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 breast is a versatile and healthy protein that can be prepared in endless ways. However, finding the perfect side dish to complement chicken breast can sometimes be a challenge The good news is that chicken goes well with a wide variety of sides Here are 12 delicious side dish ideas to serve with chicken breast.
Vegetables
Adding color, nutrients, and flavor to chicken breast with vegetables is a great way to serve it. Some classic veggie sides include:
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Roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes Toss potato wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast at 400°F until browned and crisp Sweet potatoes can be seasoned similarly.
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Greens cooked in olive oil and garlic, like spinach, kale, chard, or other greens Season with salt and pepper.
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Roasted vegetables: Roasting brings out the natural sweetness in vegetables. Olive oil carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, or squash, then roast them at 425°F.
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Grilled vegetables: Slice zucchini, peppers, onions, eggplant, etc. into planks. Toss in oil and grill until charred and tender.
Grains
Grains like rice, quinoa, and pasta add filling fiber and carbohydrates. Try these grain sides with chicken:
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Rice pilaf: Sauté rice in olive oil then cook in broth. Finish with parsley or scallions.
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Pasta: Toss cooked pasta with olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan. Or make a simple pomodoro or pesto sauce.
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Quinoa: Cook quinoa in broth, then toss with vinaigrette and mix in tomatoes, corn, or other veggies.
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Couscous: Prepare couscous per package directions, then add olive oil and seasonings.
Salads
Bright, fresh salads complement chicken breast perfectly. Ideas include:
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Green salad: Toss together lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. Drizzle with a vinaigrette.
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Wedge salad: Top lettuce wedges with blue cheese dressing, tomatoes, and bacon.
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Greek salad: Combine cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta, and oregano dressing.
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Pasta salad: Toss pasta with chopped vegetables and Italian dressing.
Casseroles and Bakes
For heartier meals, try these delicious casserole side dishes:
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Broccoli-rice casserole: Combine cooked rice, broccoli, cheese, cream of mushroom soup, and top with fried onions.
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Squash casserole: Layer summer squash, onion, and cheese in a baking dish and bake until tender.
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Potato gratin: Thinly slice potatoes, layer in a baking dish with cream and cheese, and bake.
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Mac and cheese: No explanation needed for this cheesy, gooey classic!
Other Favorite Pairings
And don’t forget these other crowd-pleasing favorites:
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Garlic bread: Rub toasted bread with raw garlic and butter or brush with olive oil and toasted garlic.
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Dinner rolls: Warm bread served alongside chicken breast completes the meal.
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Coleslaw: Shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a creamy dressing.
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Fruit salad: Make a refreshing salad with seasonal fruits like berries, melon, etc.
The options are endless when choosing a side for chicken breast! Think about color, texture, flavor, and what ingredients are in season. Not only do these sides complement the chicken, they can help round out a healthy, balanced meal. With endless combinations, you’ll never get bored eating chicken breast for dinner!
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. It’s easy to make the honey-and-lemon dressing, and you’ll want extra on hand to pour over everything.
Get the Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Onion Soup Mix Roasted Potatoes
We all agree that roasting potatoes is the best way to cook em up, right? Right. Crispy on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside, and seasoned to absolute perfection, these onion soup mix roasted potatoes are going to be your new favorite easy-peasy dinner side dish. And if roasting potatoes in the oven wasn’t simple enough, we’ve made seasoning even simpler by using a flavor-packed packet of onion soup mix. Seriously, potatoes don’t get any better or easier than this. Get the Onion Soup Mix Roasted Potatoes recipe.
4 MUST TRY SIDE DISH RECIPES THAT YOUR FAMILY WILL LOVE | BEST SIDE DISHES | EASY COOKING
FAQ
What goes well with chicken breast as a side?
You don’t have to touch the chicken once it’s in the oven. That gives you just enough time to make a quick side dish on the stove, like spinach, couscous, meaty mushrooms with herbs, or cauliflower rice.