Enhance Meal: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Chicken Tenders

If there is one thing that you are guaranteed to find in the freezer of any American person, it would be chicken tenders.

They may also be known as chicken fingers, but this term can refer to many different things depending on where you live.

Chicken tenders are very small pieces of chicken that have been fried or baked until crispy and then seasoned with various flavors.

They can be served either with a sauce or by themselves.

A healthy alternative to most chicken recipes is to bake the tenders in the oven rather than frying them.

A common way of cooking them is by dipping them in a thin but delicious batter and then baking until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Depending on the thickness of the tenders, they may need to be cooked for between 10 and 25 minutes.

Chicken tenders are usually served with either French fries or a vegetable such as broccoli, carrots, or corn.

You can also buy them in packs of six or twelve, making it easy to serve them at parties and other gatherings.

In this article, we will list eight of the best side dishes to serve with chicken tenders.

Give them a try.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Chicken Tenders?

Every meal can benefit from having several options for side dishes.

The same is true when we eat chicken tenders – we should consider serving them with various foods to ensure that our meal experience is fun and exciting.

First, your side dish must complement the chicken tenders themselves.

For example, chicken tenders are generally cut into smaller pieces than other proteins like steak or pork chops – the side dish must also be small enough to eat in one bite.

If you’re looking for something more substantial, consider serving your chicken tenders with rice.

Rice is a great base for the meal because it can soak up the sauce from your chicken tenders, ensuring that you have a flavorful meal.

In addition to complementing and contrasting your food, side dishes can be served hot or cold.

For example, if you’re serving more than one type of side dish (like rice and vegetables), consider putting some of them on the table hot, and others as cold aspics.

Lastly, consider the texture of the side dishes – if you’re serving a very soft dish like mashed potatoes or pasta, it’s important to have a crunchy side dish so that your meal is texturally interesting.

The main point to keep in mind when serving side dishes is that they can bring out more of the flavor of your meat.

What to Serve with Chicken Tenders? 8 BEST Side Dishes

So you’ve made the perfect chicken tenders.

Now it’s time to decide what side you’re going to serve with them.

Luckily for you, we have compiled a list of the eight best sides.

Keep reading for recipes and cooking instructions on making these delicious sides that are sure to be a hit at your table.

1 – Rice Pilaf

Rice Pilaf is a fantastic side to serve with chicken tenders.

It’s easier than you might think, and the best part of all is that there are so many different flavors to choose from.

Depending on your tastes, you can make it spicy or mild, and even add in vegetables like carrots and peas for some added flavor and color.

Making rice pilaf is simple. All you need to do is toast the rice in a pot before adding hot broth and covering it with a lid for 15 minutes.

This allows the rice to steam so that it’s perfect when it comes time to serve.

The great thing about serving chicken tenders with this side is that both are fairly mild on their own, so they complement each other perfectly while still allowing the delicious flavors of both to shine through.

2 – Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a great side to serve with chicken tenders, as long as you don’t overdo it.

Try serving with some asparagus as well for a delicious meal.

The best part about mashed potatoes is that they can either be simple or dress up with a wide variety of ingredients.

For this particular recipe, we’re keeping things simple.

All you need to do is peel and cube two russet potatoes before covering them in cold water to boil for 10 minutes.

Drain the potatoes and return them to the pot to mash them with a fork or masher.

Then season with salt and pepper to your taste, and slather in butter for extra deliciousness.

As you can see, mashed potatoes are incredibly easy to make.

All you need is sour cream, grated cheese (parmesan works well), and chives if you want to dress them up.

3 – Whole Roasted Carrots

Whole roasted carrots are a fantastic side dish to serve with chicken tenders.

They’re simple, healthy, and the perfect way to dress up a plain veggie.

For this recipe, you’ll need one pound of carrots with their tops trimmed off.

Then lay them on a baking sheet and cover them with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Roast carrots in the oven for 30-35 minutes at 425 degrees.

The great thing about this recipe is the contrast of flavors.

The heat from the oven brings out a rich, earthy flavor that pairs perfectly with chicken tenders while still allowing the delicious taste of the carrot to shine through.

4 – Easy Zucchini Chips

Zucchini chips are a fantastic way to dress up your favorite fried food.

They’re so simple and delicious that you’ll find yourself making them more often than just when you serve chicken tenders.

All you need for this recipe is one large zucchini, olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasoning of your choice (though we love garlic powder).

Slice them into thin rounds and bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes instead of deep-frying your zucchini.

The great thing about this site is that it’s healthy.

It allows the delicious taste of the chicken tenders to shine through while providing a healthier alternative to most fried sides.

5 – Zucchini Pasta

Zucchini pasta is a fantastic side dish to serve with chicken tenders. It’s simple, fast, and incredibly tasty.

All you need for this recipe is one large zucchini and one package of angel hair pasta.

You can also add in some garlic powder or salt if that’s your preference.

To ‘pasta-of, the zucchini, peel it with a vegetable peeler until you get to the seeds at the center.

Discard those before chopping up your zucchini into thin slices that can be cooked with your pasta.

For this recipe, all you need to do is boil water for your angel hair pasta and cook until al dente (usually between 8-10 minutes).

Then drain your pasta and add olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste before stirring in your zucchini.

The great thing about this side dish is that it’s incredibly light.

It allows the delicious flavors of chicken tenders to shine through while providing a healthier option than most fried sides.

6 – Cinnamon Applesauce

Cinnamon applesauce is an excellent side dish that will bring out the delicious flavors of chicken tenders.

All you need for this recipe are four tablespoons of butter, three cinnamon sticks, one cup of water, five cups of peeled and chopped Fuji apples (or your favorite cooking apple), sugar to taste, and salt if desired.

For this recipe, all you need to do is heat your butter in a large saucepan until it starts to brown.

Then stir in apple chunks with cinnamon sticks and water.

Bring the mixture to a boil before lowering the heat and letting simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Remove apples from pan/pot with a slotted spoon before mashing them with a fork or masher.

Then season with salt and pepper to your taste, and slather in butter for extra deliciousness.

You can also add in sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg if that’s your preference.

7 – Buttered Noodles

Buttered noodles are an excellent side dish to serve with chicken tenders.

They’re simple, delicious, and go perfectly with any noodle.

All you need for this recipe are one pound of noodles, lots of butter, salt, and pepper.

First, bring a pot of water to boil before adding your noodles.

Boil until soft (usually 8-10 minutes) before draining.

Then mix in all other ingredients while stirring vigorously so that the butter coats the noodles.

The great thing about this site is that it’s incredibly versatile.

You can use almost any type of noodle to create a delectable dish that will bring out the delicious flavors of chicken tenders.

8 – Pea Salad with Pecorino

Pea salad with pecorino is an excellent side dish to serve with chicken tenders.

It’s simple, delicious, and brings out the flavor of peas.

All you need for this recipe are two fresh or frozen peas cups, one clove of garlic, six tablespoons of olive oil, three tablespoons of lemon juice (freshly squeezed), salt, pepper, and finely grated pecorino.

For this recipe, combine all ingredients in a large glass bowl before mixing well with a spoon.

Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving alongside chicken tenders.

This salad is incredibly easy to whip up and is perfect for a light side dish that won’t weigh you down.

It’s packed full of flavor, and the pecorino cheese makes it taste even better.

Conclusion

In conclusion, chicken tenders are one of our favorite things to eat, especially if you’re an adult who has left the kid-friendly chicken nuggets behind.

They are delicious, filling, and relatively healthy compared to other fried foods.

The best thing about tenders is that they pair well with various sides, all of which will make your meal complete.

So there you have it – the best sides to eat with chicken tenders.

Easy to cook and great tasting, you can serve these with any meal or even as a snack.

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