Perfect Pairings: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Chef Salad

Chef salad is a versatile and delicious salad—it can be dressed up or down; it has pleasant flavors that add to any meal and serve as a full meal.

The interesting thing about chef salad is that all the ingredients and flavors mesh very well.

The cheeses, veggies, and meats make a rich and hearty meal; yet feel light and clean.

Since there are so many components to this dish, it can be hard to pinpoint its flavor.

One might say it has as many as two or three tastes.

Each ingredient brings a unique flavor and taste to the table, but they all work as one when combined.

The flavors of each component harmonize to provide a flavor that is rich yet light at the same time.

Chef salad is the perfect option when you are in the mood for something hearty but don’t want to feel weighed down or stuffed.

When serving this dish, you can dress it up with a rich Italian dressing or you can go for something more simple like salt and pepper.

Whatever the case may be, this salad is sure to please.

In this article, we take a look at eight side dishes that go best with chef salad.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Chef Salad?

Chef salad is a classic dish that has been around for decades.

It includes all types of different ingredients, from fresh garden vegetables to meats and cheeses.

One of the things that makes this salad so unique is its versatility.

While the ingredients in chef salad are fantastic on their own, they can also be paired with side dishes to make a complete meal.

The main reason that many people choose not to serve side dishes with their chef salads is that it’s time-consuming and increases the difficulty level.

However, the truth is that many side dishes pair very well with other ingredients in chef salad and can help liven up a meal or add some extra nutrients.

Another reason to serve side dishes with your chef salad is that many people don’t like to eat large amounts of food at once.

It can be overwhelming for some people, especially if they are not used to eating a lot.

Side dishes allow you to enjoy smaller portions of other foods while adding variety and flavor to your meal.

Finally, you must always accompany any salad with dressing.

This ensures that the salad doesn’t become too dry and increases its overall taste.

What to Serve with Chef Salad? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Chef salad can be served with many different side dishes.

Here are some examples of side dishes that can be paired with a chef’s salad.

1 – Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

This delicious recipe is quick and easy to make, and the outcome will impress you and your guests.

You’ll want potatoes of all sizes so that it takes a little bit longer to prepare them, but not too long.

Start by peeling your potatoes because this step can be difficult if you use a sharp knife.

Cut each potato into thin, even slices and place them in a large bowl of water to prevent them from turning brown.

Chop up your ham and combine it with your potatoes before sprinkling on the cheese and baking everything.

This dish goes well with chef salad because of its rich flavor and heartiness.

The scalloped potatoes and ham make a great meal on their own, but the savory cheese makes them even better.

The flavors play very well off each other and give your taste buds something to enjoy and look forward to.

2 – Baked Beans With Bacon

This is a quick, easy, and delicious recipe that you can cook any night of the week.

Start by preheating your oven to high heat and boiling some water in a pot.

While you’re waiting for your water to boil, finely chop up your onion before adding it to a large bowl with everything else.

Then take out a baking dish and evenly spread out your ingredients so that they are all lined up and ready to cook.

Place the baking dish in your preheated oven and wait for your delicious meal to be ready.

This side dish goes perfectly with chef salad because of its rich taste and heartiness.

The bacon gives this recipe a distinct flavor that pairs well with eggs, meats, or other ingredients in a chef’s salad.

The baked beans are a hearty meal that will leave you satisfied without being too heavy.

3 – Lemon-Garlic Green Beans with Crispy Pancetta

This recipe calls for very simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.

Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees.

Then, you’ll want to finely chop up your garlic before mixing it with some olive oil in a large bowl.

Add the green beans and pancetta to the bowl next, then sprinkle some salt on top of everything else while giving it a gentle stir.

Line up your green beans on a baking dish and bake them in the oven until they’re crispy and slightly brown.

This side dish goes nicely with chef salad because of the strong, distinct flavor it brings to the meal.

The garlic adds extra zest that complements all of your ingredients wonderfully.

The crispiness of the green beans makes them satisfying enough to be a meal on their own.

4 – Roasted Beef or Chicken

Roast beef or chicken make great side dish options for a chef’s salad.

The meat can be freshly cooked on the stovetop, but it is important to make sure it is still moist and juicy.

You can season your meat by adding some table salt, pepper, garlic powder, or any other spices you have handy.

The roasted beef or chicken pairs well with chef salad because of their distinct flavors.

This dish’s savory taste goes well with any other ingredients in a chef’s salad.

If you plan to make your dish extra special, you could even add herbs like basil or rosemary.

5 – Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are an easy way to make your chef’s salad more filling.

Chop up your boiled eggs and mix them with some mayonnaise, yellow mustard, salt, and pepper before shaping the mixture into small egg-like balls.

You can then place each one on top of your bowl of salad or serve them on the side.

This egg-based dish goes well with chef salad because of its sweet tanginess.

The eggs themselves are already a great addition to any meal, but the mayonnaise and mustard dressing in which you mix them adds an extra flavor element that can’t be ignored.

Also, making deviled eggs is a cinch because there’s no cooking required.

6 – Honey Rolls

This bread recipe is easy to make and will give your salad a hearty boost.

Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees, then combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, salt, baking powder, yeast packets, and warm milk in a large bowl.

Once the dough has formed into one big ball of fluffy goodness, you can leave it to rise for about 1 hour.

After giving the dough ample time to rise, you can roll out the dough on a floured surface before pressing it flat with a rolling pin.

Cut the flattened dough into long strips and twist them until they form one big knot or two smaller knots.

Bake your bread in the oven for about 20 minutes.

The honey rolls pair perfectly with chef salad because their sweet flavor complements your other ingredients nicely.

This fluffy, hot bread will be a welcome addition to any meal.

Also, the recipe is simple enough that it can be easily memorized and recreated.

7 – Butter Biscuits

Butter biscuits are a go-to side dish to have around the house because they are easy to make.

You can make them in about 15 minutes, and if you have some leftovers, they can be stored so that you always have a quick breakfast option available to you.

They are also great for serving companies, so if you have any unexpected company, whip up a batch of these biscuits and enjoy.

If you are feeling custom, you can even top your butter biscuits with sugar or cinnamon.

One of the simplest things about this dish is that it’s made with an everyday ingredient – flour.

You can grab it from your pantry and be on your way to baking.

This biscuit side dish pairs well with chef salad because of its buttery taste.

Butter biscuits taste rich and savory, which compliments all the ingredients in chef salad nicely.

Also, these tasty treats are so easy to.

make that you can whip up a batch without breaking a sweat.

8 – Baked Sweet Potato Fries

This recipe is a great choice for a side dish because its sweet and spicy flavor works well with almost anything.

Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees, then mix your potatoes in a bowl before adding cornstarch, table salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and baking powder.

Toss the potatoes around in the bowl to evenly coat them with all of your spices.

Bake your seasoned fries for about 30 minutes, then sprinkle them with a bit of sea salt, garnish with sliced scallions, and serve.

This sweet side dish complements chef salad perfectly because its sweetness mixes well with the ingredients in the salad without overpowering them.

Sweet potato fries are also great with plenty of other meals so that you can eat these time and time again.

Conclusion

Chef salad is a delicious meal that can be paired with countless side dishes.

Each of the eight recipes mentioned here will make your meal tastier and more flavorful.

The best part about these dishes is that they are simple to make and pair well with any other meal you prepare.

Pick your favorite, or try them all out.

If you enjoyed this guide, please like it and share it with your friends.

Comment below and let us know what you think.

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