20+ Easy Sides For Grilled Chicken
Who said grilled chicken has to be dull? Brighten up your plate with one of our favorite sides that complement the healthy dish. Whether you're in the mood for veggies (you'll LOVE this Endless Summer Salad, which features seasonal produce) or a classic and comforting side dish (Grown-Up Pasta Salad, anyone?), these grilled chicken sides are anything but boring.
Instant Pot Asparagus
Our Instant Pot Asparagus is tender, but still has a nice crunch and flavor thanks to toasted almonds and orange zest. Everything you need is super easy to find—just make sure to buy asparagus with medium thickness, as asparagus that’s too thin or small will become mushy.
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Grown-Up Pasta Salad
You know that pasta salad from childhood (you know the one—rotini, canned olives, underripe grape tomatoes, cubed cheese)? It showed up at cookouts, sleepovers and every occasion in between, and it holds a special place in hearts a plenty—or at least it does around our office.
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Easy Air Fryer Asparagus
Easy Air Fryer Asparagus Recipe
If you’re looking for an easy way to cook tender-on-the-inside but crunchy-on-the-outside asparagus, then your air fryer is the way to go. This is basically roasted asparagus, but with a textural bonus. Plus, it’s super simple ti cook asparagus in the air fryer and walk away.
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Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls with Cinnamon-Honey Butter
Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls with Cinnamon-Honey Butter Recipe
Texas Roadhouse’s buttery-sweet rolls are cherished far and wide for good reason—they’re delicious. And now, you can enjoy a fresh, warm batch at home, anytime you please.
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Corn Pudding
This classic Southern comfort food is great for family events or potlucks. It’s custardy and sweet without being overly sugary or eggy, and the fresh chives on top help bring out the dish’s savory flavors. For an extra kick, add 1/4 cup of chopped jalapeño.
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French Onion Mashed Potatoes
French Onion Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Classic buttermilk mashed potatoes are great, but if you’re looking to really wow, French Onion Mashed Potatoes are what you need. Perfect for a holiday dinner or other special occasion, these decadent, cheesy mashed potatoes are infused with the rich and comforting flavors of French onion soup.
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Fried Asparagus
Fresh asparagus is delicious many ways, but it’s especially tasty when fried—that’s because asparagus isn’t fat soluble, meaning that when you cook it in oil, you don’t lose any of the asparagus flavor. Our Fried Asparagus has a crunchy crust and good spice level, with a tender interior, while the mayo is perfect for dipping.
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Simple Mashed Rutabagas and Potatoes
Simple Mashed Rutabagas and Potatoes Recipe
Simple Mashed Rutabagas and Potatoes. Rutabagas are nutrient-rich root vegetables that, when mashed, take on many of the same starchy textural qualities as potatoes. A cross between cabbage and turnips, they’re mild and slightly bitter in flavor, making them a beautiful complement for earthy potatoes.
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Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets
Collard Greens with Garlic and Sippets Recipe
In the past, we’ve done collard greens a serious disservice, boiling them to a near paste and leaning on chunks of ham hocks to add real flavor. It’s time for collard greens to get a much-needed makeover that allows their true inner beauty to shine.
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Crock-Pot Green Bean Casserole
Crock-Pot Green Bean Casserole Recipe
First, blanching and shocking the green beans in an ice bath, though it may seem an unnecessary step, will keep your green beans bright and fresh. Second, cooking up a crisp, flavorful topping—featuring fried onions, along with fresh red onions for color and Parmesan for an extra flavor boost.
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Classic Potato Salad
No need to rush to the store—we’ve got the perfect potato salad recipe right here. Creamy and rich, with hints of tangy vinegar and crunchiness from fresh vegetables, this classic potato salad is hearty and perfectly delicious. Russet potatoes are the ideal here, because they break down a little and make the potato salad creamier.
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Endless Summer Salad
This loaded salad is the ultimate love letter to summer. Featuring a colorful menagerie of seasonal gems, it’s as gorgeous as it is delicious. Plus, it’s absolutely flexible; consider this recipe a blueprint for bringing together everything that catches your eye at your own local farmer’s market.
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Corn, Tomato, and Basil Salad
Corn, Tomato, and Basil Salad Recipe
While corn and tomatoes are at their peak later in the summer, you can enjoy this simple salad all season long. White miso--the kind that's lowest in sodium--adds a powerful umami punch to the mix, enhancing the meaty flavor that tomatoes and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese provide.
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Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob
Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob Recipe
Fresh, grilled corn on the cob is a hallmark of warm and sunny summer days. Paired with grilled hamburgers, smoked pork or other grilled vegetables, grilled corn is an important part of your outdoor meals. For a pretty presentation and to make handling hot ears easier, use the husks as handles.
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Creamy Cucumber Salad
Cool, herbaceous, and refreshing, this creamy cucumber salad is the perfect accompaniment to any number of summer entrees, including barbecue pulled pork, grilled chicken, smoked brisket, and more. If you can’t find English cucumbers, simply use regular cukes, but peel them first.
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Spicy Grilled Watermelon
Spicy Grilled Watermelon Recipe
This recipe features a kick of heat, balanced with bright lime and salty cotija cheese. With a bit of cilantro for a pop of freshness and color, this it's ready for your next cookout. For a more dynamic spice experience, we love Tajin seasoning—which can be found at most grocery stores.
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Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe
Whether you’re having vegetarian friends over to watch the game or you just enjoy recipe mash-ups starring your favorite flavors, these spicy air-fried cauliflower bites check all the boxes. It just takes a smidgen of blue cheese to add a lot of flavor to the quick stir-together sauce.
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Grilled Sweet Potato Fries
Grilled Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Everyone will gobble up these spicy grilled sweet potato fries topped with honey and salty queso fresco. Serve them as a fun appetizer or alongside burgers or your favorite grilled protein. Microwaving the sweet potatoes before they hit the grill ensures the fries will be tender throughout and helps them cook up quickly.
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Super-Crispy Oven Fries
Super-Crispy Oven Fries Recipe
These unbelievably crispy oven fries cut the grease and calories of a standard French fry and taste way better. While this process isn't as fast as a deep fryer, the extra time is worth it. You can even parboil the potatoes ahead of time and wait until it's closer to serving time to bake them.
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Oven-Fried Smashed Okra
Oven-Fried Smashed Okra Recipe
Forget frying—this oven-fried version delivers the must-have crunch of fried okra without the hot mess of oil and all the calories that come with it. The secret is gently smashing the okra pods—you can use a skillet or rolling pin if you don’t have a meat mallet—it opens them up and provides more surface area.
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Air-Fried "Everything Bagel" Kale Chips
Air-Fried "Everything Bagel" Kale Chips Recipe
Welcome to your new go-to snack food—kale chips 2.0! These flavor-packed nutritious chips come out of the air fryer even crispier than they do from your regular oven. Store-bought everything bagel seasoning can be gorged with sodium.