10 Easy Side Dishes to Make That Chicken Dinner a Winner
When it comes to the protein portion of a healthy diet, boneless, skinless chicken is a hero. It’s versatile, easy to prepare and naturally lower in fat and calories than many other meat options. But by itself, chicken can be, well, a little boring.
If baked, grilled or roasted chicken is a regular part of your dinner rotation, you’ll need some great side dishes to add a little spark to the plate. From lentils to slaw, these 10 side dish recipes that can help breathe new life to that chicken dinner.
Green Beans with Miso and Almonds: If you haven’t tried miso, the flavorful, fermented Asian ingredient made from soy, then you should. Miso adds umami, or savory flavor, to any dish. Serve this recipe as a side dish for grilled chicken marinated in soy sauce, fresh ginger, garlic and lime.
Chef Meg’s Three-Cheese Macaroni: Chef Meg loves this healthy mac 'n cheese as a side dish with grilled or baked chicken. Make a batch for dinner one night, and then serve the leftovers alongside your chicken.
Couscous with Roasted Vegetables: You can use a mix of your favorite vegetables in this easy-to-prepare side dish that’s perfect with simple roasted chicken. Summer or winter squash and any root vegetables work well. Use whole-wheat couscous for added fiber.
Image courtesy of Writes4Food.com
Herbed Bulgur & Lentil Salad: Hearty, flavorful and packed with nutritious fiber and protein, this salad makes a terrific accompaniment to herbed chicken breasts. The recipe makes an ample quantity, and the salad is a terrific, easy-to-pack lunch option, too.
Garlic-Herb Potato Packs: Whether you prepare your chicken on the grill or in the oven, wrap up a batch of these herbed potatoes and cook them at the same time. Use baby redskin or fingerling potatoes, which cook up tender and sweet.
Arugula Salad with Cranberries & Pistachios: With a main dish as straightforward as chicken, you’ll want sides with bold flavor. This simple salad pairs peppery arugula with zingy cranberries and healthful pistachios. A little of the shallot dressing goes a long way.
Image courtesy of Writes4Food.com
Creamy Corn Pudding: This lighter take on the classic Southern side dish would be great with oven-baked crispy chicken cutlets. Chef Meg’s recipe is creamy without being heavy like traditional corn pudding.
Chimichurri Sauce: This Latin American sauce is traditionally served over steak (as seen below), but you can’t beat it as a condiment for grilled chicken breasts. Spiked with citrus zest and a splash of vinegar, this blend of herbs is beautifully green and vibrantly flavored. Use similar flavors to marinate your chicken before grilling: lime and orange juice, red pepper flakes, cilantro and garlic.
Tangy Summer Slaw: You’ll want a big bowl of this creamy and flavorful slaw to serve as a side dish for grilled chicken at your next barbecue. Tahini, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar make for an unexpected—and delicious—combination.
Easy Grilled Vegetables in Foil: This super-simple side dish for grilled chicken is endlessly flexible: Use whatever combination of fresh seasonal vegetables you like. Some combinations include: tomato and zucchini; butternut squash and red onion; or zucchini, corn and green beans.
Image courtesy of Writes4Food.com
What's your favorite side dish for chicken?
Bryn Mooth is extending her 20-year career in publishing as an independent journalist and copywriter.
She shares seasonal recipes, kitchen techniques, healthy eating tips and food wisdom on her blog writes4food.com.
If baked, grilled or roasted chicken is a regular part of your dinner rotation, you’ll need some great side dishes to add a little spark to the plate. From lentils to slaw, these 10 side dish recipes that can help breathe new life to that chicken dinner.
Chef Meg’s Three-Cheese Macaroni: Chef Meg loves this healthy mac 'n cheese as a side dish with grilled or baked chicken. Make a batch for dinner one night, and then serve the leftovers alongside your chicken.
Image courtesy of Writes4Food.com
Herbed Bulgur & Lentil Salad: Hearty, flavorful and packed with nutritious fiber and protein, this salad makes a terrific accompaniment to herbed chicken breasts. The recipe makes an ample quantity, and the salad is a terrific, easy-to-pack lunch option, too.
Garlic-Herb Potato Packs: Whether you prepare your chicken on the grill or in the oven, wrap up a batch of these herbed potatoes and cook them at the same time. Use baby redskin or fingerling potatoes, which cook up tender and sweet.
Arugula Salad with Cranberries & Pistachios: With a main dish as straightforward as chicken, you’ll want sides with bold flavor. This simple salad pairs peppery arugula with zingy cranberries and healthful pistachios. A little of the shallot dressing goes a long way.
Image courtesy of Writes4Food.com
Creamy Corn Pudding: This lighter take on the classic Southern side dish would be great with oven-baked crispy chicken cutlets. Chef Meg’s recipe is creamy without being heavy like traditional corn pudding.
Chimichurri Sauce: This Latin American sauce is traditionally served over steak (as seen below), but you can’t beat it as a condiment for grilled chicken breasts. Spiked with citrus zest and a splash of vinegar, this blend of herbs is beautifully green and vibrantly flavored. Use similar flavors to marinate your chicken before grilling: lime and orange juice, red pepper flakes, cilantro and garlic.
Tangy Summer Slaw: You’ll want a big bowl of this creamy and flavorful slaw to serve as a side dish for grilled chicken at your next barbecue. Tahini, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar make for an unexpected—and delicious—combination.
Image courtesy of Writes4Food.com
What's your favorite side dish for chicken?
Bryn Mooth is extending her 20-year career in publishing as an independent journalist and copywriter.
She shares seasonal recipes, kitchen techniques, healthy eating tips and food wisdom on her blog writes4food.com.
