What Goes Well with Chicken Dumplings: 10 Delicious Side Dish Pairings
Chicken dumplings are a classic comfort food that never fails to satisfy. This hearty dish features tender chicken and fluffy dough dumplings simmered in a rich, creamy broth. It’s the ultimate soul-warming meal that’s perfect for chilly nights.
But as delicious as chicken dumplings are on their own, the right side dishes can take this meal from great to spectacular. The key is picking sides that complement and balance the flavors of the chicken and dumplings. After all, you want a cohesive meal where all the components work harmoniously together.
If you’re not sure what to serve alongside your chicken dumplings, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 delicious side dishes that pair wonderfully with this cozy stew
Cornbread
A warm skillet of freshly baked cornbread is one of the best complements to chicken dumplings. The slightly sweet and crumbly texture of the cornbread soaks up the rich broth beautifully. Plus, it provides a pleasant contrast to the doughy dumplings. For the perfect match, be sure to add some corn kernels to your cornbread batter.
Mashed PotatoesCreamy mashed potatoes are a classic companion to chicken dumplings The smooth, buttery potatoes balance out the heartiness of the stew. Try mixing in garlic, cheese, or herbs to jazz up your spuds Or opt for lighter mashed cauliflower or sweet potatoes to cut calories.
ColeslawA tangy coleslaw made with shredded cabbage is a bright, crunchy accent to chicken dumplings. The vinegar dressing cuts through the richness of the broth. Make it extra special by adding carrots raisins apples, or pineapples to the slaw.
Biscuits
Warm, fluffy biscuits are a natural fit, seeing as chicken dumplings are basically biscuit dough cut into pieces. Serve your biscuits with homemade jam, honey butter, or sausage gravy on the side. Buttery, flaky biscuits soak up the comforting broth perfectly.
Green Salad
A fresh green salad tossed in a bright vinaigrette cools down the richness of the chicken dumplings. Add flavorful toppings like sugared pecans, tart cranberries, crumbled feta, or crisp apple slices. The crunch of the veggies and greens balances the doughy dumplings.
Roasted Vegetables
Earthy roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, or cauliflower make a hearty, healthy side. Toss the vegetables in olive oil, herbs, and seasonings before roasting to caramelized perfection. Their subtle sweetness and texture enhances the chicken dumplings.
Mac and Cheese
ooey, gooey macaroni and cheese is a quintessential comfort food pairing. The creaminess of the mac balances the stew’s richness. Mix in ham, bacon, broccoli, or sautéed mushrooms for extra flavor. The indulgence of mac and cheese with chicken dumplings is heavenly.
Fried Okra
Crispy, crunchy fried okra provides great textural contrast alongside the soft dumplings. The slight sliminess of okra transforms into an addictive crispy exterior when fried up. Season your okra with Cajun spices for a Southern-inspired meal.
Collard Greens
Slow-cooked collard greens seasoned with smoked turkey, bacon, or ham hocks make a savory, hearty side. The hearty greens stand up well to the richness of the chicken dumplings. Collards also pack extra nutrition into the meal.
Corn on the Cob
Sweet summer corn on the cob is a classic pairing with chicken dumplings. The natural sweetness of the corn balances the richness of the stew. For extra flavor, slather your corn in a compound butter before serving.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to finding the perfect side dish for chicken dumplings. From hearty roasted veggies to bright, crisp salads to indulgent comfort foods, there are so many ways to complement this cozy stew.
When picking sides, opt for contrasts in texture, flavor, and ingredients. Crispy, crunchy sides balance the soft dumplings. Bright acidic flavors like vinegar-based salads and slaws cut the richness. Creamy, starchy sides like mashed potatoes complement the hearty broth.
And don’t be afraid to think outside the box to make your meal uniquely you. Mix and match your family’s favorite foods to create a custom chicken dumplings feast. With the right combination of sides, this classic comfort food stew becomes a truly unforgettable dinner.
Here are 30 DELICIOUS dumpling side dishes!
First up, well start with 15 best side dishes to serve with Asian-style dumplings:
A warm and comforting bowl of noodle soup is a classic choice to serve with dumplings. The rich, flavourful broth and tender noodles make it the perfect complement to the juicy dumplings. This recipe only takes 10 minutes, so its the ideal dish to share to make your dumplings into a full on meal.
This Vietnamese-Inspired summer salad is perfect to eat alongside some gorgeous dumplings with a spicy fish sauce and coriander. Its light, full of flavour, and makes a full meal when served with dumplings.
I love serving dumplings with this sticky ginger aubergine recipe. You can either serve it with rice, or just make a big batch of the aubergine and serve the dumplings with a vegetable side dish. Its full of flavour, sticky, and easy to make.
For a super simple weeknight dinner, this Easy Spam Ramen With Egg recipe is the perfect meal. Low-effort and delicious, this spam, eggs, and ramen noodle combination come together so quickly. Spam fried in garlic, sesame oil, oyster sauce, and chilli flakes really takes spam to the next level! Serve it up with your plate of dumplings, and youve got yourself an absolute feast.
If youre looking for a veggie or vegan option and dont know what to eat dumplings with, this claypot tofu is perfect for one of those colder days. You can either place the dumplings into the stew, or serve them alongside the claypot tofu!
If you fancy something mean and green (joking its not mean, its delicious!), then this Green Tahini Miso Ramen is for you! Its full of flavour and perfect to add extra spice and colour to your dumplings.
If youre not going to serve up your dumplings with noodles, then youve got to go for this 20-min Pork Belly Fried Rice. Its super simple to make and leaves you with these gorgeously crispy pieces of pork belly with a flavourful coconut lemongrass rice!
Everyone loves a Katsu Curry, especially if its served with dumplings. So, rustle up this gorgeous dish and then serve it with steamed, pan-fried, or boiled dumplings.
Although serving dumplings with noodles, rice, or veggies is great, sometimes you want a meat dish to go with them. And, this Orange Chicken recipe is SO good. I adore it. Its simple and so full of flavour.
I adore beans, and these Korean-Style butter beans are so delicious. They only take 10 minutes to make and theyre the perfect bean side dish to serve with your gorgeous gyozas, mandu, dim sum, or any dumpling of your choice. I love topping mine with an egg, but thats totally optional.
This lemongrass and tofu noodle curry is so warming and comforting. I love eating dumplings with this recipe, they go so well. I just place the dumplings right into the bowl and slurp away. I hope you enjoy it!
The silky and smooth texture of these steamed eggplants are so delicious. Theyre one of my favourite side dishes for any asian dish. You could also serve these with noodles if you want an extra bit of body to the dish.
This sticky pork Bao Bun (aka Gua Bao) recipe is surprisingly simple and absolutely delicious! Youve honestly got to give it a try! Its a more complex side dish to make when serving with dumplings, but if youre making a feast, then its absolutely perfect!
This is my super simple butter bean and spinach curry that only uses a handful of spices and a few other ingredients. So, if you dont know what to eat dumplings with, then this recipe is perfect because it takes less than 30 minutes to make and is a gorgeous weeknight dinner and even better with a plate of dumplings.
What a wonderful and tangy side dish to make. Especially, if youre serving Mandu, the Korean dumpling. Kimchi is a fabulously tart, spicy, and sweet fermented dish that can either be bought from a supermarket or made in advance. I have a really simple “cheat” recipe that takes less than 15 minutes to make and stores for up to 3 months in an airtight jar. What youll need, youll find below:
- 1 Chinese cabbage
- Flaky salt
- 1 white onion, finely sliced
- 1 apple, peeled and finely sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 100g gochugaru flakes
- 50g sugar
- 3 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 4 spring onions, roughly chopped
Slice your Chinese cabbage in half lengthways and rub each leaf with salt, thoroughly. Leave in a bowl and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine your chopped onion, apple, garlic, ginger, gochugaru flakes, sugar, soy sauce in a bowl and give it a good mix. Taste the paste and adjust to your liking. Rinse off the cabbage leaves so not salt remains, then add the cabbage leaves to your kimchi bowl and mix thoroughly, coating all the leaves.
Add in your spring onions and toss once again. Then set aside in an airtight jar or container, place in the fridge, and voila!
NOW FOR THE BEST SIDE DISHES TO SERVE WITH EUROPEAN DUMPLINGS
European dumplings range from beef suet dumplings (UK), to Pierogi from Poland, to Marillenknödel from Austria. There is such a variety, so here are a few side dishes Id choose to pair with European dumplings.
Best Ever Chicken & Dumplings #SHORTS
FAQ
What’s a good side for chicken and dumplings?
A simple green vegetable like steamed broccoli, sautéed greens, or roasted Brussels sprouts are great sides for chicken and dumplings. A light and refreshing salad, like a citrus salad or green salad with vinaigrette, can also balance the richness of the dish.
What pairs well with dumplings?
Dumplings pair well with a variety of side dishes, including fresh salads, flavorful soups, and stir-fries.