Perfect Pairings: 8 Top Side Dishes for Fried Green Tomatoes

Green tomatoes, fried in a lightly seasoned batter and served with tartar sauce, is one of those dishes which tastes ‘so good you wonder why it isn’t more popular.

Fried green tomatoes are tart, crispy, and taste delicious at any age.

Once you bite into these lightly fried, golden brown crunchy slices of green tomato, you will be hooked.

They are one of those dishes served throughout the year – although they emerged as a summer favorite.

However, nowadays people can enjoy this treat all year long.

Something about this dish makes it so special – perhaps it is the crispy, fried coating that holds together the tart and slightly sweet tomatoey flavor of green tomatoes.

Or, maybe the lightly seasoned batter brings out all of these flavors and captures them together in a perfect medley of taste.

Whatever your thoughts on this dish, one thing is certain – once you have had it, you will be looking for more.

After all, what’s not to love about fried green tomatoes? They are crunchy on the outside and tart but sweet at the same time.

The flavor combination of tartness alongside sweetness is what makes this slightly acidic fruit so tasty.

If you are looking for the perfect side dish to serve alongside your fried green tomatoes, then look no further than one of these eight options.

You can never go wrong by choosing any of these classic accompaniments.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Fried Green Tomatoes?

First off, let’s get one thing straight: you can’t go wrong with fried green tomatoes.

They’re tangy, crispy, and delicious.

However, if you want to take your dish to the next level of flavor-town (and you do), consider serving side dishes for fried green tomatoes.

Fried Green Tomatoes are great, but they’re even better when paired with other ingredients.

And you don’t have to stick to just one side dish, either.

Many people choose multiple options for their plates.

Side dishes can vary depending on the location and season, so you must consider what is in the season while choosing your side dishes.

A good rule of thumb is that your side dish should be light and flavorful, yet not too overpowering to the fried green tomatoes.

Some common side dishes for fried green tomatoes are salads, vegetables, potatoes, polenta, rice or grains, pasta salad, or couscous.

Again, this depends on what you feel like eating.

Remember always to keep it light.

What to Serve with Fried Green Tomatoes? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Here are 8 of my best ideas for serving with fried green tomatoes, which will go perfectly with them.

1 – Oven-Fried Chicken

This is the perfect side dish for fried green tomatoes, as it pairs perfectly with the flavors that fried green tomatoes have.

This side dish is quick and easy to make as well.

All you need are some chicken thighs, flour, seasoning, and oil.

Mix the flour with your favorite spices to give it that extra kick.

Coat the chicken in the mixture, then heat oil in a pan.

When they are nice and brown on both sides, they’re ready to serve.

You can add a side of veggies to give it more nutrients.

This is a great way to add some spice during the summer months and especially go perfectly with fried green tomatoes.

2 – Crockpot Mashed Potatoes

Another great side that pairs perfectly with fried green tomatoes is mashed potatoes.

This recipe for crockpot mashed potatoes will be perfect because you can make them ahead of time and keep them warm in the crockpot until it’s ready to serve.

All you need for this are russet potatoes, garlic, butter, milk, salt, and pepper.

You’ll want to boil the potatoes until they are fork-tender, then drain them.

Add in your garlic and butter, mixing so that it melts into the potatoes.

Next, add some milk and salt and pepper, mashing them together until they reach a smooth consistency.

If you feel like they need more milk, feel free to add more, you can always add more salt and pepper.

These are super easy to make ahead of time and can be served with fried green tomatoes or even grilled chicken.

3 – Cheesy Mac’ N Cheese

You can’t have fried green tomatoes without mac’n cheese; it just wouldn’t be right.

To make this cheesy masterpiece, you’ll need some pasta, milk, butter, flour, salt, and pepper.

Start by boiling the pasta.

If you’re running low on time, you can always buy a pre-made rotisserie chicken to save you some time.

Next, melt the butter in a saucepan and add in your flour to make a roux.

Slowly add in the milk while constantly whisking so that it doesn’t get clumpy.

Once you’ve added all of your milk, slowly stir in your cheese, mixing until melted completely through.

Finally, salt and pepper to taste, and once your pasta is done, mix it all.

With almost no effort and only a few ingredients, you’ve got yourself a delicious side dish that will go perfectly with fried green tomatoes.

4 – Creamy Coleslaw

This is the perfect summer side, as it is very fresh tasting and isn’t too heavy after eating fried green tomatoes.

The ingredients you’ll need to make this are: green cabbage, carrots, cilantro (optional), mayo, lime juice, and salt and pepper.

Shred your cabbage and carrots, then mix them with the rest of the ingredients.

If you’d like to add a little something extra, you can also add in some fresh cilantro.

This is a great side dish to make ahead of time and whip out when you need it most.

5 – Garlic & Basil Orzo

This is a dish that I love to make when it comes time for BBQs because it’s very filling but not too heavy.

The ingredients you’ll need for this are uncooked orzo pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves (minced), basil leaves (chopped), salt, and pepper.

Start by heating a pan with some olive oil in it, then add in your garlic cloves.

Let them saute for a minute or two before adding the uncooked pasta.

Cook the pasta until it begins to brown, being sure to toss it frequently not to burn.

Once cooked, stir in the basil and season with salt and pepper.

It’s quick, simple, and delicious.

6 – Grilled Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese

This is a great side dish for when you’re grilling up some chicken or fish, but it’s also perfect when served alongside fried green tomatoes.

All you need are:

• Fresh asparagus stalks.
• Olive oil.
• Freshly shredded parmesan cheese.
• Some salt and pepper.

Start by mixing the asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper, coating them evenly.

If you’re grilling these on a BBQ, add some foil to keep them from falling through the grate.

Once they begin to char, flip them over and let cook for another few minutes or until fork tender.

Finally, sprinkle on the freshly shredded parmesan and serve alongside your fried green tomatoes.

7 – Creamy Corn Casserole

This is one of my favorite sides for pretty much everything.

It’s so creamy and delicious, and it goes perfectly with fried green tomatoes.

To make this, you’ll need a few things: corn kernels, milk, butter, salt, and pepper.

You can use frozen or canned corn for this dish.

Start by melting your butter and adding in the milk and salt, and pepper.

Once that’s boiling, add in the corn kernels, bring back to a boil, and then remove from heat.

Next, slowly stir in some cream cheese (or you can use regular if you’re watching your fat intake) until melted through, then let the mixture cool before putting it in the fridge.

Finally, top with some bread crumbs and serve alongside your fried green tomatoes.

8 – Fresh Garden Salad

I love making this salad for picnics because it’s super easy and quick to make, and you can use what’s already growing in your garden.

You’ll need some garden vegetables like cucumbers, carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes.

Start by washing your veggies, then chop them into small pieces.

Place in a large bowl, then mix with some balsamic vinaigrette (you can buy some or make your own) until everything is coated evenly.

Let the salad sit for at least 15 minutes to let flavors seep into the vegetables and give it a chance to soak up the dressing.

You can add in croutons, bacon bits, or even some grilled chicken to make a meal out of it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, fried green tomatoes are delicious, but they can get a little heavy and leave you feeling like you need something to balance them out.

These eight dishes pack some great flavors and make for perfect fried green tomatoes sides.

Each one is unique and tastes amazing.

It’s important to experiment with different foods since everyone has their taste.

Of course, if you’re pressed for time, you can always serve up a baked potato and call it a night.

But if you want to be adventurous and impress your friends, this list of side dishes is perfect.

I encourage you to give them all a try.

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