Several chicken cooking styles, but it is no secret that fried chicken is everyone’s go-to dish. It is easy to make; coat it in batter and deep-fry the chicken until it is golden brown. A perfect fried chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Fried chickens are usually paired with gravy, the quintessential combo for comfort food.
But, if you find this combo typical, there are several side dishes that you can pair with your fried chicken to make a next-level meal. We have the recipes for the side dishes that best complement fried chicken!
1. Coleslaw
Besides the typical fried chicken and gravy combo, coleslaw is next in line. Coleslaw is easy to prepare. It is a mix of crunchy veggies tossed in a flavorful, creamy-mayo dressing.
Although there are several recipe variations for coleslaw, this traditional coleslaw is the best to prepare next to your fried chicken. The creamy coleslaw balances the juicy fried chicken.
You cannot get over this side dish easily. If you prepare more than the average serving, you can put away the leftovers inside the fridge. A cold, creamy coleslaw is undeniably good for your fried chicken!
2. Potato Salad
Potato salad is the best alternative if you love creamy side dishes but want to skip the traditional coleslaw-fried chicken combo.
Some might argue that potato salad is best with mustard, but this potato salad recipe is loaded with carrots, salad, and creamy mayonnaise. It has a refreshing flavor that best compliments your fried chicken.
Serve the potato chilled to let the sweetness create a flavorful contrast to your crisp and juicy fried chicken.
3. Baked Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges
Potato wedges are a popular side of fried chicken; children love having chunky potato wedges with their fried chicken even more. This recipe is made for you if you prefer potato wedges with fried chicken rather than rice.
Forget about the basic deep-fried potato wedges; give it a flavorful garlic parmesan twist. The crispy potato wedge exudes the flavored garlic parmesan seasoning, which best goes with the fried chicken.
4. Spicy Cucumber Salad
A crispy, salty fried chicken is best paired with a fresh, spicy cucumber salad. You can find several cucumber salad recipes, but this is one of a kind. It is a Korean-styled seasoned cucumber salad.
Follow the recipe and create a great taste sensation. Each bite of the spicy cucumber salad is juicy and tasty, and its spice gives a little kick in the mouth, making you want more.
5. Cornbread
Cornbread is the best choice for those who want a sweet treat. Its sweetness is the perfect side to your crispy, tender, juicy fried chicken.
The crumbly bread has a fantastic sensation inside the mouth. Some even enjoy dipping the cornbread in a creamy gravy and letting it melt in their mouth.
Skip the mix and bake store-bought cornbread boxes. Check out this easy-to-follow homemade recipe that perfectly goes with your fried chicken.
6. Mashed Potatoes
It is never bland when you have a mashed potato on the side. It is the quintessential side dish for hearty meals. In this recipe, sprigs of rosemary and garlic are sprinkled to maximize the flavor of the potatoes.
You can dip the fried chicken into the mashed potato if you want. Its soft texture perfectly contrasts with the crispy fried chicken. You cannot get enough of the creaminess of mashed potatoes.
7. Hush Puppies
A light snack that can be the perfect side dish for fried chicken. Hush puppies are often served for fish or seafood meals, but fried chicken is often an exception.
The soft and crisp hush puppies go well with the crunchy fried chicken. You can dip this dish with a rémoulade sauce, aioli sauce, or just a simple spicy ketchup.
8. Fried Okra
Several people shy away from the idea of having okra as their side dish. Okra is not for picky eaters.
But a perfectly fried okra is a game-changer! In just 3 minutes, the misconception of the icky okra texture vanished with this fried okra recipe. Pair your fried chicken with a healthier side dish.
9. Baked Potatoes
Another typical side dish for main courses, including fried chicken, is baked potatoes.
You can do whatever you want with baked potatoes, which makes it the best and safest side dish. Follow this recipe for a crisp, light, fluffy baked potato. You can decide on the toppings you like on your potato to make it tastier.
10. Peach Cobbler
Another sweet Southern staple that you should try with your fried chicken. You only need a fresh or canned peach to achieve the sweet note of this side dish.
Peach cobbler is the best sweet treat to have with your fried chicken. You can add a scoop of your favorite ice cream on top of the peach cobbler to make it even more mouthwatering.
11. Buttery Southern Fried Corn
A fresh corn cob could be a fine side dish for fried chicken, but let’s bring a little surprise to the corn. You have to remove the corn from its cob and sauté the corn with butter, and this recipe is easy to make.
It only takes 15 minutes to prepare this delicious side dish. If you want to give this side dish more recognition, you can add other seasonings of your preference.
12. Herb Roasted Red Potatoes
We cannot get enough potatoes and fried chicken. Since potato side dishes are the favorite go-to, this recipe brings a tasty variation.
It is easy to prepare, yet you must ensure that all ingredients are available. The cooking oil and seasoning of your choice are what bring magic to the red potatoes.
Roasted potatoes are addicting, like potato wedges. You can modify the recipe to make large quantities.
13. Grilled Herb and Cheese Stuffed Mushroom
You can serve the grilled herb and cheese stuffed mushroom as an appetizer or side dish. However, some can tolerate eating the stuffed mushroom as the main dish. If you want to try this out, use a firm mushroom.
You can add more herbs, spices, and cheese to the mushroom. The grilled stuffed mushroom has a slightly smokey flavor that makes it go hand in hand with fried chicken.
14. Green Bean Casserole
Fried chickens are deep-fried, so it is better to devour this meal with a healthy side dish. It is easy to make, and you only have to mix together the ingredient in minutes.
The fresh and crisp green beans mixed with a cream mushroom of soup make eating fried chicken tastier. This recipe will become everyone’s favorite vegetable side dish for fried chicken; even children will love this casserole recipe!
15. Slow-Cooked Green Beans
Another healthy side dish option is the slow-cooked green beans. You might be used to cooking green beans for 5 minutes, but this recipe is different.
The green beans have to be slow-cooked for 2 hours to let their juice come out. Good things take time, including these slow-cooked green beans. When the side dish is ready to serve, try dipping your fried chicken into its oozing juice.
16. Korean Pickled Radish
Korean pickled radish is the top choice for what side dish to serve with fried chicken. It has a perfect sour, salty, and spicy taste.
This side dish is easy to make and can last for weeks if you keep it properly in the fridge. Aside from its goodness, it is rich in antioxidants and vitamins, making your skin look healthy and hydrated.
17. Spicy Tteokbokki (Stir-Fried Rice Cakes)
If fried chicken is the typical comfort food for Southerners, tteokbokki or stir-fried rice cakes are the comfort food for Asians.
It is soft, chewy, and soaked into the flavor of the spicy sauce it is served in. Pairing a spicy tteokbokki with fried chicken will surely give you more appetite.
18. Tofu Muchim
Tofu is not just a bland vegetarian dish. If you know how to prepare Tofu, you will be surprised how great it is to pair with fried chicken. Tofu muchim is the best variety. Its soy-based sauce complements well with the juicy fried chicken, giving it a real taste sensation.
19. Kimchi Pancakes
Do you have leftover kimchi at the back of your fridge? There’s another Korean side dish that you can pair with fried chicken. It is more pungent and spicy than regular fermented kimchi.
The recipe shows the technique of how to make your kimchi pancake crispy, spicy, a little sweet, sour, and salty. Kimchi pancakes definitely go well with fried chicken.
20. Kimchi
If you are a K-drama fan, you probably know why Kimchi is one of the best side dishes for fried chicken.
Kimchi is a salty and spicy pickled cabbage that has a tangy, juicy, and crunchy feeling in the mouth. It greatly compliments the fried chicken. Some even use kimchi juice to brine and marinate the chicken.
Summary
You are now probably excited to make fried chicken! Select the recipe you would like to try and prepare a next-level meal.
