Craving delicious juicy fried chicken for your main course, but not sure what to serve with it, look no further! I'm your guy and have some of the best sides you can pair with your crispy chicken. For me collard greens and green beans come to mind as easy pairings. These are all easy side dish recipes that complement any fried chicken recipe.
No need to struggle to figure out what to serve with fried chicken whether deep fried or air fried, just follow this detailed round-up of some amazing sides from classic Southern staples to modern twists you'll love the many options which include over 15 side dishes that represent some of the ultimate comfort foods.
Here are the best sides to serve with your fried chicken dinner:
Collard Greens Slaw
Your favorite fried chicken spot is gonna have cole slaw as the default side of choice guaranteed. That tangy briny slaw is perfect balance against chicken deep fried in hot oil which is why we love to top our favorite fried chicken sandwiches with slaw. But this ain't just any slaw - it's got collard greens and feta to elevate it!
Vegetarian Collard Greens Slaw - Tangy slaw recipe that comes together in a few minutes and delivers deep, unique flavor despite using only a few ingredients. Feta cheese is marinated in a citrus vinaigrette that replaces traditional mayonnaise use.
Southern Collard Greens
Tender greens cooked with smoked meat for deep complex seasoning Southern-style makes fried chicken dinner a special night! You can slowly simmer these or cook them express style in your pressure cooker/instant pot. Either way, it's one of the best side dishes you can have with fried chicken.
Southern Collard Greens
Fresh Southern collard greens simmered slowly in smoked turkey-based broth with onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and vinegar leaving the most delectable pot likker ever.
Mustard Greens
I'm partial to collard greens, but braised mustard greens are a great change-up and equal partner to crispy fried chicken.
Fresh Southern collard greens simmered slowly in smoked turkey-based broth with onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and vinegar leaving the most delectable pot likker ever.
Turnip Greens
Turnip greens are that slept on side that many either don't know about or fully appreciate. I grew up in a turnips house. We ate the root and the green tops mainly because we grew so much of it. I learned to love them as a proper side dish for any main dish including Grandma's fried chicken.
Fresh Southern collard greens simmered slowly in smoked turkey-based broth with onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and vinegar leaving the most delectable pot likker ever.
Southern Mashed Potatoes
I know you remember going to KFC for that old school box of fried chicken with a side of creamy coleslaw and mashed potatoes with gravy. These mashed potatoes are as great for the holidays as they are for a fried chicken weeknight dinner. Soft, tangy, and butter-smooth this is an all-family pleasing winner.
Southern Mashed Potatoes
Fresh Southern collard greens simmered slowly in smoked turkey-based broth with onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and vinegar leaving the most delectable pot likker ever.
Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
Your family will feel extremely loved by you for serving them these homemade Southern buttermilk biscuits. Taste and Texture, taste and texture, great biscuits gotta have both! These biscuits are light, fluffy, and moist with tangy butter flavor. Say no more, right?! Add a lil honey to both these biscuits and your best fried chicken recipe.
Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
Homemade Southern buttermilk biscuits with that classic tangy butter flavor and light, fluffy texture with a moist center.
Baked Mac and Cheese
No true Southern meal is absent of good ole mac and cheese on the menu. Cheesy, creamy delicious is the game with this powerhouse side. It's as comforting as the chicken. Be careful, cause after eating both you're likely to catch a serious case of the 'itis and be sound asleep well before bedtime.
Baked Mac and Cheese
Decadent, comforting, and creamy mac and cheese recipe perfect as one of your Thanksgiving side dishes or a regular Sunday dinner menu item.
Instant Pot Baked Beans
I love to pair tangy and sticky baked beans with fried chicken thighs that I actually smoke first before dropping in the deep fryer. I guess I'm partial to pairing baked beans with smoked chicken because typically it's baked beans that I'm serving as a BBQ side.
BBQ Baked Beans
Quick bbq baked beans made from scratch in an instant pot. They’re rich, smoky, and pack that candied bbq flavor that makes for a great batch of beans for your next barbecue.
Smothered Green Beans
Smothered green beans are a great side dish. It's got taste, texture, and straight-up whip appeal. There is nothing but love in this dish thanks to the ground cajun andouille sausage and Haitian epis seasoning.
Wildly delicious green beans and potatoes recipe featuring fresh vegetables smothered in ground andouille sausage & Haitian epis seasoning for a hearty side.
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
This is a classic recipe for corn on the cob. Simple in the execution but flavored generously with jerk compound butter that will make you sing! It's absolutely one of the most delicious side dishes you can have, let alone eat it with crunchy fried chicken.
Air Fryer Corn On The Cob
Quick and easy recipe for perfectly cooked and flavored corn. This air fryer corn on the cob recipe nets slightly charred and juicy kernels flavored with a delicious Jamaican jerk compound butter.
Hot Water Cornbread
Nothing screams Southern sides like hot water cornbread! If you're not from the South you're probably asking yourself, what the eff is hot wat cornbread?! It's what I'd describe as a Southern delicacy made with hot water and cornmeal batter. I prefer the fried patties to hush puppies which are also great with your fried chicken pieces of choice.
Southern Hot Water Cornbread
Southern delicacy - hot water cornbread. It’s light with a fluffy interior, but super crispy exterior. Simple and humble ingredients come together for a delicious accompaniment to any legit Southern classic menu.
Southern Fried Okra
Double up on the fried factor! Why not?! Fried okra is one of the best chicken sides. Southern fried okra at its finest in 5 simple ingredients and cooked in only 5 minutes of funk. It's got a light and flaky crust that is a fun eating experience when you bite into them. I actually like this as a side dish for crispy chicken wings.
Southern Fried Okra
Well seasoned, light, and crispy okra that's the perfect appetizer or just good ole finger food option.
Fried Green Tomatoes
If you can find them, green tomatoes fried are a beautiful thing. Fried green tomatoes that a smoked before frying is a classic side dish reimagined into greatness. This Southern staple works great as an appetizer or side dish.
Smoked green tomatoes that are fried to a light crisp. These are slightly tender in the center with an amazing crunchy exterior. They are seasoned to perfection and make for a great appetizer at a party.
Southern Potato Salad
I know potato salad is a must have side dish for summer barbecues, but it's one of my favorite sides for pretty much any occasion. I personally think its the perfect complement to any main dish. I'm serious business when it comes to potato salad and if you grew up in a black household then you know cooking it is a grown man sport lol.
This is a classic recipe for real deal Southern potato salad, the one that with get you elevated to potato salad duty for all family barbecues. It's the perfect side dish for any cookout whether it be July 4th, general family gatherings, or your next family reunion.
Blackeyed Pea Salad
In Texas we call black-eyed pea salad Texas caviar. As you know we do and say things a lil different here. Nonetheless we do know what makes for delicious sides especially when it comes to fried chicken.
Crunchy, refreshing soul food recipe featuring blackeyed peas. Using just a few ingredients this dish can be made quick and easily.
Belgian Style Duck Fat Fries
You can't discuss fried chicken sides without including a mention of french fries. I like mine cooked Belgian style, which creates crispy outsides with a pillow soft interior.
Belgian Style Duck Fat Fries
Belgian Fries - the perfect side, period! Pillow soft and moist and deliciously crispy with a golden brown color and enhanced flavor from duck fat.
Smashed Cucumber Salad
Briny sides make for the best pairing with fried chicken. This crunchy, multi-shaped cucumber salad meets the definition of briny. The different shaped cukes are also much fun to eat.
Smashed Cucumber Salad
Smashed cucumber salad recipe featuring cukes served in different shapes with an herb vinaigrette for a fun cucumber-based side dish.
Tomato Basil Salad
After putting in so much work to create the perfect most tender chicken you want to hit the easy button on your sides. This tomato salad definitely meets the easy button description. Don't worry it's delicious too! The sweet flavor in the juicy cherry tomatoes are a wonderful fit.
This tomato and basil salad is the perfect summer salad. It's just a few ingredients, but packed with a clean and fresh taste thanks to the ripe cherry tomatoes and just picked basil.
Air Fryer Broccolini
This air fryer broccolini recipe features a side dish cooked in record time! It's simply seasoned with olive oil and Mexican tajin spice before taking a quick trip in the air fryer. These are tangy and delicious.
Air Fryer Broccolini
Make this TWO-ingredient super quick roasted broccolini. Broccolini pieces are seasoned with tajin spice and cooked in less than 5 minutes in air fryer for a quick and delicious side dish.
Air Fryer Broccoli Cheese
If you're going all in with some really good fried chicken, be all the win in and go heavy with this simple and delicious broccoli cheese recipe.
Smoky Braised Cabbage
Braised cabbage infused with the flavors of leftover brisket fat cap makes this a great side for fried chicken.
Smoky Braised Cabbage
This braised cabbage is probably the best cabbage you'll probably eat. The hyperbole is legit. The cabbage is braised to delicious tenderness and flavored primarily with the fat cap from leftover smoked brisket.
Any of these side dishes would work great with your favorite fried chicken dish or other dishes like air fryer ribs or curry chicken. Definitely give a few a try and be sure to let me know what you think!