Tasty Pairs: 8 Side Dishes to Serve with Blackened Chicken

Chicken, one of the most common meats on earth, whether fried or baked, can be eaten by everyone.

However, there are many types of chicken that you may not have known about yet, like blackened chicken.

Blackened chicken is simply seasoned, pan-fried, or grilled chicken cooked using spicy cajun spices.

It can also be blackened on an open-flame grill.

The meat gets its distinctive flavor from the meat’s juices and fat.

This process creates a charred and crispy skin, and the meat becomes so tender and juicy.

The word blackened means to leave a slight char on something.

It can also mean utilizing various spices like cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.

This dish is not only flavorful but healthy as well.

Blackened chicken is not too high on calories, and it is one of the few dishes you can enjoy without worrying about your health.

If you are looking for some side dishes that will go perfectly with blackened chicken, here are the eight best options to complement each other perfectly.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Blackened Chicken?

If you’re looking for a way to dress up simple, plain chicken, you should consider blackened chicken.

This delicious dish is seasoned and prepared. However, it could be even better with a suitable side dish.

Although the critical ingredients of blackened chicken are pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper, you might need to do a little experimenting with side dish recipes.

Once you perfect it, though, you can serve blackened chicken as an entrée or appetizer.

This tasty main dish is delicious on its own, but it also serves as a delicious base for numerous dishes.

These include couscous or vegetables like broccoli and green beans.

You can also serve the blackened chicken with rice, mashed potatoes, or red beans and rice, with plenty of spices to complement this dish.

To make your meal complete, consider making a side dish that features these same flavors.

If you’re serving other dishes alongside the blackened chicken, choose spicy items that will complement them.

It’s also a great idea to serve delectable side dishes that stand up to the blackened chicken and provide a flavorful contrast.

What to Serve with Blackened Chicken? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Here are eight side dishes that will provide a spicy, flavorful contrast to your blackened chicken.

These options include:

1 – Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Although this isn’t the most exciting option, it works well for those who want something simple or can’t decide between mashed potatoes and rice.

This dish includes heavy cream and butter that will enhance the taste of blackened chicken rather than take away from it.

To produce the best-mashed potatoes, peel and dice at least 4-5 medium russet potatoes.

Leave the skins on for extra nutrients, but if you want a lighter dish, you can peel them off first.

Boil the potatoes until soft. Drain water, but leave some in so they don’t become too dry.

Then use an immersion blender to blend the potatoes into a smooth, creamy texture.

Add heavy cream, butter, garlic salt, and black pepper to taste.

2 – Red Beans and Rice

If you want to serve something more unique, consider red beans and rice.

This dish has plenty of spices to stand up to blackened chicken, but it also includes sausages that will bring their flavor to your dinner table.

This dish has a Cajun twist, but if you’d instead make it more traditional, substitute andouille sausage for the smoked sausage.

The dish is simple to make, but the secret to making it taste good is quality ingredients.

Use canned kidney beans rather than dried or other canned varieties.

You can also use a variety of smoked sausages for added flavor.

Just remember that the better your ingredients are, the better your dish will taste.

3 – Green Bean Fries

Green beans are an excellent choice for those who want something healthy yet flavorful.

This side dish includes pancetta and garlic, which will both bring out the flavor of blackened chicken—and especially when you need a break from spicy blackening seasonings, this will be a refreshing change.

Fresh green beans are an underrated side dish, just because they’re so simple to make.

It’s essential to pick out fresh French-style green beans, which are on the smaller side.

They’ll be less demanding than traditional green beans, and they’ll work nicely in this dish.

4 – Creamy Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro and lime are two of the most popular Mexican flavors, so it’s no surprise that they work well together.

This dish is flavored primarily with fresh lime juice so that it won’t clash with blackened chicken.

It can be served alongside your main course, or you can prepare this dish as a side in its own right.

Jasmine rice is a type of long-grain rice that’s often used in Thai cooking.

It’s milder than other types of rice, which means it won’t clash with the lime juice or cilantro flavors.

If you don’t want to use jasmine rice, substitute basmati rice instead.

5 – Steamed Broccoli

Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables out there, and it won’t take away from your blackened chicken’s flavor.

If you’re looking for a side dish that will go great with Tex-Mex flavors, this is the best option.

Just make sure to steam or blanch broccoli before serving because raw broccoli can be tricky.

Either simmer or blanch the broccoli until it becomes slightly tender but still firm.

Drain it and then let it cool for a few minutes before throwing it into ice-cold water to stop the cooking process.

Let the broccoli sit in the ice bath until cooled down completely, then drain well.

You can either serve this dish immediately or store it in the fridge for later.

6 – Garlic Rice with Parsley

This dish is fresh, clean, and full of flavor.

It’s one way to bring out the taste of blackened chicken without overpowering it with spicy seasonings.

It can be served alongside your main course, but if you want to make it your dish, make it with brown rice.

Brown rice is heartier than jasmine rice, but the result will be delicious either way.

You’ll ideally want long-grain brown rice for this recipe since it has a unique texture that works well here.

If you can’t find that at your grocery store, look for brown rice that’s labeled explicitly as long grain.

7 – Tomato and Avocado Salad

Tomatoes and avocados make a great combination, but the flavors will stand up to the blackened chicken.

This dish can be prepared as a side or as an appetizer for your main course.

Serve it alongside blackened chicken, and you’ll have the perfect meal that’s packed with flavor.

For this recipe, you’ll need to use beefsteak tomatoes, which are larger than other types of tomatoes.

Slice them in half lengthwise and make sure you use the ripe ones—they’ll taste better.

You can also get creative with this dish by adding thinly sliced red onions, cucumbers, or bell peppers.

8 – Roasted Carrots

Carrots are a great fall side dish, and they can be thrown together in just minutes.

They taste even better when you use fresh carrots that have been peeled and sliced into coins.

Serve them alongside the blackened chicken for a tangy twist on your usual meal.

The only spices you’ll need to cook this dish are a little bit of salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne.

You can also use thyme or rosemary instead of the cayenne if you prefer something a little sweeter.

When it’s done cooking, the carrots should be tender but not mushy.

Make sure to cut them into coins so they’ll cook evenly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, blackened chicken is a fantastic dish that you can serve as a main course or side dish.

It’s best when served alongside Tex-Mex flavors, but it can be paired with other side dishes as well.

The eight best side dishes for this dish are listed above, so take some time to explore these options and find out which one sounds most appetizing.

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