Chicken strips, also known as chicken tenders, are a beloved meal for both kids and adults. Their crispy coating and tender inside make them a versatile main course, but figuring out the perfect side dish can sometimes be a challenge. Whether you’re looking for something quick and easy, healthy and nutritious, or simply crowd-pleasing, this list of 20 side dishes will provide you with plenty of inspiration for What To Serve With Chicken Strips.
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Delicious Side Dishes for Chicken Strips
From classic comfort foods to fresh and flavorful veggie options, this list offers a wide variety of sides to complement your chicken strips. Explore these ideas to find your new go-to pairing!
Oven Roasted Zucchini
Oven roasted zucchini is a simple and satisfying side dish, especially when zucchini is in season. The zucchini slices are tossed with olive oil and Italian herbs, then roasted in the oven until they are perfectly tender and slightly caramelized. This is a great way to add a healthy vegetable to your meal with minimal effort.
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Cheesy Broccoli
Cheesy broccoli is a guaranteed hit, especially with kids. This recipe uses a smooth, flourless cheese sauce that coats steamed broccoli florets beautifully. The rich and creamy cheese sauce elevates the broccoli, making it a delicious and appealing vegetable side dish that pairs wonderfully with crispy chicken strips.
Bowl of cheesy broccoli, a perfect side dish for chicken strips.
Parmesan Orzo and Peas
Parmesan orzo and peas is a flavorful and easy pasta side dish. Orzo pasta cooked in chicken broth absorbs rich flavor, and the addition of parmesan cheese and peas creates a simple yet sophisticated side. The bright green peas add a pop of color and freshness, making this a delightful complement to chicken strips.
Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Nothing says comfort food quite like creamy stovetop mac and cheese. This recipe uses a combination of Gruyere and cheddar cheeses to create a deeply flavorful and incredibly creamy mac and cheese. Whether you use classic macaroni or another medium pasta shape, this mac and cheese is a decadent side dish that everyone will love alongside chicken strips.
Creamy mac and cheese in a pot, a comforting side to serve with chicken strips.
Oven Roasted Potato Wedges
Oven roasted potato wedges are a classic and satisfying side for chicken strips. These wedges are easy to prepare and can be seasoned to your liking. Roasting them in the oven makes them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, providing the perfect hearty counterpoint to chicken tenders. Experiment with different spices to customize the flavor to your preference.
Baked Zucchini Sticks
Baked zucchini sticks are a lighter and healthier alternative to fries, while still offering a satisfying crunch. These zucchini sticks are coated in toasted panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and ranch seasoning, then baked until golden and crispy. Serve them with ranch dressing for dipping for a fun and tasty side dish.
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Plate of baked zucchini sticks with ranch dressing, a lighter side for chicken strips.
Easy Sheet Pan Roasted Green Beans with Lemon
Easy sheet pan roasted green beans with lemon are a vibrant and refreshing side dish. Roasting green beans on a sheet pan is quick and easy, and the lemon adds a bright, zesty flavor that elevates this simple vegetable side. This is a great way to add a healthy and flavorful green vegetable to your chicken strip dinner.
Crispy Accordion Potatoes
Crispy accordion potatoes are a fun and visually appealing potato side dish. These thinly sliced potatoes are arranged in an accordion style and baked until crispy. You can customize the flavor with different spices or even add cheese for extra richness. Despite their fancy appearance, they are surprisingly easy to make and offer a unique twist on roasted potatoes.
How to Cook Frozen Broccoli
For a super convenient side dish, learn how to cook frozen broccoli perfectly. This guide provides tips for cooking frozen broccoli so it’s tender and delicious every time. Frozen broccoli is a great pantry staple to have on hand for quick and healthy side dishes to serve with chicken strips, no matter what seasonings you choose to use.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Dill pickle pasta salad is a unique and flavorful pasta salad that’s perfect for pickle lovers. This creamy pasta salad features the tangy, savory flavor of dill pickles, making it a surprisingly addictive side dish. Bring it to a potluck or enjoy it as a flavorful and unexpected side with your chicken strips.
Dill pickle pasta salad in a bowl, a unique side dish for chicken strips.
Roasted Zucchini and Broccoli
Roasted zucchini and broccoli combines two healthy vegetables into one easy and delicious side dish. These fresh vegetables are seasoned and roasted until tender and slightly browned. A sprinkle of parmesan cheese adds a touch of savory flavor. This is a simple and nutritious way to add variety to your plate when serving chicken strips.
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Air Fryer Carrots and Potatoes
Air fryer carrots and potatoes are a quick and easy side dish made in the air fryer. The air fryer cooks these vegetables to crispy perfection on the outside and tender on the inside in a fraction of the time compared to oven roasting. This is a great option for a fast and flavorful side dish for chicken strips any night of the week.
Air fryer carrots and potatoes, a quick side dish for chicken strips.
Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus
Easy roasted Brussels sprouts and asparagus is a nutritious and versatile side dish. Roasting these vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and creates a slightly caramelized flavor. Customize the spices to complement your chicken strips and enjoy this healthy and flavorful side.
Lemon Feta Fries
Lemon feta fries take classic fries to a whole new level of flavor. Crispy fries are topped with feta cheese, mozzarella, lemon zest, and spices for a burst of Mediterranean-inspired flavor. These fries are a delicious and indulgent side dish that pairs exceptionally well with chicken strips, offering a tangy and salty contrast.
Lemon feta fries, an elevated side dish for chicken strips.
Sauteed Carrots
Sauteed carrots are a quick and easy side dish that can be made in just 15 minutes in one skillet. These carrots are subtly sweet, slightly crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. Their simple yet delicious flavor makes them a great weeknight side dish to serve with chicken strips, and they are versatile enough for holiday meals too.
Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad
Summer vegetable pasta salad is a fresh and vibrant side dish perfect for warm weather. This pasta salad is loaded with fresh summer vegetables like zucchini, summer squash, bell peppers, tomatoes, and corn, all tossed in a homemade vinaigrette dressing. It’s a light and refreshing side that complements chicken strips beautifully at picnics and barbecues.
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Panzanella Toscana Salad
Panzanella Toscana salad is a unique and flavorful bread salad. This Italian salad features large chunks of toasted garlic bread combined with fresh cucumbers, basil, onions, and tomatoes. It’s recommended to let it rest for a few hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld, making it a make-ahead friendly side dish for chicken strips.
Homemade Potato Chips
Homemade potato chips are a classic and always-popular side dish. This recipe starts with cold oil to ensure the chips cook through and become perfectly crispy without needing to be double-fried. Season them simply or get creative with your favorite chip seasonings, and serve them with your favorite dipping sauce alongside chicken strips.
Homemade potato chips, a classic side dish for chicken strips.
Crispy Oven Baked Fries
Crispy oven baked fries are a staple side dish that’s easy to make at home. This recipe yields a large batch of fries using just three ingredients: potatoes, oil, and salt. Baking them in the oven makes them healthier than deep-fried fries, while still achieving a satisfying crispiness. These classic fries are always a welcome addition to a chicken strip meal.
Greek Fried Zucchini
Greek fried zucchini offers a crispy and flavorful twist on fried zucchini. Thinly sliced zucchini is dipped in a light batter and fried until golden brown and crispy. These zucchini chips are delicious served with a creamy dip as a snack or appetizer, or as a unique and tasty side dish for chicken strips.
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More Great Options
This list provides a starting point, but there are countless other delicious side dishes that pair well with chicken strips. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try out your own favorite sides!
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