20 Best Side Dishes for Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is truly an American all-time favorite comfort food. Its crunchy exterior but juicy and tender part makes it a main course meal that everybody craves. Whether as a light snack or a lunch or dinner course meal, we love and seek this finger-licking food at any time of the day.

As much as we love fried chicken as a full meal on its own, this simple dish can satisfy everybody’s taste buds when paired with different sides. This is why we rounded up this list of the 20 Best Side Dishes for Fried Chicken. 

From classic favorites such as mashed potatoes and cornbread to unique ones like Cajun fries and potato salad, there are a lot of side dishes that can turn your fried chicken meal into a big, awesome feast! So, dig in, and let’s go through these best side dishes for fried chicken one by one!

1. Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are perfect for people who like a bowl of buttery, soft, and starchy side dishes. While it’s a simple dish, mashed potatoes, when paired with your favorite fried chicken, will bring a lovely taste. Creamy mashed potatoes served with crispy chicken, what more can you wish for, right?

 

2. Homemade Mac & Cheese

It will not be a complete fried chicken dinner without having homemade macaroni and cheese. This easy and cheesy pasta recipe is made up of Parmesan and cheddar cheese, milk, macaroni, and butter wrapped in salt and pepper seasoning.

Indeed, this side dish is a fantastic duo of fried, seasoned chicken with or without the additional butter ingredient.

 

3. Buttermilk Biscuit

Take a short moment and imagine bringing hot buttermilk biscuits to serve along with the fried chicken. For sure, everyone will be excited and thrilled. Filled with butter and savor, this Southern staple makes sure that no one will leave the dining table with an empty stomach.

 

4. Peach Cobbler

While the peach cobbler is best known as a sweet side dish to welcome the spring season, it doesn’t make it any less suitable for fried chicken.

A fantastic side dish for those who love sweets, the peach cobbler possesses a buttery sweetness with fragrance from spices and fruity notes of peach. While this recipe is not usually paired with chicken, it wouldn’t hurt if you try them. Trust me, you will be surprised by their beautiful flavor fusion!

 

5. Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries

These deep-fried sweet potato fries will give your chicken meal an even better taste and outlook. With a crispy layer on the outside but a delicious and soft layer on the inside, it’s 100% sure to leave no leftovers. On top of everything, it’s super quick and convenient, taking just a few minutes to cook and prepare.

 

6. Sugar-Free Dinner Waffles

Put the “not-too” sweet dinner waffles and golden fried chicken together, and you’ll definitely have a blast of deliciousness. There’s no need to go out to a five-star restaurant to enjoy this traditional Southern brunch or dinner combination.

Simply fry chicken, mix up this quick, sugar-free, and six-ingredient batter for cooking inside the waffle iron, and dig in!

 

7. Creamed Corn

Once you’re done trying and having this creamed corn recipe, I swear that you’ll never ever go back to canned ones. Made with fresh corn from the local market, this side dish recipe is very creamy and full of flavor. When paired with your favorite fried chicken, cream corn is addictively good!

 

8. Macaroni Salad

Nothing says summer season quite like traditional macaroni salad. It’s a famous salad bar choice and a lovely pairing of crispy and crunchy deep-fried chicken. This old-fashioned side dish recipe is simple but perfectly seasoned with chopped vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, and a flavorful mayonnaise dressing.

 

9. Warm German Potato Salad

We all like baked potato or potato fries, but this recipe has a few notches and turns it into a mouthwatering salad.

Filled with flavorful toppings of bacon strips, red potatoes, and celery seasoned with black pepper, this warm German potato salad brings home the taste of the family’s classic favorite side dish. I’m telling you this salad when chilled, would make a fantastic contrast to your fried chicken.

 

10. Baked Beans

Baked beans are an irresistible, enticing side dish, especially when paired with your favorite fried chicken. While baked beans are often mixed and matched with grilled meat, this side dish goes pretty well with fried chicken.

Because of their different textures, fried chicken and baked beans are indeed a divine match. Just imagine it, a crunchy and crispy fried chicken served side by side with creamy, soft, but thick beans.

 

11. Fried Green Tomatoes

A popular Southern comfort food recipe, fried green tomatoes are truly an absolute delight to have with your favorite fried chicken.

This recipe basically likes you to coat slices of green tomatoes in a cornmeal batter and fry them until golden brown. Add salt for seasoning and taste, have buttermilk dressing, and enjoy it with your fried chicken!

 

12. Smoky Barbecued Corn

A simple and fantastic recipe that you can pull off in just half an hour but a unique corn side dish that can go well with your favorite fried chicken is none other than smoky barbecued corn.

This recipe is made of Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, lime, and mayonnaise that takes regular corn into a wonderful side dish worthy of restaurants.

 

13. Skillet Green Beans

Whether you are cooking a backyard meal for your loved ones, planning a pajama party, or hosting a summer reunion, never forget this skillet green beans recipe!

This side dish is easy to prepare, healthy as it’s low carb and keto-friendly, and a wonderful match of fried chicken, grilled fish, and turkey burgers. Finally, add some garlic powder, thyme, onion, salt, and pepper to taste!

 

14. Potato Wedges

This potato wedges meal is best served as a side dish and appetizer, whether for grand parties or ordinary family dinners. Cut potatoes into wedges, and mix with garlic, sea salt, olive oil, black pepper, and paprika. Add some Parmesan cheese and bake until it’s juicy and tender.

 

15. Cajun Fries

Cajun Fries are crispy and crunchy homemade fries filled with zesty Cajun seasoning that’s a taste-bud-pleasing alternative to your regular fries. It will take only a bit of time and effort to make these perfect gourmet fries. Definitely, it’s a side dish recipe packed full of flavor and spices that can go great with your fried chicken.

 

16. Fried Okra

Fried Okra is a delicious treat and a famous pairing of fried chicken. To make it crispier and crunchier, it’s always best to use fresh okra bought from the market instead of the frozen kind. Finally, for a unique, spicier side dish, toss in and add some cayenne pepper to the mixture.

 

16. Creamed Collard Greens

Do you want a gluten-free and vegetarian side dish that would make your fried chicken dinner night much healthier than usual?

Well, these creamed collard greens are a simple, delicious, and all-around fantastic recipe that goes well with fried chicken. It’s a classic mouthwatering side dish that’s slow-cooked to perfection. Just a bite of collard greens on the side and a bite of chicken, and you’ll find yourself in heaven!

 

17. Cherry Tomato Salad

Salad is always a favorite side dish for main courses, including the all-time favorite fried chicken. And that includes cherry tomato salad.

This side dish recipe is ideal for the summer season since it uses fresh and flavorful ingredients of garlic, basil, honey, and cherry tomatoes. Do you want to switch to a vegan style? Try maple syrup as an alternative to honey!

 

18. Homemade Corn Bread

A classic baked treat that really goes well with fried chicken, homemade cornbread strikes a great deal between savory and sweet flavors.

This recipe has a “melt-in-the-mouth” texture that will make the fried chicken taste better and even more special. When you serve homemade cornbread with fried chicken, try having an extra side of delicious gravy for the best experience.

 

19. Hush Puppies

Once you’re done with your fried chicken, use the extra oil to whip up a delicious side dish of hush puppies.

Made using cornmeal batter with a hint of salt and seasonings to taste, these hush puppies give a pleasant swirl of salty and sweet flavor. For a stress-free cooking process, preheat the oil to around 365 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

20. Strawberry Spinach Salad

Take your fried chicken meal into an awesome food experience by pairing it with an elegant, magical, and healthy salad. I’m telling you this is the ideal candidate for Easter lunch, Mother’s Day Brunch, or family picnics when strawberries are in their ripening season.

Aside from the flavorful dressing made of cinnamon and honey, all you need to prepare are juicy red berries and baby spinach.

 

Final Thoughts

Indeed, many side dishes go very well with fried chicken. Whether it’s salad, vegetables, or dessert that’s prepared in different ways, you can enrich your all-time favorite dinner with these 21 Best Side Dishes for Fried Chicken!

So, which side dish is your favorite? Pin now this collection of fantastic side dish recipes so you can always find it!