What Sides Go With A Chicken Salad: 25 Delicious Options

A light and refreshing meal, chicken salad can be put in a tomato or avocado half, on a bed of lettuce, or as a filling for a sandwich. The creamy texture and flavorful mix of chicken, vegetables, and dressing make it a great summer lunch or dinner.

When making chicken salad at home, you have total control over the ingredients Basic chicken salad is made with shredded chicken, mayonnaise or yogurt, seasonings, and chopped celery and onion But you can also add grapes, pecans, bacon, cranberries, pineapple, mango, avocado, or any combination of your favorite flavors. The dressing possibilities are also endless – try ranch, honey mustard, Italian, curry, Buffalo, chipotle, pesto, or Greek yogurt ranch.

Once you’ve whipped up a bowl of your favorite chicken salad recipe, it’s time to think about sides. Chicken salad can be pretty filling on its own, so you don’t need anything too heavy. But a side dish adds extra flavor and nutrition to complete the meal. Here are 25 of the best side dishes to serve with chicken salad:

Fresh Vegetables

• Carrot sticks and celery sticks with ranch dip
• Cucumber slices
• Cherry tomatoes
• Broccoli florets with lemon aioli dip
• Roasted cauliflower
• Marinated artichoke hearts
• Pickles

Fresh, crunchy vegetables are a great way to make your chicken salad more colorful. The vegetables add a nice variety of textures to the creamy salad. Put a tasty sauce or dip on them to make them taste even better.

Fruit Salad

Chicken salad goes nicely with fresh, sweet fruits like:

• Diced pineapple
• Sliced strawberries and grapes
• Mandarin orange segments
• Chopped apples
• Melon balls – cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon
• Berries – blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
• Kiwi slices
• Diced mango or peach

The sweetness of the fruit balances the savory chicken salad. Make a simple fruit salad by combining a few of your favorite fruits. Or mix fruit with a yogurt dip or poppyseed dressing.

Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with veggies makes a fantastic chicken salad side. Some easy options are:

• Rotini with Italian dressing, cherry tomatoes, olives, pepperoncini, and shredded Parmesan
• Bowtie pasta with pesto, halved grape tomatoes, and shredded mozzarella
• Fusilli with Greek dressing, feta crumbles, cucumber, red onion, and kalamata olives
• Wagon wheel pasta with ranch dressing, shredded carrots, snap peas, and red bell pepper

Along with the chicken salad, the pasta soaks up the dressing and makes a hearty base. Feel free to use whatever pasta shape you prefer.

Potato Salad

Potato salad is a classic pairing with chicken salad. Opt for potato salads with a tangy vinegar-based dressing instead of heavy mayo. Try:

• Red potatoes, red onion, celery, parsley, yellow mustard dressing
• Baby potatoes, scallions, grainy mustard vinaigrette
• Roasted sweet potato, feta, spinach, red wine vinegar
• Fingerling potatoes, dill, dijon mustard lemon dressing

Coleslaw

For another crunchy, tangy cold salad, coleslaw is a fantastic choice. Use bagged coleslaw mix for an easy shortcut. Toss with:

• Creamy coleslaw dressing
• Apple cider vinegar and olive oil
• Greek yogurt ranch dressing
• Lime, cilantro, chili powder
• Toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger

Quinoa Salad

For a healthy, protein-packed side, try a quinoa salad with ingredients like:

• Diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled feta, red wine vinegar
• Black beans, corn, avocado, cilantro, lime juice
• Carrots, edamame, bell pepper, sesame ginger dressing
• Kale, dried cranberries, pecans, balsamic vinaigrette

The quinoa provides filling fiber and protein to complement the chicken.

Pasta Macaroni Salad

Put elbow macaroni, mayo or yogurt, shredded carrot, celery, and onion in a bowl. Add other ingredients and mix well. Serve with chicken salad. Or jazz it up with add-ins like:

• Sharp cheddar, bacon, green onion
• Feta, kalamata olives, red bell pepper
• Shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbles
• Curry powder, golden raisins, sliced almonds

Greek Salad

A Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onion, bell pepper, and feta complements chicken salad wonderfully. Toss everything with a lemony Greek dressing.

Leafy Green Salad

A simple green salad is a healthy, easy side dish. Build your own salad with greens like romaine, spinach, kale, or arugula. Top with any combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, peppers, onions, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, croutons, etc.

Macaroni and Cheese

For comfort food, creamy mac and cheese is a delicious chicken salad side. Opt for a lighter version with veggies stirred in, like broccoli, peas, or roasted red peppers.

Roasted Vegetables

Roasted veggies like cauliflower, carrots, Brussels sprouts, or butternut squash add color and savory flavor. Toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper before roasting. Sprinkle with Parmesan after baking.

Baked Beans

Baked beans – like Bush’s Original – provide protein and fiber. Heat them on the stovetop or use the slow cooker to keep them warm.

Crackers and Hummus

For an easy appetizer-style side, serve crackers with hummus or another creamy dip, like:

• Red pepper hummus
• White bean dip
• Baba ganoush
• Tzatziki

Multigrain crackers or baked pita chips pair nicely with the dips.

Chips and Guacamole

Crunchy tortilla chips and smooth, creamy guacamole make a nice combo with chicken salad. Jazz up storebought guac or make your own with avocados, lime juice, cilantro, and diced tomatoes and onion.

Cheese and Crackers

A cheese board with crackers and fruit provides a little bite of everything. Select an assortment of cubed cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, pepper jack, provolone, or Havarti and arrange with crackers, grapes, and sliced apples or pears.

Rice Pilaf

As a base for the chicken salad, try a flavorful rice pilaf made with chicken broth and spices or herbs, like cumin, garlic, or parsley. The rice soaks up the flavor and gives the meal more substance.

Potato Chips

Crunchy potato chips – regular or kettle cooked – serve as a quick, easy accompaniment to chicken salad. Serve with French onion dip for even more flavor.

Bread and Butter

You can’t go wrong with some nice, crusty bread and butter on the side. Baguettes, ciabatta, focaccia, dinner rolls, etc all pair nicely with the salad.

Cornbread

Warm cornbread muffins or squares go great with chicken salad, especially if you add corn to your salad. The subtle sweetness complements the savory chicken.

Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

For a fun presentation, assemble fruit and cheese kabobs with cubes of pineapple, grapes, strawberries, melon, and chunks of mozzarella, Colby jack, or cheddar cheese.

Those are 25 of my favorite sides to serve with chicken salad sandwiches or any chicken salad recipe. Sides like fresh veggies, pasta salads, and fruits add extra flavor, color, and nutrition to round out the meal. With so many tasty options, you could enjoy chicken salad all summer long without getting bored! Add a refreshing beverage like iced tea, lemonade, or fruity cocktails for the perfect summer dinner.