Sure, chicken casserole is already so good on its own, but why not make your meal truly unforgettable with these fabulous sides?
Chicken casserole is creamy, comforting, and always a hit around our house! This one-pot wonder is packed with tender and juicy chicken, carrots, onion, breadcrumbs, and plenty of cheese.
Best part… it’s incredibly easy to make!
And while there’s nothing wrong with serving chicken casserole as is, it never hurts to add more flavors to the table. But, if you’re not sure what sides go well with chicken casserole, take it easy, I got you.
From roasted vegetables to colorful salads to flavorful rice, here are 14 savory side dishes that will transform your chicken casserole into a family favorite.
1. Lemon Pepper Roasted Broccoli
Let’s start this list with something incredibly crunchy and flavorful! What I love about this side is that even though it’s so good, its flavors do not clash with chicken casserole.
In fact, the crunch that the broccoli gives adds a nice texture contrast to the dish.
It doesn’t take a lot to make broccoli taste delicious. In fact, salt and pepper will do! But, if you season it with some pepper and lemon juice, and then roast it, you transform it into a mind-blowingly tasty side.
To give it some added crunch and nutty flavor, top it with almonds. Fantastic.
2. Lemon Almond Asparagus
Here’s another lemon-infused dish that pairs well with chicken casserole. Just like broccoli, asparagus also adds a crunchy contrast to your tender chicken.
And, even if it is a tad bitter, asparagus is easy to work with. Just dress it up with butter and lemon juice and you’ve got an impeccably tasty side. You can also top them with lemon zest strips and almonds for more flavor.
3. Lemon-Sesame Green Beans
Are you sensing a pattern yet? As you may know, lemon tastes great with chicken, hence all these lemon-infused sides.
So, apart from broccoli and asparagus, you can also flavor your green beans with lemon and sesame oil for a fantastic chicken casserole side dish.
4. Salad
Sure, chicken casserole already has some vegetables. But when it comes to vegetables, the more, the better! Give your heavy dish a light and colorful contrast by pairing it with a fresh salad.
What I love about this side is that you’ve got unlimited ways to make it! For chicken casserole, I like a simple romaine salad with cheese, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries coated with a tangy vinaigrette.
5. Fruit Salad
Whether you serve it as a side or as a dessert, fruit salad with chicken casserole will never disappoint. I love the sweet and refreshing contrast it gives my savory casserole.
And, just like vegetable salads, fruit salads are super easy to customize. For instance, you can go for a citrus fruit salad with pineapples, clementines, grapefruit, pecans, and yogurt.
Or, how about a tropical fruit salad complete with strawberries, grapes, bananas, pears, mangoes, and kiwi? How refreshing!
6. Applesauce
Now, since casserole is already a meal on its own, something as simple as a sweet and spicy applesauce is more than enough to round out your dinner.
Chicken and apples go really well together, since the apples give a sweet and crunchy contrast to the savory and tender chicken.
7. Chutney-Glazed Carrots
Carrots are already sweet on their own. When you roast them, they get even sweeter. But when you glaze them with chutney, ginger, and dijon, oh wow. The transformation is so epic, you’ll want to make it all the time!
8. Rice
Because your chicken deserves a filling side! You can always serve steamed white rice with any chicken dish, but if you care to make things more interesting, why not infuse some spinach into your rice?
It gives your all-American dish a bit of a Greek flair!
9. Quinoa Salad
Want something hearty minus all the calories? Quinoa is a fantastic alternative to rice. It’s just as filling, but has fewer calories and a lot more healthful benefits.
You can serve quinoa on its own or make a salad out of it with spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and bell peppers. For the dressing, combine honey, olive oil, lime juice, lime zest, and minced ginger root. So refreshing!
10. Biscuits
Chicken and biscuits! Could there be any more classic combo? The crisp on the outside, tender on the inside bread complements the chicken wonderfully.
11. Garlic-Rosemary Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts may not be the most popular vegetable, but hey, give this recipe a try and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with it too, like I have.
Coat those sprouts with a mixture of olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Air fry them for 12 to 13 minutes. Then, top the sprouts with the remaining olive oil mixture with bread crumbs and rosemary.
Continue to air fry for 3 to 5 minutes. You can thank me later.
12. Roasted Asparagus & Tomatoes
Here’s another roasted veggie dish that is fabulous with chicken casserole. The combination of asparagus and tomatoes not only tastes amazing, but the color contrast is oh so pretty!
To make this delectable side, coat asparagus spears and tomatoes with olive oil, oregano, and salt and pepper. Transfer the veggies into a pan and top with walnuts.
Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Top with Parmesan cheese and basil. Perfection.
13. Orange-Glazed Carrots
Give your chicken casserole some color by serving a side of sweet carrots. Glaze those beauties with butter, brown sugar, and orange zest. The orange adds a sweet and zesty flavor to the vegetables, making the dish taste divine.
14. Grilled Honey Balsamic-Glazed Peaches
Now for my favorite part of any meal: dessert. Since you’ll be having such a hearty meal, it’s best to end it with a light and refreshing dessert. And for this, I suggest you go for grilled peaches drizzled with a honey-balsamic glaze.
Grilling peaches brings out more sweetness to the fruit. Plus, the glaze gives a delicate balance of sweet and tanginess.
You can eat it as is, or top it off with some with vanilla ice cream. Phenomenal. The perfect way to end your meal!