From creamy mashed potatoes to crispy roasted vegetables, there’s something here for everyone. Find the perfect chicken side dishes to pair with your dinner tonight.
Best Sides For Chicken (+ Easy Dinner Menu)
Chicken is such a versatile and affordable meat. No wonder it’s a part of every household’s weekly meal rotation! There are many different ways to prepare it, too. Whether you fry, grill, bake, or roast chicken, you can’t go wrong. It’s juicy and delicious no matter what (as long as you cook it properly, of course). Sometimes chicken can get a bit repetitive, though. That’s where these chicken side dishes come in. Today, we’re sharing 23 sides for chicken that are guaranteed to please everyone at your table.
1. Roasted Carrots
Roasting does marvelous things to vegetables. It gives them a crisper texture and a deeper, sweeter flavor! It’s also one of the easiest cooking methods. You just pop your veggies in the oven and wait — no supervision needed. These roasted carrots are an awesome side to chicken, no matter how it’s prepared. The crisp, caramelized veggies go perfectly with the tender and juicy bird. And in this recipe, you have two choices: sweet or savory carrots. Whichever one you choose, they’ll taste fantastic with chicken.
2. Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
Green beans may not be a huge hit to kids, but there’s a way to change their minds. Just add parmesan cheese! Coat those beans with loads of parmesan and roast them in the oven. You won’t believe the difference it makes! Crisp, sweet, salty, and buttery, there’s no way kids can say no to this. Roasted parmesan green beans make a delicious side to many entrees, but they taste best with roasted chicken. Double the roast, double the fun!
3. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts fans will fall in love with this side dish. Again and again… and again. This recipe tells you everything you need to do to make Brussels sprouts a worthy side dish for chicken. It’s not even complicated at all! It’s so easy peasy, anyone can do it.
4. Potato Salad
This potato salad is all you need to transform your dinner from ordinary to stunning. Is there anything better than tender, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes in an ultra-rich and creamy sauce? This salad is one of my favorites. It’s comfort food at its best! Pair it with grilled chicken or smoked wings for the most drool-worthy meal.
5. Easy Broccolini
Unpopular opinion: I’d pick broccolini over broccoli anytime. Seriously, I think broccolini deserves more spotlight than it actually gets. It’s just as tasty, and dare I say it, even better than its famous cousin. Plus, it’s so easy to work with, it’s every lazy home cook’s best friend. This easy broccolini recipe is proof! All you need is to saute it in olive oil and garlic… lots and lots of it. That’s it — done in no time!
6. Baked Parmesan Zucchini
I’m crazy for cheese, and I’ll eat anything with cheese on it. This baked parmesan zucchini is no exception. Who would’ve thought that zucchini and parmesan made such a fantastic combination? This side dish is so good, I can munch on it all day. The zucchini has such a perfectly crisp exterior, you’d be surprised it’s not fried. The oven does the trick once again! These zucchini sticks go fantastically well with roasted or grilled chicken.
7. Sugar Snap Peas
Sweet and crunchy on their own, snap peas make a fabulous side dish to chicken. You don’t even need to do much to them! Just saute them in oil and season with salt and pepper for 5-6 minutes, and voila! They’re ready for dinner.
8. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are one of the most beloved sides in history. How can we not have it on the list? Creamy and dreamy: that’s what these spuds are all about. They’ll taste incredible no matter what chicken dish you serve them with. They’re such a breeze to make as well! You only need four ingredients: Russet potatoes, butter, milk, and salt.
9. Corn Pudding
Corn pudding: a thick and creamy custard bursting with corn kernels. How can anyone say no to that? This side dish adds a sweet and velvety twist to your savory chicken. I love pairing this with wings. But I also love snacking on this pudding by itself. It’s just that darn good!
10. Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
If you want a healthy, low-carb, yet tasty side for roasted chicken, this is it. You can’t go wrong with crisp asparagus baked to perfection and topped with a creamy, buttery, hollandaise sauce. Nutritious, delicious, and easy to make: it checks all the boxes!
11. Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes are more than just baked potatoes. They’re ultra-creamy, garlicky, and so cheesy. It’s madness, and I love it. This dish is so ridiculously tasty on its own, I consider it a main course, not a side. But it does pair especially well with rotisserie chicken. Apart from the insane flavors, I also can’t get enough of how easy this dish is to make. Potatoes, cheese, onions, garlic, thyme, and cream are all you need!
12. Balsamic Mushrooms
Balsamic vinegar and mushrooms? This combo may sound crazy, but it works… beautifully. Trust me, the vinegar enhances the flavor of the mushrooms and makes them so amazing. Whether you serve them on the side or on top of rotisserie chicken, you’ll surely have one heck of a meal.
13. Fettuccine Alfredo
This fettuccine alfredo is the creamiest and cheesiest sauce in the entire world. I’m not exaggerating! This sauce is so good, I can’t get enough of it. Once you try it, you’ll never buy alfredo sauce in a jar ever again. The best part is that this recipe only calls for 5 ingredients, which are probably already in your pantry. Butter, cheese, garlic, cream, and salt — that’s it! It doesn’t get any easier.
14. Mac and Cheese
Fair warning: this mac and cheese is highly addictive and impossible to resist. It’ll disappear in minutes. When it comes to mac and cheese, there is no such thing as too much cheese. The more, the better! That’s why I love this recipe. It calls for 5 whopping cups of sharp cheddar cheese! It’s so insanely cheesy! It’s perfect with a crisp and tender oven-fried chicken.
15. Dinner Rolls
We all know that carbs are the most ideal pair with protein. Together, they make a hearty and satisfying dish. What’s the best carb-packed side for chicken, you ask? Why, dinner rolls, of course! Sure, you can make life easier by getting dinner rolls from your favorite store. But it’s not as fulfilling as making your own. If you’ve never made bread before, trust me, you have to do it at least once. This recipe is both easy to follow and makes the lightest, fluffiest dinner rolls! They’re good with any protein dish, but particularly great with oven-fried chicken.
16. Cheesy Bread
Garlicky bread loaded with ooey-gooey cheese? Count me in! This bread pairs well with soup and with chicken parmesan, too. I’m imagining myself sopping up the marinara sauce with this super cheesy bread, and I am drooling. If you’re too busy to make bread from scratch, don’t worry. This recipe is too easy! The key is Italian loaf bread. Just top it with mozzarella and garlic butter and pop it in the oven. That’s it!
17. Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Hurray for another cheesy side dish! This cheesy broccoli and rice casserole is pure ecstasy. I mean — it’s cheese, broccoli, butter, and rice. You can’t go wrong with that! It’s all the lovely flavors and textures rolled into one epic dish. With this casserole, your chicken dinner will be spectacular.
18. Spinach Salad with Bacon
Salads sometimes get a bad rap for being too bland and boring. This one, however, is nothing short of phenomenal. Here’s a rundown of what goes on in this salad: spinach, eggs, mushrooms, almonds, Swiss cheese, and bacon. All of that goodness is then slathered with a sweet and tangy honey mustard vinaigrette. It’s stunning! You can eat this salad with any type of chicken, but it’s fantastic even with just a simple grilled chicken breast.
19. Baked Sweet Potato
A simple side packed with flavor: that’s what baked sweet potato is all about. If you’re looking for something hearty to pair with your chicken, this is it! This classic side is wonderfully crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and delicious all over. With this recipe, you can go the sweet or the savory route, so take your pick! I’ve tried them both, and they’re awesome.
20. Grilled Corn Salad
If you’re looking for a more exciting way to pair corn with chicken, then this one’s for you. This is not your ordinary salad. It has the combination of every wonderful flavor and texture you can think of! It’s loaded with corn, jalapenos, onions, Mexican crema, cheese, and bacon. It’s also seasoned with cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic salt, and cilantro! It’s irresistible!
21. Creamed Spinach
This side dish transforms a bitter veggie into a stunning side everyone will enjoy. It’s spinach plus a creamy white sauce, onion, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Who knew spinach could be this fun? This side tastes awesome with roast chicken! Together, they make a scrumptious and healthy meal.
22. Cheesy Potato Casserole
Potatoes and cheese are a match made in heaven. We should never break them apart! This casserole is made with crisp and tender potatoes soaking in a sauce made with cheese, sour cream, and butter. It’s then baked to cheesy golden perfection. It’s pure magic. Serve this with baked chicken legs for the most indulgent dinner… because you and your family deserve the best.
23. Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Casserole
Insanely delicious, healthy, and easy to make: this casserole is a dream come true. If you want to add some veggies into your family’s diet, this recipe does the trick. Zucchini sticks topped with garlic and Parmesan cheese, and baked until golden crisp? It’s so good, even the pickiest eaters can’t resist it. The key is to use three different kinds of cheese: Parmesan, Mozzarella, and cheddar. To say that this dish is cheesy is an understatement! Click on a star to rate it!
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