Perfect Side Dishes for Chicken: 10 Best Combinations

If you’re bored of eating the same side dish with chicken, or just need more ideas because you’re out of steam, this list should help.

I put together my 10 favorite side dishes that work great with all kinds of chicken meals. Some are classic, some are a bit different, but all of them are tried and true.

For each one, I’ll give you my personal tip on what kind of chicken it goes best with — but take that as just a suggestion. Do what works for you.

Let’s get into it.

1. Mashed Potatoes (Regular or Sweet)

Mashed potatoes are a classic for a reason. It goes with almost any version of chicken, but it goes best with fried chicken or pan-seared chicken breast.

Regular mashed potatoes are my first choice because they’re so simple and always fit with chicken. A little bit of milk, butter (or cream), and you have a perfect side dish.

If you’d love to eat something slightly different, mashed sweet potatoes are a great pick. It’s sweeter, softer, and goes perfectly with a whole roasted chicken from the oven.

My recommendation:

• With fried chicken and pan-seared chicken breast – go with regular.
• With baked/roasted whole chicken or thighs – sweet or a mix of both.

2. Crispy Fries

When I’m cooking roasted chicken breast or boneless chicken thigh in a pan or an air fryer, fries are among my first choices.

They’re simple, crispy, and everyone loves them.

I mostly cook them in an oven, in a way similar to an air fryer. I just sprinkle them with a high-quality extra virgin olive oil , just enough to give them a nice color and crispy texture, but without a lot of fat.

That way, I get a much healthier version that goes perfectly with various versions of chicken meals. But of course, you can make fries in the oil, it’s up to you! They’re always slightly juicier and better that way, I have to admit that.

Great with:

• Breaded chicken breasts
• Chicken nuggets
• Boneless chicken thighs in a pan
• Chicken breasts (oven-baked, air-fried, or pan-seared)

3. Fresh Cabbage Salad

Fresh cabbage salad is simple, light, and it goes with literally anything – but to me, it’s best with something fried or roasted. It’s crispy, fresh, and makes every meal lighter for your stomach.

If you track calories or you’re on a low-carb regimen, fresh cabbage salad is probably your best bet. Just a sprinkle of olive oil, apple vinegar, and a pinch of salt – and you have an amazing side dish that you can eat every day.

Pro tip: you can make it upfront and let it stay in the fridge for a few days. Just don’t season it, especially with apple vinegar and salt, because they’ll take off that crispiness from the salad if they stay for too long.

Great with:

• Whole roasted chicken
• Pan-fried or air-fried chicken thighs
• Chicken drumsticks or wings (baked or fried)
• It also works perfectly as a second side dish

4. Roasted Potatoes

Roasted potatoes and a roasted chicken – the classic that will never become obsolete. Crispy from the outside, soft from the inside, and goes with almost any version of the chicken from the oven or from a barbecue.

My favorite version is when cooked in the oven together with chicken, so it picks up all the juices from the chicken and other veggies (typically onion and carrots).

But even the solo variant is fantastic – a little bit of olive oil and garlic, or a little bit of pork fat, does a fantastic job.

If you want even better texture, you can first boil the potatoes and then bake them in the oven – trust me, you’ll feel the difference immediately, even though it’s making the whole cooking slightly more complicated.

Great with:

• Whole roasted chicken
• Bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks (oven-baked or grilled)
• Chicken quarters baked in the oven
• Garlic and herb marinated chicken breasts (oven-roasted)

5. Sauteed or Steamed Veggies

When you need something light, quick, and simple, steamed veggies or lightly sautéed is always a great idea.

Maybe not everyone is a big fan of it, but it gives a perfect balance to the plate, especially if you’re cooking some fatter chicken cuts.

I mostly use broccoli, zucchini, carrot, and paprika. Just add a little bit of olive oil, salt, and garlic (Eventually) – and there you have it, a perfect, healthy side dish that won’t take over the taste of the main dish.

Great with:

• Chicken in creamy or white sauce
• Grilled or baked chicken breasts
• Boneless chicken thighs (pan-fried or air-fried)
• Chicken stir-fry (as a side instead of adding all veggies in the pan)

6. Rice

Rice is one of the most complementary side dishes for chicken because you can adjust it for literally any type of chicken dish.

Whether you’re making a chicken in creamy or white sauce, or something asian inspired, rice always perfectly combines with it.

When I make chicken in white sauce (a bit of onion, cream, toasted cheese, spices), I prefer to mix everything with rice once it’s cooked. That way, rice soaks up all the juices and tastes fantastically.

If you prefer something simpler and aromatic, rice with garlic and a bit of butter is always a great idea. Rizi-bizi is also a fantastic idea, and something that I’ve discovered recently – adding crispy fried onions improves the taste soooo much! I bet you’ll always add it if you try it once.

Types of rice I recommend:

• Plain white rice
• Rice with garlic and butter
• Herbed rice pilaf
• Rizi-bizi

Great with:

• Chicken in creamy or white sauce
• Baked or grilled chicken breasts
• Chicken and veggie skillet dishes
• Oven-baked chicken thighs with pan sauce

7. Couscous or Quinoa

If you don’t want to mess with complicated side dishes, couscous and quinoa are lifesavers. You can make them in less than 10 minutes, and they go perfectly with both spicier and lighter chicken meals.

Couscous is my favorite when I make chicken in a Mediterranean flair – olives, lemon, dalmatian spices….

Quinoa is perfect when I want something slightly different but still very simple and quick to make.

Both are light but extremely filling. You can season both quinoa and couscous with just a little bit of olive oil and salt, or add chopped vegetables, lemon juice, fresh parsley, etc, whatever you have at hand that day.

Great with:

• Grilled chicken breasts with herbs or lemon
• Chicken skewers or souvlaki-style dishes
• Chicken with yogurt or garlic sauce
• Chicken stir-fry (as a lighter carb option)

8. Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is a classic that always reminds me of summer, barbecue, and simple food. Crispy, sweet, and buttered – what else do you need with BBQ chicken?!?!

I typically just boil it or cook it in the pan wrapped in aluminum foil, and when I have a lot of free time, I also put it on a grill to get a bit of smoke and color.

You just need a bit of butter on top, salt, and it’s ready for the plate.

It goes perfectly with spicier chicken or wings from the oven, whenever you need something sweet to balance all the flavors.

Great with:

• BBQ chicken wings
• Grilled chicken thighs or drumsticks
• Spicy oven-baked chicken legs
• Cajun or smoky seasoned chicken breasts

9. Garlic Bread or Focaccia

I’m not going to lie – this has never been my main side dish for chicken, but when I make something with sauce, garlic bread, or a piece of tasty focaccia is right on the money.

I typically add it as an additional side dish, so I can grab some sauce from the plate or when I need something to complement the meal. Sometimes I used to make sandwich variants with grilled chicken and focaccia – that can really be a tasty dinner.

If you love chicken in sauces (tomato, cheese, cream…), a piece of warm bread on the side is always a good choice.

Great with:

• Chicken in tomato or cream sauce
• Chicken parmesan-style dishes
• Pulled or shredded chicken (for sandwich-style serving)
• Chicken stew or saucy oven-baked dishes

Also works great as a second side with:

• Grilled chicken + fresh salad
• Baked chicken thighs + steamed veggies

10. Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a comfort food classic that is often served as a side dish with chicken.

But sometimes, I take it on another level and make a full meal of eat. I cut chicken breasts into small cubes, grill them in the pan until golden brown, then mix with boiled pasta, add a bit of cheese or cream, and then grate more cheese (gouda or mozzarella) on top so it can bake perfectly in the oven for ca. 10 minutes.

When I take it out of the oven… woow. Amazing. That’s a real bomb – and if you like chicken and cheese, I’m sure you’ll like it.

Besides that, the classic version as a side dish goes perfectly with any fried or roasted chicken, especially when you want something rich and filling.

Great with:

• Fried or breaded chicken thighs
• Chicken tenders or nuggets
• BBQ-style chicken wings
• Oven-baked or grilled chicken breasts
• Or just mix the chicken into the mac and cheese and bake the whole thing – trust me

What do you like to serve with chicken? Drop your favorites in the comments – I always love finding new ideas! And it can help the others as well 😀