✔ Updated · 46 sides: potatoes, slaws, Southern classics, veg, rice + sauces
Crispy, golden fried fish deserves better than a sad handful of frozen fries. Here are 46 sides, from fish fry classics to fresh, crunchy salads.
The best sides for fried fish are French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, mac and cheese, potato salad, mushy peas and corn on the cob, served with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. For a balanced plate, pair one starchy side with one fresh, crunchy side like coleslaw or cucumber salad to cut through the richness of the batter.
- Classic: fries, mushy peas, tartar sauce
- Southern fish fry: hush puppies, coleslaw, mac and cheese, collards
- Lighter: garden salad, grilled asparagus, lemon potatoes
- Best sauce: tartar sauce, remoulade or lemon aioli
How to Build a Fish Fry Plate
The best fried fish plate has contrast. Pick one starchy side (fries, hush puppies or mac and cheese), one fresh or crunchy side (coleslaw or a cucumber salad), and one sauce (tartar or remoulade), then add lemon wedges. Rich fried fish needs that hit of acid and crunch, and honestly, that first bite with slaw and lemon is the whole point.
- Classic fish and chips: fries, mushy peas, tartar sauce and malt vinegar.
- Southern fish fry: hush puppies, coleslaw, mac and cheese and collard greens.
- Lighter plate: lemon roast potatoes, garden salad and grilled asparagus.
- Fish tacos night: cilantro lime rice, pickled red cabbage and spicy cucumber salad.
Fries and Potato Sides
1. McDonald's-Style French Fries
Thin, crispy, salty fries: the other half of fish and chips. Double-fry them for the best crunch.
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2. Popeyes-Inspired Cajun Fries
Fries tossed in a punchy Cajun seasoning. Amazing with catfish and a squeeze of lemon.
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3. Salt and Vinegar Chips
Thin, crisp potato slices splashed with malt vinegar and flaky salt. That tangy hit is made for battered fish.
4. KFC-Style Potato Wedges
Thick, seasoned, crunchy-coated wedges with fluffy middles. Great for dunking in tartar sauce.
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5. Sweet Potato Wedges
Roasted until caramelized at the edges. A slightly sweet, colorful twist on fish and chips.
6. Lemon Roast Potatoes
Crispy roast potatoes finished with lemon zest and juice. Bright, golden and so good with white fish.
7. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Buttery, fluffy mash that soaks up any sauce. A comforting choice for fish in winter.
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8. Hasselback Potatoes
Thinly sliced, accordion-style potatoes roasted with butter and garlic. Crispy edges, soft centers.
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9. Hellmann's-Style Potato Salad
Creamy, tangy, classic potato salad. Make it ahead for a summer fish fry.
Get the recipe →Slaws and Fresh Salads
10. KFC-Style Coleslaw
Finely chopped, sweet and creamy coleslaw. The cool crunch cuts right through fried batter.
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11. Chick-fil-A-Inspired Coleslaw
Shredded cabbage and carrot in a tangy, creamy dressing. A little sharper than KFC-style slaw.
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12. Quick Pickled Red Cabbage
Bright pink, tangy and crunchy. Pile it on fish tacos or fish sandwiches.
Get the recipe →13. Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad
A Southern classic in a vinegar dressing. Refreshing and ready in 10 minutes.
14. Spicy Cucumber Salad
Smashed cucumbers with chili, garlic, rice vinegar and sesame. Perfect with Asian-style fried fish.
15. Tomato and Avocado Salad
Juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, red onion and lime. Light and fresh for summer.
16. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, olives and feta in a lemony dressing. Hearty but fresh.
17. Green Goddess Salad
Finely chopped cabbage and cucumber in a herby, creamy green dressing. Great scooped up with chips.
Get the recipe →18. Garden Salad
Crisp lettuce, tomato, cucumber and a lemon vinaigrette. The easy, lighter option.
Southern Fish Fry Classics
19. Hush Puppies
Golden fried cornmeal fritters with onion. The must-have at any Southern fish fry.
20. Patti LaBelle-Inspired Mac and Cheese
Rich, baked, extra-cheesy macaroni. A soul food favorite next to fried catfish.
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21. Red Lobster-Inspired Cheddar Biscuits
Garlicky, cheesy drop biscuits brushed with butter. Seafood restaurant vibes at home.
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23. Collard Greens
Slow-simmered greens with onion, garlic and smoked meat. Splash with hot sauce or vinegar.
24. Fried Okra
Cornmeal-crusted okra fried until crunchy. Fry it right after the fish while the oil is hot.
25. Cheese Grits
Creamy, buttery grits with sharp cheddar. Perfect under fried shrimp or catfish.
26. Baked Beans
Sweet, smoky, saucy beans. A cookout classic that works beautifully at a fish fry.
27. Deviled Eggs
Creamy, tangy and topped with paprika. Easy to make ahead for a crowd.
Get the recipe →Vegetable Sides
28. Mushy Peas
The British chip shop classic: peas cooked soft and mashed with butter and mint.
29. Roasted Cauliflower
Golden, nutty florets with olive oil, garlic and a pinch of paprika. Easy hands-off oven side.
30. Texas Roadhouse-Style Green Beans
Savory green beans simmered with bacon and onion. A steakhouse side that loves fish too.
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32. Grilled Asparagus
Charred spears with lemon and flaky salt. Ready in under 10 minutes.
33. Succotash
Corn, lima beans, peppers and butter. Colorful, Southern and lightly sweet.
34. Lemon Butter Broccoli
Steamed broccoli tossed in melted butter and lemon. Simple, green and quick.
Rice and Grain Sides
35. Popeyes-Inspired Red Beans and Rice
Creamy, smoky red beans over rice. A Louisiana favorite with fried catfish.
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36. Cilantro Lime Rice
Fluffy rice with lime and cilantro. Perfect for fried fish tacos and bowls.
Get the recipe →37. Rice Pilaf
Buttery rice toasted with onion and simmered in broth. A gentle, savory side.
38. Quinoa Salad
Quinoa with cucumber, tomato, herbs and lemon. A lighter, protein-packed side.
Fried Extras and Pickles
39. Burger King-Style Onion Rings
Crispy, golden onion rings. Fry them in the same oil after the fish.
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40. Texas Roadhouse-Style Fried Pickles
Crunchy, tangy fried pickle chips with a creamy dipping sauce.
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41. Quick Pickles
Sliced cucumbers and onion in a quick sweet-sour brine. Their sharpness cuts through anything fried.
Sauces and Breads
42. McDonald's-Style Tartar Sauce
Creamy, tangy tartar sauce with pickles. The classic dip for fried fish.
Get the recipe →43. Remoulade
A spicy, creamy Louisiana sauce with mustard, capers and Cajun spice. Great with catfish.
44. Lemon Garlic Aioli
Mayo whisked with garlic, lemon zest and juice. Fancy-tasting in 5 minutes.
45. Cocktail Sauce
Ketchup, horseradish and lemon. Zippy with fried shrimp and fish bites.
46. Soft Bread Rolls
Split, butter and stuff with fried fish, slaw and tartar for the best fish sandwich.
Tips for Serving Fried Fish
- Cook fish to 145°F in the thickest part, until it flakes easily with a fork.
- Keep it crisp: drain fried fish on a wire rack, not paper towels, and hold it in a 200°F oven while you finish the batch.
- Make sides ahead: slaws, potato salad, deviled eggs and sauces can all be made the day before.
- Lemon on the table: always put out lemon wedges. It's the trick that brightens the whole plate.
More Seafood Pairings
Cooking a different fish? See what to serve with cod, browse our potato side dishes, or check how long coleslaw lasts if you made extra.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best side dish for fried fish?
French fries are the most classic side dish for fried fish, as in fish and chips. Coleslaw is the best partner for them, because its cool, tangy crunch cuts through the rich batter. Hush puppies, mac and cheese, potato salad and mushy peas are also favorites.
What do you serve at a fish fry?
A traditional Southern fish fry usually includes hush puppies, coleslaw, French fries, mac and cheese, baked beans, collard greens and potato salad, plus tartar sauce, hot sauce and lemon wedges. Deviled eggs, corn on the cob and sweet tea often make an appearance too.
What vegetables go with fried fish?
Good vegetables for fried fish include mushy peas, green beans, corn on the cob, grilled asparagus, roasted cauliflower, collard greens, fried okra and lemon butter broccoli. Fresh vegetable salads like cucumber, tomato and onion salad or coleslaw add crunch and acidity.
What sauce goes with fried fish?
Tartar sauce is the classic sauce for fried fish. Remoulade, lemon garlic aioli, cocktail sauce, hot sauce and malt vinegar are also great choices. A squeeze of fresh lemon brightens any fried fish, whether it is cod, haddock, catfish or tilapia.
What is a healthy side for fried fish?
Balance fried fish with lighter sides like a garden salad, tomato and avocado salad, grilled asparagus, steamed broccoli, quinoa salad or a vinegar-based cucumber salad. Roasted potatoes instead of fries and a lemon squeeze instead of a creamy sauce also lighten the plate.
