What to serve with roast chicken? The main course should never be the only thing you’re thinking about when planning your next meal.
The side dishes can make or break how you feel about your entire meal, so it’s important to pick out some complementary side dishes that will complement or contrast the flavor of the main dish.
Here are what to serve with roast chicken;
1. Squash Casserole
This is the next on our list of what to serve with roast chicken. This is the perfect one if you’re looking for a creamy side dish. It’s easy to make, and it goes great with roast chicken!
First, boil butternut squash in water until soft. Once it’s done, mash it with butter and cream cheese (or ricotta).
Stir in heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Then, pour the mixture into a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the top is browned.
2. Garlic Broccolini
If you are looking for what to serve with roast chicken, garlic broccoli is a great option. This side dish is easy and can be made in 10 minutes!
Melt butter or olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the broccolini and cook for 2 minutes, occasionally stirring so that the garlic doesn’t burn and is evenly cooked on all sides. Stir in salt, pepper, fresh lemon juice, and chicken stock or water.
3. Butter-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Many side dishes accompany roast chicken, but butter-roasted sweet potatoes are among the best options. To make it!
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit 2) Peel the potatoes
- Cut each potato into four even pieces
- Place on a baking sheet or roasting pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil
- Toss each piece of potato with one tablespoon of butter, salt, and pepper until coated evenly
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until cooked through
4. Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
The scalloped sweet potatoes are the perfect complement to this meal. They’re creamy, rich, buttery, the perfect side dish for this comforting meal. These potatoes can be made ahead of time and heated up right before serving.
It’s also an easy side dish for other dishes like shepherd’s pie or pork chops and applesauce. Ingredients!
- Large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 6 cups)
- Butter or margarine (softened)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Milk
- Heavy cream
- Nutmeg
5. Crispy Salt & Vinegar Potatoes
What to serve with roast chicken is crispy salt and vinegar potatoes. It’s important to start by slicing the potatoes in half lengthwise, cutting them into long strips, and then boiling them until they’re soft.
After that, make a mixture of sugar, salt, white wine vinegar, butter, and cornstarch before brushing it on the potatoes.
Next, fry the potatoes in oil until crispy. Finally, season with fresh parsley and more salt if desired. The result is an amazing potato dish that goes perfectly with roasted meat.
6. 3-Ingredient Roasted Dijon Potatoes
A great side dish is 3-Ingredient Roasted Dijon Potatoes. You’ll need Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Dijon mustard, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Next, Mix the potato cubes with the Dijon mustard and olive oil in a large bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Place an even layer on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet (or use aluminum foil). Bake at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes or until browned on the edges and tender on the inside.
7. Garlicky Parmesan Sweet Potatoes
If you want to serve garlicky parmesan sweet potatoes with roast chicken, you can’t go wrong. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Cut sweet potatoes and toss them in olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika. Spread the sweet potatoes on the baking sheet so they are not touching.
Bake for 30 minutes or until crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.
Meanwhile, boil peeled and quartered russet potatoes in water for mashed potatoes until fork tender (about 15 minutes).
Then drain well and mash until smooth, adding heavy cream, butter, salt, and pepper to taste (you can also top these off with chives).
8. Light & Easy Broccoli Salad
This light, easy side dish contains protein, fiber, and fresh flavors. Bacon bits add a smoky flavor that complements the roast chicken well.
This salad can be made of vegetables, but this recipe calls for broccoli, tomatoes, red onion, and cheddar cheese.
9. Sour Cream Smashed Potatoes with Fried Shallots
This is what to serve with roast chicken. Sour cream mashed potatoes are the best classic side dish for roast chicken.
The potatoes take on all the delicious flavors from the drippings from roasting the chicken and require very little work. Making them an easy side dish.
Start by peeling and chopping potatoes into small chunks. Boil them in water until fork-tender, drain them, and return them to the pot.
10. Sour Cream Balsamic Sweet Potatoes
Sour cream and balsamic sweet potatoes make the perfect complement if you are looking for what you want and what to serve with roast chicken.
This side dish is easy to prepare, requiring only three ingredients: sweet potatoes, sour cream, and balsamic vinegar.
Combine all three ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly until all the potato pieces are coated evenly. Place the mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Next, Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-25 minutes, rotating halfway through cooking time until the potatoes are soft inside and crispy outside. This dish goes well with any roast chicken cut and can be eaten as an appetizer or entrée.
11. Sheet Pan Roasted Tomatoes & Mushrooms
Roasting vegetables adds an incredible depth of flavor, and in this recipe, I roast tomatoes and mushrooms on the same sheet pan as the chicken. It’s a healthier option than frying them.
Place the vegetables on the sheet pan first to be ready when needed. Add olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic; toss to coat. Place in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes or until tender.
12. Au Gratin Potatoes
These potatoes are so simple to make, but they add a lot of flavor and texture to the dish. The starch from the potatoes thickens the cheese sauce, creating a luscious creaminess that coats each potato.
The browned bits on top provide an extra depth of flavor. If you’re looking for something easy but will still impress your guests, then these au gratin potatoes should be your go-to side dish. The recipe is pretty simple because it’s mostly just cooked potatoes.
13. Pesto Potatoes
Regarding what to serve with roast chicken, pesto potatoes are a great option. Start by cooking them down until they’re soft and wilted.
Add garlic and olive oil, then add salt and pepper. Cook just until they’re heated through. Transfer this mixture to the bowl of a food processor, along with basil leaves (about one cup) and some grated cheese (optional). Pulse until it’s fairly smooth; you still want it to have some texture.
Taste it; if you think it needs more basil or another herb, now is the time to add more! Add pesto back into the pan over medium heat and cook until it reduces slightly.
14. Salt and Vinegar Cucumbers
Cucumbers complement roast chicken perfectly because they’re refreshing and have a similar texture.
Cucumbers are also low in calories, so they don’t interfere with the rest of your meal. If you are unsure what to serve with roast chicken, make it your choice.
To make this simple side dish, slice cucumber halves and toss them with salt, pepper, vinegar (or lemon juice), and olive oil.
The acidity from the vinegar or lemon juice will help preserve the cucumbers and infuse them with flavor. Meanwhile, olive oil coats each piece and acts as a moisturizer.
15. Green Beans
Roasted green beans are healthy and easy to make and can be served as a side or main dish.
They are versatile and can be served with any protein. The recipe below is just one of many variations on this classic side dish.
When making roasted green beans, it is best to use fresh green beans that have been washed and dried thoroughly. To cook them, place them on a baking sheet or roasting pan in an even layer without overlapping the beans.
Season them well before placing them in an oven set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and roast until tender but not mushy–approximately 20 minutes, depending on how thinly they were cut before roasting.
16. Lyonnaise Potatoes
You can’t go wrong with choosing what to serve with roast chicken. Besides, it is very simple to make.
- Peel and chop four medium-sized potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes.
- Place in a small pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, then return the pot to the stovetop over medium heat.
17. Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Roasted sweet potatoes are an excellent side dish that pairs well with chicken. They’re easy to make, and there are plenty of variations. Start by washing and cutting the sweet potatoes into cubes or wedges.
Place them on a baking sheet in one layer, drizzle them liberally with olive oil (or coconut oil), and sprinkle them generously with salt and pepper. Give it all a good mix, then stick them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
After 30 minutes, remove from the oven and give it another round of salt and pepper before placing it back in the oven for another 15-20 minutes until they’re crispy browned on the outside but tender on the inside.
18. Creamiest Mashed Cauliflower
While you may think that mashed potatoes are the most obvious side dish for what to serve with roast chicken, mashed cauliflower is a great alternative. The creamy texture goes well with the savory poultry, and it’s also healthier as an option.
To make this, boil one head of cauliflower in water until fork tender (about 15 minutes), drain it, and return it to the pot.
Add three tablespoons of butter and one cup of milk or cream (depending on how rich you want it) and mash the cauliflower. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then serve alongside your roast chicken!
19. Irish Creamed Kale
This Irish Creamed Kale is the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving meal! It’s easy, delicious, and very colorful. Kale is one of those leafy greens packed with nutrients but often gets overlooked. This dish can be made days in advance and reheated just before serving.
20. Braised Radishes with Shallots & Bacon
This is what to serve with roast chicken. Radishes have an earthy flavor and crunch and pair nicely with the crispy bacon. Radishes are versatile so that they would go well in any dish.
They taste great in a salad and are well served alongside roast chicken. They are also easy to prepare: just slice them up before cooking, toss them in oil and salt, and cook until tender-crisp. If you want an extra savory punch, add some shallots and bacon, too!
21. Oven-Roasted Frozen Broccoli
Next time you opt for roast chicken, don’t forget to pair it with the right side dish.
Oven-roasted frozen broccoli is the perfect side dish to serve with roast chicken.
Meanwhile, it is also very simple to make;
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Drizzle broccoli with olive oil and season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika (or other desired spices).
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until tender-crisp, tossing once halfway through baking time (about 10 minutes). Remove from oven and toss again before serving warm as desired.
22. Glazed Carrots
Adding carrots to your recipe is an easy way to make this dish even healthier. This recipe involves boiling the carrots in water and adding apple cider vinegar and brown sugar.
The sweetness of the carrots will balance out the acidity of the vinegar and give your meal a nice, sweet tang. These are also great for what to serve with roast chicken.
Because they can be thrown in the oven while you’re roasting your chicken so that they’re ready simultaneously!
23. Easy Lemon-Ginger Spinach
This is the next on our list of what to serve with roast chicken. The tangy lemon, sweet ginger, and earthy spinach perfectly accompany any roasted chicken.
The only downside of this dish is that you’ll have to wait while it cooks, but it’s worth the wait. This vegetarian recipe is free to swap the spinach for mushrooms or asparagus.
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
If necessary, add spinach in batches and cook until just wilted, about 1 minute per batch. Transfer spinach to a platter or bowl; set aside.
24. Creamed Spinach
Sautéed spinach is delicious and simple, but you can also turn it into creamed spinach. Creamed spinach is especially popular in Ireland and Portugal and has some connection to the English dish of suet pudding.
There are two schools of thought on how creamed spinach came about. One says it was invented by accident in the eighteenth century when someone boiled water with salt, milk, and chopped-up spinach.
The other theory claims that it was invented by chance when somebody added cream to wilted greens because they were out of butter. Either way, this dish is still an old favorite in Ireland today and remains what to serve with roast chicken.
25. Fennel, Carrot, and Leek Gratin
Gratin dishes are traditionally made by layering thinly sliced vegetables and cheese in a sauce. This version of the classic gratin is rich and creamy but not too heavy because it is made with vegetable broth instead of cream.
The carrots, leeks, and fennel are layered with potatoes and topped with Gruyère or Parmesan cheese (you can use whichever you prefer).
Bake until the top layer of cheese is golden brown. If you are short of what to serve with roast chicken, try fennel, carrot, and leek grating altogether
26. Crispy, Cheesy Potato Stacks
Potatoes are a great side dish for roast chicken because they are filling, have good carbs and protein, and can be prepared in advance. Crispy Cheesy Potato Stacks are the perfect dish to serve alongside roast chicken.
They require only three ingredients, take less than 30 minutes, and taste delicious.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit
- Peel potatoes and cut into 1-inch slices
- Separate potatoes between two baking sheets so they don’t overlap (this will help them crisp up)
- Brush potatoes with olive oil.
- Season liberally with salt, pepper, garlic powder or onion powder (optional), and paprika (optional)
27. Cheesy Ranch Potato Gratin
This will be your option for what it serves with roast chicken. The ingredients required are cheap, plus it is simple to make!
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Peel and cube potatoes into 1-inch pieces.
- Boil potatoes in salted water until soft and tender (approximately 8 minutes). Drain well, then return them to the pot and mash them with butter and milk until smooth.
- Add garlic powder, salt, onion powder, pepper, cheddar cheese, and ranch dressing and mix until combined well.
- Pour mixture into an 8×8 inch baking dish or pan coated with nonstick cooking spray.
28. Slow Cooker Elote Rice
This recipe is perfect for a side dish that requires little work and lets the oven do most of the cooking. Take a trip south of the border and make this Slow-Cooker Elote Rice!
Put all the ingredients in your slow cooker, let it cook, and stir everything together before serving. It’s just as easy as it is delicious, and it gives you more time to enjoy your company!
29. Portuguese-Style Mint Rice
This option works well for roast chicken. In the United States, we often serve roast chicken with mashed potatoes or green beans. However, other side dishes are worth trying and can elevate the meal.
One dish that we love is Portuguese-style mint Rice. The rice is cooked in oil and garlic and then combined with various spices, such as paprika, cumin, and ginger.
These ingredients make for a fragrant dish that pairs well with the roast chicken. We hope you enjoy it!
30. Cheesy Lentil, Mushroom & Rice Bake
This hearty, comforting dish is perfect for a cold winter’s night. It can be made and reheated, so it’s ready whenever you are!
You’ll need the following ingredients: green lentils, water, butter, salt, and pepper to taste, chopped shallots or yellow onion and one small garlic clove, minced ground turmeric (optional), rice (white or brown), and mushrooms sliced thinly.
Add the butter in a saucepan on medium-high heat and saute the shallots until they soften. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, then add the turmeric if you’re using it.
31. Simple Rice Pilaf
This simple rice pilaf recipe is a flavorful dish that goes well with roast chicken. Although it’s not a traditional side, the tangy lemon flavor perfectly compliments the rich roasted poultry.
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add rice and cook for one minute until coated in butter. Add boiling water and salt.
Bring it back up to a simmer, then reduce the heat to a low boil. Cover with a lid and simmer for 20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle lemon juice on top before serving.
32. Easy Slow Cooker Brown Rice
Brown rice is a great choice if you want to serve it with roast chicken. To prepare it, measure the rice, water, and salt into a slow cooker.
Next, cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving it, top it with your favorite meat or vegetable dish, and enjoy!
33. Mushroom Rice Pilaf
A warm, golden chicken is a very satisfying meal. Sometimes, you want more than just one dish; maybe some veggies or starch on the side. These recipes will give you ideas for what to serve with roast chicken.
34. Tomato Rice with Crispy Cheddar
Tomato Rice is an idea for what to serve with roast chicken. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a medium pot and add finely chopped shallots and tomatoes. Add tomato paste and cook until the mixture becomes thick.
Next, Add rice, cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes or until all liquid has evaporated from the pan. Stir in cheddar cheese and serve warm.
