40 Side Dishes For Chicken The Whole Family Will Love

Everyone knows it's really the sides that shine.

By

Mary Shannon Wells

Updated on January 10, 2024

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus — Photo: Jennifer Causey

Chicken is the ultimate weeknight dinner component. It's budget-friendly, healthy, and easy to cook. Plus, you can prepare it dozens of ways. Because plain chicken doesn't have a ton of flavor on its own, you can get really creative with your side dishes.

Chicken will go with just about anything, so we picked out some of our favorite chicken dinner sides that are packed with personality. We've got a few different preparations of potatoes—baked, mashed, and smashed—and lots of refreshing ways to prepare vegetables, like our Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad.

Whether you want to go healthy with a fresh veggie side or heavy with a classic macaroni and cheese recipe, you'll love these side dishes for chicken. You've probably got a rotisserie chicken in the fridge or some chicken breasts in the freezer, so it's time to get them out and pair them with these sides. There's truly a chicken side dish for everyone on this list.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Southern Living Roasted Brussels Sprouts on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Though it takes a little bit of extra time, make sure not to skip placing the Brussels on the sheet pan with the cut side down. This step will ensure that the whole surface becomes crispy.

02 of 40

Tennessee Onions

Southern Living Tennessee Onions in the dish ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

You'll find both cheddar cheese and smoked Gouda cheese on the ingredient list for this old-fashioned casserole. We must warn you, this side dish just may outshine the chicken when served on the same plate.

03 of 40

Roasted Broccoli

Roasted Broccoli — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Transform broccoli into a flavorful (and healthy!) side dish with just the addition of salt, pepper, and olive oil. You can also add a little bit of lemon juice or Parmesan cheese just before serving for an extra punch of flavor.

04 of 40

Slow-Cooker Green Beans

Southern Living Slow Cooker Green beans in a bowl to serve — Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Let your slow cooker handle the side dish while you focus on the main course. The flavors of these green beans will develop as they cook with the bacon and onion.

05 of 40

Roasted Broccolini With Pecans And Lemon

Southern Living Roasted Broccolini with Pecans and Lemon — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

This impressive side dish is much easier to pull together than it looks, and takes just 25 minutes from start to finish. Plus, in addition to the broccolini you'll need just a handful of ingredients.

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Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Southern Living Roasted Fingerling Potatoes in a serving bowl with forks — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Using a convection setting, if available, will ensure that these slender potatoes are tender and golden brown when you take them out of the oven. You can also use whatever fresh or dried herbs you have on hand for an extra dose of flavor.

07 of 40

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus — Jennifer Causey

Wrap bacon around anything and it's guaranteed to be a hit. These asparagus bundles are no exception. We recommend using three spears per bundle, but it's best to use less or more depending on the thickness of the asparagus.

08 of 40

Twice-Baked Potatoes

Twice Baked Potatoes — Antonis Achilleos

You don't need many ingredients to whip up this impressive side dish. The main step that takes them up a notch from regular baked potatoes is scooping out the pulp and mashing it together with cheese, onions, salt, and pepper, before adding it back to the potato skin and letting it bake for an additional 15 minutes.

09 of 40

Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

garlic parmesan green beans — Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Garlic, parmesan, and bacon are the ideal trio to turn green beans into an exciting and flavorful side dish. Together, they pack plenty of flavor into every bite of this easy recipe.

10 of 40

Warm Mustard Potato Salad

Warm Mustard Potato Salad — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Of course we can't forget about potato salad, but we're saving the traditional version for the backyard barbecues and opting for this fresh spin on other nights. Dressed in whole-grain mustard and sherry vinegar, this recipe lets potatoes really shine.

11 of 40

Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad in a white bowl with golden spoon — Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This salad will have every flavor imaginable bursting in your mouth, from juicy grapes to crunchy broccoli and pecans. The farfalle pasta and sweet, tangy, creamy dressing ties all those ingredients together into a crowd-pleasing combination.

12 of 40

Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs

Asparagus with Cheese Sauce and Herb Breadcrumbs — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

In just 25 minutes, transform asparagus into a cheesy dish that both kids and adults will want to eat. Just make sure to serve it immediately.

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Smashed Potatoes

Southern Living Smashed Potatoes on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Name nearly any chicken dish, and these smashed potatoes are the perfect side for them. Use them as a canvas to sop up pan sauces, or let them be on their own, crispy on the outside and buttery-creamy on the inside.

14 of 40

Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon

Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Brussels sprouts recipes are everywhere these days, but we bet you haven't had one like this yet. This simply delicious oven-roasted recipe will entice the sprout-haters to give it a try, and requires just four ingredients plus salt and pepper.

15 of 40

Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach — Antonis Achilleos

It's a whole lot easier to convince your children to eat their greens when there's parmesan, butter, and cream involved. Serve it as a standalone side or over grits or cornbread. Bonus: This five-ingredient dish is ready in under 30 minutes.

16 of 40

Southern Cobb Salad With Cornbread Croutons

Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

With black-eyed peas and cornbread croutons, this salad is just about as Southern as it gets. The croutons are a great way to use up stale, leftover corn bread. This salad can play a supporting role alongside a platter of fried chicken.

17 of 40

Lisa Cericola's Herbed Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes

Lisa's Herbed Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

There's not much that a warm serving of mashed potatoes doesn't taste good with, especially when that serving has brown butter and savory herbs in it. But it's the half-and-half and cream cheese that really send these luscious whipped potatoes over the top.

18 of 40

Roasted Broccoli Macaroni And Cheese

Roasted Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This veggie version of a classic macaroni and cheese can be made up to one day in advance to help you out the night you're serving. Not a fan of broccoli? We have tons of macaroni and cheese recipes that will go with chicken just as well.

19 of 40

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Smashed Potatoes on a blue tray — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

We're breaking out the trusty air fryer for these irresistibly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside taters. Watch out because these will be your new favorite, go-to potato side, especially once you whip up our Everything But the Kitchen Sink Sauce.

20 of 40

Best-Ever Succotash

a skillet of best-ever succotash — Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

For summer nights, this classic succotash brings together all of the season's veggies into one flavorful pot. The additions of crumbled bacon and fresh basil bring it to new heights, which is why we call it the "Best-Ever."

21 of 40

Basic Baked Potato

Perfect Baked Potatoes — Jennifer Causey

There aren't many dishes that a perfect baked potato won't complement. This no-fail, no-fuss recipe will win every time, and can be customized with endless toppings. Keep it basic with olive oil, salt, and butter or set up an extensive topping bar.

22 of 40

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots — Iain Bagwell

These carrots are pretty enough for a company-is-coming spread and equally as delicious. A touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper give them more spark than the typical glazed carrots. Choose young, slender carrots for the best flavor.

23 of 40

Grilled Baby Zucchini-And-Tomato Salad

Grilled Baby Zucchini-and-Tomato Salad — Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Instead of walking back and forth between the grill and stovetop, cook your chicken and side dish on the grill together. With this fresh summer recipe, you can enjoy a chargrilled take on panzanella, the classic Italian bread salad.

24 of 40

Field Pea, Corn And Bacon Salad

Field Pea, Corn, and Bacon Salad — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

This fresh salad would make for a filling summer dinner over a bed of greens with grilled chicken on top. Cooking requires just a few minutes of stirring the vegetables in rich bacon drippings. The dish features our delicious Summer Sauce, a bright blend of basil, parsley, mint, garlic, and lemon.

25 of 40

Spicy Pineapple Slaw

Spicy Pineapple Slaw — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

This sweet and spicy slaw featuring a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is a healthy, flavorful option for any summer picnic or potluck. It would specifically go great with barbecue chicken and would also be a hit on taco night.

26 of 40

Arugula Salad with Bacony Croutons and Sherry Vinaigrette

Arugula Salad with Bacony Croutons and Sherry Vinaigrette — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

If you want a salad that's anything but boring, allow us to introduce you to this pretty little arugula number. Besides the bacon-flavored croutons, this indulgent side includes sweet Honeycrisp apples and tangy blue cheese.

27 of 40

Black-Eyed Pea And Grain Salad

Black-Eyed Pea and Grain Salad — Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kaye E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Southern favorite Texas Caviar inspired this colorful salad, so you know it will be a crowd-pleaser. A healthier take on black-eyed peas, this grain salad uses bulgur wheat, as well as corn, bell peppers, oil and vinegar, and hot sauce.

28 of 40

Harvest Salad

Harvest Salad — Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

This stunning green salad is the best way to show off fall's bounty. The bold flavor of cruciferous vegetables, apples, and squash will add excitement to any chicken dish you serve, especially a simple roasted bird.

29 of 40

Smashed Baby Red Potatoes

Smashed Baby Red Potatoes — Iain Bagwell

Instead of roasting or mashing your potatoes, you should be smashing them. Let this recipe prove it to you. If you can’t find baby red potatoes, any new potatoes or small creamy potatoes will work great.

30 of 40

Savannah Red Rice

Savannah Red Rice — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

In our version of this coastal classic from Georgia, the pilaf gets baked in the oven so it can develop a mix of tender and crispy textures. Tomatoes, onion, celery, and green pepper load this hearty rice dish up with flavor. Use a little hot sauce if you like it spicy.

31 of 40

Arroz Verde (Mexican Green Rice)

Arroz Verde (Mexican Green Rice) — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

This Southwestern-style rice will take your next chicken fajita or taco night to the next level. This side gets its color from a healthy dose of cilantro and poblano. After you've cooked the rice, you can have this colorful side on the table in just 15 minutes.

32 of 40

Pan-Fried Okra With Cornmeal

Pan-Fried Okra with Cornmeal Recipe — Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

While okra is a seasonal summer favorite, you can just as well grab a bag of the frozen stuff to curb those out-of-season cravings. This recipe is delightfully easy to prepare, thanks to a few tricks that let you avoid any dipping and dredging.

33 of 40

Homemade Baked Beans

Southern Living Homemade Baked Beans in the dish after baking ready to serve — Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

No fried chicken dinner is complete without a helping of baked beans, so good thing we're here to help you out. This recipe soups up canned beans with extra baked bean flavor. You'll love how easy it is to stir the ingredients together and stick your casserole dish in the oven.

34 of 40

Classic Grilled Corn On The Cob

Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

You can't beat fresh, grilled corn at your summer barbecue. This simple method involves pulling back the husks to use as a handle. After they're lightly charred, wrap the ears in foil with butter and any seasonings you choose.

35 of 40

Fried Skillet Potatoes

Fried Skillet Potatoes — Caitlin Bensel

No peeling is necessary to serve up these crispy potatoes. Boiling the potatoes before browning them in a skillet will ensure that they're both tender and crispy.

36 of 40

Watermelon, Cucumber, And Feta Salad

Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

This popular summer recipe would be very refreshing alongside barbecued chicken or kabobs. Red wine vinegar, feta cheese, and fresh herbs make for an exciting mix of sweet, tangy, and salty. Add the dressing just before serving.

37 of 40

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas — Victor Protasio

Pasta night meets chicken dinner. Instead of cooking up another box of pasta, try this quick gnocchi recipe with pillowy dumplings browned in butter and simmered with peas, parsley, and lemon. Add in some grilled chicken, and you've got the complete package.

38 of 40

Grilled Sweet Potato Fries

Grilled Sweet Potato Fries — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Give your sweet potato wedges a quick zap in the microwave to ensure that they'll grill to tenderness with only five minutes or so on the grill. That way you can pull them off as soon as they develop great-looking char marks. Topped with honey, spices, and queso fresco, these fries are certain to go fast.

39 of 40

Wild Rice With Mushrooms

Wild Rice with Mushrooms — Iain Bagwell

Speaking of dishes that are easy to prepare, this recipe dresses up a package of long-grain and wild rice mixed with sliced mushrooms and Marsala. The nutty, soul-satisfying flavor is the perfect accompaniment to baked chicken recipes.

40 of 40

Balsamic Green Beans With Pearl Onions

Balsamic Green Beans with Pearl Onions Recipe — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Guests will have no idea that this beautiful side dish only took 10 minutes of hands-on time. Caramelized pearl onions and a sweet balsamic syrup glaze the beans, which cook very quickly if you use slender haricots verts.

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