Finding the best fried chicken sides is essential to a great chicken meal. Golden brown, crispy fried chicken deserves a great side!
Luckily, there are lots of mouthwatering sides to serve with fried chicken. There is a perfect side for everyone’s specific tastes, from creamy potato salad to healthy collard greens.
Here is what to think about when choosing a side dish for fried chicken:
- Texture
- Flavors
- Temperature (do you want a hot or cold side?)
Most fried chicken recipes have simple flavors. Salt and pepper are usually the only seasonings. That means a lot of different flavors will go well with fried chicken.
It’s also a good idea to pair fried chicken with foods that go with the crispy texture of the chicken. Softer, creamy sides are always a good match. So many things to consider when choosing your fried chicken sides!
Fried Chicken
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20 Best Sides for Fried Chicken
We have found the 20 best side dishes to pair with your favorite fried chicken recipes. Everything here will taste great alongside a juicy fried chicken. Choose one of these tasty sides, and your fried chicken dinner will be complete!
1. Mac and Cheese
Creamy mac and cheese is a perfect side to serve with fried chicken. The soft, cheesy pasta is delicious with crispy chicken.
Our white cheddar mac and cheese is full of flavor. It is salty but also a little sweet. The bright white color of the mac and cheese looks great next to a golden brown chicken.
This comfort food is perfect for kids and adults. It is a true crowd pleaser!
2. Potato Salad
Gimme Some Oven has an amazing recipe for potato salad. The secret ingredient is Old Bay seasoning. This salty, herby taste is delicious next to crispy chicken.
Potato salad has a nice, soft texture which pairs well with crispy chicken. It is also a total classic! Make your potato salad a day in advance so that the flavors have time to marinate.
Image Source: Gimme Some Oven
3. Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes and fried chicken are a match made in heaven. Both have crispy breading and can be fried in the same oil.
These fried green tomatoes from Simply Recipes are a perfect veggie to complete your chicken dinner. This old-fashioned recipe is tried and true.
Coat green tomato slices in egg and breading, then fry. Dip them in ranch dressing, ketchup, or enjoy them plain! Try baking them in the oven instead of frying to make this recipe a little healthier.
Image Source: Simply Recipes
4. Baked Beans
Juicy baked beans are one of the most amazing side dishes for fried chicken. You may want to dip your chicken in the bean sauce.
These baked beans from The Pioneer Woman are simple to make. Mix all ingredients in a casserole dish, and then let your oven do all the work. The brown sugar and ketchup flavors will make the beans tender and juicy. The added bacon gives the baked beans a nice salty taste.
Image Source: The Pioneer Woman are
5. Collard Greens
Quick collard greens from Cookie and Kate are the perfect side dish to complete your southern meal. Collard greens are a classic veggie in southern cuisine. They are healthy, nutritious, and quite tasty when cooked correctly.
We like the red pepper flakes that are added to these collard greens. They give the vegetable a nice spicy kick. That peppery taste is also amazing next to simple fried chicken.
Image Source: Cookie and Kate
6. Parmesan Potato Wedges
These simple parmesan potato wedges from Creme de la Crumb are flavorful and easy to make. Sliced russet potatoes, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese, and some fresh herbs are all you need. Roast the potatoes in the oven while you fry the chicken on the stovetop.
Parmesan potato wedges are very filling. A plate of roasted potatoes and some savory fried chicken will fill you right up!
Try using small red potatoes. You can sprinkle on some garlic powder for extra flavor. Add some shredded cheddar cheese for a gooey cheese topping.
Image Source: Creme de la Crumb
7. Fried Okra
Fried chicken and fried okra go together like peanut butter and jelly. The combination is southern cuisine at its finest! Spicy Southern Kitchen has the best recipe for fried okra.
Egg, milk, flour, salt, and pepper coat the okra slices. The veggie pieces are then fried and served hot. Use the same oil to fry your okra and your chicken.
Fried okra is great when dipped in ranch dressing or when enjoyed plain. Kids may like to dip the vegetable in ketchup along with their savory fried chicken.
Image Source: Spicy Southern Kitchen
8. Mashed Potatoes
These sour cream cheddar cheese mashed potatoes from Simply Delicious are to die for. They are creamy, tangy, and perfectly salty. They are certainly a great match for fried chicken!
Potatoes that are higher in starch make the best mashed potatoes. Yukon gold and russet potatoes work great. Add the cheddar cheese while the potatoes are hot, so the cheese melts into the mix.
Image Source: Simply Delicious
9. Pasta Salad
The simple flavors of fried chicken allow it to go well with lots of side dishes. This Mediterranean pasta salad from Love and Lemons adds a lot of interest to your chicken dinner.
Fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives are all blended with your favorite shape pasta. Feta cheese rounds out the perfect flavors of the pasta salad. This side is perfect for picnics in the summer.
Try adding some sauteed summer squash to the pasta salad. Tender squash makes a wonderful addition. Yellow squash will add brilliant color to the dish as well.
Image Source: Love and Lemons
10. Green Beans
Healthy Seasonal Recipes will show you how to make perfect green beans. Green beans are crisp, garlicky, and fresh tasting. Be sure to use fresh green beans to get the best results.
We especially love this green beans recipe because it is made in one dish. It only takes a few minutes to make a perfect, healthy side for fried chicken.
11. Onion Rings
Crispy french fried onions are one of the perfect side dishes for fried chicken. We love these extra crispy onion rings from The Recipe Critic. Panko breadcrumbs are to thank for the crisp texture. Extra crunch is always a good idea!
These french fried onions are made with parmesan cheese. This gives them a more salty flavor. The parmesan is quite tasty alongside the juicy chicken.
Image Source: The Recipe Critic
12. Cornbread
Sweet cornbread muffins are one of the best side dishes for fried chicken. Our recipe is loaded with butter and applesauce, which makes them very tender. Slather extra butter on top for an even richer taste.
We use yellow cornmeal, but white cornmeal will also work well. Try replacing the sugar with honey. This will make the muffins sweet and healthier, too.
13. Corn on the Cob
Sweet corn on the cob and fried chicken are traditional southern dinners. Tender corn kernels and crunchy chicken go so well together!
We like using this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen, which makes perfectly boiled corn in less than 15 minutes. Coat your corn cob with butter and sprinkle it with some salt to make the side complete.
Image Source: Natasha’s Kitchen
14. Bacon and Corn Dip
Our recipe for bacon and corn dip can be served on top of fried chicken or as a salad on the side. Smoky bacon slices and sweet corn is a delicious mix. Try adding some chopped green peppers to give the salad a little heat and some more crunch.
15. Black Eyed Pea Salad
Fresh vegetables, black-eyed peas, and a zingy vinaigrette make this delicious black-eyed pea salad perfect. The recipe from A Couple Cooks will show you how easy it is to make this awesome side dish. It is a true southern staple.
Not only does this side dish taste great when served with crispy fried chicken, but it also looks fantastic. Thanks to the dark peas and bright yellow and green peppers, the black-eyed pea salad is very colorful.
Image Source: A Couple Cooks
16. Sweet Potato Fries
We love these baked sweet potato fries from Inspired Taste. They are so easy to make and become wonderfully crispy in the oven.
Sweet potatoes are sliced and tossed in some olive oil. A little salt and pepper are sprinkled on the sweet potatoes, and then they are baked to golden perfection. Sweet potatoes are a healthy side that kids and adults will both love.
Try making a cinnamon greek yogurt dip for the fries. Crushed pecans mixed with brown sugar will also make a tasty sprinkle for these sweet potato fries. There are so many ways to make this easy recipe your own!
Image Source: Inspired Taste
17. Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is the quintessential side dish for chicken. It is creamy, nutritious, and takes just a few minutes to put together.
We like this green bean casserole recipe from Cafe Delites, which uses cream of mushroom soup and crispy fried onions. The whole side dish is made in one casserole dish and is ready to cook in under ten minutes.
Image Source: Cafe Delites
18. Baked Potatoes
If you are making your fried chicken dinner in the winter, a nice hot baked potato side is a great idea. This recipe for twice-baked potatoes from Recipe Tin Eats is especially tasty.
Large russet potatoes are baked, blended with sour cream, green onions, seasonings, and then baked again. Top the potatoes with some crumbled bacon to make them even more decadent.
Image Source: Recipe Tin Eats
20. Hush Puppies
Hush puppies are a southern staple and a perfect companion for a fried savory chicken main dish. A cornmeal batter is blended and deep-fried to make tender, bite-sized hush puppies.
We like this recipe from Spend With Pennies which only requires a few ingredients. You probably have everything you need in your pantry right now!
Make sure your frying oil is at the perfect temperature by adding a little bit of hush puppy batter. If it immediately starts bubbling, the oil is hot and ready to use! Add some cayenne pepper to the batter before frying in the hot oil. This will give a great heat to your southern side.
Image Source: Spend With Pennies
Awesome Southern Sides for Fried Chicken, From Potato Salad to Baked Beans
If you are looking for a true southern classic side dish or just something exciting and new to serve with your chicken, one of these great recipes is sure to fit the bill! Get out your cast iron skillet, your corn flakes coating, and your favorite cuts of chicken, then get ready to cook!
Be sure to let us know your favorite fried chicken sides. We always want to hear which recipes you loved best! Enjoy.
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