8 Fantastic Poppy Seed Chicken Side Dishes That You Should Try

For any meal, the main dish is important, but it’s the sides that add texture and flavor to make a meal truly memorable.

When it comes to poppy seed chicken, which recipe makes the best side dish?

Don’t wait any longer, keep reading this blog post to know more about the poppy seed chicken dish and the eight delicious side ideas to serve with this main course.

What is poppy seed chicken?

Poppy seed is a popular ingredient used in many Middle Eastern dishes, though European cuisine also has similar recipes.

It’s made by coating chicken in poppy seeds with chicken soup and sour cream, then baking it with cheese on top.

The finished dish is nutty and crunchy while cheesy and juicy inside—a delicious combination!

Any boneless cut of chicken can work in this recipe, but chicken breast is the most common choice because it is lean, low in fat, and healthy.

The seed and cheese layer and the soup in the combination helps keep the chicken breast moist and tender while cooking.

8 best side dishes to serve with poppy seed chicken

Now, it’s time to check out some best ideas on what to serve with poppy seed chicken:

Rice Pilaf

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If you’re looking for a healthy side dish that’s easy to make and can be made ahead of time, rice pilaf is your best bet.

Rice is an excellent source of fiber, thiamine, niacin, and manganese.

It also contains folate, iron, and magnesium.

If you’re worried about the calories in this grain-based food product, don’t be!

The fiber will help you feel full while adding minimal calories to your diet.

Rice pilaf is much more flavorful and colorful than plain steamed white rice thanks to the use of various ingredients and condiments.

So if you are not a fan of Asian-style steamed white rice but still looking for something filling, consider this option.

Macaroni and cheese

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Macaroni and cheese is the perfect side dish to serve with poppies.

It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, and it can be made in a pot on the stovetop or in an oven.

You can use butter or olive oil as your fat source; both will give you a delicious result.

For your pasta, you’ll want to choose any short pasta like penne (a tube-shaped pasta) or rigatoni (also tube-shaped).

Or try making this with elbow macaroni—it has more surface area than other shapes which makes it perfect for trapping those gooey sauces!

Macaroni and cheese are also very versatile—you can play around with the type of cheese that goes into this dish!

If you’re not a fan of cheddar, try using feta instead: it gives off a tangy taste that pairs well with poppy seeds.

Pasta

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You can serve pasta as a side dish for poppy seed chicken.

Pasta is easy to make, and it’s great for feeding a large group of people.

Pasta also comes in many different varieties, so you can try out new recipes with your friends and family.

It goes well with many types of sauces too, but the tomato-based one is classic.

Sweet potatoes

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Sweet potatoes are a great addition to your dinner table.

They’re packed with vitamins A and C, B6, and potassium.

You can make them into fries or wedges by slicing them into pieces no thicker than 1 inch thick.

Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes on each side until golden brown or grill over medium-high heat for about 15 minutes per side (with a lid on) until tender but not mushy.

Sweet potatoes can be used to fry to replace French fries or boiled then mashed to alternate mashed potatoes.

Grilled corn

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Grilled corn is delicious, easy to make, and healthy.

It’s also a great side dish for any meal that you want to feel like summertime grilling even if the weather isn’t quite cooperating.

If you have an outdoor grill, now is the perfect time to break it out.

To make this dish more buttery and flavorful, brush some melted butter and spices over the corn before and while grilling it.

Spinach salad

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Spinach is a good choice for a side dish to go along with this recipe, not just because it’s packed with a variety of nutrients but it also tastes great.

Spinach can be eaten raw in a salad recipe or sauteed with some garlic and olive oil.

Both are great so the choice is yours eventually.

French fries

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French fries are another great side dish to poppy seed chicken.

They’re easy to make, they taste good with just about anything, and they are a good on-the-go snack.

You can make your own French fries from scratch, or you can purchase them at the store.

They are usually sold in large bags at most supermarkets or any fast-food restaurant.

For the homemade version, you can use the air-fryer or oven to make this dish to cut down some fat from the classic method to cook those potato sticks.

Steamed green beans

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Steamed green beans are an excellent choice for a side dish with poppy seed chicken.

They’re easy to prepare and they’re incredibly healthy, too!

You can serve your steamed green beans alongside any type of poultry—chicken breast stir fry, fried chicken wings, turkey burgers (for Thanksgiving), or even pork chops.

It is best to cook green beans until they are soft but still crunchy when bitten.

You’ll find them in most supermarkets, and you can also buy them in bulk at a local farmers’ market.

If you don’t have any steamed green beans on hand, feel free to substitute with fresh asparagus or broccoli spears instead!

Conclusion

I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about the many ways to serve poppy seed chicken.

If you have a favorite side dish recipe or tip for cooking with this dish, please let us know in the comments below!

We’d love to hear from you.