20+ Easy Sides For Grilled Chicken

Updated April 27, 2020
Karen Rankin

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. 

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Instant Pot Asparagus

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Instant Pot Asparagus Recipe

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

Credit: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Elise Christiansen; Food Styling; Jasmine Smith

Grown-Up Pasta Salad Recipe

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

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

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

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Stylist: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Stylist: Paige Grandjean

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

Credit: Elizabeth Mervosh

Corn Pudding Recipe

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 

Credit: Caroline Arcangeli; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Lis Mervosh

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

Credit: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Fried Asparagus Recipe

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

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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

Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Adam Hickman

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

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Classic Potato Salad Recipe

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

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Julia Levy

Endless Summer Salad Recipe

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

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

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

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Julia Levy

Creamy Cucumber Salad Recipe

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

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Food Styling: Marianne Williams; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

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

Credit: Anna Theoktisto

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

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

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

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

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

Credit: Karen Rankin

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.

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