Looking for side dishes for chicken that go beyond the same scoop of rice? Golden potatoes, colorful salads and cheesy vegetables give you plenty to choose from.
I especially love the browned potato edges and the big pieces of charred corn in these ideas.
You can keep things simple or bring out a whole baking dish. Most pictures show sides or complete chicken pairings.
A few feature the main dish instead, so those are starting points for serving suggestions rather than separate sides.
Chicken dinner sides worth saving
golden hasselback potatoes
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous sliced potatoes. I love the browned edges and the little green herbs scattered over the tops.
Those fanned-out slices make a plain potato look a little more special.
I’d serve these beside roast chicken with a green salad on the side.
green beans and yellow peppers
If you want your vegetables and chicken on the same serving dish, this one is for you. Green beans, potato pieces and yellow pepper rings sit underneath the browned chicken.
Read also: 20 Healthy Vegetarian Recipes and Meal Ideas to Inspire Your Week
The beans are the detail I’d borrow for a separate side. Try serving yours with lemon wedges so everyone can add a squeeze.
mashed potatoes with sauce
Who else would go straight for those mashed potatoes? The sauce pools right in the middle, with chopped chives scattered across the potatoes and sliced chicken.
Keep the green beans alongside them if you want to follow this whole plate. There’s no need to choose just one side.
white rice and dill
Don’t want to go all out with your side dish? No problem!
This white rice has little sprigs of dill scattered over it, with browned chicken and a charred lemon half alongside.
I’d keep this combination in mind when the chicken already has plenty of seasoning.
brussels sprouts with pecans
This may just be one of my favorite vegetable bowls here. The browned Brussels sprouts are mixed with pecan halves, dried cranberries and bacon pieces. There’s so much going on without needing another side.
Try this combination with simply roasted chicken if you want the vegetables to get a little attention too.
romaine and golden croutons
I love this Caesar-style salad with its big golden croutons. Chopped romaine and grated cheese fill the bowls, with sliced chicken laid over the top.
To serve it as a side instead, keep the chicken on a separate platter. Don’t forget a little bowl of extra croutons like the one here.
glossy browned carrots
How pretty are these carrots? The long orange pieces have browned patches and a glossy coating, with chopped herbs scattered across the platter.
You don’t need lots of extra decoration here. I’d bring the whole platter to the table beside a chicken dinner.
mac and cheese
If you love a generous scoop of mac and cheese, this one is for you. The little skillet is filled with coated elbow pasta and topped with pieces of breaded chicken.
You could serve the macaroni separately if you’d rather keep it as a side. I’d add a chopped salad to this pairing too.
asparagus and lemon slices
This asparagus looks so good with those bright lemon slices. I especially love the browned tips and the little red flakes scattered over the green stalks.
For your own version, try a squeeze of lemon and a little grated Parmesan before serving it alongside chicken.
golden tray-baked bread
Want a bread side instead of potatoes? Here, chicken is being placed on a golden rectangular bake that looks like cornbread.
I’d take that idea and serve separate cornbread squares beside the chicken.
The bowls of grated cheese and chopped herbs nearby offer topping inspiration too.
golden mushrooms and herbs
The mushrooms are the part I’d borrow from this chicken skillet. Their golden cut sides look lovely tucked between the chicken pieces, with chopped herbs over everything.
If your chicken is already planned, try a separate mushroom side with garlic butter and a scattering of parsley.
pearl couscous and tomatoes
I am loving all the color in this bowl. Little rounds of pearl couscous are mixed with red and yellow tomatoes, chopped greens and crumbled white cheese.
This is a pretty alternative to plain rice. I’d pair it with grilled chicken and keep the salad in a big serving bowl.
cheesy cauliflower bake
The browned cheese on this cauliflower may be my favorite part. The florets sit under a pale coating with golden patches across the tops and little herbs in between.
If you want a vegetable side that feels a little more dressed up, save this idea. I’d put it beside a simple chicken main.
charred corn and avocado
How gorgeous is this salad? There are big pieces of charred corn, avocado chunks, tomato halves and purple onion wedges, with green leaves scattered throughout.
Keep some corn in little clusters like these if you want to follow the presentation. This would be my pick for a grilled chicken dinner.
sweet potato wedges
Don’t want another white potato side? Try these sweet potato wedges instead. I love the orange centers against the dark, seasoned edges.
There’s a pale dip tucked beside them in the picture. You could offer your favorite dipping sauce with the wedges and some chicken tenders.
cucumber and tomato salad
If you are looking for something simple, this chopped salad is for you. Small pieces of cucumber, tomato and red onion fill the bowl, with herbs mixed all the way through.
Read also: 20 Side Dishes for Burgers and Cookout Ideas Worth Saving
I’d choose this alongside a breaded chicken dish. Keep the pieces small like these so you can scoop a little of everything.
orzo with leafy greens
Here’s another pasta idea, but it’s a little different from the macaroni above. Rice-shaped orzo is mixed with plenty of dark leafy greens and little white crumbles.
I like how the greens take up so much of the bowl. For your own version, try orzo with spinach and feta beside grilled chicken.
a tray of mixed vegetables
Can’t settle on one vegetable? This tray has carrots, Brussels sprouts, potatoes and onion pieces tucked around the chicken.
I love the mix of orange and green here. You could borrow that vegetable combination for a separate roasting tray when you’re serving a different chicken main.
broccoli cheese and rice
If you love a cheesy casserole, this picture has plenty of inspiration. Broccoli, rice and chicken sit beneath melted cheese and a golden crumb topping.
This is a complete chicken casserole rather than a separate side. For a side-dish version, look for a broccoli and cheese rice bake without the chicken.
pairings for a whole roast
Last but definitely not least, we have a whole browned chicken with herb sprigs in the tray. This picture doesn’t show a side dish, so it’s a starting point for planning the rest of your plate.
I’d choose the hasselback potatoes and carrots from above. If you’d rather keep the sides simpler, go with white rice and the cucumber salad.