What to Serve with Wings: 30+ Best Side Dishes & Sauces

Having chicken wings for dinner and wondering what to serve alongside? You’re in the right place! Chicken wings are a fantastic main course, perfect for game days, casual gatherings, or a fun family meal. But to make it a complete and satisfying experience, you need the perfect side dishes. Here are over 30 delicious side dishes, plus 10 incredible sauces, that will elevate your wing night to the next level!

Smoked Chicken Wings on Platter

Chicken wings have become a staple in many households, loved for their crispy skin and flavorful meat. Whether you smoke them for that deep, smoky flavor, bake them for ease, or fry them for extra crispiness, the right side dishes can complement and enhance the overall meal. If you haven’t tried smoking your wings yet, you’re in for a treat! But for a quick and easy indoor option, my Crockpot Chicken Wings Recipe is also a winner.

10 Must-Try Dipping Sauces for Chicken Wings

No wing experience is complete without a variety of dipping sauces! Sauces add moisture, flavor, and can customize your wings to everyone’s liking. Here are 10 of the best dipping sauces to serve with your chicken wings, ranging from classic to adventurous:

1. Buffalo Sauce: The quintessential wing sauce! Buffalo sauce offers a perfect balance of heat, tanginess, and buttery richness. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for those who love a spicy kick.
2. Buttermilk Ranch Dressing: Cool and creamy ranch dressing is the ideal counterpart to spicy wings. Its herbaceous and tangy notes cut through the richness of the wings, providing a refreshing contrast. For a healthier twist, try a high-protein ranch option.
3. Blue Cheese Sauce: For a bolder flavor, blue cheese sauce is the way to go. Its pungent and creamy profile is a classic pairing with hot wings, creating a sophisticated and satisfying taste experience.
4. Honey Mustard: Sweet and tangy honey mustard offers a delightful contrast to savory wings. The honey provides sweetness, while the mustard adds a pleasant zing, making it a versatile and family-friendly option.
5. Barbecue Sauce: From smoky to sweet to spicy, barbecue sauce adds depth and complexity to chicken wings. Its robust flavors complement both smoked and baked wings, creating a comforting and familiar taste.
6. Teriyaki Sauce: For an Asian-inspired twist, teriyaki sauce brings a sweet and savory glaze to your wings. The umami-rich sauce with a hint of sweetness is enhanced with a sprinkle of green onions, adding freshness and aroma.
7. Sriracha Mayo: Combine creamy mayonnaise with the fiery kick of sriracha for a simple yet addictive dipping sauce. Sriracha mayo offers a balance of creaminess and heat, perfect for those who like a spicy mayo.
8. Garlic Parmesan Sauce: Indulge in a luxurious garlic parmesan sauce. This creamy, cheesy, and garlicky sauce elevates wings to gourmet status, offering a rich and savory experience.
9. Sweet Chili Sauce: Explore a sweet, tangy, and subtly spicy flavor profile with sweet chili sauce. This vibrant sauce adds a unique twist to your wings, offering a balance of sweet and heat that is both intriguing and delicious.
10. Soy-Ginger Glaze: Create a flavorful Asian-inspired glaze with soy sauce and ginger. This combination delivers a savory, umami-packed, and slightly spicy flavor that penetrates the wings, making each bite incredibly flavorful.

Now that you have your sauces sorted, let’s dive into the best side dishes to serve with chicken wings!

What to Serve with Chicken Wings: 30 Amazing Side Dish Ideas

To create a well-rounded meal with chicken wings, consider offering a variety of side dishes that provide different flavors and textures. Here are 30 fantastic options, categorized to help you choose the perfect pairings:

Classic Comfort Sides:

1. Cornbread in cast iron skillet and serving plate

   Best Cornbread Ever: Fluffy, buttery, and slightly sweet cornbread is a Southern classic that pairs beautifully with savory wings. Its crumbly texture and comforting flavor make it a perfect side for soaking up wing sauces. Check out this recipe

2. Gluten-Free Cheddar Bay Biscuits: These cheesy, buttery biscuits are incredibly flavorful and happen to be gluten-free! They offer a soft, savory, and comforting bite that complements the spiciness of wings. Check out this recipe

3. parmesan bread bites in a bowl with a towel

   Parmesan Bread Bites: Soft, pillowy bread bites, golden brown and crispy on the outside, topped with parmesan and parsley. These are perfect for dipping in extra wing sauce or marinara. Check out this recipe

4. Cheesy-Stuffed Garlic Butter Crescent Rolls: Buttery, flaky crescent rolls filled with melted mozzarella and infused with garlic butter. These are an indulgent and satisfying carb-loaded side that everyone will love. Check out this recipe

Fresh & Light Sides:

5. Carrot Salad

   Colorful Carrot Salad Recipe: Crunchy, sweet, and tangy carrot salad without mayonnaise. This refreshing salad provides a welcome contrast to rich wings and is perfect for warmer weather. Check out this recipe

6. Classic Coleslaw Recipe: Creamy, crunchy coleslaw is a quintessential side for wings. Its cool and refreshing nature cuts through the richness of the wings, offering a balanced bite. Check out this recipe

7. macaroni salad in a serving bowl

   Macaroni Salad: A simple, creamy, and slightly tangy macaroni salad is a classic summer side dish. Its cool temperature and refreshing flavors make it a great accompaniment to wings. Check out this recipe

8. Fruit Salad Recipe: A light and refreshing fruit salad with a lemony vanilla syrup. This sweet and vibrant side provides a palate-cleansing contrast to savory wings. Check out this recipe

Potato Lovers:

9. Spoonful of Macaroni and Cheese

   Macaroni and Cheese: Creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese is always a crowd-pleaser. Its rich and comforting flavors make it a satisfying side dish that pairs well with the boldness of wings. Check out this recipe

10. Creamy Potato Salad Recipe (No Eggs!): A classic potato salad with a creamy, vinegary mayonnaise dressing, but without eggs. This is a comforting and familiar side dish that complements the flavors of chicken wings. Check out this recipe

11. boston baked beans in a white bowl

    Boston Baked Beans: Sweet and tangy baked beans, cooked to perfection. Their robust flavor and hearty texture make them a substantial side that stands up well to wings. Check out this recipe

12. Twice Baked Potatoes: Loaded twice-baked potatoes filled with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and chives. These are an indulgent and flavorful side dish that can almost be a meal on their own, but pair wonderfully with wings. Check out this recipe

13. air fryer french fries on plate with ketchup

    Air Fryer French Fries: Crispy, homemade french fries cooked in an air fryer. French fries are a universally loved side dish and their crispy texture is a great contrast to juicy wings. Check out this recipe

14. Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries: Sweet potato fries cooked in an air fryer for crispy perfection. The sweetness of the potato provides a nice counterpoint to savory wings, and air frying makes them extra crispy. Check out this recipe

15. pile of fresh kettle chips

    Homemade Kettle Chips with Onion Dill Dip: Light, crispy homemade kettle chips paired with a creamy onion dill dip. These are a fun and crunchy side or appetizer that complements wings perfectly. Check out this recipe

16. Baked Potato Recipe: Simple baked potatoes with crispy skin and fluffy insides. A versatile and customizable side dish that can be topped with butter, sour cream, cheese, or even wing sauce. Check out this recipe

17. Loaded Smashed Potatoes

    Loaded Smashed Potatoes: Smashed potatoes loaded with toppings like cheese and bacon. These offer a crispy and flavorful potato option that’s more exciting than plain mashed potatoes and pairs well with wings. Check out this recipe

18. Cajun Sweet Potato Tots with Creamy Cinnamon Dip: Crispy cajun-spiced sweet potato tots with a sweet cinnamon dip. These offer a unique flavor combination and a fun, dippable side for wings. Check out this recipe

Delicious Dips & Appetizers:

19. cowboy caviar in bowl

    Cowboy Caviar Recipe: A vibrant Tex-Mex inspired dip with corn, beans, and vegetables. This fresh and flavorful dip can be served with chips or as a side salad alongside wings. Check out this recipe

20. Spinach Artichoke Dip: Creamy, cheesy spinach artichoke dip, a classic appetizer. This warm and comforting dip can be served with bread, crackers, or vegetables and makes a great addition to a wing night spread. Check out this recipe

21. Guacamole with chips

    Classic Guacamole Recipe: Fresh and flavorful guacamole, perfect with tortilla chips. Guacamole provides a cool and creamy contrast to wings, and its fresh flavors are always a hit. Check out this recipe

22. Hot Onion Dip Recipe: Easy 3-ingredient hot onion dip with sweet onions and Swiss cheese. This warm and cheesy dip is perfect with chips, bread, or veggies and adds a comforting element to your wing meal. Check out this recipe

23. Herb and Garlic Cream Cheese: Flavorful herb and garlic cream cheese for bagels, crackers, or veggies. This versatile spread can be served with crackers or vegetables as a lighter side option to balance out the richness of wings. Check out this recipe

24. Everything Bagel Stuffed Peppers: Easy 3-ingredient stuffed peppers with everything bagel seasoning. These low-carb and flavorful stuffed peppers are a great appetizer or side that adds a healthy and interesting element to your wing night. Check out this recipe

Savory & Unique Sides:

25. fried zucchini on a plate

    Fried Zucchini Recipe: Crispy and addictive fried zucchini, perfect as a side or appetizer. Fried zucchini offers a satisfying crunch and savory flavor that complements wings beautifully. Check out this recipe

26. Bacon Wrapped Mushrooms: Mushrooms wrapped in bacon and filled with a blue cheese mixture. These are a decadent and flavorful appetizer or side dish that adds a touch of sophistication to your wing meal. Check out this recipe

27. bite taken out of sausage-stuffed-mushrooms on plate

    Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms: Mushrooms stuffed with sausage, cheese, and herbs, baked to perfection. These savory and hearty stuffed mushrooms are a more substantial side that can even be served as an appetizer before wings. Check out this recipe

28. Pigs in a Blanket Recipe: Classic pigs in a blanket, a crowd-pleasing appetizer for all ages. These are a fun and easy-to-eat side dish that adds a playful element to your wing night. Check out this recipe

With over 30 side dishes and 10 flavorful sauces, you have endless possibilities for creating the perfect meal with your chicken wings. Whether you prefer classic comfort food, fresh and light options, or unique appetizers, this list has something for everyone. Enjoy experimenting and finding your favorite wing pairings!