19 Fried Chicken Sides

Who doesn’t love a good, juicy, crispy and crunchy fried chicken? This popular meal is even better when combined with the right side dish, and the options for fried chicken sides are pretty impressive. Knowing what to serve with fried chicken is going to become a lot easier after you see our list.

From green beans and creamy coleslaw to mac and cheese and smashed herbed potatoes, these side dishes are comforting, delicious, and easy-to-make.

Here are some of the best side dishes for fried chicken to impress your family and friends.

What To Serve With Fried Chicken

When it comes to fried chicken I always have a hard time figuring out what my kids are going to enjoy it being paired with. For that reason I have mapped out all of my favorite sides that go with fried chicken so you no longer need to experience that.

1. Fried Green Tomatoes

Green or unripe tomatoes are excellent for frying as they don’t get mushy as the red ones. To make the perfect fried green tomatoes for your fried chicken dish, cut them in slices and dip them in a plate with flour, a plate with a mixture of egg and milk, and a plate with breadcrumbs.

Fry the coated tomato slices on medium heat until browned on both sides. Serve them along with your fried chicken and enjoy it.

2. Slow-Cooked Green Beans

Pair green beans with fried chicken and you get a finger-licking meal. But, you have to know how to cook them properly.

Cook some bacon slices over medium heat until crisp, add onion and cook until soft and golden brown, add garlic until soft, and stir in tomato sauce.

Add your green beans and some chicken broth. Season with cayenne pepper, black pepper, and salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for one and a half hours on medium-low heat until your green beans are soft.

Serve your fried chicken with the slow-cooked green beans along with some of the pan juices.

3. Black-Eyed Pea Salad

This vibrant salad will add more flavor and color to your main dish. It consists of black-eyed peas, red, yellow, and green peppers, grape tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, celery rib, and a dressing made of mustard, salt, fresh and dried oregano, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, olive oil, ground pepper, and salt.

4. Collard Greens

Collard greens can make a wonderful side dish when cooked with the right technique. Cook some bacon until crisp, crumble it, and put it back in the pan with some onion and garlic.

Add your collard greens and cook until they begin to wilt. Stir in some chicken broth and add seasonings. Simmer until your collard greens are tender.

With collard greens prepared in this way, your fried chicken will never be the same again.

5. Green Bean Casserole

Green bean casserole pairs well with fried chicken, especially if you add some cheese in it. For an even better taste, sprinkle the cheese and some French fried onions on top of the casserole dish. You’ll love it.

After all, who doesn’t love a good side like this green bean casserole. The challenge is making enough because this tastes so good, it might even outshine your fried chicken.

6. Mac and Cheese

This all-time favorite pairs well with almost everything, including fried chicken. Whether it’s a custard-y type or a baked variety, it’s the ultimate side dish for fried chicken. Mac n cheese is one of my all time favorite sides.

My favorite version of mac and cheese is definitely the one we have recreated from Cracker Barrel on this website. Another classic copycat recipe, that will save you time and money. Ingredients are easy and the instructions straight forward to having you serve this dish up in no time.

7. Cherry Tomato Salad

Here’s a simple yet delicious salad you can use as a side dish for fried chicken. It’s easy to make as it requires nothing but cherry tomatoes, herbs like fresh basil, parsley, and oregano, canola oil, and seasonings.

8. Fried Pickles

Another fried side dish that boosts the flavor of fried chicken is okra. It’s an interesting, simple, and inexpensive side dish you can prepare in half an hour.

The key to making the best fried okra is soaking them in an egg for up to ten minutes before dredging them into a mixture of salt, pepper, and cornmeal. The coated okra is then fried in hot oil until golden brown.

9. Zucchini Corn Fritters

If you’re a fan of these yummy fritters, here’s another chance to add them to your diet. They are light and fluffy, and taste wonderful on their own, but are even better when combined with fried chicken.

It’s a heavenly combination that no one can resist.

See Also: Sides that go with ribs

10. Herbed Potatoes

Imagine your fried chicken served next to buttery and golden brown potatoes sprinkled with some fresh herbs like parsley and chives. These wonderful herbed potatoes are best enjoyed when served straight out of the oven.

11. Yellow Squash Casserole

Here’s one interesting side dish made with crunchy crackers, gooey cheese, and tender squash. It’s the perfect complement to a hearty main dish such as fried chicken.

Even if you use low-fat ingredients, you’ll still have a delicious casserole. Instead of yellow squash, you can use zucchini, and instead of crackers, you can use corn flakes. It’s up to you.

12. Succotash

Succotash is a side dish for any occasion, especially if you’re in a rush as it takes little time and effort to make it. It’s a combination of lima beans, sweet corn, and other ingredients such as potatoes, corned beef, turnips, okra, tomatoes, and green chili peppers.

When it comes to fried chicken sides, we recommend using corn, lima beans, and chili peppers. It’s the perfect addition to fried chicken.

13. Farmers Market Orzo Salad

Orzo is a type of short-cut pasta in the form of rice, made of whole grain or white flour. If you combine this type of pasta with vegetables, you’ll get an Orzo salad which is a fantastic addition to fried chicken.

To make this salad, use red onion, zucchini, yellow summer squash, lemon juice, mozzarella, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, orzo pasta, toasted pine nuts, olive oil, salt and pepper. Bon appetite.

14. Potato Salad

This mouth-watering potato salad makes a great side dish to fried chicken. There are different varieties of potato salads, but the one we recommend for your side dish is made with red potatoes, celery seed, onion, bacon strips, hard-boiled eggs, cider vinegar, celery ribs, whipping cream, salt, sugar, and pepper.

Fry bacon, remove from the pan and leave a tablespoon dripping to which you add flour and sugar. Pour some water and cook until thickened.

Beat one egg and mix it with some of the hot mixture. Pour it into the pan with constant stirring and bring to a boil.

Once it cools, add the seasonings, onion, and vinegar, and fold in whipped cream. Then, add boiled potatoes, fried bacon, celery, and hard-boiled eggs. Refrigerate before serving.

15. Potato Wedges

Here’s one more way you can use potatoes as a side dish for the good, old fried chicken.

Potato wedges are sprayed with oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and paprika. They are baked around 30 minutes and served hot next to your main dish.

16. KFC Coleslaw

If I am to choose one side dish for fried chicken it has to be coleslaw. The creamy and crunchy goodness that comes with adding this as a side dish is amazing. This one in particular is a copycat version of KFC coleslaw.

Making this recipe will only take you 15 minutes and serves 10 peopple. If you are stuck for ideas on what to eat with fried chicken, this is it! Only 12 ingredients and you’re likely to already have them in your house.

17. KFC Gravy

When we talk about fried chicken, surely that makes you thin of KFC gravy? If not, it should. We’ve gone and recreated this classic recipe so you can bring it into your own kitchen today. Quick and easy like many of these good sides.

We even have a video directing you step by step.

18. Onion Rings

Don’t settle for anything than perfect with your sides adn that means adding these delicious onion rings into the mix. Why do they make this so perfect? They’re crispy, full of flavor and the perfect side to accompany any main.

My kids go crazy for this copycat version from Burger and our readers love them too. Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed.

19. McDonald’s Fries

It might be last on the list but its one of the first recipes that comes to mind when I’m serving up fried chicken. Add some salt and you have just prepared the perfect fakeaway.

It’s much easier to make than you think and will compliment your main in so many ways. A versatile dish that needs no introductions. You’ll thank me when you try it. Another popular copycat dish that our reader love.

Make sure to watch our video so you can follow along.