Whats for dinner tonight? More than likely its super easy, extra delicious chicken in some form. Chicken, especially at dinnertime, is a beautiful thing. Its a friend to special occasions and side dishes everywhere. There’s no denying the versatility of chicken and how it saves us on the most time-crunched of weeknights. What’s not so stress-free? The bad reputation chicken has for being. sort of a blank canvas. So let’s not even risk it. The easiest way to keep a meal feeling fresh and exciting is to simply change up what you’re serving with it, and thats not hard to do with easy recipes like sweet potato gratin and Parmesan crusted Brussels sprouts. To guarantee our chicken dinners will always be winners, check out our list of 40 extra flavorful sides to pair with our favorite chicken dishes.
Want more side dish inspiration? Our best side dishes will make any weeknight dinner a thousand times better. And don’t forget dessert!.
Chicken fillets are a versatile and easy protein to cook for dinner. With their mild flavor, chicken fillets pair well with a variety of sides that can complement, contrast, or accentuate their taste. When deciding what to serve alongside chicken fillets, consider sides that add color, texture, and flavors to create a satisfying and balanced meal.
Here are over 30 delicious side dish ideas to serve with chicken fillets:
Starch Sides
Chicken usually goes well with starchy sides like potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread. They take any sauces off and make a hearty base for the meal.
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Mashed Potatoes – Creamy buttery, and irresistible mashed potatoes are a no-fail side. Bake chicken fillets and roasted garlic mashed potatoes together for maximum flavor.
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Rice – Chicken and rice is a staple pairing across many cuisines. Make mushroom rice, cilantro lime rice or coconut rice for flavorful accompaniments.
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Pasta – Chicken piccata with fettuccine alfredo or chicken parmesan with spaghetti are crave-worthy meals. Toss hot pasta with pesto or homemade marinara.
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Dinner rolls – Fresh, warm rolls for dipping are perfect with any chicken dinner. Try making homemade yeast rolls or quick baking powder biscuits.
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Polenta: Serve chicken fillets with crispy polenta cakes for a change. The soft, creamy cornmeal goes well with the crunchy breading on the chicken.
Veggie Sides
Vegetable sides add nutrition, color, and texture. Roast, sauté, or steam veggies to highlight their natural flavors.
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Grilled broccoli: Mix broccoli florets with garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese before putting them in the oven to get crunchy, caramelized bits.
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Green beans – Sauté green beans with olive oil, garlic, and onions or roast them with crispy bacon pieces.
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Brussels sprouts – Brussels sprouts roasted with balsamic vinegar and garlic are irresistible. Add cheese or nuts for extra flavor.
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Asparagus – Grilled or roasted asparagus spears are a classic, tasty choice. Drizzle with lemon juice or top with hollandaise sauce.
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Carrots – Roast rainbow carrots with honey, garlic, and thyme for a sweet side. Or cook them with dill for a savory flavor.
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Zucchini: Cut the zucchini into thin slices, cover them with breadcrumbs and Parmesan, and bake them until they are golden and crispy.
Fresh Salads
Salads with crisp lettuces, colorful veggies, and zesty dressings brighten up any chicken dinner.
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Garden salad – Mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, and vinaigrette make a classic salad.
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Greek salad – Feta, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion tossed in a red wine vinaigrette is exceptional with chicken.
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Spinach salad – Baby spinach, hard boiled eggs, mushrooms, and warm bacon dressing is a hearty choice.
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Broccoli slaw – Toss shredded broccoli stems and florets in a creamy, tangy dressing for crunch.
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Watermelon feta salad – Cubed watermelon, crumbled feta, and mint drizzled with olive oil is perfect for summer.
Hot Sides
Warm, comforting sides like casseroles, potatoes, and seasoned vegetables are wonderful with simple baked or grilled chicken fillets.
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Scalloped potatoes – Sliced russet potatoes baked in a rich, creamy cheese sauce are irresistible.
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Mac and cheese – A classic comfort food, mac and cheese makes any meal better. Use extra sharp cheddar for maximum flavor.
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Creamed spinach – Chopped spinach cooked in a creamy béchamel sauce turns an ordinary veggie into an elegant side.
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Roasted sweet potatoes – Drizzle sliced sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper before roasting for caramelized edges.
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Cheesy potato casserole – Shredded hash browns baked with cheese, cream of chicken soup, and bacon are delicious.
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Corn casserole – A southern favorite, corn casserole with creamed corn, egg, butter, and Jiffy mix is decadent.
Easy Sides
When you’re short on time, quick microwave or oven-baked sides are just right with simple chicken fillets.
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Microwaved baked potatoes – Pierce russet potatoes, microwave until done, and top with butter, cheese, bacon, and chives.
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Roasted vegetables – Toss broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and garlic with oil and roast in a hot oven for 20 minutes.
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Garlic bread – Spread sliced French bread with butter and minced garlic and bake until toasted.
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Dinner rolls – Keep a stash of frozen rolls on hand to bake and serve anytime.
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Refrigerated mashed potatoes – Doctor up instant mashed potatoes with sour cream, cheese, and green onions.
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Frozen vegetables – Steam in the bag frozen veggies in the microwave for a fast side.
Chicken fillets are so versatile precisely because they pair beautifully with any number of sides. Next time you make chicken fillets for dinner, try one of these delicious sides to make it a meal to remember. With fresh vegetables, hearty starches, and comforting casseroles, you’ll please everyone at the dinner table.
Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad
At Delish, we don’t like salads that are too plain. The crunchy apples and sour cranberries make this one very interesting. The slightly sweet and lemony dressing is easy to make, and you’ll want to have extra on hand to pour it over everything.
Get the Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Air Fryer Green Beans
These green beans come with a treat: 8 cloves of creamy, buttery garlic that get air-fried alongside the green beans for bites of roasted garlic that don’t involve turning on your oven. You can eat them alongside the beans or reserve them for another use, like smearing alongside butter and flaky sea salt on a slice of toasted sourdough bread. .
Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.
Brussels sprouts are one of our favorite roasted vegetables to serve with almost any meal, whether it’s a weeknight meal or a holiday dinner. They’re also very crispy. While we love our classic roasted Brussels sprouts, we thought wed take things up a notch in this recipe by adding two things: smashing, and plenty of cheese.
Get the Smashed Brussels Sprouts recipe. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
The Best Chicken Breast You’ll Ever Make (Restaurant-Quality) | Epicurious 101
FAQ
What goes well with chicken fillets?
To go with a chicken dinner, you could serve roasted vegetables, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, quinoa salad, or a fresh garden salad.
What sides go well with fillets?
Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes are a comforting side. Steamed Broccoli or Green Beans: Lightly steamed greens with a squeeze of lemon can enhance the dish. Coleslaw: A tangy coleslaw can provide a nice crunch and contrast to the fish.
What are the best sides to serve with chicken?
16 Delicious Side Dishes for Your Chicken DinnerRoasted Fennel. Butternut Squash Risotto. Crash Hot Potatoes. Easy Sautéed Mushrooms. Twice Baked Southwestern Sweet Potatoes. Easy Spanish Rice. Stir Fried Japanese Eggplant With Ginger and Miso. Perfect Mashed Potatoes.
What goes with breaded chicken fillets?
Below we have compiled some foods to enhance the crunchy sensation that everyone loves. Green Beans. Green beans will make a super healthy fried chicken side dish that goes well with any meal. Sweet Potatoes. Macaroni Salad. Cornbread. Potato Salad. Coleslaw. Fried Okra. French Fries.