What to Serve with Orange Chicken? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Orange chicken is a sweet and juicy American Chinese dish.

It's a popular dish in the US and is served at many restaurants and events.

It's also a flexible dish and makes a lovely pairing with many items.

If anyone reading this has come looking for what to serve with orange chicken, they're at the right place so don't go anywhere.

We'll list the ten best dishes to serve with the spectacular chicken dish like cucumber salad, cauliflower fried rice, hot and sour soup and sautéed bok choy.

10 Best Side Dishes for Orange Chicken

These are the ten best items to have with orange chicken - or try orange roughy side ideas for fish if serving seafood instead.

1 - Hot and Sour Soup

-

We'll begin the list with one of the most popular soups in Chinese cuisine.

It's a hot and sour soup that complements orange chicken nicely - and pairs similarly to hot dagos side suggestions for spicy soups.

When you have the combo, you'll feel satisfied and full.

Hot and sour soup is usually made of chicken stock with bamboo shoots, mushrooms, tofu, egg, and pork (optional).

A chili paste, rice wine vinegar and ginger are typical items for seasoning along with herbs.

While any edible mushroom can work, shiitake mushrooms, also called Lentinula edodes, are primarily used.

They have a meaty texture and release an earthy, umami flavor when cooked.

2 - Cucumber Salad

-

An Asian-inspired cucumber salad can also make a fine pairing with orange chicken - similar to cool, light pairings found in cucumber soup side pairings.

It's crunchy, and juicy, and has a lovely balance of sweet, sour and hot flavors.

Hence every bite is explosive.

Cucumber salad in Asian style comprises few ingredients but you'll be amazed at the taste.

The veggie is the primary item and the rest serve as seasoning or dressing.

Include a little chili paste for some heat.

It's best to make the salad with a thin-skinned variety like English, Persian or Turkish cucumber.

However, overly ripe cucumbers can be too watery, so avoid any with yellow spots and choose dark green and firm cucumbers without blemishes.

3 - Chinese Spare Ribs

-

Adding another meat dish to the list may seem odd, but it's here for two reasons.

First, it complements orange chicken and second; you'll need one more meat dish if you have many guests.

Chinese spare ribs are flavorful with juicy, hot, sweet and tangy flavors.

We promise that you and your guests won't want to stop eating the spare ribs and want more of them.

Along with the other spices, a little bit of Chinese five-spice powder, hoisin sauce and sake add more taste to the spare ribs.

So don't forget these three items.

A lighter salad can balance the richness of spare ribs; Chinese chicken salad side ideas for balance lists crisp salads that work well.

4 - Cauliflower Fried Rice

-

How can you have orange chicken and not cauliflower rice? The two make an excellent combo and taste fantastic too - for a cheesier cauliflower option, see cauliflower cheese side ideas.

Plain cauliflower rice is also delicious, but you can make a fried version for more taste.

Adding veggies like carrots, peas, and scrambled eggs will make the dish even more flavorsome.

You'll not only get to experience the lovely taste but also have a complete meal.

Cauliflower is a perishable veggie and can spoil quickly.

So when buying, avoid heads that show signs of softness or have spots.

If you buy it in advance, store it properly and use it as soon as possible.

5 - Stir-Fried Vegetables

-

Your menu will be incomplete when serving orange chicken without adding stir-fried vegetables - or for a crispy alternative, consider tempura vegetables as a crispy option.

They taste fantastic and go with the superb chicken dish.

You also have the opportunity to work with numerous vegetables depending on availability.

Stir-fried veggies are also easy to make and need only everyday ingredients.

Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, bell peppers and snow peas make a nice combo.

Salt, sugar, oyster sauce, ground white pepper and cornflour are sufficient for seasoning.

6 - Egg Drop Soup

-

Soup combines nicely with chicken, and everyone has a different preference, so here is another delicious soup and a favorite with almost everyone.

It's egg drop soup and when combined with chicken, you'll feel full and it will please your senses too - for another egg-forward choice, try egg bites side ideas for variety.

Egg drop soup is a popular Chinese soup that's loved worldwide.

It looks pretty elegant but making it is so simple and you need only common ingredients.

Chicken broth, eggs, chives, salt, ginger and cornstarch are the only items needed for the soup.

But you must use fresh eggs or the yolk won't hold its shape.

If you aren't sure how to choose, look for the USDA-grade shield and expiry date.

7 - Sautéed Bok Choy

-

Bok Choy is a common veggie used in Asian cuisine and frequently accompanies meat dishes.

Sautéed bok choy makes a great pairing with orange chicken, so here it is.

Bok choy is native to China but you can find it in many places across the globe.

So you won't have trouble getting the veggie.

But like other veggies in the Brassica family, it can smell and taste bad when it's decayed so make sure to buy the freshest leaves.

You'll find many recipes for sautéed bok choy.

But it's best to keep it simple to obtain the best flavors.

Besides the veggie, salt, garlic, oil and red pepper flakes are sufficient.

Drizzle lemon juice on top right before serving.

8 - Fried Wontons

-

Who doesn't love wontons? They're typically boiled or steamed dumplings filled with various ingredients.

These tiny snacks are also versatile and pair well with many foods, including orange chicken.

Here we have included fried wontons for a change.

They have the same ingredients but you have to fry them instead of boiling or steaming them.

Fried wontons make the perfect sides at parties so you'll have a hit dish.

You can use meat, seafood, veggies, cheese or tofu depending on the menu.

Any variant will taste lovely.

Fried wontons work well alongside hearty rice dishes; chicken fried rice side pairings suggests complementary rice options.

9 - Steamed Broccoli

-

It's one of the most straightforward items on the list but is on par with all the other dishes regarding taste.

Steamed broccoli can add a fresh element and complement orange chicken perfectly.

You'll have a full meal and the veggie will refresh your palate.

There are several recipes for steamed broccoli with some containing many items.

But as you have a rich chicken dish, it's best to follow a simple recipe.

Besides the veggie, salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice will be enough to make delicious and healthy steamed broccoli.

Cook the veggie florets until they're crisp-tender or they can get mushy which will ruin the dish.

10 - Spicy Sichuan Green Beans

-

We have arrived at the last part of the list with a lovely item.

Spicy Sichuan green beans are hot, sweet and slightly sour and make an excellent pairing with orange chicken.

The green beans dish looks tempting and it tastes flavorsome.

But cooking the beans is so effortless and that too with few ingredients.

But you must use the right items or you won't get the desired flavors.

You must also use the freshest beans for the dish for the best results.

Fresh beans should have a bright color and break when folded.

Mandarin-style orange chicken has similar companions in many menus; Mandarin orange chicken side ideas lists seven fitting sides. For a heartier roast-chicken approach, beer can chicken side list provides fifteen complementary dishes.