Are you making chicken for dinner and wondering what to serve with fried chicken? Everyone loves juicy chicken coated and fried until it is crispy and crunchy. And it tastes even better when it is paired with the right side dishes!
Fried chicken used to be something I made rarely, because frying chicken is messy, but since I got an air fryer and started making air fryer fried chicken I make it all the time!
And since I like variety in my meals I have tried a lot of different side dishes with my chicken. Some of them are classic, like mashed potatoes. Some of them are healthy, like green beans. Some of them are not even remotely healthy, like fried hush puppies. But they are all delicious!
So if you are trying to figure out what to serve with fried chicken check out this list of the best side dishes for fried chicken!
1
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a classic side dish that goes with almost any dish, including fried chicken! They are soft and buttery and make a delicious comfort food.Mashed potatoes are perfect for fried chicken because their creamy texture contrast with the crispy chicken for the ultimate flavor combination. Whether you make traditional mashed potatoes or make them in a pressure cooker they are always a welcome side dish.
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2
Coleslaw
Coleslaw makes a simple and refreshing side dish for chicken. The crisp cabbage and carrots combine with a dressing that is just a little bit sweet and tangy.You can change up coleslaw too and make a cider vinegar dressing or a more traditional mayonnaise dressing. My favorite is to add in some blue cheese to my coleslaw, which makes it extra rich!
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3
Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is the ultimate summer side dish and you can make it many different ways! Cook it on the grill, make it in an Instant Pot, put it the air fryer or microwave while it is still in the husks.Of course corn is best when it is fresh picked and bought from a local farm stand. I love to slather it with garlic butter and sprinkle on some salt.
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4
Green Beans
Green beans are another super easy side dish for fried chicken. You can have them air fried or steamed and ready to eat in just five minutes.Or you can saute them with bacon and garlic for an easy Southern green bean recipe. Either way greens beans are tasty and perfect with chicken.
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5
Squash Casserole
Summer squash and zucchini are always overly abundant in the summer months! And even if it isn't summer they are affordable and delicious. A squash casserole is a great complement to fried chicken. Squash or zucchini are sliced and baked with cheese for a vegetable dish even kids will enjoy!
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6
Fried Green Tomatoes
Slice up some green tomatoes and coat them in cornmeal for an amazing Southern side dish. Fried green tomatoes are a fun combination of juicy and crispy.And fried chicken just goes with fried green tomatoes! After all if you are frying chicken it is easy to fry up a few veggies too.
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7
Cornbread
Cornbread is one of the best breads to serve with fried chicken. It is crumbly and a little bit sweet which pairs well with crispy chicken.You can make a honey cornbread, add jalapenos to make it spicy or use buttermilk to make a moist and tender cornbread. My favorite is to add both honey and jalapenos so the cornbread is both sweet and spicy!
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8
Baked Potatoes
For me baked potatoes are the ultimate easy side dish. Just wash them and stick them in the oven or air fryer and your cooking is done.And this minimal effort gives you potatoes that are crispy outside and fluffy and tender on the inside. You can add toppings if you want and make a fancy loaded baked potato, but even if all you do is add butter they are delicious.
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9
Broccoli Salad
This make ahead salad is perfect for serving with fried chicken. You can get it all ready to go early in the day, so when it comes time to fry the chicken you don't have to do anything else.Plus, let's face it, fried chicken isn't exactly healthy. So serving a salad with it that is both tasty and good for you is a great idea! Broccoli salad has an excellent crunchy texture that goes with the chicken.
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10
Baked Beans
Baked beans is another easy side dish you can make ahead of time. Put the beans in your slow cooker or Instant Pot and they will be ready when the fried chicken is done.Or just open a can and heat some up! There is no shame in taking shortcuts when you are making dinner. My favorite baked beans are flavored with bourbon and maple syrup and topped with a little bit of bacon. Yum!
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11
Potato Salad
Potato salad is another traditional make ahead salad that pairs well with fried chicken. Boil your potatoes and eggs before you even start the chicken and your potato salad will be ready to eat when you are.I make sweet gherkin potato salad which gives it the tart taste of pickles along with just a little bit of sweetness. It tastes amazing with crispy chicken.
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12
Fried Okra
Fried okra is another Southern classic that just is perfect with chicken. Okra is diced and dredged in cornmeal and fried until it is golden brown and crispy.The texture is similar to fried green tomatoes, but with a mild nutty taste. And don't worry, fried okra isn't slimy like boiled okra can be!
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13
Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy pasta is my daughters' favorite dish. Even now that they have moved out they always want me to make mac and cheese every time they come over for dinner.It makes sense, the soft macaroni mixed with 2 or 3 kinds of cheese tastes amazing. Whether you make it in the Instant Pot or top it with crackers and bake it in the oven it goes perfectly with crispy fried chicken.
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14
Hush Puppies
Southern hush puppies are kind of like cornbread, but fried instead of baked. And since you are already frying chicken why not fry up some hush puppies too?They give you cornbread taste but are a lot more crispy. They are also a bite sized fun dish that kids love to eat!
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15
Buttermilk Biscuits
Either biscuits or cornbread are the go-to bread to serve with fried chicken. The flakey texture of the biscuits goes perfectly with the tender chicken. That is why chicken and biscuits is a classic tradition.I love serving flakey, homemade buttermilk biscuits! But I also cheat and use refrigerator biscuits if I am in a hurry. Sometimes there just isn't time to make everything homemade!
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16
Waffles
Ok, so waffles aren't necessarily a side dish for fried chicken, but more of an addition to the main dish! Chicken and waffles is popular for a reason – because they are delicious together.So serve this ultimate breakfast and dinner combination the next time you are looking for a fun twist on fried chicken.
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Best Side Dishes for Fried Chicken
A collection of 16 of the best sides for fried chicken, perfect for a family dinner! Check out this recipe for air fryer corn on the cob, one of my family's favorite recipes to serve with fried chicken.
Servings: 4
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Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn
- oil in a spray bottle
- salt and pepper
- butter for serving
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400º F for 3 minutes.
- Husk the corn and take the silk off. Cut off the ends if necessary to fit in the air fryer basket.4 ears of corn
- Spray the corn with a little bit of oil. Don’t use an aerosol like Pam, it can damage the finish of the air fryer basket. Use oil in a spray bottle or brush it on with a pastry brush.oil in a spray bottle
- Sprinkle some salt and pepper on the corn.salt and pepper
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, turning the corn over halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve with butter and more salt.butter for serving
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Nutrition Information
Serving: 1g | Calories: 77kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 14mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 168IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.5mg
Nutrition facts are estimates.
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