What to Serve With Grilled Chicken (27 Delicious Sides)

The lean, healthy, high protein source that is grilled chicken is renowned for its smoky flavor, tender texture, and versatility. The grilling process enhances the natural juiciness of the chicken, creating a mouthwatering experience that appeals to a wide range of palates. Whether marinated in savory spices, tangy sauces, or aromatic herbs, grilled chicken offers a delightful combination of charred goodness and succulent meat. Whether you’re meal prepping for a healthy week, or making a weeknight dinner, deciding on a side can be tough. This list of 27 sides for grilled chicken will take you through a variety of options, that will please the health enthusiast or even just the person looking for a delicious, scrumptious side dish. 

Pairing sides with grilled chicken can elevate the dining experience. Light and refreshing options like a garden salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and balsamic vinaigrette provide a crisp contrast to the smokiness of the chicken. Grilled vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus, are natural companions, offering a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. Or heartier options such as mashed potatoes can work really well. Let’s take a look at all the options! 

1. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Easy Sauteed Zucchini 

If you’re into grilling chicken, you may be looking for an easy, low-carb side to keep your meal prep or dinner healthy. This easy sauteed zucchini is a fantastic option when you want to keep things light. It takes just under 20 minutes to cook, so it’s a great option to make while your chicken is grilling. 

2. Easy Air Fryer Crispy Roasted Potatoes

Potatoes pair so well with chicken, it’s always a go-to. This recipe for crispy roasted potatoes features the easy air fryer. The result is an easy clean-up, non-greasy, crispy potato to serve with your healthy grilled chicken. It requires just a few seasonings that you most likely already have. And you’ll have a healthy, hearty dinner in no time. 

3. Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Rice

Keeping things light and healthy is this garlic parmesan cauliflower rice. It makes for a great side dish for grilled chicken because it adds a good bit of flavor without a lot of extra calories. It’s a great option for meal prep throughout the week, or even just a weeknight dinner if you need something quick. 

4. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

Smashed potatoes are one of the best ways to make potatoes, because you get a deliciously creamy inside with an amazingly crunchy outside, Parmesan adds a salty bite to these, that will pair well with charred grilled chicken. By pairing smashed potatoes with grilled chicken, you can serve your guests a flavorful meal that will leave them feeling full and satisfied. 

5. Old Fashioned Asparagus Casserole

This creamy asparagus casserole is similar to green bean casserole but uses asparagus instead of beans. It will go with just about any traditional meal or even just a simple grilled chicken! It’s cheesy with a delicious mushroom sauce that will complement the meaty texture of grilled chicken. 

6. Southern Style Green Beans and Potatoes

As discussed earlier, potatoes go really well with grilled chicken. This southern-style green bean and potato dish brings in the hearty potato element, along with a tender, sauteed green bean. It adds vitamins and minerals so you can feel good about what you’re eating without sacrificing flavor. Southern Style just means it’s mixed together in a delicious side dish! 

7. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Balsamic Grilled Vegetables

While you’re grilling up a few chicken breasts, throw on these balsamic marinated veggies, and you’ll have a balanced delicious meal in no time. By grilling the chicken and veggies together, you can save time while also adding in tons of charred flavor to your meals. Use grilled chicken and balsamic vegetables for meal prep throughout the week or as a light summer’s eve dinner. 

8. Caprese Orzo Salad

If your grilled chicken has been marinated or cooked in any Italian herbs, then this caprese orzo salad is a must-make side dish. Al dente orzo is mixed with creamy mozzarella, tangy, bright tomato, and fresh basil. It creates a delicious, filling salad that pairs perfectly with any Italian seasoned grilled chicken. This combo will wow any dinner guest you may have. 

9. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Classic Pasta Salad

Pasta salad should always be a go-to as a grilled chicken side dish. It’s refreshing, hearty, full of bright flavors, and can be made ahead of time. In fact, letting it sit in the fridge overnight will only enhance the flavors. So day of, all you have to do is grill the chicken, and you’ve got a crowd-pleasing dinner done with minimal effort. 

10. Holiday Honeycrisp Salad

A fresh fruit salad made with ingredients like mango, pineapple, and cilantro can bring a tropical twist to a side dish, balancing out the richness of the grilled chicken. This holiday honeycrisp salad is no exception. Take advantage of the colder months, even if you’re in a warm climate. This Honeycrisp salad adds crispy, cool elements that pair perfectly with a charred, grilled chicken breast. 

11. Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad

Speaking of refreshing, cooling side salads, this tomato cucumber avocado salad is not one to miss. It’s tangy, creamy, and absolutely fresh due to the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocados. It brings a bright element to any slightly charred, meaty chicken and will round out the meal perfectly. Make it ahead of time to make sure the flavors meld together. 

12. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Parmesan Corn on the Cob

Grilled corn on the cob is another classic side dish, offering a sweet, slightly charred taste that enhances the overall grilled experience. Adding parmesan into the mix gives this corn-on-the-cob side dish a salty, bright bite. It will elevate your chicken dinner from plain grilled chicken to a , “When are you making that again?!” type of dinner. 

13. Cranberry Pecan Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

Rice pilaf adds substance to a grilled chicken meal, providing a wholesome base that soaks up the chicken’s juices and marinades. This particular wild rice pilaf is flavored with cranberries, toasted pecans, and tender sweet potato chunks. It’s an amazing side dish if you’re heading into the fall or winter months. It can make your chicken dinner seasonal instantly. 

14. Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels

Speaking of how sweet potatoes pair with chicken, these oven-roasted sweet potatoes and brussels will be your new side dish go-to. Not only is it easy to make (as they roast together in the same pan and save you time) but it’s packed with nutrients as well. Sweet potatoes and brussels will bring much-needed nutrients to your grilled chicken dinner, balancing it perfectly so you can feel good about what you’re eating. 

15. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Butternut Squash Casserole

A casserole is always a good option to pair with grilled chicken. You can get a lot of fall flavor into this dish, so pairing it with grilled chicken will give you the perfect seasonal meal. This vegan butternut squash recipe is simple, and easy and solely incorporates whole food components. It is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.

16. Texas Roadhouse Green Beans

If you’re going to have green beans with your grilled chicken, you might as well make this Texas Roadhouse copycat version. It’s made with canned green beans, so the recipe is absolutely easy to make. You’re just adding in a depth of flavor by bringing in onion, bacon, and spices. 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/521713938094531410/

17. Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice

Another copycat recipe is this chipotle cilantro lime rice. We already know it goes well with chicken, as that is one of the options Chipotle offers. For this recipe, you can use long-grain white rice or brown rice. Add cilantro, lime zest and juice, and minced garlic to the rice to give it a savory flavor without being pungent. 

18. Sour Cream Rice

If you’re not a cilantro lime rice fan, make this sour cream rice instead. It’s creamy and tangy which complements grilled chicken very well. A flavorful rice like this Sour Cream Rice should always win over plain boring rice. It is perfect for leftovers and will stay good in your fridge for up to 5 days.

19. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Creamy Tomato Risotto

Speaking of creamy rice, tomato risotto packs a punch of flavors and is so creamy and comforting. You could even add the grilled chicken right on top for a hearty meal in a bowl. This Creamy Tomato Risotto is mostly made up of tinned tomatoes and is finished off with cream, parmesan, and black pepper. It is then topped off with crispy garlic crumbs.

20. Herbed Couscous

Herbed couscous is a great side dish to go with grilled chicken because it gives you a break from the ordinary rice or veggie sides. This particular recipe is good hot or cold, so you could serve it with chicken straight off the grill, or with BBQ chicken skewers the next day for lunch. 

21. Garlicky Mushroom Quinoa

Soft, tender quinoa gets a punch of flavor with these crimini mushrooms and minced garlic. The result of mixing all of these together is a robust side that adds depths of flavor to any typical grilled chicken. You won’t even have to season the chicken much, because this quinoa will bring all the flavor needed. 

22. Creamed Spinach

Creamed spinach is a fantastic addition to a grilled chicken dinner when you’re looking to keep things low-carb and full of nutrients. Spinach packs a nutrient-dense punch, and with the creaminess of the butter added, it brings the flavor of the spinach to life. Parmesan gives it a salty bite, keeping it from being too rich. 

23. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Vegetable Au Gratin

Cheese-aholics rejoice: this roasted vegetable au gratin is jam-packed with perfectly cooked veggies in a decadent cheese sauce. All that’s needed is a bit of protein to create a balanced meal, so grilled chicken it is! This veg au gratin recipe is easy to customize and is a great way to use up leftover veggies. 

24. Gluten Free Scalloped Potatoes

Typical scalloped potatoes don’t include cheese, au gratin potatoes do, and both have a cream sauce or roux. This homemade recipe for scalloped potatoes is a bit of both, with layers of scallop-cut potatoes, smothered in cream sauce, and layered with grated cheese. It’s a dish that you can’t go wrong with! 

25. Brown Sugar Baked Carrots

Brown sugar-glazed carrots are a delicious and vibrant side dish to complement any meal. The brown sugar caramelizes as it coats the sweet carrots throughout the roasting process, creating a mouthwatering dish with a sweet glaze. It will pair with the caramelization you get when grilling chicken. The charred grill marks are the best part. 

26. Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls

You gotta love a good roll as a side. These garlic bread rolls are super soft, fluffy, and easy to make. They are brushed with more garlic butter straight out of the oven for the best garlic flavor. You can use them as mini slider buns for a little grilled chicken sandwich, or eat them on the side. 

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27. Sides for Grilled Chicken: Garlic Parmesan Baked Steak Fries

Garlic is definitely a theme for these side dishes, and it’s because it pairs so well with grilled chicken. Hearty steak fries do too, so coating them in a garlic parmesan blend brings it all together. This will be a kid-friendly option too – the whole family will love it. 

Featuring any of these sides alongside delicious grilled chicken recipes will offer your guests, friends, or family a variety of options to enhance their grilling adventures, catering to different tastes and preferences.

And I’ll leave you with one of my favorite side recipes, air fryer green bean fries! They pair perfectly with grilled chicken, and everything else if you ask me!