Hot chicken salad is a real game changer at any table. It’s all about finding the perfect friends to sit beside it on the plate.
We’ve all been there, right? You’ve got this steamy, delicious dish ready to go and then the panic sets in. What on Earth pairs well with it?
We’re here to help. And yes, we’ve made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. From crispy sweet potato fries to a refreshing cucumber salad, we’ve tested everything.
What we found was surprising. Some sides we thought would be a slam dunk were more of a miss. Others, we barely gave a second glance and they ended up being stars.
Our trials in the kitchen? They’re your gain. Get ready for a lineup that transforms your hot chicken salad from a solo act into a symphony.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Hot Chicken Salad?
We agree that hot chicken salad is yummy and can be a meal on its own.
But we also think that it’s impractical to eat only one dish.
The food will engulf you, and you won’t feel like eating anymore.
It’s also not healthy to eat meat in large portions.
You require fresh stuff, including salads and veggie dishes, to cleanse your palate and complete your meal.
Besides, it won’t look too exciting if you serve only one lonely chicken dish during an occasion.
Having at least 3-4 dishes will make the event more interesting, and the crowd will also get the chance to enjoy new flavors.
What to Serve with Hot Chicken Salad? 10 BEST Side Dishes
You can serve the following dishes alongside the hot chicken salad.
1. Southern Corn Salad
Since hot chicken salad is a Southern dish, let’s start the list with another dish from the same region; Southern corn salad.
These two items taste fantastic together, and everybody loves them.
Though corn is native to Sothern Mexico, it found its way around the world and became one of the most widely cultivated and consumed foods.
It’s a staple food in many parts of the world.
It’s a versatile ingredient with very low-calorie content but delicious.
Southern corn salad is easy to make, and you can do it with only a handful of ingredients, including fresh or frozen corn, onion, basil leaves, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper.
2. Balsamic Green Bean Salad
Yes, it’s another salad, but it has only veggies, so the name shouldn’t bother you as they’re two completely different items.
Green bean salad with balsamic vinegar is compatible with hot chicken salad and is easy to make.
Green bean salad doesn’t involve cooking except for the beans, as you have to boil them till they’re crisp-tender.
Other ingredients include garlic powder, olive oil, lemon juice, crumbled feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, red onion, pepper, salt, garlic powder, balsamic vinegar, and ground mustard.
When making the salad, it’s necessary to have fresh beans.
Choose beans that have a bright, vivid green color, with taut stalks that break when you bend them.
3. Southern Cornbread
Cornbread is a popular dish in Southern US cuisine.
It accompanies a lot of dishes, including hot chicken salad.
Hence, it’s on the list.
It’s delicious, easy to make, and doesn’t need too many ingredients.
Southern cornbread’s main ingredients are cornmeal, buttermilk, eggs, all-purpose flour, baking soda and powder, salt, and unsalted butter for the baking tray.
While you can make cornbread on the stovetop in a skillet, this dish uses the oven.
So you won’t have to stand over the stove and watch continuously.
Mix ingredients, bake, and take it out when the timer sets off.
4. Spicy Roasted Broccoli
A dish with a smoky aroma and charred texture can be an excellent partner for the creamy hot chicken salad.
Spicy roasted broccoli is just that; of course, it’s delicious too.
Though it’s so good, spicy roasted broccoli has only four ingredients. How amazing is that.
You can make the dish with broccoli florets, olive oil, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, or chile powder.
Be sure to avoid soft or slippery broccoli and yellowish and opened florets.
It would help if you bought closely packed florets that are green with tender stems.
5. Cauliflower Steaks
Do you love steak but don’t want to add another animal protein to the menu? Well, not to worry because we have you covered.
Add cauliflower steaks instead.
They’re tasty, and they complement the hot chicken salad.
Cauliflower steak has recently become a rage, and everyone seems to make their version.
So, you’re likely to find many recipes.
But it’s best to keep it simple, so it doesn’t overwhelm the other dish.
You can make cauliflower steak with the veggie, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and lemon juice.
When you finish the cook and serve it, you’ll enjoy the combo with the chicken.
6. Arugula Peach Salad
Everyone loves a dish that has a mix of sweet, sour, salty, crunchy, and juicy features.
So, what better than arugula peach salad to pair with hot chicken salad? They make a great combo, and the salad cleanses your palate.
Arugula salad with peach is not only delicious, but it’s also healthy.
The leaves are slightly peppery, but the honey in the balsamic vinaigrette tones down the peppery taste.
Toss some nuts and feta cheese, and you will have a salad with multiple flavors and textures.
Baby arugula or immature arugula leaves tend to be more mild in flavor so if you can’t handle the mature arugula taste, choose the former for the salad.
7. Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
Some spuds in your menu will also make your meal more complete.
You can make various dishes with potatoes, each one complementing the hot chicken salad.
But we decided on creamy scalloped potatoes because they’re so good.
Just think about diving into that plate with the creamy spuds, and we guess your mouth is starting to water too.
While the name sounds complex, the dish isn’t.
The creaminess comes from the flour, butter, whipping cream, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.
You can make the dish using most types of potatoes.
However, russet and Yukon Gold are top choices, so that you can use either.
8. Collard Greens with Bacon
This dish contains meat, but it won’t overwhelm the hot chicken salad because it has more greens.
Instead, it will complete your meal and add freshness.
Of course, collard greens taste lovely with the chicken too.
Collard greens belong to the same family as kale and arugula but are less bitter than both.
So, even when you eat them raw, you won’t find them too bitter or peppery.
But this dish involves cooking, so whatever bitter taste the greens have will disappear.
You can use water to cook the dish but using chicken broth will enhance the flavor so use it instead.
Adding hot sauce and apple cider vinegar will complete the dish, and you’ll have flavorful greens with bacon.
9. Butternut Squash Soup
A bowl of butternut squash soup will also team up well with hot chicken salad.
The combo will fill up your belly and keep you full for a long time without overpowering your palate.
Besides, who doesn’t love some soup in their meal?
You don’t need to add animal protein to this soup as the veggies are delicious and perfectly blend into the dish.
Add potatoes, carrots, celery, and onions along with the butternut squash.
Use chicken stock as a base and some butter for sautéing the veggies and salt and pepper to taste.
The veggie becomes sweeter as it ages, so that you can buy butternut squash according to its maturity.
If you want a sweeter soup, buy a more mature veggie and an immature one if you want a milder flavor.
10. Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan Cheese
Let’s conclude the list with a veggie dish that’s tasty, healthy, and compatible with hot chicken salad.
You can serve it alongside the chicken anytime because they taste good together.
Asparagus doesn’t often get the praise it deserves, but it’s versatile like most other vegetables.
Hence, you can cook them in a variety of ways.
Roasted asparagus with parmesan cheese is simple but excellent.
Like most other simple but tasty dishes, roasted asparagus also doesn’t require numerous ingredients.
You can make a yummy dish with the veggie, olive oil to coat, salt, garlic, pepper, parmesan cheese, and lemon juice.
Leave a comment