Chicken and potatoes are classic dinner staples that pair well together, but the right side dishes can take the meal from basic to spectacular. When cooking this simple yet satisfying combo, it’s important to think about flavors, textures, colors, and nutrition to create a well-rounded plate.
After researching popular recipes and reviews, I’ve compiled 15 of the best side dishes to serve with chicken and potatoes. These options range from hearty and comforting to light and refreshing so that you can tailor your meal to suit any taste.
Complementary Flavor Profiles
When choosing side dishes for chicken and potatoes you’ll want options that complement the savory, comforting flavors of the main components. Here are some excellent pairings to consider
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Roasted vegetables like brussels sprouts, carrots, or asparagus add a caramelized sweetness that pairs beautifully with the chicken and potatoes.
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A fresh green salad with vinaigrette provides brightness and acidity to balance the hearty main dish Spinach or kale salads are especially nutritious
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Earthy mushrooms or roasted root vegetables like parsnips or turnips provide savory undertones.
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Cooked greens like broccoli, green beans, or creamed spinach offer a pop of color and healthy dose of vitamins.
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Mac and cheese or cornbread stuffing are classic comfort food sides that enhance the homey flavors.
Contrasting Textures
Beyond complementary flavors, you’ll want sides that provide an interesting mix of textures. Crisp, crunchy sides contrast nicely with the tender chicken and smooth potatoes.
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A tangy coleslaw with crunchy cabbage and carrots is a great option.
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Fresh corn on the cob provides a pleasing sweet crunch.
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Making croutons or breadcrumbs to top a veggie side adds more texture.
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Crunchy nuts or seeds can be used as toppings too.
Vibrant Colors
The colors of the side dishes you select can make for a more visually appealing plate. Bright vegetables provide color contrast to brown chicken and white potatoes:
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Carrots, roasted red peppers, or tomatoes add pops of orange and red.
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Green beans, broccoli, peas, or avocado provide fresh green hues.
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Squashes like acorn or butternut provide yellow/orange tones.
Nutritional Balance
It’s important to round out a chicken and potatoes dinner with nutritious sides to create a balanced meal:
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Leafy green salads and steamed broccoli offer an abundance of vitamins and minerals.
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Beans or lentils add satisfying protein and fiber.
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Fresh fruits like berries make a sweet, antioxidant-rich accompaniment.
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Quinoa or brown rice provide healthy whole grains.
15 Side Dish Ideas
Taking flavor, texture, color, and nutrition into account, here are 15 excellent side dishes to pair with chicken and potatoes:
1. Roasted Brussels sprouts – Caramelized and crisp, brussels sprouts offer a nutty, slightly sweet flavor.
2. Mixed green salad – Fresh greens with vinaigrette provide brightness. Top with nuts or seeds for crunch.
3. Honey glazed carrots – Roasted carrots with honey are sweet and flavorful.
4. Garlic green beans – A simple classic pairing, green beans offer a pop of color and garlic flavor.
5. Creamed spinach – Rich and creamy, spinach offers vitamins and earthy notes.
6. Corn on the cob – Grilled or boiled corn provides a sweet crunch and color.
7. Coleslaw – Crunchy cabbage and carrots in a tangy dressing equals a crisp, refreshing side.
8. Mac and cheese – Cheesy and gooey, mac and cheese is a comforting classic.
9. Quinoa pilaf – Protein-rich quinoa offers a nutty crunch and makes a hearty side.
10. Sauteed mushrooms – Earthy mushrooms enhance savory umami flavors.
11. Roasted acorn squash – Nutty and slightly sweet, roasted squash provides vitamin A.
12. Roasted beets – Beets offer a pop of color and natural sweetness when roasted.
13. Baked beans – Slow-cooked beans provide protein and bold barbecue flavor.
14. Fruit salad – Fresh berries make a sweet, nutrient-dense counterpoint.
15. Garlic bread – Buttery, garlicky bread is a satisfying accompaniment.
With so many delicious options, from colorful vegetables to hearty starches and beyond, you can always find the perfect side dishes to complement chicken and potatoes for a mouthwatering homemade meal. Get creative with flavors, textures, colors and nutrition to take your dinner to the next level.
Whipped Feta Roasted Potatoes
Think about when something creamy hits your mouth at the same time as something crispy—YUM! This recipe is the perfect example of that satisfying texture combo: Hot, crispy potatoes are spooned onto a billowy cloud of whipped feta, then showered with lemon zest and fresh herbs. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Get the Whipped Feta Roasted Potatoes recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Wild rice is one of our favorite rice varieties for its nutty flavor and its chewy bite. This recipe uses slowly cooked onions and chicken stock to add a punch of savoriness, but the vegetal, toasty flavor of the rice itself is definitely the star.
Get the Wild Rice recipe.
Your sweet potatoes are tired of being baked. Give them the chance to become something much more exciting and turn them into sweet potato gratin. Just like the OG potatoes au gratin, these sweet potatoes are layered with plenty of cheese and herby cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly.
Get the Sweet Potato Gratin recipe.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
When summer rolls around, we can’t get enough of the fresh flavors of bruschetta. With sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh basil, this classic snack has inspired many of our favorite summer recipes, from our bruschetta pasta to grilled bruschetta chicken. To create an easy side dish worthy of any summer potluck, we returned to the flavors of the tried-and-tried dish.
Get the Bruschetta Pasta Salad recipe.
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.
Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes – The Best One Pan Dinner You’ll Ever Make
FAQ
What goes well with chicken and potatoes for dinner?
What To Serve with Garlic Butter Chicken and Potatoes. A simple green salad with a balsamic or garlic vinaigrette would be great alongside this skillet meal. If you have extra time, crispy roasted brussels sprouts or broccoli (or broccolini) would be amazing as well!
What are good sides to pair with chicken?
- Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad. PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE. …
- French Onion Cabbage Gratin. …
- Garlic-Parmesan Roasted Carrots. …
- Air Fryer Green Beans. …
- Smashed Brussels Sprouts. …
- Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples. …
- Sweet Potato Salad. …
- Creamy Tuscan Orzo.
What to serve with chicken?
Read on for some of our favorite side dishes to serve with chicken, based on five basic methods of cooking this beloved bird. And remember, you can always pair baked chicken with a side for fried chicken, roasted chicken with a side for grilled chicken, and so on. You’ll have a winner-winner chicken dinner no matter the combo.
What side dishes go with chicken?
And boy are there are ton of options! Here, you’ll find the perfect sides to pair with chicken. Try one of our vegetable side dishes that include roasted carrots, asparagus, or potatoes in every form. Make comforting casserole recipes like the yellow squash casserole or try the sweet potato wedges for a healthy chicken dinner.
What to eat with chicken & potatoes?
Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or carrots, herbed rice pilaf, and a fresh green salad all make fantastic accompaniments for these hearty, comforting dishes. An invigorating Tomato Basil Salad offers a crisp and tangy complement to the hearty flavors of chicken and potatoes, providing a burst of freshness to the meal.
What makes a good chicken dinner?
But a good chicken dinner is more than just the wings, thighs, or breasts alone. It’s also about the side dishes for chicken that help to make the meal complete. And boy are there are ton of options! Here, you’ll find the perfect sides to pair with chicken.
What vegetables go well with chicken?
Any vegetable goes well with chicken. The seasonings and other accompanying ingredients will determine which vegetables you use when cooking. For example, Asian cuisine uses a lot of pak choy, green beans, green onions, and broccoli. Are you bored with the usual side dishes you serve with chicken?
Are mashed potatoes good with chicken?
Mashed potatoes are a staple food that gets the dinner table excited. This recipe creates a light, fluffy and lump-free mashed potato side dish that works well with chicken. Only a few simple ingredients are needed to create this delicious dish, including butter and milk which help the potatoes become light and creamy.