Are you wondering what goes with BBQ chicken? We’ve gathered 37 tasty side dishes, including classic sides like Southern potato salad and vinegar coleslaw, to non-traditional sides like pressgurka and saffron rice.
What Goes Well With BBQ Chicken?
When it comes to BBQ chicken, there are loads of delicious side dishes you can serve alongside it. Check out some of these mouth-watering options, from corn on the cob and coleslaw to tangy salad or sauces to dip the chicken in. These additions will take your barbecue chicken feast to the next level.
Start with a Recipe for BBQ Chicken
If you don’t have a go-to chicken recipes, try baked BBQ chicken! The drumsticks are seasoned with a delicious, homemade BBQ rub and cooked to perfection in the oven. They roast for 35 minutes – resulting in crispy-skinned and juicy chicken. If baked BBQ chicken isn’t your thing, try them in the air fryer, smoker, or grill. And now that you’ve made it, let’s take a look at what goes with BBQ chicken?
What Goes With BBQ Chicken?
- 1. Vinegar Coleslaw
- 2. Southern Potato Salad
- 3. Gluten Free Pasta Salad
- 4. Healthy Potato Salad
- 5. Baked Beans with Hamburger
- 6. Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese
- 7. Grilled Corn on the Cob
- 8. Roasted Potatoes
- 9. Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
- 10. Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
- 11. Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad
- 12. Pressgurka
- 13. Chickpea Salad
- 14. Sumac Onions
- 15. Piyaz
- 16. Creamy Corn Salad
- 17. Mexican Slaw
- 18. Classic Macaroni Salad
- 19. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
- 20. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
- 21. Saffron Rice
- 22. Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
- 23. Chili Lime Grilled Pineapple
- 24. Crispy Cauliflower Bites
- 25. Grilled Zucchini
- 26. Vegetable Skewers
- 27. Buttermilk Cornbread
- 28. Bacon and Cheese Muffins
- 30. Loaded Cornbread
- 31. Serrano Crema
- 32. BBQ Aioli
- 33. Mango Salsa
- 34. Chimichurri with Cilantro
- 35. Easy Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix
- 36. Apple Tart Crumble
- 37. Banana Pudding Cups
The Most Popular BBQ Chicken Sides
1. Vinegar Coleslaw
Tangy homemade vinegar coleslaw perfectly complements your favorite BBQ dishes, adding a refreshing zing and a satisfying crunch to every bite. Coleslaw is a classic side dish to serve alongside smoky BBQ chicken. For another variation, try homemade coleslaw with mint and cilantro.
2. Southern Potato Salad
Old-fashioned Southern potato salad features fork-tender potatoes and hard boiled eggs dressed in a well-seasoned and creamy sauce.
3. Gluten Free Pasta Salad
Enjoy our gluten free pasta salad made with a variety of greens! The mouth-watering salad is a perfect side dish with any meal.
4. Healthy Potato Salad
Healthy potato salad combines fork-tender potatoes, hard boiled eggs, celery, pickles, and onions, in a protein-packed Greek yogurt-based sauce. Creamy potato salad is a popular BBQ dide dish.
5. Baked Beans with Hamburger
Southern-style baked beans with hamburger aren’t just a tasty side for a BBQ or potluck. By combining baked beans with ground beef and bacon, it transforms the traditional American side into a filling and complete meal – all you need is a buttery side of cornbread!
6. Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese
If you’re looking for the creamiest, cheesiest side dish to pair with an entree, one-pot Dutch oven mac and cheese is the way to go. The comforting and cheesy side dish pairs well with BBQ chicken and is loved by both kids and adults.
7. Grilled Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a fantastic side dish, offering a sweet and savory element to your meal. And if you’re looking for other recipes for cooking corn on the stovetop or in the oven, read how to cook corn on the cob.
Potato Side Dishes
8. Roasted Potatoes
Make perfectly seasoned and irresistibly crispy roasted rotatoes in the oven, and since they’re so versatile you can pair them with anything.
9. Air Fryer Hasselback Potatoes
Make crispy air fryer hasselback potatoes in 20 minutes by slicing the potatoes accordion-style and coating them in rich and flavorful garlic butter.
10. Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
Swap regular fries for sweet potato fries for a healthier twist. They are sweet, savory, and provide a delicious contrast to the smoky chicken.
Salad Sides for BBQ Chicken
11. Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad
Loaded with fresh herbs, juicy tomato, crisp cucumber, and creamy avocado, the addition of olive oil and lime finishes our avocado cucumber tomato salad for a perfect side dish or light meal.
12. Pressgurka
Pressgurka is a quick pickled salad that is a perfect combination of sweet and sour. Pair the pressed cucumbers with savory dishes like meatballs or zesty BBQ chicken.
13. Chickpea Salad
Who doesn’t love a recipe that comes together quickly? Make our chickpea salad ahead of time or on the day of for a tasty meal with fresh ingredients and full of protein.
14. Sumac Onions
Marinated sumac onions or Turkish onion salad are a tangy addition to grilled meats, kabobs, salads, and vegetable side dishes. And if onions aren’t your thing, try sumac cucumbers.
15. Piyaz
Fasulye piyaz combines simple ingredients for a perfect side to serve alongside any main entree, including BBQ chicken.
16. Creamy Corn Salad
Creamy corn salad is a simple corn salad made with a creamy dressing, instead of vinegar-based, red onion, bell pepper, and parsley.
17. Mexican Slaw
Mexican slaw easily stands on its own as a side dish, but adds an extra layer of flavor and crunch to savory dinner entrees.
Pasta Side Dishes
18. Classic Macaroni Salad
Classic macaroni salad is a delicious make-ahead side dish that serves a crowd. It’s perfect for potlucks, picnics and summer cookouts!
19. Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Easy five-ingredient pesto tortellini pasta salad takes just minutes to make and is packed with flavor.
20. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaiian macaroni salad, or mac salad, is a uniquely tangy and creamy twist on your classic BBQ side dish.
Searching for More Like This?
What goes with BBQ chicken? Pair one of these sides with another BBQ favorite!
Warm Side Dishes to Pair With BBQ Chicken
21. Saffron Rice
Does rice go with BBQ chicken? I say yes! Saffron rice combines long-grain basmati rice and fragrant saffron threads; the rice boasts a vibrant yellow color with a unique and delicious flavor and is often paired with Iranian joojeh kabob.
22. Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
Instant Pot black eyed peas are known for bringing good fortune. Ours is smoky, spicy, and brimming with flavor, leaving you feeling lucky.
23. Chili Lime Grilled Pineapple
Chili lime grilled pineapple spears are going to be the best side dish at your next barbecue! They are rubbed with a lime and an Indian street-style spice mix of chili, chaat masala, and salt. And grilling pineapple slices brings out their natural sweetness, caramelizing them slightly to add a spiced-tropical touch to your BBQ chicken meal.
Vegetable Sides
24. Crispy Cauliflower Bites
Crispy cauliflower bites are a tasty alternative to buffalo wings that combine fresh cauliflower and a flavorful breading to make a perfect appetizer.
25. Grilled Zucchini
Grilled zucchini cooks low and slow, making it the perfect side dish. Cook them on the warming rack with grilled chicken below for a perfect summer meal.
26. Vegetable Skewers
Grilled veggie skewers are perfectly charred, drizzled with tangy balsamic vinegar and brushed with a fresh garlic herb sauce. Made with red onion, zucchini, and colorful bell peppers, they are the perfect sides for BBQ chicken.
Bread Sides to Serve With BBQ Chicken
27. Buttermilk Cornbread
Moist and slightly sweet, buttermilk cornbread is an excellent accompaniment to BBQ chicken. You can serve it as muffins or slice it into squares.
28. Bacon and Cheese Muffins
Savory bacon and cheese muffins are so moist and flavorful. Serve them as a side dish with BBQ chicken for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
30. Loaded Cornbread
Loaded cornbread kicks it up a notch with the addition of cheese, bacon, corn, and more! Its a perfect side dish with any meal.
Sauce and Salsa Recipes for Chicken
31. Serrano Crema
Serrano crema contains serrano chilies, fresh cilantro, a pop of garlic, and a combination of sour cream and yogurt to give the sauce a nice creamy texture. Olive oil, lime juice, and spices finish this sauce you’ll want to douse on absolutely everything- the perfect complement for chicken drumsticks.
32. BBQ Aioli
Transform sandwiches, wraps, and BBQ recipes with savory homemade BBQ aioli – the smoky, creamy sauce will enhance the flavor of whatever you pair it with.
33. Mango Salsa
Sweet, spicy, and easy to make- serve our fresh mango pico de gallo as a dip or topping for the chicken; it’s so good you’ll want to eat it with a spoon.
34. Chimichurri with Cilantro
Elevate BBQ chicken with herbaceous chimichurri with cilantro. The addition of the zesty herb enhances the sauce’s flavor in the best way.
Dessert Pairings
35. Easy Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix
Our easy peach cobbler with cake mix or “dump cake” combines simple ingredients. Canned peaches, brown sugar, store-bought cake mix, and butter create a no-fuss summer dessert ready to serve in about an hour; it’s so easy it’s almost effortless!
36. Apple Tart Crumble
If you’re a fan of apple pie, then this apple tart crumble recipe is for you! The easy-to-make tart will become an instant favorite with its soft pastry-like crust and sweet apple filling.
37. Banana Pudding Cups
Layers of creamy vanilla pudding, fresh slices of bananas, and a generous helping of crushed Nilla Wafers create a perfect grab-and-go dessert; prepare homemade Banana Pudding Cups to feed a crowd or as a delicious single-serve treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some quick, no cook sides to serve with BBQ chicken?
• Potato Chips
• Cottage Cheese
• Tomato, Avocado Slices, Carrot Sticks
• Pickles
• Nuts
• Kimchi, Sauerkraut
• Rainbow fruit skewers, Apple Slices, Strawberries, Oranges, Watermelon
More Chicken Recipes:
