15 Best Side Dish Recipes for Fried Chicken

Pretty much everyone loves fried chicken, putting it firmly in the regular dinner rotation for many families. But what should you serve with the Southern-style main?

We make it possible to enjoy fried chicken anytime you crave its crunchy goodness without getting sick of the same dinner. Try our recipes for delicious side dishes for fried chicken, perfect for when you're cooking for the family, packing for a picnic, or impressing dinner guests.

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Brussels Sprouts Dill Salad

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

Bring balance to a plate groaning with fried chicken by adding a side of this crunchy, dilly shaved Brussels sprouts salad. With aged Pecorino cheese and toasty almond bits scattered throughout, it offers a wonderfully unique and tasty combination of salty, savory, and fresh flavors.
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Sugar-Free Dinner Waffles

Michelle Arnold / Getty Images

Put together golden fried chicken, and crispy, not-too-sweet dinner waffles and you have a plate of deliciousness. There's no need to venture out to a restaurant to enjoy this quintessentially Southern brunch or dinner combination. Simply fry up some chicken, mix up this easy, sugar-free, 6-ingredient batter for cooking in your waffle iron, and dig in.
03 of 15

Easy Coleslaw

The Spruce

Coleslaw is one of the easiest salads to prepare and pack for picnics, potlucks, and other take-along occasions. It also goes great with fried chicken. Start with bagged, shredded slaw veggies, tossing them with either of the two tasty dressing options here—one creamy, the other vinegar-based and tangy.
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Grilled Herb and Cheese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Hefty portobello mushrooms are ideal for stuffing with yummy fillings and they make a savory, satisfying side dish to round out your cookout plates. Or serve them on their own as a vegetarian main. To make this recipe vegan, use olive oil or margarine instead of butter and use a vegan cheese for sprinkling on top.

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Creamy Macaroni Salad

The Spruce

Nothing says summertime quite like classic macaroni salad. It is a popular salad bar choice and makes a pleasing pairing for crispy deep-fried chicken. This old-fashioned recipe is simple but perfectly seasoned, with hard-cooked eggs, chopped vegetables, and a distinctively flavored mayonnaise dressing.
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Horseradish Mashed Potatoes

The Spruce / Jennifer Perillo

Mashed potatoes get a delicious makeover in this mouth-watering recipe. It uses Greek yogurt and fresh horseradish for a tasty twist on the usual mash. Use a starchy potato variety, such as Yukon Gold, and cook the spuds just until fork-tender to achieve the ultimate fluffy, airy consistency.
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Cheesy Green Beans

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Use fresh or thawed frozen green beans for this easy, cheesy, creamy side dish. These beans make a fabulous accompaniment to fried or roasted chicken, and are a good choice for holiday dinners, too. Feel free to use a combination of green and yellow string beans for a fun presentation on the plate.
08 of 15

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

The Spruce

It'd hardly be a fried chicken dinner without macaroni and cheese. This easy, cheesy pasta bake includes cheddar cheese, and a cream sauce to keep it smooth and creamy. Make it with or without the added buttery breadcrumb and serve with dredged and deep-fried seasoned chicken.

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Broccoli Bacon Salad

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Broccoli salad is always a crowd-pleaser. This versatile version includes a good amount of crumbled, cooked bacon and a simply delicious sweetened mayonnaise dressing. It can be served either cold or at room temperature and is easy to customize with your choice of toasted nuts, seeds, or colorful diced raw veggies.
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Deep-Fried Okra

The Spruce

Fried, cornmeal-crusted okra is a tasty treat and a popular pairing for Southern-fried chicken. For the crunchiest results, use fresh okra, which stands up far better to frying than the frozen kind. If you want a spicier side dish, go ahead and add a little cayenne pepper to the dredging mixture.
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Buttermilk Cornbread With Cream-Style Corn

The Spruce

Fried chicken and cornbread is a classic, comfy food combo that's especially popular in the Southern states. Canned cream-style corn makes this buttermilk cornbread extra moist and flavorful. It bakes up easily in a cast-iron skillet and makes a great dipping bread for a bowl of crock pot chili, too.
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Strawberry Spinach Salad

Lesyy / Getty Images

Liven up a fried food meal with this healthy and elegant salad. It's a perfect candidate for Mother's Day brunch, Easter lunch, or picnics when strawberries are in season. Aside from the simple and delicious dressing which includes honey and cinnamon, all you need to assemble it are baby spinach and fresh, juicy red berries.

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Three Bean Salad

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Whether you're making a backyard meal for just the family, planning a picnic, or hosting a summer gathering, you need to include this bean salad. It's colorful, packed with heart-healthy vegetable protein, and can be made ahead and stored in the fridge until eating time. Serve it as an easy accompaniment to fried chicken, turkey burgers, or fish cooked on the grill.
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Buttery Southern Fried Corn

The Spruce

When sweet corn is in season, that's the best time to make buttery Southern fried corn. You need only 4 ingredients and 30 minutes to cook up this popular side dish. Follow the tips in the recipe for removing corn kernels from the cob before tossing them in a hot pan with butter, salt, and pepper.
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Herb Roasted Red Potatoes

The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

Roasted red-skinned potatoes are so easy, tender, and delicious, you'll want to add them to every meal. This recipe dresses them simply for the oven with a little bit of butter and some fresh or freeze-dried herbs. If you have extra time, you can parboil the potatoes for a few minutes before baking for ultra-creamy interiors.