Perfect Pairings: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Chicken Breast

Chicken breast is a type of poultry meat.

It is one of the main ingredients in many dishes because it has a neutral flavor, which works well with different flavors and tastes.

Chicken breast’s texture is less chewy than that of other cuts, such as wings or thighs.

When cooked, the flavor of the chicken breast does not stand out enough to make chicken breast dishes taste like much more than grilled or fried meat.

However, when marinated and served with strong flavors such as barbecue sauce or pesto, people find eating chicken breast can be quite delicious.

Chicken breast is best paired with side dishes that bring out the chicken flavor, like vegetables or pasta.

A good pairing enhances the flavor of the main dish by contrasting it with its strong flavors and creating a complementary combination.

In this article, we will be giving you eight options for the best side dish to serve with chicken breast.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Chicken Breast?

Chicken is a staple of many diets for its low-fat content and high protein.

While it works well as a main dish, consider serving up the chicken breast as a side dish.

Chicken can be tough and dry when overcooked.

It is best to serve it hot and fresh to avoid the worst of its potential pitfalls, but it can also be served at room temperature as a part of another dish – such as salads or sandwiches.

Side dishes are a great way to offset the protein-packed meat with fresh vegetables.

Consider serving Asian chicken salad, tabbouleh, or pasta salad as an alternative to plain old baked potatoes.

There are many options available here – pick one that fits your menu for the night so you can avoid overwhelming the diners.

Chicken can be served as a second plate – keep the vegetable content light and fresh, and pick one or two side dishes to balance out the meal.

They don’t need to be complicated – chicken and vegetables like green beans will suffice.

However, it is best not to offer anything too fussy and detailed, so you’ll want to avoid things like fried rice and pasta in favor of a simpler dish that won’t require you to spend hours in the kitchen.

What to Serve with Chicken Breast? 8 BEST Side Dishes

If you’re looking for some fresh ideas on what to serve with chicken, try one of these eight best side dishes.

1 – Crispy Garlic Bread

Some dishes go better with crispy garlic bread.

It’s a delicious side dish that goes well with most Italian-inspired chicken dinners, and it’s incredibly easy to make.

There are dozens of recipes for this one online, so try googling the ‘crispy garlic bread recipe’ if you’re looking for an easy and tasty dish to serve up with your chicken.

The ingredients for crispy garlic bread are simple – butter, Italian herbs such as oregano and basil, and plenty of garlic.

You’ll want to toast it slowly in the oven, so you don’t burn it, which means this is a pretty hands-off recipe that lets you focus on the chicken.

2 – Cheesy Baked Asparagus

A good rule is never to order asparagus in a restaurant.

It’s rarely cooked well, and when it comes out of the kitchen, it looks like you could use one more minute in the microwave.

Make a better version at home by adding plenty of cheese.

You’ll need to wash and trim the asparagus before cooking it.

Next, place it in a baking dish with breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Bake the asparagus until it’s hot throughout and crispy.

You can also mix Parmesan cheese into the breadcrumb mixture.

Serve the cheesy baked asparagus by itself for guests to enjoy alongside their chicken breast.

The asparagus will give a bit of a crunch, and the cheese will make it a little more decadent.

3 – Creamy Cucumber Salad

Creamy cucumber salad is a great accompaniment to any meat dish – whether it’s chicken or not.

Like cheesy baked asparagus, you can keep this one simple by just following the recipe online.

You’ll need English cucumbers, Greek yogurt, fresh dill weed, salt, and pepper.

The flavors are mild but still noticeable, and it’s quick to prepare.

All you have to do is combine the yogurt with the cucumbers, dill weed, and salt and pepper – no cooking required.

The last step is chilling the salad in the fridge so that all flavors meld together, which takes about thirty minutes.

You can serve this one up cold or at room temperature, and it’s perfect for summertime meals.

4 – Caprese Salad

Everyone loves Italian food.

This salad is a slightly different take on an old favorite with some refreshing twists that make it great for dinner.

It combines the cheese and tomato of traditional Caprese salads with fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, and a sprinkling of balsamic vinegar.

You can serve this one as a side dish or as a light meal with some bread on the side.

Like the other dishes, it’s pretty simple to assemble – chop up all of your ingredients and mix them in a bowl.

This fresh salad makes for a great summertime meal, so it’s perfect for dishes served in warmer weather.

5 – Creamy Pasta with Peas and Ham

We’ve already outlined a great chicken dish that is best when paired with cheesy baked asparagus.

This one is very similar in flavor, but it’s more suited to a creamy pasta dish than crunchy asparagus.

All you’ll need is a good quality penne pasta, peas, and some cubed ham steak.

Cook them together and add a generous amount of cream and cheese to the mix.

Add some salt and pepper as well, and you’ve got yourself a delicious dinner dish that doesn’t take much effort at all.

6 – Tomato and Zucchini Casserole

This classic casserole is well-known for bringing lots of flavor and color to dinner tables across America.

It’s a great choice when you want something extremely budget-friendly but still delicious.

All you’ll need is a large can of tomatoes, some zucchini, onion, garlic cloves, olive oil, and fresh basil.

First, sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil for several minutes.

Then, add the tomatoes and basil and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Finally, add your zucchini until it’s hot throughout, and serve.

It’s also good topped with some cheese if you’d like to make it pop.

7 – Mexican Street Corn Salad

This bright and flavorful dish is a nice change of pace from the other options.

It’s also super easy to prepare and makes for a filling side dish that isn’t too heavy.

You’ll need fresh ears of corn, olive oil, mayonnaise, cilantro, chili powder, and salt and pepper.

First off, cut the corn kernels off of the cob.

Then, add them to a bowl and mix olive oil, mayonnaise, cilantro, chili powder, and salt and pepper.

This is another salad that you’ll want to chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

It’s a unique take on normal salads, making it perfect for people who don’t have a lot of time to cook but still want something special.

8 – Oven-Roasted Zucchini and Tomatoes

This is a roasted side dish that brings out the best of summertime ingredients.

It’s simple, delicious, and has a unique flavor that sets itself apart from other options.

You’ll need zucchini, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic cloves, and fresh basil leaves.

The first step is to cut them up so that they’ll roast correctly.

First, slice the zucchini lengthwise and coat it with olive oil.

Then, slice the tomatoes in half and toss them into a bowl with salt, pepper, and garlic cloves.

Finally, spread your veggies on a baking sheet, making sure everything is coated in olive oil.

Bake them in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until everything is cooked through.

Then, top it with some fresh basil leaves and serve.

Conclusion

Chicken breast is a delicious dish, so it’s fun to try to come up with unique dishes that suit its flavor profile.

As you can see, there’s a lot of different side dishes that you can try with a chicken breast.

Some are perfect as appetizers, while others make for great entrées on their own.

Good luck cooking and enjoy your chicken.

We hope that this article was helpful to you and we’d like to wish you all the best in cooking delicious chicken breast.

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