7 Ways To Impress Your Guests With Blackened Chicken

If you love Southern cooking, you are probably familiar with blackened chicken.

It is a staple of Cajun cuisine, but it has also become popular outside of Louisiana.

If you have never tried it before and are wondering what to serve with blackened chicken—or if you just want some new ideas for sides—here are our favorite options.

What is blackened chicken?

Blackened chicken is a famous American dish that can be served with a variety of side dishes.

It is skinless chicken breast dredged with spices like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt, then cooked in a cast iron skillet until the outside is crispily charred while the inside is cooked through.

It is a flavorful and simple dish that you can make at home.

There are many different versions of blackened chicken, but most use the same essential ingredients.

The spice mixture can vary depending on where you live, so you may need to adjust it to suit your tastes.

You could also use this method with other proteins like shrimp or fish.

7 best side dishes to serve with blackened chicken

Here are the seven best side dishes that we find most interesting when paired with blackened chicken:

Mashed potatoes

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Mashed potatoes are a great side dish for blackened chicken.

They are also an excellent way to use up leftover potatoes that have been laid on the ground kitchen for a while, and they can be made with garlic and chives or without.

Mashed potatoes take about twenty minutes to make and will feed four people as part of a meal.

This classic is buttery, creamy, and has a mildly sweet taste of potatoes.

It is also a rich source of potassium and many other essential nutrients that benefit our bodies.

French bread

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French bread is a good choice of side dish to serve with blackened chicken.

Blackened chicken is a flavorful dish that can stand alone as the main course, but it is also great with a few sides.

French bread is one of these perfect accompaniments.

For extra flavor and moisture, brush lightly buttered slices of French bread with olive oil before baking them on a sheet pan until they are crisp and golden brown.

The crunchy crust will add some textural contrast to the soft, juicy meat underneath—and you do not even need marinade ingredients like salt or pepper to make this delicious side dish!

Rice Pilaf

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Rice pilaf is a great side dish for blackened chicken because it is a rice dish that can be served hot or at room temperature.

It also has the same rich flavor profile as the chicken and will pair nicely with it.

This rice recipe is a simple, flavorful dish that you can make with just a few ingredients.

It is easy to make but has lots of great flavors!

Red beans

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Red beans are a good source of fiber, protein, iron, folate, magnesium, and vitamin C.

They are great in soups and stews, but they also are baked and make a delicious side dish!

Red beans have a rich flavor that goes well with blackened chicken.

You can serve them warm or cold, and they will be delicious either way.

Honey roasted carrots

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If you are looking for something to serve with your blackened chicken, honey-roasted carrots are an excellent option.

This vegetable side dish is simple and delicious—it is essentially just carrots roasted in the oven with olive oil, butter, thyme, and honey.

The sweetness of the honey works exceptionally well with spicy foods like blackened chicken!

If you want to add even more flavor, toss the carrots in a little bit of extra virgin olive oil before roasting them (or drizzle them with some after they come out of the oven).

You can also season them with salt and pepper if desired—don’t forget that thyme because it really makes this dish shine!

Creamy potatoes au gratin

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You can’t go wrong with creamy potatoes au gratin, a dish that is easy to make and always a hit.

This recipe uses sour cream, but you could also swap in cream or milk.

The dish is baked in the oven until the potatoes are tender and then topped with cheese.

Try adding some bacon to give it a smoky flavor that is sure to please everyone.

This dish can be made in advance and served cold or reheated before serving.

Green salad

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A simple green salad is a great accompaniment to the blackened chicken.

The greens are fresh, crispy, and light, which balances out the richness of the chicken.

You can go with any leafy greens or other vegetables that you like for a healthy and colorful salad.

Dress it with a vinaigrette or other dressing of your choice; ranch would also be good!

If you want some carbs with that meal, add croutons; they will give you something to chew on while you eat your greens and help soak up all those delicious juices from the bird dish.

Conclusion

We guess you are getting hungry when reading here.

Blackened chicken is a delicious meal that can be served in many different ways with various side dishes.

There is no limit when it comes to this classic dish, so try out some new recipes today.