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Here are my top 30 ideas for side dishes to serve with Chicken Parm! Indulge your taste buds in the mouth watering delight of Chicken Parmesan a classic Italian-American dish that promises to transport you to a realm of irresistible flavors and textures. Once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s a cherished classic that has stood the test of time. We have our main dish…but what do we serve with the BEST Chicken Parmesan?
Imagine a tender chicken breast (or chicken cutlets), lovingly coated in a bread crumbs and parmesan cheese crust, gently kissed by the heat of bubbling, molten mozzarella cheese and a rich, aromatic marinara sauce or homemade tomato sauce. Whether it’s served on a bed of al dente spaghetti or nestled in a fresh, warm roll as a sandwich, Chicken Parmesan is the epitome of comfort and indulgence, a dish that beckons you to savor its soul-soothing, cheesy, and utterly delicious embrace. When serving Chicken Parmesan (chicken parmigiana), it’s important to have side dishes that complement the flavors and textures of the dish. Here are some tasty sides to go with your main course!
What To Serve With Chicken Parm (30 of the BEST Side Dishes!)
Pasta: Serve Chicken Parm with a side of spaghetti or fettuccine tossed with garlic butter, or you can try this Pasta with Spaghetti Meat Sauce. If you want your sauce meat-free this Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce is a great option!
Salad: A crisp, refreshing salad can balance the richness of the Chicken Parm. Salads are always a good idea for chicken parmesan sides. You could pair it with a simple Green Salad, a Classic Caesar Salad or if you want something with lots of flavor you can try my That Good Salad recipe!
Vegetables: Roasted Root Vegetables are a great side dish to Chicken Parm, especially during the first hint of that crisp Autumn air. Pair this with your main dish for a hearty and warm meal.
Garlic Bread: This Hasselback Homemade Garlic Bread recipe has MORE butter, MORE cheese, MORE garlic, and MORE bread in every single bite. Pair this with the Chicken Parm and you have a delicious meal!
Mashed Potatoes: Buttery Mashed Potatoes are a comforting side dish that goes nicely with this Chicken Parmesan recipe. If you’re looking for more flavor you can also try Garlic Mashed Potatoes!
Sweet Potatoes: While any sweet potato recipe will work here, I prefer my Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chicken Parm. They are everything you love about mashed potatoes mixed with the flavors of sweet potatoes. Smooth, creamy and buttery!
Roasted Green Beans: Simply toss your prepared beans in olive oil, salt and pepper and place into a hot oven to roast. Roasted Green Beans will become your new favorite side dish to Chicken Parmesan.
Risotto: Instant Pot Risotto is an easy recipe side dish that’s so tasty! Not only do you NOT have to stand over a pan stirring for 30+ minutes, but this recipe lets you set it and forget it until its ready for you to eat, 30 minutes later.
Coleslaw: Cabbage, carrots and onion tossed with my homemade creamy coleslaw sauce. Get ready to make the coleslaw of your dreams!
Breadsticks: You can have the breadsticks of your choice…or you can try these! Cheesy, yeasty, salty, garlicky, Craigo’s Breadsticks really were the BEST breadsticks around!
Antipasto Platter: Create an antipasto platter with olives, cured meats, cheeses, and roasted red peppers for a more elaborate spread. Here’s an affordable Cheese Board that you can make to create your perfect side dish!
Zucchini Noodles: Looking for a gluten-free option? Sautéed or roasted zucchini noodles (zoodles!) make a healthy and flavorful side.
Cucumber Salad: Crisp and refreshing, Grandma’s Cucumber Salad is a great choice for your Italian cuisine.
Broccoli Salad: Crunchy and cold broccoli salad compliments chili by providing a contrast in texture and offering a cooling effect.
Caprese Salad: Nothing beats a Caprese Salad. Fresh, flavorful and delicious made with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, sweet basil, and a homemade garlic balsamic dressing! It’s truly the perfect salad all year long.
Roasted Potatoes: Roasted Potatoes go with just about any dish and they take no time at all. Ten minutes of prep time, then just pop them in the oven (flipping halfway) and voila! An easy, comforting and filling side dish. Flavor them how you like them by adding different seasonings or just stick to my base recipe.
Creamed Spinach: Creamed spinach is a rich and creamy side dish that complements the flavors of Chicken Parm beautifully.
Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad: Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad has an amazing depth of flavor from all of the roasted veggies and great texture from the quinoa. This is a great way to add in a healthy side dish to your meal!
Sautéed Mushrooms: Sautéed mushrooms with garlic and fresh herbs add an earthy and savory dimension to the meal.
French Bread: Serve some crusty French bread or baguette with butter or olive oil for a simple and delightful side.
Simple Bruschetta: Bruschetta is an easy, Italian appetizer that always goes over well. Toasted bread, rubbed with garlic and topped with diced garden tomatoes, fresh basil, and a hint of balsamic vinegar.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts: This super easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe is a delicious vegetable side dish. A brown, crispy exterior with a tender middle. They are a perfect and simple accompaniment to any dinner.
Orzo Salad: A cold orzo pasta salad with diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a lemon-oregano dressing. A refreshing side salad for your meal!
Maple Glazed Carrots: Most of the time, roasted or glazed carrots are the thing people are not reaching for first at the dinner table. Until now. Sweet, buttery and crunchy, after one bite you’ll forget you’re eating vegetables.
Couscous: Fluffy couscous with roasted vegetables or herbs adds a light and flavorful touch to your meal.
Sautéed Spinach with Garlic: Quick sautéed spinach with garlic and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a simple, healthy side.
Oven Roasted Asparagus: Grab three ingredients and find 15 minutes while making dinner to make this amazingly simple yet delicious side dish. It’s perfect for any meal because with this roasted asparagus recipe you can customize it to your liking!
Spaghetti Squash: This can be a great low-carb alternative to pasta and I show you how to make it super easily in the crockpot. My Crockpot Spaghetti Squash cooks perfectly every time!
Garlic Bread: Softened butter stirred together with fresh minced garlic, a few herbs, and two kinds of cheese with a little extra hit of garlic from garlic powder! I promise this is the best cheesy garlic bread you will ever try and the perfect sidekick to Chicken Parmesan.
Brown Rice: Brown rice is a simple non-competitive flavor profile that pairs nicely with Chicken Parm, especially if you’re looking for a gluten-free alternative to pasta. Check out my make-ahead brown rice tutorial on how to freeze brown rice.
We’ve got a little something for everyone in this post, from comforting hearty sides to some veggie goodness. Don’t stress over it; just go with what makes your taste buds dance and fits your dietary needs. Feel free to get creative, mix things up, and craft a meal that’s all ‘you’ alongside that delicious Chicken Parm with tomato sauce.
If you make these recipes, I would really appreciate it if you would give them a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.
