Looking for side dishes for lemon chicken? If you have a delicious lemon chicken recipe ready for dinner this week, but have no idea what to serve on the side, you’ll want to save this list to find the perfect side dish!.
That’s why we love lemon chicken so much and make it for dinner a lot in our family. It’s cheap and easy to make on a busy weeknight. If you have chicken breasts in the fridge or freezer, and you’re not sure what to make this week try this easy slow cooker lemon chicken recipe and lemon chicken soup.
But a meal isn’t complete until it has a great side dish. Let’s face it: some of the best side dishes are what make the meal something to look forward to after a long day.
If you don’t have much time to make a fancy dinner, don’t worry! Instead, serve side dishes with simple ingredients that go well with your tasty main dish. Your side dish doesn’t have to be hard, and with these suggestions for the best sides to serve with lemon chicken, you’ll have a weeknight meal that the whole family will love!
Lemon chicken is a bright, refreshing dish that features juicy chicken pieces bathed in a zippy, lemon-accented sauce. With its tangy citrus flavors, lemon chicken begs to be served alongside sides that can stand up to and complement its bold personality.
After analyzing numerous recipes and food blogs I’ve compiled a list of 20 of the very best side dishes to pair with lemon chicken. These sides run the gamut from hearty grains to crisp salads to roasted veggies, all of which will add delicious contrast and dimension to a lemon chicken dinner.
Overview of Popular Side Dishes for Lemon Chicken
Here’s a quick rundown of some of my top recommended side pairings for lemon chicken:
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Rice – A bowl of steamy white or brown rice is a simple yet totally tasty pairing for lemon chicken The rice soaks up the zesty sauce beautifully,
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Pasta – Buttery noodles like linguine or spaghetti complement lemon chicken wonderfully Toss the pasta with a bit of the lemony sauce for extra flavor
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Bread: You can dip a crusty loaf of bread or even just a slice of garlic bread in the sauce.
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Salads: Spinach, mixed greens, or Greek salad are bright, fresh salads that go well with chicken because they are crunchy and acidic.
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Roasted veggies – Roasting vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or carrots caramelizes their natural sugars and makes them irresistible alongside lemon chicken.
The 20 Best Side Dishes to Serve with Lemon Chicken
Without further ado, here are my picks for the best side dishes to go with lemon chicken:
1. Basmati Rice
Fluffy basmati rice is a totally classic pairing with lemon chicken. The fragrant, fluffy grains soak up the lemony sauce beautifully. For best results, serve the basmati rice with a pat of butter stirred in.
2. Pasta
A big bowl of linguine, spaghetti, or other long noodles tossed with a bit of olive oil makes the perfect partner for lemon chicken. For extra flavor, toss the hot pasta right in the lemony pan sauce before serving.
3. Crusty Bread
There’s nothing like a slice of crusty artisanal bread for sopping up every last drop of the delicious lemon chicken pan sauce. French bread, ciabatta, or sourdough all pair wonderfully.
4. Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes are an irresistible side for lemon chicken. For best results, whip the potatoes with butter, whole milk, and a touch of garlic powder.
5. Steamed Broccoli
Steamed broccoli is a beautiful bright green color that goes well with golden lemon chicken. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the steamed broccoli to make it taste even better.
6. Greek Salad
A refreshing Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese pairs perfectly with zesty lemon chicken. The brightness of the salad balances the richness of the chicken.
7. Roasted Carrots
Roasting carrots with just a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper caramelizes their natural sweetness – making them an amazing pairing for lemon chicken.
8. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Buttery, roasted Brussels sprouts offer the perfect crunch and earthiness to complement bright lemon chicken. Toss sprouts with olive oil, salt, and garlic before roasting.
9. Rice Pilaf
Aromatic rice pilaf infused with onions, garlic, and fresh herbs is a quick and easy side for lemon chicken. The nutty pilaf soaks up the sauce nicely.
10. Garlic Bread
Warm, crusty garlic bread is simple but oh-so satisfying alongside lemony chicken. Brush bread slices with melted butter mixed with minced garlic before broiling.
11. Quinoa
Protein-packed quinoa offers a super nutritious side to pair with lemon chicken. For extra flavor, make quinoa pilaf seasoned with herbs.
12. Roasted Potatoes
Crispy roasted potatoes are an easy and delicious pairing for lemon chicken. Coat potato wedges with olive oil and seasoning and roast until browned and tender.
13. Mixed Greens Salad
A fresh and simple green salad dressed with a lemony vinaigrette cools the palate between bites of chicken. Top greens with avocado and tomato.
14. Steamed Green Beans
Vibrant steamed green beans round out the plate nicely when served alongside lemon chicken. Toss beans with lemon pepper seasoning while hot.
15. Pasta Salad
Chilly pasta salad with veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers makes a refreshing side for hot lemon chicken straight from the oven.
16. Couscous
Fluffy couscous tossed with lemon zest, olive oil, and fresh parsley offers a delicious nutty, citrusy side for lemon chicken.
17. Butter Noodles
For ultimate comfort food, serve lemon chicken over a heaping pile of buttered egg noodles. The butter and carbs pair perfectly with the sauce.
18. Glazed Carrots
Sweet glazed carrots balance the tartness of the lemon chicken beautifully. Peel and slice carrots, then simmer in a butter-honey glaze until tender.
19. Focaccia
Slice up a loaf of fluffy rosemary focaccia to soak up the lemony pan sauce and juices from the chicken. Perfection!
20. Asparagus
Quickly blanched, then drizzled with olive oil asparagus makes an elegant and tasty side pairing for lemon chicken.
So there you have it – 20 side dish ideas to take your lemon chicken to new heights! From fluffy grains to crunchy veggies, you’re sure to find the perfect accompaniment. Any of these sides would go beautifully with classic oven baked lemon chicken or even lemon chicken instant pot recipes.
Tips for Serving Lemon Chicken and Sides
Here are a few handy tips to ensure lemon chicken dinner success:
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Brighten up side dishes – Many sides pair even better with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of lemon zest over top.
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Roast veggies ahead – Roasting vegetables like Brussels sprouts can be done ahead of time so they’re ready when chicken is done.
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Make extra sauce – Have extra lemony pan sauce on hand to drizzle over rice, pasta, or bread.
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Cook chicken on sheet pan – Roast chicken and vegetables together on one sheet pan for easy cooking and serving.
With the right combination of bright, fresh sides, lemon chicken transforms into an incredibly vibrant, appealing, and balanced dinner. Next time you make this zesty classic, try one of these 20 recommended side dish pairings for an unforgettable meal. Your tastebuds will thank you!
Why You’ll Love These Delicious Side Dish Ideas for Lemon Chicken
- These tasty side dishes go great with your healthy lemon chicken recipe.
- You can get your family to try new foods more easily if you serve different side dishes with a meal they already know.
- For a quick and easy weeknight dinner, try this simple lemon chicken recipe with a tasty side dish.
- Making a meal plan for the week can begin with choosing a healthy side dish for tonight’s dinner.
These are some cheap pantry items that you should always have on hand that will make making a whole meal quick and easy. You won’t need all of them for every recipe, but they are a good place to start.
- Garlic powder or fresh garlic
- Lemon zest or fresh lemon juice
- Parmesan cheese
- Chicken broth
- Balsamic vinegar
- Unsalted butter or garlic butter
- Onion powder
- Sour cream
- Soy sauce
- Extra-virgin olive oil
You can click on each recipe post to see a full list of ingredients, but if you have most of these in your fridge or pantry, you’ll be dinner ready most nights of the week.
And now, without further ado, here is a very hearty list of the best side dishes for lemon chicken!.
Ina Garten’s Lemon Chicken Breasts | Barefoot Contessa | Food Network
FAQ
What is a good side dish for lemon chicken?
Since there’s lots of sauce that deserves to be soaked up, we love serving the chicken over rice, orzo, or mashed potatoes, or with a side of crusty bread. A simple leafy greens salad or steamed green beans are also nice additions to round out the meal.
What tastes good with lemon chicken?
For the best and easiest side dish to lemon chicken, try maple-glazed carrots. You can’t go wrong with maple syrup. Cucumber Tomato Salad: This simple recipe makes a classic and delicious salad. This Cucumber Tomato Salad is light, refreshing and so so easy to make!.
What to pair with lemon pepper chicken?
Lemon Pepper Chicken pairs great with fresh seasonal veggies and rice of any variety. If you want to really making it a filling meal, I have some suggestions. Lemon Kale Caesar Salad, Roasted Red Pepper Salad or Crunchy Asian Cabbage Salad would be lovely.
What to serve with lemon grass chicken?
How to serve Lemongrass Chicken? You can put it on rice, rice noodles, lettuce wraps, or cauliflower rice for a low-carb snack. Can this be made with tofu? Yes, use firm tofu, and crumble it, blotting it well first.