We eat chicken nuggets all the time, but I sometimes wonder what else I can make to go with them to mix things up in the kitchen.
We’ve put together a list of all our favorite foods to eat with chicken nuggets, including carbs, vegetables, and of course, the best sauces to go with them.
As I mentioned above, chicken nuggets are an incredibly versatile freeze staple for families. As such you almost have endless options of how to serve them But if you want to put together the perfect meal containing chicken nuggets we like to include at least one vegetable, one source of carbohydrates and of course no chicken nugget meal is complete without a tasty chicken nugget dipping sauce.
We’ve broken down our ideas into these groups to make it easier for you to put together your chicken nugget meal.
Note: If you want some information for best ways to cook homemade or frozen chicken nuggets in an air fryer, in an oven and more check out our related guides.
And if you want to know what to serve with other chicken based freezer friendly products we have guides on chicken goujons, chicken tenders and chicken dinosaur nuggets to give you some more specific dinner inspiration.
Chicken nuggets are a beloved childhood staple that many of us still enjoy as adults. These tasty morsels of breaded and fried chicken are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. While nuggets are delicious on their own, pairing them with complementary side dishes can take your meal to the next level.
I looked at more than 2,000 words of content from top food websites and came up with a list of 30 tasty sides that go great with chicken nuggets. You can choose from classic pairs like fries and creamy mac and cheese or lighter ones like salads and roasted vegetables.
Best Classic Comfort Pairings
Crispy French Fries
You can’t go wrong pairing chicken nuggets with a side of crispy, golden french fries. This classic combo is beloved for good reason – the salty and indulgent fries pair perfectly with the crunchy, juicy nuggets. Upgrade your fries by adding fun seasonings like parmesan, truffle oil, or cajun spices.
Macaroni and Cheese
Warm, ooey-gooey mac and cheese is comfort food at its finest. Made extra decadent with melted cheese, this carb-heavy side balances the fried chicken nuggets. Consider trying fun add-ins like bacon, broccoli, or hot sauce to jazz up traditional mac and cheese.
Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes are a satisfying accompaniment to chicken nuggets Butter, milk, sour cream, and cheese blend together to create the ultimate comforting side dish For variety, try different mashed potato recipes with unique flavors like garlic, chives, or roasted garlic.
Tater Tots
These bite-sized crispy potato nuggets pair perfectly with chicken nuggets. Tater tots offer a fun twist on classic fries with their crunchy exterior and fluffy interior. Season them with spices or dip them in fun sauces like ranch, cheese or barbecue.
Best Fresh and Light Sides
Caesar Salad
A fresh Caesar salad with crisp lettuce, parmesan cheese, crunchy croutons, and tangy dressing helps balance a fried nugget meal. The cool, crunchy greens paired with the hot chicken nuggets make for a delicious contrast of temperatures and textures.
Coleslaw
Tangy coleslaw offers a refreshing, lighter side to serve with chicken nuggets. The crunchy cabbage and carrots tossed in a creamy dressing compliment the juicy chicken. Try unique coleslaw flavors like apple, bacon, lime, or bleu cheese.
Steamed Broccoli
Broccoli is a good way to add vegetables to your chicken nugget dinner. Lightly steamed broccoli florets provide freshness and crunch. Season simply with lemon, garlic, or cheese for extra flavor.
Fruit Salad
A fresh fruit salad with bite-sized pieces of pineapple, orange segments, grapes, and berries makes a sweet counterpoint to salty, savory chicken nuggets. The juicy fruits also help cleanse your palate between bites of fried food.
Best Flavorful and Fun Pairings
Sweet Potato Fries
For a flavorful twist on regular fries, try oven-baked sweet potato fries alongside your nuggets. Sweet potatoes offer a vibrant orange color plus natural sweetness to balance the chicken’s saltiness.
Potato Wedges
The outside of these wedge-shaped potatoes is crispy, and the inside is fluffy. Add a lot of salt, pepper, paprika, and any other spices you like. You can also roast potato wedges with garlic or Parmesan cheese to make them taste even better.
Onion Rings
If you eat chicken nuggets with crispy breaded onion rings, the crunch and flavor are great. Vidalia onions are sweet, and you can dip the hot onion rings in your favorite sauces, like ranch, barbecue sauce, or aioli.
Mozzarella Sticks
For ultimate indulgence, serve crunchy fried mozzarella sticks stuffed with oozing cheese alongside chicken nuggets. This appetizer pairing is sure to satisfy any craving for breaded, fried foods. Serve with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Jalapeño Poppers
Spice up your chicken nuggets with creamy, spicy jalapeño poppers. These breaded and fried jalapeño halves filled with a mix of cheese make a fun pairing. Cool down the heat with ranch or sour cream for dipping.
Corn on the Cob
Grilled corn on the cob makes for a classic summer side dish with chicken nuggets. The sweet juices and smoky char flavor from the grill balance the crispy nuggets wonderfully. Slather with butter, mayo, lime, or hot sauce.
Baked Beans
Warm and savory baked beans seasoned with bacon, onions, brown sugar and spices make an unexpectedly delicious partner for chicken nuggets. The soft, saucy beans contrast with the crispy nugget coating.
Coleslaw
A fresh and vibrant side salad of thinly sliced cabbage, shredded carrots, green onions, and a tangy dressing offers color and crunch alongside chicken nuggets. Try pairing with unique dressing flavors like lime cilantro or apple cider vinaigrette.
Macaroni Salad
Chilled macaroni salad with a creamy mayo-based dressing makes a nice cooling contrast to hot chicken nuggets straight from the oven. Mix in shredded cheese, bell peppers, onions, olives, or whatever you love for extra flavor and crunch.
Crunchy Vegetable Crudités
Serve an assortment of raw, freshly cut vegetables like carrots, celery, cucumber, radishes, and bell peppers with creamy ranch dressing for dipping. The crisp veggies and bright flavors balance the fried chicken.
Chicken nuggets are versatile enough to pair with just about any side dish under the sun. Use these suggestions as inspiration to come up with your own perfect pairing! From hot or cold, crunchy or creamy, simple or deluxe – the possibilities are endless. With an array of complementary flavors and textures on your plate, chicken nuggets can be so much more than just a kids’ meal.
Smiley Faces and Alphabet Letters
Even though I know that smiley faces and letters are just fried potatoes in different shapes, my kids go crazy when they see them.
Just so you know, if your kids are like mine, they will start to eat cold food while they try to spell their name and other words with the toys they have.
Another family favorite, Tater tots are great as a side for chicken nuggets. Either straight out of the freezer or served as a Tater tot casserole.
Sweet Potato are super versatile and are a great alternative to regular French fries.
If you kids prefer a sweet potato casserole or mashed sweet potato this would work great too.
If you want a potato but not fried, then mash is a great healthy alternative.
Hear me out with this one. I know spaghetti doesn’t spring to mind when you first think about chicken nuggets but let me say three words to you – Chicken Nugget Milanese!.
This Italian American classic is usually served with one big escalope but why not serve it with chicken nuggets instead as a more family friendly version. You can read our recipe for chicken nugget Milanese here!.
As with spaghetti, rice may not be the first thing you think of when serving nuggets but actually nuggets are a great Chinese and Japanese food hack.
Think about all the fried chicken recipes you can find in these fast food chains, like orange chicken, lemon chicken, and Katsu chicken.
Substitute an escalope for a nugget and serve with rice and sauce and you are on to a family friendly winner.
Biscuits are a Southern Classic and I personally love to full a biscuit with a nugget and some chilli jam and cheese and serve this as a classic biscuit sandwich.
However if biscuits aren’t your thing then you could serve the sandwich with any type of bread such as sliced loaf, buns or baguette whatever is your preference.
Best vegetables to eat with chicken nuggets
Corn is a BBQ classic and is a great accompaniment to chicken nuggets. Frozen, fresh, kernels or on the cob it really doesn’t matter, corn is just a great thing to serve with chicken nuggets.
Baked Beans are my children’s favorite thing to serve with chicken nuggets. They love a regular variety but as adults we like to serve our nuggets with a BBQ Baked Bean.
Peas are a classic side dish for chicken nuggets or any children’s meal to be honest. We usually use frozen peas but any type of peas frozen, fresh, canned or mushy are perfect.
Veggie Fries are a great way of getting vegetables into your kids in a more pleasing way that just on the side of the plate.
Depending on your family preferences you could serve a mix of vegetables or just one type. Zucchini Fries, are a favorite in our household with some delicious tempura batter but any veggie fries will work.
If you are short on time but want to get a variety of vegetables into your kids then California Mix has to be the answer.
Want to know how to make California Mix more exciting then check out our California mix recipes here.
Another family friendly staple, fresh or frozen broccoli is a great accompaniment to chicken nuggets.
Coleslaw, is a great way of getting vegetables into your littles. We love to make our own homemade coleslaw with shredded onions, cabbages, carrots mixed with yoghurt and mustard and mayo however there are some great store bought coleslaws on the market too.
If you have a veggie hater in your family why not serve the chicken nuggets with a fruit cup instead. We usually serve a mix of strawberries, blueberries, grape and apples in our fruit cup but I would say go with whatever your little ones love.
Another great way to get another one of your child’s five a day into this quick meal. My kids love apple sauce and will eat it with everything chicken nuggets included!
Salad is the perfect summer accompaniment for chicken nuggets. We like to make our salads as bright and colourful as possible.
Everything That’s Actually In A Chicken Nugget
FAQ
What are good side dishes for chicken nuggets?
- Funeral Potatoes
- Zucchini Fries
- Baked Sweet Potato
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Pea Salad
- Cucumber Salad
What to make with chicken nuggets for dinner?
11 Ways to Turn Frozen Nuggets into DinnerChicken Nugget Parmesan. Cook up the nuggets according to their package directions and boil a pot of pasta. Chicken Nugget Sliders. Chicken Nugget Pitas. Buffalo Chicken Nugget Wraps. Chicken Nugget Caesar Salad. Chicken and Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese.