Shredded chicken sandwiches are a delicious and versatile main course option that can be served with a variety of side dishes. When planning a meal featuring shredded chicken sandwiches, it’s important to consider what flavors and textures will best complement the sandwiches. Here are some quick answers to common questions about what makes a good side dish for shredded chicken sandwiches.
What are some classic side options?
Some classic side dishes that pair well with shredded chicken sandwiches include:
– French fries or potato wedges – The crunchiness provides contrast to the soft shredded chicken.
– Coleslaw – The creamy, tangy coleslaw helps cut through the richness of the chicken.
– Potato salad – A mayonnaise-based potato salad offers a cool, creamy counterpoint.
– Pasta salad – A pasta salad with a vinaigrette dressing is a lighter side option.
– Beans – Baked beans, black beans, or chickpeas give a fiber and protein boost.
– Corn on the cob – The sweetness balances the savory chicken.
– Chips – Potato chips, tortilla chips, or pita chips add saltiness and crunch.
What are some creative options?
If you want to get creative with your side dishes for shredded chicken sandwiches, consider:
– Roasted vegetables – Try roasting seasonal veggies like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots.
– Greek orzo salad – An orzo pasta salad with feta, tomatoes, cucumber, and olives makes a Mediterranean-inspired side.
– Quinoa salad – Toss quinoa with chopped vegetables, nuts, and a light vinaigrette.
– Fruit salad – Fresh fruit like melon, pineapple, grapes, or berries make a refreshing accompaniment.
– Couscous salad – Whole wheat couscous tossed with savory mix-ins like chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach.
– Loaded baked potato – Top a baked potato with cheese, bacon, green onions, and sour cream for a hearty option.
– Macaroni and cheese – Comforting, cheesy mac and cheese is a crowd-pleasing pick.
What are some healthy options?
If you’re looking for healthier sides to serve with your shredded chicken sandwiches, go for:
– Garden salad – Mix up greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, and a light dressing.
– Kale salad – Massage kale with lemon juice and olive oil for a nutrient boost.
– Roasted cauliflower – Toss cauliflower florets in olive oil and roast until caramelized.
– Broccoli slaw – Shredded raw broccoli stems mixed with shredded carrots and cabbage.
– Fruit and cottage cheese – Mixed berries or melon with protein-rich cottage cheese.
– Hummus and veggies – Carrot and celery sticks, bell pepper strips, or cucumber slices for dipping.
– Edamame – Boiled and salted soybeans make a satisfying protein- and fiber-filled snack.
– Air-fried sweet potato fries – Crispy sweet potato fries made without deep frying.
What are quick and easy sides?
If time is short, opt for these fast and simple sides to serve alongside shredded chicken sandwiches:
– Crudités – Ready-to-eat raw veggie sticks and a store-bought dip.
– Deli pasta salad – Pick up a pre-made pasta salad from the deli section.
– Canned beans – Drain and rinse a can of black or pinto beans to heat and serve.
– Bagged salad – Toss together a salad kit with pre-chopped greens and dressing.
– Frozen vegetables – Steam a bag of frozen mixed veggies in the microwave.
– Apple slices – Fresh sliced apples need minimal prep.
– Grapes – Ready-to-eat red or green grapes.
– Cheese cubes – Assemble a cheese board with cubed cheddar, Swiss, provolone.
– Hummus – Whip up a quick blender hummus to dip pita chips or veggies in.
What are picnic-friendly sides?
If you’ll be eating your shredded chicken sandwiches on-the-go, look for sides that travel well, such as:
– Pasta salad – Sturdy pasta shapes like rotini or farfalle hold up well.
– Potato salad – Pack mayo-based potato salad in an airtight container.
– Fruit salad – Diced melon, pineapple, grapes, or berries.
– Veggies and dip – Baby carrots, grape tomatoes, bell peppers with hummus or ranch dressing.
– Cheese, crackers and grapes – An easy appetizer combo.
– Deviled eggs – Hard boiled egg halves stuffed with a creamy filling.
– Fruit skewers – Thread grapes, berries, and melon chunks onto skewers.
– Veggie skewers – Assemble colorful veggie skewers using cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, etc.
– Chips and pretzels – Portable bags of chips, pretzels, or pita chips.
What are kid-friendly sides?
When serving shredded chicken sandwiches to kids, choose kid-approved sides like:
– French fries – Classic crispy fries are hard for kids to resist.
– Tater tots – Baked or air-fried tater tot “nuggets” are a fun spin.
– Carrot sticks – Slice raw carrots into sticks for dipping in ranch.
– Cucumber slices – Mild-flavored and crunchy cucumber coins or sticks.
– Fruit kabobs – Skewer bite-size chunks of their favorite fruits.
– Applesauce – Sweet, smooth, portable unsweetened applesauce.
– Yogurt parfaits – Layer yogurt with berries and granola.
– Cheese cubes – Mild cheddar, Colby jack, or American cheese cubes.
– Rice crispy treats – Portable single-serve snacks made from crispy rice cereal.
– Jello jigglers – Make fun shaped jello using cookie cutters.
What sides pair with specific shredded chicken sandwich flavors?
Tailor your side dish to match or complement the predominant flavors in your shredded chicken sandwich filling:
BBQ chicken:
– Coleslaw
– Corn on the cob
– Baked beans
– Homemade potato chips
Buffalo chicken:
– Blue cheese coleslaw
– Celery sticks
– Buttermilk ranch dressing for dipping
– Crispy baked potato wedges
Jerk chicken:
– Fried sweet plantains
– Rice and peas
– Pineapple salsa
– Sauteed peppers and onions
Chipotle chicken:
– Lime crema
– Tomato-corn salad
– Avocado slices
– Cilantro-lime rice
Ranch chicken:
– Loaded baked potato
– Broccoli salad
– Carrot sticks
– Buttermilk biscuits
Asian chicken:
– Edamame
– Cucumber salad
– Steamed rice
– Miso soup
What are high-protein sides?
If you want to add extra protein to your shredded chicken sandwich meal, some high-protein sides include:
– Greek yogurt – Plain nonfat Greek yogurt with fresh berries.
– Cottage cheese – Low-fat or nonfat cottage cheese, seasoned or plain.
– Hard boiled eggs – Cook and peel a few hard boiled eggs as a snack.
– Beans – Black, pinto, kidney, or cannellini beans.
– Hummus – Chickpea-based hummus with fresh veggies or pita.
– Tofu – Baked or sautéed tofu cubes tossed in a peanut sauce.
– Edamame – Boiled immature soybeans, in the pod or shelled.
– Nuts – Roasted unsalted almonds, walnuts, pecans or peanuts.
– Seeds – Roasted pumpkin, sunflower or sesame seeds.
– Jerky – Look for lean grass-fed beef or turkey jerky.
What are vegan and vegetarian sides?
If you need plant-based sides to accommodate a vegan or vegetarian diet, good options include:
– Roasted vegetables – Such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, sweet potatoes.
– Potato salad – Make it vegan by using eggless vegan mayo.
– Pasta salad – Toss pasta with chopped raw veggies, olives, artichoke hearts.
– Quinoa tabbouleh – with chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, parsley.
– Grilled eggplant – Slice eggplant and grill or roast until tender.
– Vegetable skewers – Cherry tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms.
– Guacamole – Mashed avocado with lime juice and seasonings.
– Hummus – Chickpea-based hummus served with raw vegetables or pita chips.
– Fruit salad – Diced fresh melons, berries, pineapple, mango, grapes.
Conclusion
Shredded chicken sandwiches are incredibly versatile sandwiches that pair well with a wide variety of sides. From classic options like fries and coleslaw, to creative choices like quinoa tabbouleh and grilled eggplant, you can tailor your sides to match your menu’s style and flavors. Healthy sides like fresh fruits and veggies or high protein picks like Greek yogurt and hummus make sensible choices. And don’t forget kid-friendly sides like tater tots and apple sauce for family meals. With this list of side dish suggestions, you’ll be ready to serve up shredded chicken sandwiches and accompaniments that delight any crowd.