Chicken casserole is a hearty, comforting meal that’s loved by families everywhere Made by combining chicken, vegetables, cream or cheese, and spices and baking until bubbly and delicious, it’s an easy one-dish dinner But while chicken casserole can absolutely stand on its own, pairing it with complementary side dishes transforms it into a complete and satisfying meal.
So what goes well with chicken casserole? There are so many delicious options, from hearty grains and starches to fresh, crisp salads and savory roasted veggies. Read on for 31 of the best side dishes to serve with chicken casserole.
Starches and Grains
Starchy sides like potatoes, rice, and pasta make perfect partners for creamy, saucy chicken casseroles. They soak up the delicious sauce and add comforting bulk and heartiness to balance the dish. Some tasty options include:
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Mashed Potatoes Buttery smooth mashed potatoes are a classic. For extra flavor, mix in roasted garlic parsley, or chives.
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Rice Pilaf: Fluffy rice pilaf with onions, herbs, and spices complements casserole beautifully. Consider lemon-herb or cheesy varieties.
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Pasta: Pasta tossed with olive oil or cheesy baked ziti are easy pasta sides. Orzo or egg noodles work well.
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Quinoa: For a protein punch, serve chicken casserole over quinoa. Toss the quinoa with chopped veggies for a fresh twist.
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Biscuits or Dinner Rolls Warm flaky biscuits or rolls are perfect for sopping up casserole sauce. Go classic buttermilk or get creative with herbs cheese, or garlic.
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Polenta: Creamy, rich polenta is a nice alternative to mashed potatoes. Top with cheese or marinara sauce.
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Cornbread: Sweet cornbread complements chicken casserole wonderfully. Add cheese and jalapenos for a kick.
Crisp, Fresh Salads
Since chicken casseroles tend to be heavy, offering a bright, fresh salad on the side helps balance the meal. The crunch and acidity of the veggies pair nicely with the rich casserole. Great options include:
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Garden Salad: Mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, shredded carrots, and vinaigrette dressing is a classic.
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Wedge Salad: A crisp iceberg lettuce wedge drizzled with creamy blue cheese dressing.
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Caesar Salad: Romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, and Caesar dressing is a crowd-pleaser.
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Greek Salad: Tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, and Greek dressing.
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Spinach Salad: Baby spinach, sliced strawberries, candied nuts, and poppyseed dressing.
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Broccoli Slaw: Shredded raw broccoli stems, carrots, cabbage, raisins, and creamy dressing.
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Fruit Salad: Fresh, sweet fruit like melon, berries, and citrus fruits.
Hearty Roasted Vegetables
Roasting veggies until tender and caramelized brings out their natural sweetness. They pair perfectly with saucy casseroles. Great options include:
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Roasted Broccoli: Toss broccoli florets with olive oil, salt, and pepper then roast until browned and tender.
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts: Halved Brussels sprouts roasted with olive oil, garlic, and Parmesan.
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Roasted Carrots: Carrots roasted with brown sugar, butter, and thyme become melt-in-your-mouth tender.
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Roasted Cauliflower: Cauliflower florets roasted with curry powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes have a delightful kick.
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Roasted Squash: Cubed butternut squash roasted with maple syrup and cinnamon.
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Roasted Potatoes: Halved red potatoes roasted with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic.
Quick and Easy Complements
Some simple veggie sides come together quickly while casserole bakes. Easy options include:
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Sautéed green beans: Cook green beans in olive oil with garlic, salt, and pepper.
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Glazed carrots: Simmer peeled baby carrots in butter, brown sugar, and honey.
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Steamed broccoli: Steamed broccoli drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil.
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Creamed spinach: Cooked spinach blended with cream cheese, garlic, and Parmesan.
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Sautéed zucchini: Zucchini slices sautéed in olive oil with chopped tomatoes and basil.
Sweet Endings
While chicken casserole makes a filling main course, offering something sweet afterward makes for a satisfying finish. Juicy fruits, airy cakes, and warm cookies pair nicely. Great options include:
- Fresh fruit salad
- Fruit crisp or cobbler
- Chocolate cake or brownies
- Cookies like chocolate chip, peanut butter, or oatmeal raisin
- Apple or peach pie
- Rice pudding
- Cheesecake
Chicken casserole is the ultimate comfort food. Serving it with yummy side dishes like fluffy mashed potatoes, fresh green salads, sweet glazed carrots, or warm biscuits makes for a delicious, satisfying meal. With so many options, you could enjoy chicken casserole night after night and never get bored! The possibilities are endless.
What else could I add to Chicken Stew and can I play with the flavours?
You could add a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste (concentrated puree) for a slight tang of tomato. And add bay leaves for an extra depth of herby flavour, or use parsley, rosemary, tarragon, dill or sage as well as or instead of the thyme. A sprinkling of paprika is also a nice touch. Swap one or both of the potatoes for the same amount of sweet potato.
One pan, low-cost ingredients, and just 10 minutes of hands-on time = this flavoursome, soul-warming chicken stew. A full meal in a bowl … no sides required.
What can I serve with Chicken Stew?
This is a full meal in a bowl, so the only thing I usually serve on the side is buttered crusty bread. However, you could serve it with my Freezer Friendly Garlic Bread or 5 Minute Cheesy Garlic Bread. Other good options would be rice, cauliflower rice or mashed potatoes.
Easy Chicken Casserole
FAQ
What’s a good side dish for a chicken casserole?
- Crispy Parmesan Potatoes. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm. …
- Creamy Polenta. Elise Bauer. …
- Stir-Fried Mushrooms with Garlic and Chile Oil. …
- Coconut Lime Rice. …
- Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar. …
- 5-Minute Yamitsuki Cabbage. …
- Garlic Fried Rice. …
- Lyonnaise Potatoes.
What can you have chicken casserole with?
Serve with mashed or boiled potatoes, or rice. Using bone-in chicken thighs adds flavour to the sauce, but if you prefer boneless chicken that’s fine, just read the recipe tips for how to adjust the recipe.
What do you serve with casserole?
- Green Salad : A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette can balance the richness of a casserole.
- Garlic Bread : Perfect for casseroles that are saucy or cheesy, garlic bread adds a nice crunch and flavor.
- Steamed Vegetables
- Coleslaw
What are some side dishes for chicken noodle casserole?
- Try any vegetable side dish such as glazed carrots with a hefty squeeze of lemon and some chopped parsley, steam-fried mixed vegetables, or sautéed spinach.
- If you’re craving something crunchy, make a green salad or a romaine and kale salad tossed with vinaigrette.
What side dishes go best with chicken casserole?
Chicken casserole is a comforting and delicious dish, but it can be challenging to think of what side dishes go best with it. Here are ten side dishes that will pair perfectly with your chicken casserole: Quinoa salad is a popular side dish for chicken casserole.
What to eat with chicken casserole?
Here’s another roasted veggie dish that is fabulous with chicken casserole. The combination of asparagus and tomatoes not only tastes amazing, but the color contrast is oh so pretty! To make this delectable side, coat asparagus spears and tomatoes with olive oil, oregano, and salt and pepper. Transfer the veggies into a pan and top with walnuts.
What can I serve with a casserole?
Though many casseroles are all-in-one-meals, some could benefit from a side dish. These fitting options include everything from basic breads to colorful salads. Sorry, the video player failed to load. (Error Code: 100013) This air-fryer Brussels sprouts recipe is my go-to Thanksgiving side dish.
Does chicken casserole have vegetables?
Sure, chicken casserole already has some vegetables. But when it comes to vegetables, the more, the better! Give your heavy dish a light and colorful contrast by pairing it with a fresh salad. What I love about this side is that you’ve got unlimited ways to make it!
What bread goes well with chicken casserole?
Garlic bread, with its golden crust and aromatic blend of butter and garlic, serves as a delightful accompaniment to chicken casserole. Made from a French loaf generously spread with garlic butter, it complements the rich flavors of the casserole.
Is chicken casserole easy to make?
Chicken casserole is creamy, comforting, and always a hit around our house! This one-pot wonder is packed with tender and juicy chicken, carrots, onion, breadcrumbs, and plenty of cheese. Best part… it’s incredibly easy to make! And while there’s nothing wrong with serving chicken casserole as is, it never hurts to add more flavors to the table.