What To Serve With Roasted Chicken ~ 14 Side Dishes
by Katie Webster
December 27, 2022 (updated 11/17/23) Jump To Recipe
If you are looking for the best side dishes to pair with roasted chicken then you are in the right place. I have fourteen recipes that will make it a clean-plate-club kind of night. So whether you are looking for a kid-friendly side or a simple stove-top veggie dish, I have just what you are looking for in this line-up.
Table of contents
If you have been following here for a while then you know that my go-to Juicy Herb and Garlic Roasted Chicken is a Sunday favorite and our Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs recipe is my family’s ultimate favorite. I even confessed as much on live radio.
This being the case, I have come up with a handful of side dishes for roast chicken that my family loves. From creamy roasted garlic mashed potatoes to my daughter’s favorite lemon broccoli recipe and our all-time favorite combination of all paired with Tuscan Kale Caesar Salad.
My Top Tips For Planning A Roasted Chicken Dinner
- Roast chicken only takes a few minutes of prep work to get into the oven. Once it goes in, use your time to clean up the kitchen and prep your side dishes.
- While it is tempting to pair baked chicken with a casserole or roasted vegetable, roasting chicken requires a very hot oven. That’s why you’ll need to make sure to choose stove-top side dishes, grilling recipes, and ones that don’t need to go into the oven.
- For a traditional plate, you can choose both a vegetable side dish and a starch side dish, or you can double up on veggies to save calories and get in extra veggie servings.
What To Serve With Roasted Chicken
Our favorite pairing for Roasted Chicken is this Lacinato Kale Caesar Salad. It is made with a simple egg-free dressing and tossed with homemade croutons and grated cheese!
It's no secret that mashed potatoes and roasted chicken are a perfect match. But have you had roasted garlic mashed potatoes with it? They are eminently savory, creamy and irresistible with roasted chicken. Watching your carbs? Try our creamy garlic-spiked Mashed Cauliflower instead.
Here's my younger daughter's all-time favorite broccoli side dish. She loves the way the garlic and lemon soak into the florets. Who knew steamed broccoli could be a kid's favorite? It's also happens to be a great healthy side dish to pair with roast chicken.
This one-pot method of boiling and sauteeing baby carrots is one you must try. They are savory, tender, and a little sweet. The dill and garlic go great with roast chicken.
This recipe comes from my cookbook and I have made it so many times. I have brought it to family gatherings and served it as a side for a Sunday supper as well. The smoky bacon and sweet and tangy dressing are amazing with juicy roast chicken.
If you have yet to embrace parsnips, this Mashed Carrots and Parsnips is a gateway recipe. They are so good when mashed with carrots. I add in a little orange to flavor the combo. It's a knock-out pairing with the above lemon broccoli and crispy roasted chicken, I guarantee it!
I love how fast and easy quinoa is ready to eat. It only takes 20 minutes to cook, and it is so nutritious! In this quinoa with lemon recipe I paired it with almonds and thyme for a bright and cheerful side dish.
These savory sauteed portobello mushrooms with tarragon are total perfection with juicy roasted chicken. Round out the pairing with our Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes and you'll have a 5-star dinner!
I cannot get enough of this black lentil salad. It keeps for days in the fridge so you can serve the leftovers for lunch. The tangy walnut dressing and fresh chopped herbs are wonderful with roast chicken.
You can't go wrong with a classic like Garden Salad to go with your roasted chicken! This traditional tossed garden salad is as much of a comfort food salad as it gets in my book. Serve with freshly baked whole-wheat bread and roast chicken for a simple heartwarming meal.
This grilled asparagus only takes a few minutes to make. The tender stalks, slightly charred and smoky flavor and a little lemon make this a great dish to pair with chicken. If it's too cold to grill, then try our asparagus with tarragon vinaigrette. Tarragon and chicken are a classic pairing and you'll love them together!
Here's an alternative to mashed potatoes that is ultra-creamy! It's made with a blend of seasonal root veggies and can be customized for what you have on hand. The rich and creamy mash is so good with roasted chicken thighs. Add on cranberry sauce for a stellar family dinner.
Everyone's favorite Green Bean Recipe is always a win with roasted chicken. Lately, I have been buying bags of pre-trimmed green beans to make this recipe and it is so easy!
This quinoa salad is perfect for meal prep so if you have a busy week ahead, add this to your menu and prep it this weekend. It is sort of like a cross between Tabbouleh and Greek Salad with the nutritional benefits of quinoa.
More Chicken Tips and Favorite Baked Chicken Recipes
- How To Thaw Chicken Safely: everything you need to know
- Our Favorite Chicken Marinade Ever you’ll get requests for the recipe when you serve this at your next cookout.
- How to make Chicken Stock: my culinary school tips and tricks for a home cook.
- Our round-up of Low-Calorie Chicken Recipes are all under 400 calories each!
What To Serve With Roasted Chicken ~ 14 Side Dishes
Description
If you are looking for the best side dishes to pair with roasted chicken then you are in the right place. I have fourteen recipes that will make it a clean-plate-club kind of night. So whether you are looking for a kid-friendly side or a simple stove-top veggie dish, I have just what you are looking for in this line-up. Our Mashed Root Vegetable Recipe is the perfect healthier comfort food to go with baked chicken.
Ingredients
- 2 cups rutabaga chunks (about 1-inch pieces)
- 2 large parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 sweet potato, preferably white, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 1 small celeriac (celery root), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons butter or ghee
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or oregano
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
Instructions
- Steam The Vegetables: Bringan inch of water to a boil in a large pot fitted with a steamer basket. Add rutabaga, celeriac and cook, covered for 8 minutes. Add parsnips, sweet potato and steam until a fork inserted into the vegetables goes in and slides out easily, about 17 minutes. Transfer half of the vegetables to food processor fitted with steel blade attachment.
- Cook the Garlic: Melt butter in a small skillet. Add olive oil and garlic and cook, swirling until the garlic is just browned, about 20 seconds. Add thyme (or oregano) and remove from the heat.
- Puree the Vegetables: Pour half of the garlic oil mixture over the vegetables and add half of the cream, half the salt and pepper and puree. Scrape sides and continue pureeing until completely smooth. Transfer the vegetable mash to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining steamed vegetables, garlic oil and seasoning. Combine the two batches of pureed vegetables. Serve hot.
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied art and photography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first started working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications among others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.
Truly amazing in taste and flavors in this recipe. Will definitely make again, very good recipe!
We love roasted chicken in this family, and I make it or buy a rotisserie chicken often. However, I was definitely in a rut with side dishes until I found your roundup! Thank you for sharing so many tasty recipes, tips and ideas.
Garlic butter carrots were a hit with our thighs last night!
The thing I love about roasted chicken is how you can add to the flavor with the sides you serve. These 14 recipes compliment the chicken so well.
Chicken shows up on our dinner table at least twice a week. It’s nice to have some new options as side dishes. The kale salad was amazing and I plan to make it again.
Chicken is a staple in our house, too. Thank you for trying the kale salad, Gina!