Are you tired of serving the same sides when deciding on what goes with BBQ chicken? This list of delicious bbq sides includes classics like potato salad and coleslaw, as well as non-traditional options such as tangy, pickled pressgurka, or buttery saffron rice.
Start with a BBQ Chicken Recipe
What Goes With BBQ Chicken?
When it comes to BBQ chicken, there are too many delicious sides to choose from. You can pair the BBQ chicken with everything from simple sweet corn and coleslaw to refreshing salads and sauces. Hopefully, the suggestions below will help you narrow it down so you can take your barbecue feast to the next level.
- 1. Vinegar Coleslaw
- 2. Southern Potato Salad
- 3. Pasta Salad
- 4. Healthy Potato Salad
- 5. Baked Beans with Hamburger
- 6. Mac and Cheese
- 7. Grilled Corn on the Cob
- 8. Roasted Potatoes
- 9. Hasselback Potatoes
- 10. Sweet Potato Fries
- 11. Grilled Sweet Potatoes
- 12. Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad
- 13. Pressgurka
- 14. Chickpea Salad
- 15. Sumac Onions
- 16. Piyaz
- 17. Corn Salad
- 18. Mexican Slaw
- 19. Vegetable Chopped Salad
- 20. Arugula Quinoa Salad
- 21. Macaroni Salad
- 22. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
- 23. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- 24. Saffron Rice
- 25. Black Eyed Peas
- 26. Chili Lime Grilled Pineapple
- 27. Zucchini and Squash
- 28. Grilled Zucchini
- 29. Grilled Vegetable Skewers
- 30. Buttermilk Cornbread
- 31. Bacon and Cheese Muffins
- 32. Loaded Cornbread
- 33. Serrano Crema
- 34. BBQ Aioli
- 35. Mango Pico de Gallo
- 36. Skhug
- 37. Peach Cobbler
- 38. Apple Tart Crumble
- 39. Banana Pudding Cups
The Most Popular BBQ Chicken Sides
1. Vinegar Coleslaw
Tangy vinegar coleslaw is one of those classic side dishes to serve alongside your favorite barbecue chicken recipes, and you will love the flavor of the Carolina-style dressing.
2. Southern Potato Salad
Southern potato salad features fork-tender potatoes and hard-boiled eggs dressed in a creamy, well-seasoned sauce.
3. Pasta Salad
Enjoy gluten-free pasta salad brimming with greens and tossed in fresh basil pistachio pesto! The mouth-watering salad is perfect for a summer cookout or BBQ.
4. Healthy Potato Salad
Healthy potato salad features creamy potatoes tossed in a protein-packed yogurt dressing.
5. Baked Beans with Hamburger
Southern-style baked beans with hamburger are more than just a tasty side for a BBQ or potluck.
Baked beans, ground beef, and bacon make this the best baked beans recipe ever – all you need is a buttery side of cornbread!
6. Mac and Cheese
If you’re looking for the creamiest, cheesiest side dish to pair with chicken, one-pot Dutch oven mac and cheese is the way to go.
7. Grilled Corn on the Cob
Fresh corn on the cob is a delicious side dish that provides a sweet and savory component to any meal.
Or you can add creamy sauce, cotija cheese, and chili powder to put the finishing touches on grilled corn to make elotes Mexicano (or Mexican street corn).
Photo Credit: Homemade Heather
Potato Side Dishes
8. Roasted Potatoes
Starchy sides are a great companion for barbecue chicken. Make seasoned and irresistibly crispy roasted potatoes in the oven; they’re so versatile you can pair them with anything.
9. Hasselback Potatoes
Crispy air fryer hasselback potatoes are a delicious way to prepare potatoes and impress your guests. Drizzle the golden potatoes with homemade garlic butter sauce to finish the side.
More Air Fryer Potato Recipes:
10. Sweet Potato Fries
Swap regular or wedge fries for sweet potato fries. Crispy sweet potato fries provide a delicious contrast to smoky chicken.
But don’t forget about the dip, dunk the fries and chicken into flavorful sauces like sos czosnkowy or ranch dressing.
11. Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Find out why grilled sweet potatoes in foil are a tasty addition to any meal, from cozy dinners at home to backyard get-togethers.
Fresh Salads for BBQ Chicken
12. Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad
Combine fresh herbs, juicy tomato, crisp cucumber, and creamy avocado to make this easy, light side dish.
13. Pressgurka
Pressgurka is a quick, sweet, and sour pickled cucumber salad. Pair the cucumbers with savory dishes like meatballs, lamb roast, and BBQ chicken.
14. Chickpea Salad
Fresh chickpea salad with hearty garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers is a great choice for a potluck or backyard BBQ.
For rich flavor, crumble feta cheese or goat cheese over the top.
15. Sumac Onions
16. Piyaz
Vibrant piyaz salad is an easy side dish to serve alongside any main entree, especially BBQ chicken.
17. Corn Salad
Corn salad is one of the best side dishes for a BBQ. Combine buttery corn in a creamy, vinegar-based dressing for a side that tastes amazing with the smoky flavor of chicken.
Photo Credit: Will Cook for Smiles
18. Mexican Slaw
Mexican-inspired coleslaw is a refreshing alternative to traditional creamy coleslaw. The easy side dish contains chopped vegetables and fruit in a sweet and spicy dressing.
Photo Credit: Cookin’ Canuck
19. Vegetable Chopped Salad
Eating vegetables has never been easier than with this vegetable-chopped salad recipe! Finely chopped green and red cabbage, kale, carrots, and radishes are the base for this brightly colored salad.
Pair the Salad with one of these Dressing Recipes:
20. Arugula Quinoa Salad
Toss peppery arugula and crispy quinoa in a large bowl with simple toppings to make a deliciously easy side dish.
If you’re craving a refreshing garden salad, try arugula spinach salad with homemade lemon vinaigrette.
Pasta Side Dishes
21. Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is a delicious make-ahead side dish that serves a crowd. It’s a classic recipe for potlucks, picnics, and summer cookouts!
Photo Credit: The Blonde Cook
22. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Whip up this flavorful pesto tortellini pasta salad in minutes using only five ingredients; all you need is fresh cheese tortellini, juicy cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and ready-made pesto (I love the one from Costco).
Photo Credit: I Heart Eating
23. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaiian macaroni salad (or mac salad) provides a delicious twist on the popular BBQ side.
Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate
Warm Sides for BBQ Chicken
24. Saffron Rice
Does rice go with BBQ chicken? I say, heck yes! Serve the crispy-skin chicken with white rice or brown rice to keep things simple.
For even more flavor, make Persian Saffron rice that combines long-grain basmati rice, fragrant saffron threads, and butter for a side often paired with Persian chicken kabobs called joojeh kabob.
25. Black Eyed Peas
Instant Pot black-eyed peas are a smoky and delicious side brimming with a savory and slightly spicy flavor.
26. Chili Lime Grilled Pineapple
Chili-lime flavored pineapple spears grill to enhance the natural sweetness of the fruit, caramelizing them. The Indian spiced-tropical side is a perfect match for BBQ chicken.
Photo Credit: Masala and Chai
27. Zucchini and Squash
If you enjoy roasted vegetables, you will love easy air fryer zucchini and squash that turns out tender and lightly golden.
Try another easy vegetable side dish such as, air fryer acorn squash, smashed Brussels sprouts, or air fryer broccoli and cauliflower.
28. Grilled Zucchini
Grilled zucchini cooks low and slow, making them a great side dish. Cook the vegetables on the warming rack with chicken grilling below for a complete meal in one go.
29. Grilled Vegetable Skewers
Arrange red onion, bell pepper, and zucchini onto metal skewers. The grilled vegetable skewers are charred to perfection and drizzled with tangy balsamic vinegar and a garlic herb sauce are an excellent side dish for BBQ chicken.
Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon
Bread Sides for BBQ Chicken
30. Buttermilk Cornbread
Moist and slightly sweet, buttermilk cornbread is an excellent accompaniment to chicken entrees. You can serve the homemade cornbread as muffins or slice the it into squares.
For additional flavor, spread the fluffy bread with rich-tasting bone marrow butter.
Photo Credit: Little Sweet Baker
31. Bacon and Cheese Muffins
Savory bacon and cheddar cheese muffins are moist and flavorful. Serve them as a side dish with BBQ chicken for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Photo Credit: Bites with Bri
32. Loaded Cornbread
Loaded cornbread is bursting with mix-ins such as cheese, bacon, creamed corn, and spicy jalapeño peppers! It’s a perfect side dish for any meal.
Photo Credit: The Cookin’ Chicks
Sauces for BBQ Chicken
33. Serrano Crema
I usually serve creamy serrano crema with roasted Peruvian chicken, but the spicy green sauce is one of the best ways to enjoy BBQ chicken.
34. BBQ Aioli
More Aioli Recipes:
35. Mango Pico de Gallo
Sweet, spicy, and easy to make – serve fresh mango pico de gallo as a dip or topping for chicken. Plus, you can include black beans for a little more protein.
36. Skhug
Spicy skhug or zhoug is a brightly flavored Middle Eastern hot sauce many liken to chimichurri or salsa verde.
The sauce is an excellent way to add heat to any meal, or you can try one of my personal favorites, fermented shatta sauce.
Dessert
37. Peach Cobbler
Peach cobbler with cake mix (also called dump cake) is an easy recipe that combines sweet, canned peaches, brown sugar, and store-bought cake mix for a no-fuss dessert that’s ready in an hour.
38. Apple Tart Crumble
If you’re a fan of apple pie, this apple tart crumble is the recipe for you! The easy-to-make tart will become an instant favorite with its soft pastry-like crust and sweet apple filling.
39. Banana Pudding Cups
Layers of creamy vanilla pudding, fresh slices of bananas, and a generous helping of crushed wafers create a perfect grab-and-go dessert. Prepare banana pudding cups to feed a crowd or a delicious single-serve treat.
Quick No-Cook Sides for BBQ Chicken
Complete your grilled chicken dinner with easy side dishes like potato chips or tortilla chips with chunky salsa. Add a dollop of cottage cheese with toppings like tomato or avocado slices, salt, and pepper. Dill pickles are another go-to, or you can add kimchi or sauerkraut to your plate.
A refreshing side like fresh strawberries, apple slices, watermelon salad, or rainbow fruit skewers strikes a perfect balance for mouthwatering chicken slathered in tangy BBQ sauce.
More Chicken Recipes: