What Side Dishes Go With Chicken Salad: 32 Delicious Pairings

Chicken salad is a light and refreshing meal that can be served as a sandwich filling, scooped onto salad greens, stuffed into avocados, or simply enjoyed on its own With its cool, creamy texture punctuated by crunchy mix-ins like celery and nuts, chicken salad makes a fantastic hot weather lunch or dinner

When serving chicken salad, it’s important to choose side dishes that complement its flavors and textures The right sides can take your chicken salad from boring to beautiful! In this article, we’ll explore 32 delicious side dish ideas to serve with chicken salad.

Bread and Crackers

For chicken salad sandwiches, rolls, and crackers make excellent accompaniments. Some top options include:

• Baguettes or crusty French bread – The firm texture stands up to creamy fillings without getting soggy. Slice a fresh baguette for chicken salad sandwiches.

• Croissants – Flaky, buttery croissants cradle chicken salad elegantly. Warm them briefly before assembling chicken salad croissants.

• Multi-grain bread – The nutty flavor and hearty texture of multi-grain breads pair nicely with chicken salads.

• Pretzel rolls or buns – For a twist, use soft pretzel rolls rather than plain burger buns for your chicken salad sandwiches.

• Pita chips or wedges – Crisp pita makes a lighter alternative to croutons for serving chicken salad over greens.

• Seed crackers – Sturdy crispbreads or seed crackers are ideal for scooping up chicken salad.

Crunchy Vegetable Sides

Since chicken salad tends to be soft and creamy, it benefits from some crunch and freshness on the side. Great veggie pairs include:

• Celery sticks – A classic for good reason! Fresh celery provides welcome crispness and cooling flavor.

• Carrot sticks or spears – Like celery, raw carrots give a refreshing crunch.

• Cucumber slices – Cooling cucumber complements chicken salad’s richness.

• Radish slices – The peppery bite of radishes contrasts the mild chicken salad.

• Jicama sticks – For a change of pace, try sliced jicama which has a refreshing snap.

• Bell pepper strips – The bright colors and crispiness of raw bell pepper strips liven up a chicken salad meal.

• Marinated vegetable skewers – Grilled veggie skewers make a fun finger food pairing. Try zucchini, peppers, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.

• Pickles – From dill chips to pickled beets, tangy pickled veggies cut the creamy richness.

Fresh Green Salads

Chicken salad tastes fantastic scooped over a bed of crisp greens or mixed into salad blends. Some salad ideas include:

• Greek salad – Chicken salad served atop a Greek salad with feta, tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives is a winner.

• Caesar salad – Creamy dressings pair perfectly, so serve chicken salad over crisp romaine tossed with Caesar dressing and croutons.

• Spinach salads – Nutty spinach makes a good match for chicken salads with nuts, fruits, and seeds.

• Kale salad – Toss shredded kale and other veggies with a light vinaigrette and top with chicken salad for a healthy, hearty meal.

• Wedge salad – Top crisp iceberg lettuce wedges with chicken salad for an old-school combo.

Pasta and Grain Salads

Hearty pasta salads and grains provide filling fiber and carbohydrates along with great textures. Options include:

• Pasta salad – A pasta primavera salad tossed with a light dressing makes an easy match for chicken salad.

• Orzo salad – Tiny orzo pasta mixed with chopped veggies, herbs, and a lemony dressing tastes fantastic next to chicken salad.

• Couscous salad – Fluffy couscous tossed with seasonal produce like corn, tomatoes, and basil complements chicken salad wonderfully.

• Quinoa salad – Protein-packed quinoa blends nicely with fruits, nuts, and veggies for a salad that pairs well with chicken salad.

• Wheat berry or farro salad – Nutty whole grains like wheat berries and farro add hearty flavor and texture.

Potato Dishes

Potatoes – whether mashed, roasted, or in salad form – make satisfying sides for chicken salad. Great options include:

• Potato salad – A mayo-based potato salad is a classic accompaniment.

• German potato salad – For a tangy twist, serve warm German-style potato salad with bacon and vinegar.

• Mashed potatoes – Nothing says comfort food like chicken salad and buttery mashed potatoes.

• Hasselback potatoes – Sliced, oven-roasted Hasselback potatoes are indulgent but delicious with chicken salad.

• Roasted potatoes – Crispy roasted potato wedges or diced potatoes are an easy side.

• Sweet potato fries – For crunch, swap regular fries for sweet potato fries.

Coleslaws and Cabbage Dishes

Bright, crunchy coleslaws and cool cabbage side salads pair perfectly with creamy chicken salads. Ideas include:

• Classic coleslaw – A mayo-based coleslaw with shredded cabbage and carrots can’t be beat.

• Apple coleslaw – For a fruity twist, add shredded apple to coleslaw.

• Broccoli slaw – Packed with crunch, fiber, and bright flavor, broccoli slaw is a healthy pairing.

• Asian cabbage slaw – Shredded napa or savoy cabbage tossed with an Asian vinaigrette makes a light side.

• Cucumber cabbage salad – Shredded green cabbage and cucumbers in a tangy dressing complement chicken salad.

Beans, Legumes, and Grains

Healthy beans, legumes, and whole grains provide protein and fiber. Great choices include:

• Baked beans – Sweet, smoky baked beans complement chicken salad’s flavor and texture.

• Black bean salad – A southwestern black bean salad with corn and peppers makes a hearty side.

• Lentil salad – Protein-rich lentil salads, like those with French lentils, are satisfying.

• Chickpea salad – A lemony chickpea salad with veggies adds Mediterranean flavor.

• Barley salad – Nutty barley salads, like those with herbs and feta, pair nicely.

• Brown rice salad – Try a brown rice salad with bell peppers, carrots, and herbs.

Cool Soups

Chilled soups make refreshing hot weather sides for chicken salads. Tasty options include:

• Gazpacho – A cold tomato-veggie gazpacho soup complements chicken salad wonderfully.

• Cucumber soup – Pureed cucumber soup garnished with dill has a cooling effect.

• Chilled avocado soup – Creamy avocado soup brings rich flavor in the summer.

• Watermelon gazpacho – For unique flavor, try gazpacho made from watermelon.

• Chilled broccoli soup – Puree broccoli with tangy yogurt and lemon for a healthy soup.

Fruits and Fruit Salads

Fresh, seasonal fruits add brightness and refreshment to balance chicken salad’s richness. Good options include:

• Fruit salad – A medley of cubed melon, berries, grapes, and citrus fruits makes a sweet counterpoint.

• Pineapple slices – Juicy pineapple slices or chunks provide tropical flavor.

• Mixed berries – Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries lend color and antioxidants.

• Apple salad – Thinly sliced apples tossed with lemon and herbs add crunch.

• Mandarin oranges – Sweet mandarin orange segments wake up the palate.

• Grapes – Red grapes offer juicy pops of sweetness to complement the salad.

Dips and Snacks

For a casual meal or party, chicken salad tastes great with pick-up snacks like:

• Veggies and dip – Offer crudites like carrots, celery, radishes, and jicama with a creamy ranch dip.

• Pita and hummus – Nutty hummus served with baked pita chips makes a Mediterranean-inspired pairing.

• Cheese and crackers – Create a simple cheese board with crackers and grapes to accompany the salad.

• Guacamole and chips – Creamy, fresh guacamole and tortilla chips complement the chicken salad.

• Pimento cheese dip – For Southern flair, serve pimento cheese spread with cucumber slices or crackers.

With so many delicious side dish options, from vegetable crudites to crisp salads and snacks, you can create a fantastic chicken salad meal for any occasion. Experiment with different flavor and texture combinations to find your favorites!