In the South, fried chicken is a beloved tradition, but this popular food is appreciated in all areas of the country. Side dishes for fried chicken work for fried chicken tenders, too, or even baked chicken tenders or baked chicken. This list of side dishes is great for any meal you’re serving.
When cooked right, the crispy outer layer blends perfectly with the juicy, tender chicken underneath. Throw in some ketchup or gravy on the side and it’ll remind you of home.
Fried chicken has been a beloved comfort food and a staple of many family gatherings for generations. Its crispy exterior, tender meat, and irresistible flavor make it a highly popular dish. However, no fried chicken experience is truly complete without an assortment of suitable and delectable side dishes to elevate the meal even further.
Some side dishes complement the rich flavors of fried chicken, while others provide a contrasting dynamism to the meal. It may seem impossible to choose the perfect side, but understanding the characteristics and taste profiles of a variety of side dishes will enable any food lover to create a harmonious and sumptuous dining experience.
Many side dish options fall into categories such as salads, vegetables, and starches, catering to everyone’s palate and dietary preferences. With the endless possibilities, it’s essential to experiment and find the side dishes that best enhance the fried chicken’s star quality while adding their own distinctive touch to the table.
To have the full southern comfort food experience, you’ll need a great side to go with your fried chicken dinner.
Comfort food throws away any worries about diets and healthy foods and dives straight into flavor-filled goodness that will leave your palette salivating.
Try these 16 fried chicken sides the next time your frying up some chicken and give into the southern comfort temptation.
If you want to keep the savory flavors going, then try a side of baked beans the next time you try fried chicken.
Normally, baked beans are kept for cookouts but it goes just as well with a wonderfully cooked fried chicken.
You won’t need much because the baked beans will fill you up along with your main course and you won’t need another bite after finishing off both of them.
For even more savory flavor, chop up some bacon bits and add them to your baked beans.
Baked potatoes are a great choice because you have the classic potato flavor but you can add a ton of toppings.
Sour cream, cheese, butter, bacon, and chives all go well inside your potato. Load it up enough and you might have just made yourself another meal to go with your chicken.
Mashed potatoes go great with fried chicken, but potato salad is a refreshing side that almost compliments your chicken even more.
That’s because you’ll cool it down before serving in a fridge so the cool temps and refreshing flavors balance out the rich savory chicken.
People in the south have been arguing about whether you should put mayo or mustard in your potato salad for ages, but whichever you use, it’s sure to taste delicious.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
