7 Best Side Dishes To Accompany Your Whole Chicken

Is there anything better than a home-cooked whole chicken for dinner or a holiday meal?

Well, maybe if you could find the perfect side dish to serve with it.

Fear not, because you will find the best accompaniments for whole chicken after reading this post.

So go ahead and learn more!

What is whole chicken?

Besides common cuts of chicken like chicken breast, chicken wings, or chicken thighs, a whole chicken is also very popular.

A whole chicken can be found in the meat department of any grocery store, supermarket, or butcher shop.

And it is often cheaper than buying individual parts.

Normally, processing whole chicken is simpler, but it will take a lot more time and technique to cook this large cut of chicken.

The whole chicken is typically boiled, steamed, or roasted depending on personal preference and different cuisines too.

What to consider when choosing a whole chicken’s side dish?

There are several factors that can affect how you choose a side dish to serve with a whole chicken.

The following tips can help ensure that your chicken will always taste best with other accompaniments on the side:

Choose a side dish based on the cooking method and flavor profile of the whole chicken

As already mentioned, a whole chicken can be cooked in different ways with any kind of rub or marinade that you like.

Therefore, the resulting dish can come in different flavor profiles.

When choosing a side dish to accompany your whole chicken, you should rely on the flavor of your chicken dish to have the proper choice.

For example, the roasted chicken should be served with something light and refreshing, while boiled or steamed chicken can work with a creamier or fried dish.

Consider if you want a filling side dish or a light one for your stomach

A filling side dish made from rice or legumes can help keep you fuller for a longer period of time.

However, this option might turn out to be a little heavy and can upset your stomach.

In this case, especially when you eat at night, it is better to opt for a lighter dish that is made of vegetables.

7 best side dishes to serve with the whole chicken

Here are the seven side dishes that are great to serve with whole chicken:

1.     Mashed potatoes

[amazon fields=”B0764JRNMM” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]

Mashed potatoes are what you can find in any American house.

Mashed potatoes often accompany a meat-based dish because this side has a mildly sweet flavor that can work well with the savory taste of chicken.

2.     Grilled corn

[amazon fields=”B074H81LWW” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]

Corn is a good option to serve with a meat-based dish.

It is often grilled with some melted butter coated on the outside for a buttery taste and juicier texture.

Grilled corn is also easy and quick to make, so you can have a good-tasting side dish to enjoy with your roasted whole chicken in no time.

3.     Potato salad

[amazon fields=”B01N6LMG45″ value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]

For those who are salad lovers, but are afraid of feeling hungry soon, a potato salad is a solution.

This salad calls for boiled potatoes with pickles, sour cream, hard-boiled eggs, celery seed, cucumber, carrots, other spices, and any other ingredients you like.

4.     Mexican rice

[amazon fields=”B000FDN6OO” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]

Mexican rice can be another delicious and simple companion to serve alongside your whole chicken.

It is packed with flavors from the spices used in the recipe, and a vibrant look thanks to the use of tomato sauce.

Mexican rice can keep you fuller for a couple of hours, which a vegetable side dish cannot do.

5.     Curried lentils

[amazon fields=”B0007R9L4M” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]

What about a lentil curry on the side of roasted whole chicken?

In this case, you should opt for a vegan curry that is made from lentils and other Indian staples like Dahi or coconut milk.

You can have a hearty and very delicious meal with a bowl of hot curried lentils, shredded whole chicken, and some pieces of naan bread.

6.     Green salad

[amazon fields=”B00K0EENUE” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]

A green salad is also great on the side of whole chicken, no matter how it is cooked.

Green salads can contain various ingredients like spinach, lettuce, tomato, onion, bell pepper, olives, or avocado.

But they are all meant to come with a crunchy texture and refreshing flavor to offset the rich and savory taste of your meat dish.

7.     Biscuits

[amazon fields=”B00LMC36HY” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]

Buttermilk biscuits are a Southern classic that is typically served with chicken.

However, you can opt for a variety of recipes to achieve different flavors on your biscuits.

Moreover, biscuits can also be fluffy and soft or crispy depending on the method and ratios of ingredients in the recipe.

The bottom line

Cooking the whole chicken in your own kitchen is very satisfying and can result in a delicious dish that can feed a big family.

However, choosing the proper side dish for whole chicken can be a challenge, but with our seven aforementioned ideas, hopefully, you can always achieve a nutritious, balanced, and mouth-watering meal with the whole chicken.