35 Quick and Easy Side Dishes For Chicken
You've spent all night cooking an incredible chicken dish. Don't let your meal fall flat with a ho-hum side dish. Give that masterpiece of a main what it deserves by pairing it with equally as delicious accompaniments.
Whatever it is you have a hankering for, there's a side dish for everyone on our list. Perhaps you're feeling something sweet and summery, like a grilled peach and halloumi salad with lemon pesto dressing. Or maybe you're craving something a little more hearty, like roasted cauliflower macaroni and cheese. And if it's an indulgent kind of night, we'd highly recommend buttermilk corn bread with tomatoes and green onions.
Rich in flavor and easy to prepare, these knockout creations will complete any chicken entrée you can dream up. Voilà, 35 side dishes for chicken to try.
RELATED: 39 Ways to Cook Chicken When You’re in a Dinner Rut
1. Brussels Sprouts Latkes
Move over, potatoes. We'll be eating these veggie fritters all year long.
2. Leek, Kale and Goat Cheese Strata
What's strata? We're glad you asked. It's a casserole layered with egg, bread and cheese. (Sounds like a dream, doesn't it?)
3. Green Goddess Lettuce Wraps
Presenting our new favorite way to eat salad.
4. Eggplant Pizza
Plunk these on your preschooler’s plate and she’ll need little convincing to eat some chicken, too.
5. Light and Tangy Coleslaw
Made with a tangy vinegar base instead of mayo, this side is especially tasty with skin-on chicken (its acidity balances out that extra fattiness).
6. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
Cheesy carbs can’t possibly complete dinner, right? But wait, there’s veggies hiding in there…
RELATED: 15 Totally New Ways to Eat Macaroni and Cheese
7. Zucchini Rice
A new, healthy substitute for cauliflower rice.
8. Asparagus Caesar Salad
How many times have you dished up plain, old steamed asparagus? Yawn.
9. Baby Bloomin’ Onions
Aka how to rival the best pub in town.
10. Classic Stuffed Peppers
Sometimes it’s OK to play it safe.
11. Stuffed Eggplant
Light, fresh and satisfying.
RELATED: Easy Healthy Side Dish Recipes
12. Buttermilk Skillet Corn Bread with Tomatoes and Green Onions
Practically two sides in one, thanks to a saucy tomato topping.
13. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Salad with Lemon Pesto Dressing
PSA: Chicken is a lean protein, so it pairs well with sweet, juicy peaches.
14. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry
Spice up your go-to chicken recipe with this 30-minute Thai-inspired dish.
15. Slow-Cooker Garlic-Herb Cauliflower
Meet the new mashed potatoes.
16. Sweet Potato Noodles with Almond Sauce
Slice some chicken breast on top and dinner’s done.
RELATED: Zoodles Might Be the Best Thing to Ever Happen to Dinner
17. Greek Wedge Salad
Chicken + this classic American salad = instant country club vibes.
18. Sweet Potato Crostini
Turn dinner into a fun snack plate.
19. "Everything Bagel" Cauliflower Rolls
Seconds—and thirds—are guilt-free.
20. Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
This side is hearty and full of protein, so a little goes a long way. (Aka leftovers.)
21. Garlic Bread
Might as well make this meal a full-on carb fest (you can always eat salad tomorrow).
22. Citrus, Fennel and Avocado Salad
We love the contrast of bright citrus with any chicken dish.
23. Cacio e Pepe Brussels Sprouts
We’re of the opinion that roasted Brussels sprouts go with everything.
24. Mozzarella Bites
Instead of the usual stick shape, we fry tiny balls of cheese for a bite-size twist.
25. Green Monster Salad
Wedges of avocado will have even the salad-averse reaching for the serving spoons.
26. Beet Carpaccio with Burrata
Serve this salad by Aida Mollenkamp with grilled chicken for beautifully balanced flavors.
27. Gluten-Free Cheese and Cauliflower ‘Breadsticks’
If you want breadsticks, but don’t want to add more carbs to your meal, look no further.
28. Broccoli Salad With Creamy Almond Dressing
Unlike a traditional broccoli salad, this one ditches the mayo-based dressing for a tasty vegan sauce.
29. Eggplant Parm Bites
These poppable eggplant parm bites are a worthy dish to serve at your next house party.
30. Pesto Zoodles
A healthy coating of homemade basil pesto takes zoodles to a whole new level.
31. Cacio e Pepe
It’s grown-up mac-and-cheese go time.
32. Greens Mac and Cheese
This recipe is packed with spinach and broccolini (you know, for health) but still feels just decadent enough.
33. Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Avocado-Cilantro Sauce
Psst: You get major bonus points if you use a gorgeous purple variety of cauliflower.
34. Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Strawberries
This dish is almost no-cook, takes less than 30 minutes and can be made up to one day in advance.
35. Minty-Fresh Zucchini Salad with Marinated Feta
If you thought the humble zucchini was only good for quick breads and zoodle bowls, you were wrong.
