Chicken Piccata, with its bright lemon and caper sauce, is a delightful dish perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. But deciding what to serve alongside this flavorful main course can sometimes be a challenge. If you’re wondering What To Serve With Chicken Piccata, you’re in the right place! We’ve compiled a list of 12 fantastic side dishes that complement chicken piccata beautifully, making your meal complete and utterly delicious.
Understanding Chicken Piccata
Before diving into side dish options, let’s quickly recap what makes Chicken Piccata so special. This Italian-American classic features chicken cutlets, typically pan-fried and served with a vibrant sauce made from lemon juice, butter, capers, and often white wine or chicken stock. The result is a tangy, savory, and slightly briny dish that’s both comforting and elegant.
The lemony, bright flavors of chicken piccata pair well with side dishes that offer a balance, either by complementing or contrasting its richness. Here are 12 of the best side dishes to serve with chicken piccata:
Delicious Side Dishes for Chicken Piccata
- Buttered Noodles
close up of buttered noodles with herbs
Simple buttered noodles are a classic pairing for chicken piccata for a reason. Tender egg noodles tossed with butter and herbs create a comforting and satisfying base that soaks up the delicious lemon-caper sauce. The simplicity of the noodles allows the piccata’s flavors to truly shine. Consider adding a sprinkle of parmesan cheese or fresh parsley for an extra touch.
- Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
These Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes offer a delightful textural contrast to the tender chicken piccata. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these potatoes are loaded with garlic butter flavor, adding a savory richness that balances the lemon sauce. The air fryer method ensures they are perfectly cooked and wonderfully crispy without excess oil.
- Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks
sliced cheesy garlic breadsticks with parsley garnish
Who can resist cheesy garlic breadsticks? These breadsticks, with their soft interior and crispy bottoms, brushed with garlic-parmesan butter and topped with gooey mozzarella, are an irresistible side. They are perfect for scooping up every last bit of the flavorful piccata sauce, and the garlic and cheese complement the lemon beautifully.
- Au Gratin Potatoes
For a more decadent side, Au Gratin Potatoes are an excellent choice. Thinly sliced potatoes layered in a creamy, cheesy sauce and baked until golden and bubbly, these potatoes are rich and comforting. The creamy texture and cheesy flavor provide a lovely counterpoint to the bright and tangy chicken piccata.
- Brown Butter Honey Glazed Carrots
white plate with honey glazed carrots and parsley garnish
Add a touch of sweetness and vibrant color to your meal with Brown Butter Honey Glazed Carrots. The sweet and savory glaze made with brown butter and honey coats tender roasted carrots, creating a side dish that is both healthy and incredibly flavorful. The sweetness of the carrots provides a pleasant contrast to the savory piccata.
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Classic creamy mashed potatoes are always a welcome side dish. Their smooth, buttery texture and mild flavor make them a versatile pairing for almost any main course, and chicken piccata is no exception. For an extra layer of flavor, try adding smoked Gouda cheese to your mashed potatoes, as suggested in the original recipe, for a gourmet twist.
- 6-Minute Green Beans
plate of green beans with lemon garnish
For a quick, healthy, and vibrant side, 6-Minute Green Beans are the perfect solution. This method cooks fresh green beans to bright green perfection in just minutes, retaining their crisp-tender texture and fresh flavor. A squeeze of lemon juice over the green beans further enhances the lemony theme of the meal.
- Creamy Parmesan Rice
Creamy Parmesan Rice is a simple yet elegant side dish that pairs wonderfully with chicken piccata. Tender rice cooked in a creamy parmesan sauce is a step up from plain rice and offers a comforting and flavorful accompaniment. The creamy texture and parmesan cheese complement the richness of the piccata sauce.
- Sausage and Herb Stuffing
sausage and herb stuffing in a white dish with parsley garnish
While often associated with holidays, Sausage and Herb Stuffing is a delicious side dish any time of year. The savory sausage and aromatic herbs in the stuffing provide a hearty and flavorful contrast to the lighter chicken piccata. This pairing is especially satisfying on cooler evenings.
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
For a colorful and nutritious side dish, consider Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes. This medley of roasted fall vegetables, tossed with dried cranberries and nuts and drizzled with balsamic glaze, offers a delightful mix of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. The roasted vegetables provide a hearty and healthy balance to the chicken piccata.
- Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli
bowl of air fryer roasted broccoli
Keep it simple and healthy with Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli. Seasoned with just salt and pepper, air fryer broccoli cooks quickly to tender-crisp perfection with lightly crisp edges. Broccoli’s mild flavor and slightly smoky char from air frying make it a great neutral yet flavorful side for chicken piccata.
- 2-Ingredient Dough Dinner Rolls
Complete your chicken piccata meal with homemade dinner rolls made from 2-Ingredient Dough. These incredibly easy-to-make rolls are soft, fluffy, and perfect for soaking up the delicious piccata sauce. Freshly baked bread always elevates a meal, and these rolls are surprisingly simple to create.
Wine Pairing for Chicken Piccata
To further enhance your dining experience, consider pairing your chicken piccata with a crisp white wine. Sauvignon Blanc is a classic choice, as its citrusy notes and light body complement the lemon flavors in the dish. Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris are also excellent dry white wine options. Avoid sweet wines, as they will clash with the savory and tangy profile of the piccata.
Conclusion
Choosing the right side dish can elevate your chicken piccata from a simple dinner to a truly memorable meal. Whether you opt for comforting buttered noodles, crispy smashed potatoes, or healthy roasted vegetables, these 12 side dish ideas offer a variety of flavors and textures to perfectly complement your chicken piccata. Experiment and find your favorite combination to create your perfect piccata pairing!
