32 Creative Sides for Baked Chicken

Chicken is the most popular and versatile meat, but – admit this – it is getting quite boring with the same old recipes. Be it a grilled chicken fillet, juicy chicken wings, or baked chicken; these dishes need to have a tasty side dish to enhance their flavor, aroma, and overall meal index.

So here it is, all about some flavorful side dishes that go well with baked chicken. These include crunchy salads, tangy sauces, gravied and stir-fried veggie dishes, and many more. The best thing about all these recipes is that they have room for customization. You can prepare spicy or less spicy versions, add or subtract an ingredient, or vary the cooking technique. If you have made my favorite honey lemon pepper wings, check out these best sides for chicken wings, and Sides to Serve With Butter Chicken.

Salads

Calamari Salad

Calamari salad is a light and refreshing dish perfect for a hot summer day. Combining fried calamari, fresh vegetables, and tangy vinaigrette dressing makes this a flavorful and satisfying meal. This salad is a perfect mix of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors.

The calamari is fried to be a golden crisp, and the vegetables are crunchy and fresh, along with the perfect tangy dressing blend containing olive oil, lemon juice, and other herbs. If you are looking for a cold appetizer that contains all the flavors and textures, you can make this salad at your next cookout.

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Burmese Tea Leaf Salad

Burmese tea leaf salad, also known as Burma’s superstar dish, is easy to make and delicious and satisfying. It’s perfect for a light lunch or as a side dish. The salad features a blend of finely chopped greens, nuts, and pickles that come together in a flavorful and savory way. The salad dressing adds a tangy and intense aroma that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

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Spinach and Quinoa Salad

Green leafy vegetables, especially spinach, are rich in calcium and many other nutrients. So why not Incorporate this power food in your salads or sides to make your meal nutritious?

And if you have some leftover plain quinoa in your fridge, this is the best recipe to use it. Introduce a zesty flavor by preparing a lemon vinaigrette and tossing up spinach and quinoa. Of course, you can throw in some corn, olives, or mushrooms. Chop some fresh cilantro and garnish before serving. View full recipe

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Creamy Pasta Salad

What is better than a silky, creamy mayo and cream cheese sauce with a blend of fresh, crunchy vegetables and your favorite pasta? Mouthwatering, isn’t it? The best part of this salad is that you can prepare it ahead of time.

This salad goes so well at any outdoor party, a festive dinner, or an intimate family celebration. It is a high-carb meal that keeps you full and balances your meal alongside a protein-based entree.

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Related: Best side dishes for cabbage

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Smoky Corn Salad

Do something unusual with your usual corn salad and try adding chargrilled corn instead of Boiled ones. This will give it a smoky flavor and aroma. Add as many veggies, tropical fruit, beans, and herbs as possible. Just customize it according to your family preferences.

It is a great quick cook side to pull off for any festivity or potluck party. This colorful salad will not only boost the appetite but will also blend well with the main dish’s flavor. Check out the best potluck sides to bring to a party.

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Tomato Cucumber Salad with Feta

The classic tomato and cucumber salad contains the flavors of only a few ingredients, including juicy tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, red onions, and vinaigrette dressing. Add feta cheese to the cheesy flavors, making it more creamy for the kids.

Serve the recipe with roasted meat or fish. Juicy tomatoes melt in the mouth, and their juicy flavors make you feel like the happiest person. If you are diet-conscious, this salad is a worth-trying recipe.

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Roasted & Baked Dishes

Sautééd Mushroom With Butter And Garlic

Mushrooms, when cooked in garlic, give a nice bold flavor. That is why the dish pairs well with less spicy baked chicken, kinds of pasta, and rib eye steaks. The side tastes great with either white or brown mushrooms and Italian seasoning.

Use unsalted butter to enhance more of the veggie flavor. Add bell peppers for color and taste enhancement. Pair it up with orzo, quinoa, or plain white rice. Check out these Tasty Side Dishes for Quinoa

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Roasted Veggie Mix

When it’s springtime and greengrocers have lots of veggies, pick the freshest and finest ones for this side. This dish is best with the flavors of asparagus, carrots, potatoes, radishes, etc. But you can also add green peas, tomatoes, parsnips, or broccoli for a different taste.

And the preparation is so simple. Slice all of them and spread them on a baking sheet. Mix in some seasonings and bake. Viola! Your roasted veggie mix is ready. View full recipe.

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Herbed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes give the best flavors when flavored with herbs and oven-roasted. It not only gives them a nice, crisp coating but also makes them lovely and tender from the inside. One bit and these indulging sweet potatoes melt in your mouth. This is a good alternative to the Air Fryer baked potatoes

Pair them with your favorite protein meal and watch how the tastes blend. You can also serve them with a tangy dipping sauce. Grate some fresh parsley and heat just before serving. View full recipe

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Roasted Delicata Squash

Roasted Delicata Squash is quite an easy side dish. It suits well in the winter special celebrations, because of its warm, spicy flavor. It is a vegan dish and you can serve it when chicken is around, to help those vegan friends!

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Roasted Miso Cauliflower

When a vegan and gluten-free recipe is called for, cauliflower often pops into mind. This vegetable requires the least dairy or poultry ingredients and roasts well to make a delicious side. Try it on the next festive dinner!

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Lemon Herb Roasted Potatoes

Lemon herb roasted potatoes cut into small pieces. Easy to make within a few minutes. They look like little nuggets and taste crunchy and crispy in each bite. Golden color, crispy outside, but soft and tender inside.

It takes only a few minutes to prep, and then woah! Everyone will fall in love with its tender and crispy texture. Made with lemon juice, olive oil, fresh garlic, herbs, and seasonings.

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Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts

The delicious roasted Brussels sprouts are easy to make. The balsamic vinegar adds a little hint of flavor, while parmesan provides a cheesy and melty texture to the recipe.

Loaded with healthy ingredients like Brussels sprouts, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, pepper flakes, salt, and olive oil.

The perfect combination of the variety of flavors. Their green appearance looks so beautiful and catchy. If you love parmesan, then you will also love making shaved Brussels sprout salad.

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Honey Glazed Carrots

Get on some fresh baby carrots to make this easy peasy side dish. All the additive ingredients are so simple that they will already be in your pantry. The cooked Honey Glazed Carrots have a mildly sweet flavor, which children especially enjoy.

It is also an exclusively vegetarian dish. So if you can’t think of anything else, pull off this amazing recipe for the next festive dinner.

Related: 20 Tasty Side Dishes for Salmon Patties

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Korean Roasted Eggplant

Be it a classic hummus, south-Asian eggplant with yogurt, or these Roasted Korean eggplants; we love them all! The reason? Eggplant’s versatile flavor and ability to set in any cooking method with any ingredients.

This recipe requires just the eggplant and the Korean special Gochujang sauce. Scallions are optional but highly recommended. Bring these eggplants to a perfect, chargrilled texture before glazing them with Gochujang.

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Szechuan Stir Fry Eggplant

Do you love to go experimental with your recipes and try different cuisines? Then this is just the recipe for you to try out. The Szechuan eggplant is stir-fried with a specific blend of herbs and spices, which give it a special flavor.

Eggplant has its own rich, creamy taste and is also a nutritious vegetable. The resulting dish is somewhat saucy, spicy, and drool-worthy. Serve it with your baked chicken and some rice, orzo, or quinoa to make it a complete meal. View full recipe

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Mushroom Polenta

When you have prepared baked chicken and Asian rice pilaf, and your menu still feels incomplete, it calls for some creamy mushroom polenta. A hearty, rich, and satisfying mushroom meal makes a perfect side to serve with any protein entree.

It is a less spicy version, so flavor it using only herbs or a bit of fresh ground black pepper. Parmesan in the final touches enhances the overall taste and gives the dish a beautiful texture.

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Sauteed Garlic Green Beans

The green bean recipe is one of the most incredible side dishes. Beans are sprinkled with little golden crispy garlic bits, which makes them yummier and more worth eating. The main interesting thing about this dish is that it is very neutral and easy to throw; it goes well with anything, especially with all Asian foods.

It is an excellent combination of Juicy steak and fish with white wine sauce. It can also be served as Asian food by adding a little bit of minced ginger. Sauteed Garlic Green beans are perfect to quick with all types of foods.

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Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Lemon

When you need some healthy snacks or a side with chicken dishes, vegetables can be a good source. Why not make some air fryer zucchini fries and serve with a lemon tarragon aioli? Low cal and much fun!

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Garlic Butter Green Beans

If you love lemonade-flavored recipes, you will fall in love with each flavor of the lemon butter green beans. A delicious and healthy side dish that serves perfectly with your favorite dishes.

The Simple recipe only contains lemon zest, butter, fresh green beans, grated parmesan cheese, ground pepper, and lemon juice. Fresh beans and garlic are the perfect combination.

If your family loves side dishes with chicken or grilled veggies, then serve lemon butter green beans; it will make them go crazy.

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Baked Parmesan Zucchini Crisps

A perfect healthy treat for zucchini lovers. An evening snack that serves best with tomato or hot sauce.

The key ingredients of these golden-brown fried zucchini crisps are grated parmesan, cooking spray, zucchini, salt, olive oil, and black pepper.

Always a crowd-pleaser recipe. Crispy, cheesy, and easy to make. If you have little kids, they will love these crispy fried zucchini crisps, which will become your daily recipe.

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Cheesy Asparagus

Being a vegetarian does not mean you can’t eat delicious cheesy recipes. Incorporate vegetables like asparagus in your menu, and mix some cooking techniques, creativity, and oh yes! A lot of cheese.

Cheesy asparagus gives a nice golden, casserole-like appearance when baked. This recipe includes heavy cream, but you can skip it if you want it low in calories. Top it up with some garlic powder and creamy mayo. View full recipe

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Classic Garlic Bread

Don’t have a loaf of French bread in your pantry? No problem. Just take a slice of your regular bread and spread some garlic butter. Add cheese to make a nice golden top when baked.

It is a versatile side dish that goes well along with any main entree. You can use olive oil instead of regular butter to make it less fatty. Garlic bread is a side to be served with dry entrees, gravy main course, meat-based meals, or vegetable dishes. Yup, it is this versatile.

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Pasta and Noodle Dishes

Fettuccine Alfredo

When it’s your favorite comfort food, you might forget the baked chicken and devour the entire serving in a while. Fettuccine Alfredo is easy to make, and you can add your favorite mushrooms, chicken, and olives along with pasta and cheese. You can also use an alternative to regular milk to make it lactose-friendly. View full recipe

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Cheesy Broccoli Pasta

Treat those pasta lovers at your home with this exciting new recipe for Cheesy Broccoli Pasta. Even if your children despise the greens, they won’t be able to resist this one because it is one of the most creamy comfort foods.

Plus, you can prepare this one-pot recipe in no time. Usually, the parmesan sits on the top at the end, but you can also add some cheddar during cooking to make it more creamy and cheesy. Serve it when you have a meat-based meal in the main course. View full recipe

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German Spaetzle

Get rid of simple noodles, chow mein, or dumplings recipes. Pull off this contemporary style Spaetzle, which is part noodles and dumplings, but fully delicious and irresistible. To serve on a cold winter night, use some chicken or vegetable broth and turn this side into a soupy one. This side dish blends Eastern and European Cuisines and presents a heartwarming, nice, and tempting side for chicken recipes.

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Rice and Grain Dishes

Nuts and Spinach Rice

Anything with rice and some nuts will win all hearts and guts. Spinach is always a winner because of its color appeal and nutrient content. Together, these ingredients with rice make a satisfying side to pair with the lovely, crusty golden-baked chicken. Lemon zest adds a tangy flavor. Keep it less spicy so that children can enjoy it as well. View full recipe

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Asian Rice Pilaf

Indian-style Asian Rice pilaf is the classic rice flavored with spices, curry powder, turmeric, saffron, and herbs. It is a simple recipe that you can customize to your preferences.

Add crunchy red onion, roasted cashews or almonds, chopped cilantro, fried shrimp, or any other flavor-bursting ingredient you love when the rice is ready to serve. This kind of rice blends well with the flavors of gravied dishes, but you can also do this with baked chicken.

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Street-Style Corn on the Cob

Who does not love the classic corn on the cob? I sure do! So I decided to introduce this as a side to my many protein meals. It is not regularly charred, and oven-roasting gives it a classic charcoal-burnt texture.

Keep it as it is, or make it spicy by glazing it with a mixture of lemon, red pepper powder, and whole allspice mix. But for our more creative culinary artists, I recommend homemade garlic and parsley butter to flavor the corn. View full recipe.

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Sauces, Soups & Dips

Cranberry Sauce

If your main course is something not too saucy or gravied, this purple Cranberry sauce is just the side you need. It is colorful, flavorful, and tangy. Not only savory, but this sauce also goes well with pancakes, waffles, or meat-based sandwiches. So if you are hosting a potluck dinner or a 4th of July party, prepare this sauce a day before the occasion, and see it spread magic on your dinner table.

Related: 20 Best Side Dishes for 4th of July

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Beans Soup

White beans not only have a rich flavor and protein content but also offer a blank canvas for many recipes and customizations. Make a soup-like broth with some lemon and natural herbs, and add boiled beans to it.

It is a fulfilling and comforting food that will disappear from your dinner table in no time. If somehow you do not have white beans, replace them with red ones or a blend of lentils.

Related: 20 Tasty Side Dishes for Tilapia

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Red Tomato Soup

When nothing else works, the creamy red tomato soup can come to the rescue. Any beginner-level chef can ace this and flavor it with herbs and spices. It is delicious, flavorful, and tantalizes your taste buds. It will give a great flavor if you have a somewhat bland or less spicy entree with it.

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