Chicken broccoli casserole is a classic comfort food that never seems to go out of style. The creamy, cheesy chicken and broccoli baked in a casserole dish is always a crowd pleaser. But when it comes to serving chicken broccoli casserole, it can be tricky to figure out what sides pair best with this hearty bake. You want dishes that will complement the flavors without overpowering them.
I’ve put together a list of my top 10 recommendations for side dishes to serve with chicken broccoli casserole. These options provide a nice balance of textures and flavors to round out the meal. From fresh vegetables to starchy favorites, keep reading for side dish inspiration!
Why Serve Sides with Chicken Broccoli Casserole?
While chicken broccoli casserole can certainly stand on its own, serving complementary side dishes allows you to transform the meal into a complete dinner Side dishes help to
-
Add nutrition and variety. The casserole itself is fairly heavy, so lighter sides like salads and steamed veggies provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
-
Contrast flavors and textures. The soft, creamy casserole benefits from sides that offer crunch like roasted veggies or salad greens. Acidic and tangy sides also cut through the richness.
-
Make it a meal. Round out the plate with starchy sides like rice, potatoes, or bread to ensure it’s a satisfying, filling dinner.
-
Bring color to the table. Brightly colored sides give your plate a vibrant, appetizing appearance.
-
Suit different preferences. Not everyone may like the casserole, so sides please picky eaters.
10 Best Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Broccoli Casserole
- Garlic Bread
Warm, buttery garlic bread is a no-fail pairing with chicken broccoli casserole. The crunch of the toasted bread contrasts the creamy textures of the casserole. And the hit of garlicky flavor is always a crowd-pleaser.
For extra flavor, use a bakery Italian loaf or bake your own bread with herbs and Parmesan. Brush the loaf with melted butter mixed with minced garlic before toasting until golden brown.
- Mixed Green Salad
A simple green salad tosses well with vinaigrette is a light and refreshing choice. The crisp lettuce and veggies paired with the tangy dressing help cut through the casserole’s richness.
Make it colorful by including sliced bell peppers, shredded carrot, grape tomatoes, and red onion. Top with croutons or nuts for crunch.
- Roasted Broccoli
For another take on broccoli as a side, try roasting florets or broccoli crowns with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The high heat caramelizes natural sugars, yielding a sweet, nutty flavor. Roasted broccoli makes a more interesting side than steamed.
- Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf, cooked in broth with aromatics like onion and garlic, offers a starchy, soothing contrast to chicken broccoli casserole. The rice soaks up flavors and gives you another opportunity to incorporate veggies like peas or diced carrot.
- Honey Glazed Carrots
Honey glazed carrots are a simple yet elegant side for serving with casseroles. The lightly caramelized carrots have a touch of sweetness to balance the cheese and cream. They also provide vitamin A and beta carotene.
- Dinner Rolls
Warm, soft dinner rolls are perfect for sopping up any delicious leftover sauce from the chicken broccoli casserole. Choose potato, sweet potato, or buttermilk rolls and serve them with softened butter on the side.
- Creamed Spinach
Buttery, smooth creamed spinach makes a rich side to pair with the casserole. Sautéed onion and garlic add savory depth to the creamy spinach. Sprinkle crispy fried onions on top for texture.
- Roasted Potatoes
Crispy roasted potatoes are an easy starchy side dish for chicken broccoli casserole. Roast halved baby potatoes or diced russets tossed in oil, garlic, and herbs. The potatoes can soak up any extra sauce, too.
- Side Salad
For a lighter complement, a side salad with vinaigrette brings out other flavors and textures. Spinach, arugula, or mixed greens with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and bell peppers give you color and crunch.
- Quinoa with Herbs
Protein-packed quinoa makes a wholesome, gluten-free side dish. Cook it in chicken or vegetable broth for extra flavor, then stir in fresh herbs like parsley, dill, or chives. Lemon zest also brightens it up.
Perfectly Pairing Flavors and Textures
Chicken broccoli casserole tastes indulgent and comforting. Rounding out the meal with lighter, brighter sides creates balance and variety. Crunchy, crisp vegetables or salad contrast the dish’s creaminess. Starchy options like rice, potatoes, or bread complement with soothing textures.
Leverage acidic components like vinaigrettes, zesty herbs, and citrus to cut through richness. And don’t forget eye-appealing colors to refresh the palate and plate! With a carefully chosen side or two, chicken broccoli casserole becomes a well-balanced dinner.
How To Make Chicken & Broccoli
• Chicken Broth: I prefer to use low-sodium chicken broth in the sauce (bonus points if it’s homemade!). If you only have full-sodium broth, you can substitute your chicken broth with some water to make sure the stir-fry isn’t too salty. • Soy Sauce: I also recommend using low-sodium soy sauce here. If you only have full-sodium, just use slightly less, and remember that you can always add more to taste. • Garlic: I’m a big garlic fan, so I use 3 cloves here, but feel free to taste and adjust based on your preferences. • Honey: Honey adds that necessary sweetness to the sauce to balance out all of that umami goodness. • Cornstarch: The cornstarch is a must, as it thickens the sauce so it coats the veggies and chicken to ensure every bite is fully saturated in flavor. • Ginger: You’re going to want to peel and finely grate your ginger. This will get added to our sauce alongside our garlic, adding a bright, zingy flavor. • Toasted Sesame Oil: This adds a nutty, slightly smoky, caramelized flavor to our sauce. • Chicken: You can use chicken breasts or thighs for this stir-fry, but chicken thighs tend to be more flavorful, as they’re slightly higher in fat. The fat also helps keep the meat nice and moist. • Broccoli: I recommend using fresh broccoli here, but you can use frozen in a pinch.
First, whisk all of your sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved—I don’t want to see any lumps!
Next, slice and cook your chicken until it’s golden-brown and fully cooked through. Once done, set aside on a plate.
Now, it’s broccoli time. Chop your broccoli florets up, then place in the pan alongside your sauce. Cover the broccoli and sauce and let it steam until the broccoli is crisp-tender. Cooking the broccoli alongside the sauce not only lets the sauce begin to thicken, but adds even more flavor to the broccoli.
Once the broccoli is tender enough, add your chicken back in, and toss everything together. Keep cooking and stirring until the sauce is thick and evenly coats every piece of chicken and broccoli. When everything is combined and well coated, spoon servings over bowls of rice, and top with sesame seeds. Or, serve this dish however you want—you really can’t go wrong.
Full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.
Chicken & Broccoli Variations
If you’d like to add some diversity to this dish, you can replace some of the broccoli with other veggies. Bell peppers, onions, snap peas, green beans, or even asparagus would all work well. The key to adding any vegetables to this dish is to cut them into equally sized pieces. This way, the dish will cook at the same time and you won’t end up with any undercooked, crunchy veggies or any wilted and sad bites.
You can keep leftover chicken and broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 3 Tbsp. honey
- 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp. finely grated peeled ginger
- 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp. neutral oil
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1/2″ pieces
- 2 medium heads broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
- Cooked brown or white rice and toasted sesame seeds, for serving
-
- Step 1 In a small bowl, whisk broth, soy sauce, garlic, honey, cornstarch, ginger, and sesame oil until cornstarch is dissolved.
- Step 2 In a large skillet or wok over high heat, heat neutral oil. Cook chicken, undisturbed, until it easily releases from pan, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown on all sides and just cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to a plate.
- Step 3 In same skillet over medium-low heat, toss broccoli in broth mixture. Cover skillet and let broccoli steam until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Step 4 Uncover and return chicken and any accumulated juices to skillet. Cook, stirring, until sauce is thickened and chicken and broccoli are well coated, 1 to 2 minutes more.
- Step 5 Divide rice among plates or bowls. Spoon stir-fry over. Top with sesame seeds.
Easy Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
FAQ
What is 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 to serve with broccoli stuffed chicken?
Serving ideas for broccoli cheese chicken:
– An orzo salad or pasta salad would also be great with this. – You can even do some mashed potatoes or polenta and your favorite steamed or roasted veggie. – Cauliflower rice and roasted vegetables would also be good here for a low-carb option.