What To Serve With Roasted Chicken: 15 Delicious Side Dishes

Roast chicken is a timeless classic, a comforting and versatile dish perfect for family dinners or elegant gatherings. Whether you’re preparing a simple weeknight meal or a sophisticated dinner party, the sides you choose can truly elevate your roasted chicken and create a memorable dining experience. Inspired by French cuisine, this guide presents 15 delectable side dishes that will perfectly complement your roast chicken, adding excitement and flavor to every bite.

roast chicken close up 2

Roasting a whole chicken might seem daunting, but as Le Chef, my Michelin-star trained husband, demonstrated to me, it’s surprisingly easy to achieve a juicy interior and wonderfully crispy, golden-brown skin. Once I discovered the simplicity and deliciousness of homemade roast chicken, I was hooked! I’ve even shared my favorite recipes, like the Super Simple Roast Chicken Recipe and the flavorful Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken, on the blog. This classic comfort food is always a crowd-pleaser, and with the right side dishes, you can transform it into a truly special meal. Forget the usual steamed broccoli or basic salad – let’s explore some French-inspired sides that will transport your taste buds.

French spinach recipe with garlic and butter on a plate with roast chicken, rice and broccoli

Elevate Your Chicken Dinner: Best Side Dishes for Roast Chicken

Looking to move beyond the ordinary sides? Here are 15 of the best side dishes to serve with roast chicken, each bringing a unique French flair to your table.

1. Sautéed Haricots Verts (French Green Beans)

haricots verts (green beans) with butter, garlic and fresh herbs

Sautéed Haricots Verts, or French green beans, are a classic for a reason. Their delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture combined with the savory garlic butter and fresh herbs makes them an irresistible side. These are not your average green beans; they are refined and flavorful, perfect alongside the richness of roast chicken.

2. French Mashed Potatoes (Pommes Purée)

French Mashed Potatoes

French Mashed Potatoes, or Pommes Purée, are in a league of their own. Imagine incredibly decadent, buttery, and smooth mashed potatoes that simply melt in your mouth. This French take on a comfort food staple elevates mashed potatoes to a gourmet side dish that everyone will adore with roast chicken.

3. Asparagus with Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette

Asparagus with Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette

For a touch of spring and brightness, French Asparagus with a Champagne Citrus Vinaigrette is an excellent choice. The vibrant citrus flavors and the subtle sparkle of champagne beautifully complement the tender asparagus. This vegan side dish is light yet flavorful, adding a sophisticated touch to your chicken dinner.

4. La Salade Mentonnaise: Fennel, Orange, and Artichoke Salad

La Salade Mentonnaise

La Salade Mentonnaise offers a refreshing and unique salad experience. This delightful combination of fennel, orange, and artichoke, enhanced with pine nuts and a citrus vinaigrette, provides a burst of Mediterranean flavors. It’s a perfect side to cut through the richness of roast chicken, offering a balanced and flavorful meal.

5. Roasted Fennel

Roasted Fennel with Tomatoes

Roasted fennel is a healthy and flavorful side dish that pairs exceptionally well with roast chicken. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of fennel, creating a slightly caramelized and tender vegetable. If you are looking for a lighter yet satisfying side, roasted fennel is a fantastic option.

6. Smashed Mini Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic

Smashed Mini Potatoes

These Smashed Mini Potatoes with rosemary and roasted garlic are incredibly addictive! Crispy and flavorful on the outside, and wonderfully soft on the inside, these potatoes are a delightful textural contrast to roast chicken. The rosemary and garlic infuse them with an aromatic and savory depth that complements any roasted meat.

7. Tomato Burrata Salad with Basil and Orange Zest

Tomato Burrata Salad

For a fresh and vibrant side, consider a Tomato Burrata Salad with Basil and Orange Zest. This salad is a delightful twist on a classic, featuring creamy burrata cheese, juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a surprising hint of orange zest. The creamy, fresh, and citrusy notes work beautifully with roast chicken, especially during warmer months.

8. Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with Honey Dressing

Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Salad

Indulge in the exquisite flavors of a Fresh Fig and Goat Cheese Salad with Honey Dressing. The sweetness of fresh figs, the creamy tang of goat cheese, and the luscious honey dressing create an unforgettable salad. This side adds a touch of elegance and sweetness that pairs surprisingly well with savory roast chicken.

9. Authentic Ratatouille

Ratatouille with Basil

Authentic Ratatouille is a healthy and flavorful vegetable stew from Provence. Made with eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and onions, seasoned with Herbes de Provence, Ratatouille is bursting with robust, distinctly seasoned vegetables. Each bite offers a taste of the French countryside, making it a comforting and wholesome side for roast chicken.

10. Simple Confit Bayaldi Recipe

Confit Bayaldi

Confit Bayaldi is a visually stunning and equally delicious vegetarian dish from the French Riviera. Using the same core vegetables as Ratatouille, Confit Bayaldi is slow-cooked and beautifully arranged in a rose shape. This healthy and flavorful side is both impressive and memorable, perfect for a special occasion chicken dinner.

11. French Spinach with Garlic and Butter

French Spinach

French Spinach, made with sautéed garlic and butter, is a bistro classic and a personal favorite of Le Chef. This incredibly easy and quick side dish adds a boost of flavor and healthy greens to your meal. The simple preparation allows the fresh spinach and savory garlic butter to shine, complementing the roast chicken beautifully.

12. Fresh Fennel and Tomato Salad

Fresh Fennel and Tomato Salad

For a light and refreshing summer side, Fresh Fennel and Tomato Salad is ideal. With just two main ingredients – raw fennel and tomatoes – this salad is crunchy, satisfying, and incredibly easy to make. It’s a perfect accompaniment to roast chicken, especially on a warm day.

13. Garlic Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary

Garlic Roasted Potatoes

Garlic Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Crisp and golden brown on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and infused with the aromatic flavors of garlic and rosemary, these are simply the best roasted potatoes. They are a classic and comforting side that pairs perfectly with roast chicken.

14. La Salade Parisienne: French Potato Salad

La Salade Parisienne

La Salade Parisienne is a French twist on potato salad, offering a sophisticated and flavorful side dish. This elegant potato salad is perfect for summer barbecues or a refined accompaniment to roast chicken. Its French flair elevates the humble potato salad to something truly special.

15. Taboulé: Couscous Salad

Taboulé Couscous Salad

Taboulé, or Couscous Salad, is a simple, healthy, and flavorful side dish packed with fresh vegetables. It’s easy to prepare, stores well, and is perfect for summer gatherings or as a make-ahead side for your roast chicken dinner. This versatile salad adds a refreshing and nutritious element to your meal.

Beyond Savory: Sweet Pairings for Roast Chicken

While savory sides are classic, don’t underestimate the deliciousness of sweet pairings with roast chicken. Just as cranberry sauce complements turkey, fruits like figs or apples can create a delightful sweet and savory balance with chicken.

a blue pot with orzo, olives, chicken and mozzarella cheese

For a complete meal, consider incorporating the side dish directly into your chicken preparation. Recipes like One Pot Cheesy Chicken and Orzo or Chicken Breasts Provencal with Sauce Vierge showcase how seamlessly side dishes can be integrated.

Chicken Breasts Vierge Sauce

Hosting a Roast Chicken Dinner Party

Le Chef's Wife serving Capon

Roast chicken is an excellent choice for a dinner party, as recommended by style icon Ines de La Fressange. It’s both casual and elegant, perfect for any occasion. To ensure a stress-free hosting experience, prepare as much as possible in advance. Here’s a sample French dinner party menu featuring roast chicken:

French Dinner Party Menu Suggestion:

Starter: La Salade Mentonnaise or Easy Spring Asparagus Soup
Main Course: Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken served with Roasted Fennel and French Mashed Potatoes or Garlic Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Dessert: Mousse au Chocolat or Crème Brûlée
Bread: Freshly baked baguette or sourdough

French Chocolate Mousse

French Baguettes

Wine Pairing for Roast Chicken

Le Chef loves Roast Chicken!

To perfectly complement your roast chicken, consider these wine pairings:

Champagne: Its crisp acidity is a beautiful match for juicy roast chicken and adds a celebratory touch.
Viognier: The apricot notes of Viognier harmonize wonderfully with chicken.
Rosé: A dry Provençal Rosé evokes the South of France and pairs delightfully with chicken.
Pinot Noir: A fruity Pinot Noir, whether from Burgundy or Oregon, is an ideal red wine that enhances, rather than overpowers, chicken.

What will you be making for dinner tonight? Explore these side dish ideas and elevate your next roast chicken meal!

About Le Chef’s Wife

Bonjour! I’m Anina Belle, Le Chef’s Wife. I simplify the gourmet cooking techniques of my Michelin-star trained French Chef husband, Le Chef, into approachable recipes for busy home cooks. Like you, I juggle work and family, and I believe that everyone deserves to enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals.

We’ve been featured in the Washington Post and on the TODAY SHOW. Join me on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for more French-inspired cooking inspiration. Sign up for my newsletter to get new recipes and exclusive cooking class access. I look forward to cooking with you!