Grilled chicken is a fantastic meal choice, whether you’re enjoying a casual weeknight dinner or hosting a weekend barbecue. It’s healthy, versatile, and incredibly flavorful when cooked just right. But the question that often arises is: what to serve with grilled chicken to make it a complete and satisfying meal? The perfect side dishes can elevate your grilled chicken from simple to spectacular.
Finding the right accompaniments is key to creating a balanced and delicious dining experience. Do you crave something light and refreshing for a hot summer day, or are you in the mood for a hearty, comforting side? Perhaps you need gluten-free options or dishes you can prepare ahead of time for easy entertaining. This guide is your go-to resource for discovering a variety of mouthwatering side dishes that pair perfectly with grilled chicken, ensuring every meal is a hit.
Understanding the Perfect Side for Grilled Chicken
Before diving into specific recipes, let’s consider what makes a side dish truly complement grilled chicken. The best pairings enhance, not overshadow, the chicken’s flavor and texture. Here are a few factors to think about:
- Seasonality: Summer grilling often calls for lighter, cooler sides like salads and grilled vegetables. In cooler months, you might lean towards roasted vegetables or warm pasta dishes.
- Flavor Profile: Grilled chicken is often savory and smoky. Sides can either complement these flavors (think smoky grilled corn) or offer contrast (like a bright, citrusy salad).
- Dietary Needs: Consider your guests’ preferences and dietary restrictions. Having gluten-free, vegetarian, or make-ahead options ensures everyone can enjoy the meal.
- Preparation Time: Balance your cooking efforts. If the chicken requires active grilling time, choose side dishes that are quick to prepare or can be made in advance.
With these considerations in mind, let’s explore a range of side dish categories perfect for serving with grilled chicken.
Cold & Refreshing Side Dishes
When the weather is warm, cold side dishes are a welcome contrast to hot-off-the-grill chicken. These salads and chilled dishes are not only refreshing but also often packed with vibrant flavors and textures.
Watermelon Basil Salad
This watermelon basil salad is the taste of summer in a bowl. The juicy sweetness of watermelon paired with fragrant basil and ripe tomatoes creates a refreshing and vibrant salad. It’s incredibly easy to throw together and is always a crowd-pleaser.
WATERMELON BASIL SALAD RECIPE
Kale Quinoa Salad
For a salad that’s both nutritious and satisfying, kale quinoa salad is an excellent choice. This salad combines the earthiness of kale, the protein punch of quinoa, and often includes roasted vegetables like squash for a hearty and flavorful side. It’s perfect for a make-ahead option as the flavors meld beautifully over time.
KALE QUINOA SALAD
Quinoa Butternut Squash Salad
Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
Inspired by Mediterranean flavors, cucumber salad offers a light and zesty counterpoint to grilled chicken. Cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and herbs like dill and mint are tossed in a simple lemon vinaigrette. Adding quinoa can boost the protein content, making it a more substantial side.
MEDITERRANEAN CUCUMBER SALAD RECIPE
Watermelon Arugula Salad
Another delightful watermelon salad, this watermelon arugula salad adds a peppery twist with arugula. The combination of sweet watermelon, spicy arugula, and salty feta cheese, often dressed with balsamic vinaigrette, is a sophisticated and refreshing choice.
WATERMELON ARUGULA SALAD RECIPE
Watermelon Arugula Salad
Radicchio Corn Salad
For a slightly crunchy and subtly bitter salad, try radicchio corn salad. Sweet corn kernels are paired with radicchio, a type of Italian chicory, and often feta cheese for a salty and creamy element. This salad is simple yet flavorful, offering a pleasant textural contrast.
RADICCHIO CORN SALAD RECIPE
Purple Cabbage Coleslaw
Move beyond traditional coleslaw with a vibrant purple cabbage coleslaw. Purple cabbage offers a beautiful color and a slightly milder flavor than green cabbage. A citrus-based dressing adds brightness and tang, making it a refreshing and healthy side.
PURPLE CABBAGE COLESLAW
Purple Cabbage Cole Slaw
Kale Farro Salad
Kale farro salad is a hearty and flavorful salad that works well year-round but is particularly enjoyable in the summer when served cold. Farro, a chewy grain, is combined with kale, dried apricots for sweetness, feta cheese, and a lemon vinaigrette for a bright and satisfying side.
KALE FARRO SALAD RECIPE
Pea & Bowtie Pasta Salad
Lighten up pasta salad with a pea & bowtie pasta salad. This healthy pasta salad uses fresh peas, lemon zest, and green onions for a burst of fresh flavor. It’s a far cry from heavy, mayonnaise-laden pasta salads and is perfect for potlucks and summer gatherings.
BOWTIE PASTA SALAD RECIPE
Healthy Pasta Salad – Pea Pasta Salad
Orzo Pesto Salad
For a taste of Italy, orzo pesto salad is a fantastic choice. Orzo pasta is tossed with vibrant pesto, mozzarella cheese, and sometimes sun-dried tomatoes or other vegetables. It’s a flavorful and satisfying side that’s great for barbecues or weeknight dinners.
ORZO PESTO SALAD
Kidney Bean Salad
A protein-packed and budget-friendly option is kidney bean salad. This simple salad combines kidney beans with a flavorful dressing, often including ingredients like red onion, celery, and herbs. It’s a no-cook side that’s perfect for hot days and is ready in minutes.
KIDNEY BEAN SALAD
Kidney Bean Salad
Gluten-Free BBQ Side Dishes
For those needing gluten-free options, there are plenty of delicious BBQ side dishes that naturally fit the bill. These dishes ensure everyone can enjoy a full and flavorful meal alongside grilled chicken.
Wild Rice Pilaf
Wild rice pilaf is a sophisticated and flavorful gluten-free side. Wild rice is cooked with vegetables and herbs, sometimes including sweet potato or dried cranberries for added sweetness and texture. It’s a hearty and satisfying side that’s perfect for cooler evenings or when you want something a bit more substantial.
WILD RICE PILAF RECIPE
Beet & Corn Salad
Naturally gluten-free and bursting with summer flavors, beet & corn salad is a vibrant and healthy side. Sweet corn kernels and earthy beets are combined, often with a light vinaigrette to enhance their natural flavors. The contrast in textures and colors makes it a visually appealing dish as well.
SUMMER BEET SALAD RECIPE
Beet and Corn Salad – Summer Salad
Gluten-Free Potato Salad
Enjoy potato salad without the gluten with gluten-free potato salad, often a French-style potato salad. These versions typically skip mayonnaise and dairy, opting for a vinaigrette-based dressing. This results in a lighter, more flavor-forward potato salad that’s both gluten-free and delicious.
GLUTEN FREE POTATO SALAD RECIPE
Green Bean, Corn, & Peach Salad
Capture the essence of summer with green bean, corn, & peach salad. This salad combines the sweetness of peaches, the freshness of green beans, and the sweetness of corn for a truly seasonal side. It’s naturally gluten-free and full of vibrant flavors and textures.
GREEN BEAN PEACH SALAD RECIPE
Green Bean Corn Salad
Grilled Side Dishes for Grilled Chicken
Take your grilling game to the next level by grilling your side dishes too! Grilled sides add a smoky char that complements grilled chicken beautifully and reduces kitchen cleanup.
Grilled Cantaloupe
Unexpectedly delicious, grilled cantaloupe is a must-try. Grilling cantaloupe caramelizes its natural sugars, enhancing its sweetness and adding a smoky depth. A sprinkle of smoked paprika and honey can elevate this simple side to a gourmet treat.
GRILLED CANTALOUPE RECIPE
Grilled Cantaloupe
Make-Ahead Grilled Veggies
For easy entertaining and healthy eating, make-ahead grilled veggies are ideal. Vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, onions, and asparagus can be marinated and grilled ahead of time. Serve them warm or at room temperature for a vibrant and flavorful side.
VEGAN HOR D’OEUVRES
BBQ Appetizers Antipasto
Turn grilled vegetables into a delightful appetizer or side dish with BBQ appetizers antipasto. Grilled vegetables are combined with creamy burrata cheese for a decadent and flavorful dish. It’s a great way to incorporate more vegetables into your BBQ spread.
GRILLED BBQ APPETIZERS
Vegetable Antipasto Recipe with Burrata Appetizer
Other Fantastic Side Dishes
Beyond salads and grilled options, there are many other fantastic side dishes that pair wonderfully with grilled chicken, offering variety and satisfying different cravings.
Summer Squash Pasta
Celebrate summer produce with summer squash pasta. Fresh corn and zucchini are combined with pasta for a light and flavorful dish. It can be served warm or cold, making it versatile for different occasions.
SUMMER SQUASH PASTA
Cherry Tomato Pasta
Let the sweetness of summer tomatoes shine in cherry tomato pasta. Fresh cherry tomatoes are lightly cooked and tossed with pasta, often finished with ricotta cheese for creaminess. It’s a simple yet incredibly flavorful dish that highlights the best of summer produce.
CHERRY TOMATO PASTA
Cherry Tomato Pasta
Pasta with Green Beans
For a heartier pasta side, try pasta with green beans. This dish combines pasta with fresh green beans and other summer vegetables, creating a balanced and flavorful one-pot meal or side dish. It’s a comforting and satisfying option that’s packed with fresh produce.
PASTA WITH GREEN BEANS
Whipped Goat Cheese & Peaches (Appetizer)
While technically an appetizer, whipped goat cheese & peaches can also serve as a delightful side dish, especially for a more elegant meal. Whipped goat cheese is topped with grilled peaches and other stone fruits for a sweet and savory combination. It’s easy to make ahead and is sure to impress.
WHIPPED GOAT CHEESE & PEACHES
Grilled Peach Goat Cheese Appetizer
Conclusion
Grilled chicken is a versatile and beloved main course, and pairing it with the right side dishes can transform a simple meal into a culinary experience. From refreshing cold salads to smoky grilled vegetables and hearty pasta dishes, the options are endless. Whether you’re looking for something light and healthy, gluten-free, or make-ahead friendly, this guide provides a diverse range of ideas to answer the question: what to serve with grilled chicken?
Explore these recipes, experiment with flavors, and discover your own perfect pairings to make every grilled chicken meal a delicious success. Happy grilling and happy cooking!
