Sides for Wings

Start With Your Favorite Chicken Wing Recipe

Before we get into the best side dishes for chicken wings, let’s talk about the different ways to flavor them. Here are some of my favorite chicken wing recipes:

What to Eat with Chicken Wings – 33 Delicious Side Dishes, Appetizers, Dips, and Sauces!

Crispy chicken wings are an American classic and a family favorite! They are a versatile dish you can serve as an appetizer for game day and gatherings or throw them together for a weeknight meal. Customize chicken wings with dry rubs like my Slap Ya Mama Seasoning recipe and toss them in flavorful sauces. However you decide to serve your wings, I’ve gathered 33 of the BEST sides for wings!

If you’re deciding on sides for wings, then fresh vegetables like carrot sticks and celery sticks are a classic side dish. But why stop there? Try bell peppers, juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, and snap peas!

2. Fresh Fruit Salad

Elevate savory meals like chicken wings with fresh fruit! I love the combination of spicy or zesty hot wings with something cold, like fruit or veggies. For that reason, toss fresh strawberries, blueberries, and grapes with a simple dressing of lime juice and honey for a fruit salad that’s bursting with delicious flavor.

3. French Fries

Chicken wings are the perfect finger food, making french fries one of the most classic sides for wings. Coat the potato strips in oil and seasonings, then bake them until they are crispy and golden brown. These crispy fries are a super easy side dish that’s always a hit, especially with baked chicken wings!

4. Sweet Potato Fries

Are you tired of classic french fries? Or do you prefer sweet potato fries with chicken wings? I’ve got you covered! These restaurant-quality french fries come together quickly in the air fryer.

5. Hasselback Potatoes

Golden potatoes crisp as they cook before coating them in zesty garlic butter, resulting in a rich and tasty side dish – the air fryer makes this such a fun and easy way to serve up potatoes!

6. Roasted Potatoes

Make perfectly seasoned, crispy roasted potatoes in the oven with little to no work. Pairing the tasty sheet-pan side dish with chicken wings is the easiest way to make wings a full meal, and why not cook them all on the same baking sheet?

7. Onion Rings

If you’re making a list of chicken wing sides, onion rings have to be on the list. And they are a delightfully crispy alternative to french fries.

8. Air Fryer Red Potatoes

Trade regular potatoes for easy air fryer red potatoes seasoned with fragrant Greek spices. The flavorful potato wedges pair with steak, fish, and chicken wings!

9. Sweet Potato Chips

Air fryer sweet potatoes are an easy-to-make snack or side. Enjoy them as is, or pair them with your favorite dinner entree.

10. Macaroni and Cheese

Prepare this easy, 15-minute macaroni and cheese brimming with all the cheesy goodness alongside chicken wings for a quick dinner idea. Or you can double them both to feed a crowd.

11. Cucumber Carrot Salad

If you need a great side dish for wings, try my cucumber carrot salad packed with crisp, fresh vegetables, vibrant colors, and zesty dressing. It takes only a few minutes to make, and you can enjoy it as a light snack or serve it as a crunchy side for wings. 

12. Arugula and Spinach Salad

Prepare a simple salad with arugula and spinach when you need a fresh side dish in a pinch. All you need is fresh spinach, arugula, sliced radishes, and the dressing of your choice. 

13. Potato Salad

Healthy potato salad combines fork-tender potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, celery, pickles, and onions in a protein-packed Greek yogurt-based sauce for a lighter take on the classic American side.

14. Cucumber Tomato Salad

Loaded with fresh herbs, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and creamy avocado, the addition of olive oil and lime finishes our avocado cucumber tomato salad recipe for a perfect side dish. 

15. Coleslaw

Homemade coleslaw with mint and cilantro combines the traditional vegetables like cabbage and carrots, and scallions. While these fresh ingredients are tasty as they are, this coleslaw recipe is all about the homemade dressing. For another variation, try my classic vinegar coleslaw.

16. Baked Beans

Southern-style baked beans with hamburger aren’t just a tasty side. Transform the dish into a complete meal by adding ground beef and bacon.

17. Corn Bread

Sweet potato cornbread is moist, tender, and delicious. The roasted sweet potato adds a natural sweetness to the side dish you will love.

Best Dips for Chicken Wings

Wings are for dunking, so what are juicy chicken wings without tasty dipping sides? Many classic dips like ranch or blue cheese have a cooling effect that balances the heat when paired with spicy wings.

18. Ranch Dressing

Homemade ranch dressing is a favorite dipping sauce for chicken wings and for a good reason! With a creamy base of mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, and buttermilk, my recipe for ranch dressing is infused with fragrant herbs and spices, making this the best ranch dressing ever. Pair the creamy dip with any style of wings, particularly spicy chicken wings, to balance the heat.

19. Blue Cheese Dip

The bold, flavorful blue cheese balances the heat and zestiness of wings, making tangy blue cheese dip a great way to serve chicken wings; truth be told, buffalo wings and blue cheese might be my favorite flavor combination. And if you don’t feel like preparing a dip, use store-bought blue cheese dressing.

20. Sumac Dressing

I’m obsessed with the flavor of sumac and the tanginess it brings to dressings and sides. My sumac onions and sumac cucumbers are proof of that. But if you’re looking for a creamy alternative to ranch dressing or bleu cheese, look no further than sumac dressing, packed with flavor.

21. Cucumber Raita

Raita pairs perfectly with meals like grilled tandoori chicken and chicken biryani. It may not be a classic dipping sauce for wings but try not to count it out until you try it. Whip up my easy recipe raita in minutes using spiced yogurt, cucumber, onions, and cilantro for a cooling and refreshing dip you’ll want to pair with everything!

22. Serrano Crema

Serrano crema is bold and adds the perfect spice to poultry, meat, vegetables, and salads! One drizzle of this yummy green sauce elevates any dish to the next level, especially dry-rub chicken wings.

23. Sour Cream and Chive Dip

Don’t feel like dipping your wings in ranch? Try homemade sour cream and chive dip instead. It is easy to make and requires just three ingredients.

Tips for Crispy Chicken Wings

• A wire rack allows air to move freely around the chicken wings so the heat can circulate on all sides. If you don’t have a wire rack, I recommend lining a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 
• Pat dry the wings to achieve a nice crispy skin on the chicken wings. 
• Spread the chicken onto the baking sheet; crowding them causes the wings to steam instead of bake.
• Baking powder is alkaline, and pairing it with salt changes the acidity or pH of the skin, which helps the wings become crispy. 
• Let the chicken wings rest after roasting them, allowing the wings to release moisture from the skin so they stay crispy. 
• Toss the chicken wings in the garlic butter sauces, and serve them as is. You can also coat them in the sauce and cook them in the oven again to let the sauce caramelize.

SEARCHING FOR MORE LIKE THIS? 

If you love this recipe, try one of these party favorites!  

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Quinoa Balls

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Buffalo Chicken Crust Pizza

Appetizers to Serve with Chicken Wings

Wings are a crowd-pleasing appetizer for football games and parties, but you can create a delicious spread by serving chicken wings with other small bites that are perfect for entertaining guests.

24. Chips and Salsa

Chips and salsa are a popular choice to serve with chicken wings at parties and get-togethers. Try one of these salsa and dip recipes:

• Chunky Salsa
• Pico De Gallo
• Guacamole Without Tomato
• Mango Pico De Gallo

25. Bacon Jalapeño Poppers

Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers are the perfect party snack or appetizer! They are super easy to make – each delicious bite is irresistibly creamy, cheesy, and smokey with the right amount of heat to balance it all.

26. Crispy Cauliflower Bites

Dig into these crispy cauliflower bites, a delicious vegetarian alternative to classic buffalo wings. Made with fresh, tender cauliflower florets coated in a crispy, flavorful breading and served with zesty buffalo sauce. 

28. Jalapeno Popper Egg Rolls

Jalapeño popper egg rolls are one of the best appetizers to make when having guests over. They’re the right amount of spicy, cheesy, and crispy to keep everyone circling back for seconds.

29. Birria Nachos

Are you looking for a twist on classic nachos? Spice up boring tortilla chips with our mouthwatering birria nachos recipe – start with my recipe for birria con consome. Add gooey cheese and all your favorite toppings!

30. Brisket Sliders

Barbecue brisket sliders are a fantastic way to use leftover brisket. Combine deliciously tender brisket with creamy white sauce and sweet, buttery Hawaiian rolls. Whether you’re hosting a gathering to watch the big game or simply looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing, quick dinner idea, these bite-size brisket sandwiches will be a hit. 

Best Sauces for Chicken Wings

31. Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Slather tangy, sweet, and smoky goodness all over chicken wings. It is super easy to whip up with simple ingredients, and it’s way more delicious than anything you can buy at the store.

Homemade BBQ Sauce

32. Skhug

Skhug or zhoug sauce is a brightly flavored Middle Eastern hot sauce many liken to pesto, chimichurri, and salsa verde because of its vibrant green color. Spicy, fresh, and fragrant, versatile skhug is a spicy herb sauce that adds a nice pop of color and heat to any meal, and it would be delicious drizzled over piping hot wings.

33. Blackberry BBQ Sauce

Homemade blackberry BBQ sauce is the perfect balance between sweet wild blackberries, spicy sriracha, and tangy apple cider vinegar, making it an incredible glaze for wings.