What To Eat With Chicken Piccata: 25+ Delicious Side Dish Ideas

Chicken piccata is a classic Italian dish that features chicken cutlets sautéed in a tangy lemon-caper sauce. With its bright, citrusy flavors, chicken piccata makes a lovely meal for any time of year. However serving up just the chicken alone does not make for a complete dinner. Having a proper side dish can truly round out the meal. So what makes the perfect pairing for chicken piccata?

There are many delicious side dish options that work well with the flavors of this dish. When choosing sides for chicken piccata, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Sides with lemon, citrus, or herbs will go well with the strong lemon flavor. Pastas with lemon sauce or lemon-roasted vegetables are great options.

• Balance the richness of the buttery sauce with lighter vegetable sides. Steamed greens, salads and roasted veggies are ideal.

• Play on the Italian flavors with sides that use ingredients like olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan and basil. Pastas, risottos and breads do well here.

• Vary textures for contrast. Creamy mashed potatoes or polenta offset the tender chicken and silky sauce.

• Don’t add any strong flavors that will clash with the lemon and capers. Rice, quinoa or roasted potatoes make safe bets.

Keeping these tips in mind, here are over 25 delicious side dish ideas to serve with chicken piccata:

Pasta Sides

Buttery, lemony chicken piccata calls for an equally rich and bright pasta side dish. Some excellent options include:

• Lemon Parmesan Pasta – Toss hot pasta with lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan, garlic and herbs. The lemon and cheese complement the chicken perfectly.

• Pesto Pasta – The herby basil pesto sauce pairs nicely with the fresh flavors of the piccata. Use fettuccine or linguine.

• Orzo with Spinach and Feta: Feta cheese, wilted spinach, and lemony orzo make a Mediterranean-style dish.

• Mac and Cheese – A classic comfort food, the creamy cheese sauce matches the buttery chicken sauce.

• Fettuccine Alfredo – Another creamy, cheesy pasta, Alfredo is a natural pair for chicken piccata.

Vegetable Sides

Fresh, roasted and sautéed veggies make healthy, lighter complements to the chicken. Great options include:

• Roasted Asparagus – Simple lemon-roasted asparagus adds color and balances the meal.

• Sautéed Zucchini – Quick-cooking zucchini rounds out the plate with bright flavors.

• Roasted Cauliflower – Nutty cauliflower caramelizes beautifully when roasted as a side.

• Green Beans Almondine – A classic pairing of green beans sautéed with lemon, butter and almonds.

• Broccoli Rabe – The pleasant bitterness of broccoli rabe contrasts the rich chicken.

Starch Sides

Hearty starches like potatoes, rice or polenta absorb the saucy piccata nicely. Consider making:

• Recipe for Creamy Risotto: Short-grain rice cooked in broth makes a rich, creamy base for the chicken.

• Garlic Mashed Potatoes – Smooth, creamy spuds are hard to resist with any saucy dish.

• Roasted Fingerling Potatoes – Crispy roasted potatoes add texture and warmth.

• Soft Polenta – Simmered cornmeal with butter and Parmesan fills out the plate.

• Potato Gnocchi – These fluffy pillows of potato absorb all the flavorful sauce.

Salad Sides

Fresh, crisp salads complement the savory chicken. Some excellent ideas include:

• Arugula Salad – Nutty arugula, lemon vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan pair perfectly.

• Spinach Salad – Baby spinach leaves, sliced strawberries, pecans and lemon poppyseed dressing.

• Wedge Salad – A crisp iceberg lettuce wedge drizzled with blue cheese dressing.

• Greek Salad – Tomato, cucumber, olives, feta and lemon-oregano dressing checks all the boxes.

• Caprese Salad – Simple sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil leaves drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Bread Sides

Warm, crusty bread or garlic bread is right at home with an Italian chicken dinner. Try:

• Focaccia – Fluffy flatbread for dipping in the lemony sauce.

• Ciabatta – Another excellent bread choice with a firm, chewy crumb to soak up sauce.

• Garlic Bread – Unbeatable garlic butter flavor, especially on a crispy baguette.

• Parmesan Breadsticks – Crunchy, salty and completely addictive alongside chicken.

• Feta and Olive Bread – Baked bread topped with briny feta and chili-lime olives.

More Unique Sides

If you want to try something less ordinary, get creative with your pairings:

• Risotto Cakes – Make risotto, chill it, then pan-fry into crispy cakes for an appetizer side.

• Butternut Squash Risotto – The sweet squash plays off the lemon-caper flavors beautifully.

• Gnocchi – Soft, pillowy semolina dumplings soak up the sauce deliciously.

• Refried Beans – Warm, creamy beans offer protein and Tex-Mex flavors.

• Quinoa – Fluffy quinoa adds great texture and soaks up sauce nicely.

Chicken piccata is one of those versatile dishes that pairs well with an endless variety of sides. From pastas to potatoes, salads to starches, there are so many excellent options for what to serve with this classic chicken recipe. Using the suggestions above, mix and match different flavors, textures and ingredients to create a well-rounded meal that suits your tastes. With the right combination of side dishes, chicken piccata can be transformed into a truly spectacular dinner.