salad
- 15. Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
- 16. Fettuccine Alfredo
- 17. Refried Black Beans
- 18. Sweet Potato Fries
- 19. Breaded Okra
- 20. Greek Salad
- 21. Honey Roasted Carrots
- 22. Southern Coleslaw
- 23. Roasted Yellow Squash
- 24. Southern Fried Corn
- 25. Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions
- 26. Fried Cabbage
- 27. Microwave Cauliflower
- 🍗 Tasty Chicken Recipes
- 📋 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Sides To Serve With Chicken
Most vegetables and starches pair wonderfully with chicken in all of its forms. You can enjoy lighter pairings like broccoli and creamed spinach or go for comfort food with macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes. No matter what you choose, it will be delicious!
1. Yellow Mashed Potatoes
Yellow potatoes are naturally buttery and make for some incredibly creamy mashed potatoes. All you need is a few simple ingredients and about 25 minutes of time!
2. Sauteed Green Beans
Sauteed green beans are a simple vegetable side dish that can be whipped up in just 10 minutes. You don't even have to blanch them!
3. Creamed Spinach
Creamed spinach is a classic steakhouse side that pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken. It is rich and creamy, plus you can make it in about 30 minutes!
4. Ranch Roasted Potatoes
Everyone knows potatoes and chicken go together in more ways than one. Sure you can go with french fries, but I prefer these roasted potatoes tossed with dry ranch mix. They are crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside and full of flavor!
5. Wedge Salad
Elevate your salad game by serving a large wedge salad as an appetizer or to accompany your chicken. I make mine with blue cheese dressing, bacon, and tomatoes, though you can certainly play around with your topping choice!
6. Steamed Broccoli
Steamed broccoli is always a delicious (and nutritious) side dish choice when serving chicken. You can keep it simple with salt & pepper or play with flavors and add some cheese sauce or lemon butter!
7. Velveeta Mac and Cheese
This ultra-creamy 20-minute mac and cheese is always a hit with kids. It's also a one-pot recipe, so cleanup is a breeze!
8. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
This low-carb version of mac and cheese made with cauliflower is just as indulgent and satisfying as the real thing. It is loaded with sausage, 3 kinds of cheese, and crushed pork rinds for added crunch!
9. Boiled Potatoes
It is incredibly easy to make these tender baby potatoes. They are buttery and perfectly seasoned with only a few ingredients!
10. Creamed Corn
In just 15 minutes you can make some sweet and creamy creamed corn! It pairs well with fried, grilled, or baked chicken, so no matter what's on the menu, creamed corn is a great choice!
11. Sour Cream Cornbread
Any type of cornbread will pair with chicken, but this recipe made with sour cream is extra moist and fluffy! Cornbread can be used to soak up soups or sauces, or you can keep it simple with a pat of butter.
If you don't have sour cream, try my Jiffy cornbread without it!
12. Air Fryer Asparagus
You can roast, bake, or saute asparagus but it doesn't get easier than cooking it in the air fryer! This is a great way to get some nutritious green vegetables on the plate with little effort.
13. Turmeric Rice
Yellow turmeric rice is a great choice if you are cooking with Middle Eastern or Indian flavors. It's fluffy and aromatic, plus it is a good way to introduce some new flavors to your family!
14. Potato Salad
Potato salad is an American classic that pairs wonderfully with chicken no matter how you cook it! In my recipe, I use gold or red potatoes with a simple blend of seasonings that gives this potato salad the perfect balance of creamy and tangy.
15. Pan Seared Brussel Sprouts
You will love these easy pan-seared brussel sprouts for making a nutritious dinner in a snap. They get lightly caramelized and crisp on the outside but stay tender on the inside!
16. Fettuccine Alfredo
Chicken fettuccine alfredo is an Italian classic! You can serve it on the side of your chicken or you can slice or dice your chicken and toss it with the pasta and alfredo sauce.
17. Refried Black Beans
Refried beans can be served with whole chicken breast or thighs or you can use them to accompany chicken tacos or enchiladas! It's a restaurant-quality side dish that I often serve with my restaurant-style Mexican rice and homemade tortillas.
18. Sweet Potato Fries
Crispy sweet potato fries are a nice alternative to traditional french fries. Don't worry, they are just as tasty in all your favorite dipping sauces!
19. Breaded Okra
Breaded okra and fried chicken are a match made in heaven. Both are delicious dipped in country gravy or homemade ranch dressing, too!
20. Greek Salad
A cool and refreshing Greek salad will pair wonderfully with baked or grilled chicken! The crispy vegetables, salty olives, and feta cheese are coated in a homemade Greek dressing which is incredibly easy to prepare.
21. Honey Roasted Carrots
Even the kids will get excited about honey-roasted carrots! They are delightfully tender and perfectly sweet, which is a surefire way to get everyone to eat their veggies.
22. Southern Coleslaw
Creamy, crunchy coleslaw is the perfect way to dress up sandwiches and tacos! You only need about 5 minutes, a head of cabbage, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and some seasonings.
23. Roasted Yellow Squash
With a little garlic powder and Parmesan cheese, you can easily make some super-flavorful and perfectly tender yellow squash! You could also try serving your chicken dinner with my creamy yellow squash soup!
24. Southern Fried Corn
Not only is Southern fried corn easy to make, but it is buttery and filled with bacon! Also, you can totally use canned corn to cut down on prep time.
25. Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions
Sauteed mushrooms & onions are a versatile side that can be eaten on their own, used to top off a grilled chicken breast, or mixed into rice or pasta. It's a great quick way to add some savory flavor to any meal!
26. Fried Cabbage
Pan-fried cabbage is a classic Southern side dish that is surprisingly full of flavor for how simple it is! The cabbage becomes tender and buttery which makes a wonderful contrast to the salty chunks of bacon.
27. Microwave Cauliflower
You can quickly make perfectly fork-tender cauliflower in your microwave! You can dress it up with seasonings or cheese, or enjoy it with a simple dash of salt & pepper.
I hope my recipe ideas has helped you decide what to serve with chicken for lunch or dinner! Let me know which side dishes you chose in the comments below!
>>>>See all of my recipes HERE<<<<
🍗 Tasty Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken - A whole bone-in chicken with crispy skin and juicy meat in half the time!
- Chicken Schnitzel - These crispy chicken cutlets are always a hit for lunch or dinner!
- Grilled Chicken Tenders - Less guilt than regular fried tenders but just as tasty!
- Baked Chicken Wings - All you need is your favorite wing dry rub or wing sauce!
- Million Dollar Baked Chicken Breast - A juicy chicken breast covered in three types of cheese and bacon!
- Mushroom Swiss Chicken - Melted swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms are always a great topping for chicken breast!
📋 Recipe
What To Serve With Chicken: Yellow Mashed Potatoes (+27 Tasty Side Dishes)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs yellow potatoes (washed and quartered)
- 2 tablespoon salt (to taste)
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup butter (cut into 1 tablespoon pats, use in 3 portions - 3 tablespoons, 3 tablespoons, and 2 tablespoons)
Instructions
- In a large pot, add in your quartered potatoes and cover them with 1 to 2 inches of cold water and then season generously with salt.2 lbs yellow potatoes, 2 tablespoon salt
- Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes until they can easily be pierced with a fork, about 20-25 minutes. Once cooked, drain the potatoes.
- Add your heavy cream to a small saucepan and bring it to a boil (*see note).1½ cups heavy cream
- Meanwhile, while you are waiting for your cream to boil, press your potatoes through a potato ricer (*see note).
- Immediately add in ⅓ portion of the hot heavy cream and the first 3 tablespoons of butter and mix it into the potatoes. Repeat this process 2 more times with the remaining heavy cream, mixing until the butter is melted and everything is well incorporated.½ cup butter
- Taste your potatoes and add salt as needed. Top with freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- Peeling your potatoes is optional, but they are much easier to run through your ricer if peeled.
- Use 1 tablespoon of salt in your water per each 1 pound of potatoes being boiled for any mashed potatoes recipe to add flavor.
- For more information on how to quickly scald your cream, check out my post about scalding milk for mashed potatoes!
- Never put potatoes into a food processor or blender, as it is too rough and will make your mashed potatoes gluey and gummy.
- To store: Once completely cool, keep your potatoes in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To freeze: Freeze your potatoes in single-size portions for up to 2 months. Check out my guide on freezing mashed potatoes.
- To reheat: Reheat your mashed potatoes on the stovetop over low heat. For more tips and tricks, take a look at my article on the best methods for reheating mashed potatoes.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Vera Kaknes says
Amei as sugestões. Vou usá-las hoje 😘 (Loved the suggestions. I will use them today)