* If you click a link on this page and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

What To Serve With Blackened Chicken [15 BEST Sides]

Blackened chicken is known for it’s spicy, bold, and smoky flavor. It involves coating chicken in a mix of Cajun spices and then searing it to lock in all the juices, and it’s great on its own, in salads, or in sandwhiches,

These 15 side dishes are perfect for serving alongside blackened chicken. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a hearty dish, a healthy dish, or something super quick to make. In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes to serve with blackened chicken are roasted broccoli, creamed corn, and Southern green beans. You can also serve the chicken on a bed of cilantro lime rice, alfredo pasta, or sour cream mashed potatoes. In summer, try a leafy caesar salad, mango salsa, or macaroni salad.

Creamed corn

There’s not much to dislike about this corn side dish.

The corn is mixed into a thick, creamy sauce loaded with butter, parmesan cheese and garlic. YUM!

Even veggie hates won’t be able to resist it. And the best part? It only takes 15 minutes to make!

Why we love this recipe: it’s budget friendly and uses mostly store-cupboard ingredients.

Featured recipe
Creamed corn
Make it fluffy
Corn pudding
Make it simple
Grilled corn on the cob

Alfredo pasta

Alfredo pasta is another creamy side that you can easily whip up in fifteen minutes.

The creamy sauce makes it a perfect bed for your heavily spiced blackened chicken.

And this Olive-garden inspired recipe has a secret ingredient that takes it up a notch – a cup of asiago cheese.

Why we love this recipe: it’s an easy go-to weeknight meal that everyone will love.

Featured recipe
Alfredo pasta
Make it light
Parmesan zucchini noodles
Swap the sauce
Cacio e pepe

Cilantro lime rice

There’s nothing like hot steamy rice to save the day whenever you’re in a pinch.

But wait! This rice has a refreshing twist in the form of cilantro and lime.

The zesty flavor profile will add a cooling contrast to your hot and spicy blackened chicken and you only need a few extra ingredients. 

Why we love this recipe: it’s a no-fail side guaranteed to fill you up.

Featured recipe
Cilantro lime rice
Make it creamy
Broccoli rice casserole
Make it simple
Brown rice pilaf

Mango salsa

Bright and beautiful, this mango salsa is the perfect tropical topping for your blackened chicken.

Its vibrant color will ensure the plate pops, and it’s packed with flavors.

The salsa has a nice balance of sweetness from the mango, creaminess from the avocados, and some heat from the jalapenos.

What more could you want!

Why we love this recipe: it will transport you straight to a tropical island.

Featured recipe
Mango salsa
Go Mexican
Authentic pico de gallo
Skip the fruit
Cucumber salsa

Caesar salad

For a summery dinner, why not prop a few slices of your blackened chicken over a classic Caesar salad?

It’s loved for its simplicity, and this recipe’s homemade dressing is so much better than the bottled stuff. 

Psst… here’s a few tips. Swap the lettuce for kale in the winter, and use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise in the dressing for a lighter option.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a classic healthy side you’ll keep coming back to.

Featured recipe
Caesar salad
Swap the leaves
Arugula salad
Make it fruity
Strawberry salad

Southern green beans

Stick with the Southern theme and serve up these addicting green beans.

Why are they addicting? Because they’re cooked low and slow in bacon fat, which infuses them with so much umami goodness.

They’ll take around an hour to cook, which can seem excessive for green beans. But trust me, they’re well worth it.

Why we love this recipe: you can’t go wrong with a traditional recipe.

Featured recipe
Southern green beans
Make it into a salad
Balsamic green bean salad
Another Southern classic
Collard greens

Spinach quinoa

Looking for something healthy?

Give spinach quinoa a shot!

The quinoa has a mild nutty flavor, and is a good source of plant protein and fiber. Plus we all know spinach is good for you!

It’s tasty too – with loads of yummy garlic, pine nuts, and parmesan.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a great meal prep option.

Featured recipe
Spinach quinoa
Make a salad
Superfood quinoa salad
A different grain
Bulgur salad

Macaroni salad

Macaroni salad is a summer party staple that’s fresh and creamy.

It’s simple to prepare and really easy to customize. You can add in pretty much anything you want.

My favorite add-in is olives, and of course some chunks of blackened chicken.

Psst… let the salad rest for at least 20 minutes before serving so the flavors can fully develop.

Why we love this recipe: it’s an excellent dish when you’re feeding a crowd, like at potlucks.

Featured recipe
Macaroni salad
Make it indulgent
Macaroni and cheese
Go fresh
Mediterranean pasta salad

Sour cream and chive mashed potatoes

Create the ultimate comfort meal with some blackened chicken and sour cream mash.

Adding sour cream and tangy chives keeps everything from getting too heavy… but you might still need a nap after dinner.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Featured recipe
Sour cream and chive mash
Make it dairy-free
Olive oil and roasted garlic mashed potatoes
Go sweet
Garlic and herb smashed sweet potatoes

Roasted broccoli

Make things easy for yourself and roast some greens for your side.

Roasting broccoli gives the florets perfectly crispy edges that have a touch of smokiness to them.

All they need as a garnish is a touch of lemon juice to brighten them up.

Why we love this recipe: it’s super simple and there’s no hands-on cooking involved.

Featured recipe
Roasted broccoli
Make a salad
Blue broccoli salad
Make it fun
Smashed cauliflower bites

Creamy avocado dip

It’s hard to deny that avocados are one of the best things ever. 

And this dip takes them to the next level.

It’s not technically a side. But the creamy flavor will cool your mouth down after a little too much spice, and the buttery texture will complement the juicy chicken.

Why we love this recipe: you only need 2 minutes of spare time.

Featured recipe
Creamy avocado dip
Go classic
Chunky guacamole
Make it tangy
Creamy horseradish dip

Grilled vegetable skewers

Fire up the grill for these colorful skewers loaded with fresh veggies.

I like to mix bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and red onions together, and sometimes tomatoes too. The smoky flavor complements the spicy kick of blackened chicken beautifully.

Psst…. this is one of my kids favorite ways to eat vegetables mainly because they can get involved in making it.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a vibrant, healthy option that’s also fun to make and eat.

Featured recipe
Grilled vegetable skewers
Add a twist
Balsamic glazed veggie skewers
Keep it simple
Grilled tomatoes

Jalapeño cheddar cornbread

This side dish brings a little heat of its own with jalapeños mixed into moist, cheesy cornbread.

It’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet, with a fluffy texture that’s perfect for mopping up any chicken juice.

Pro tip: Stick a knife into the centre of the cornbread to check it’s done before pulling it out from the oven.

Why we love this recipe: it’s classic comfort food.

Featured recipe
Jalapeño cheddar cornbread
Sweeten the deal
Honey cornbread
Make it muffins
Cornbread muffins

Sweet potato fries

Swap out regular fries for these sweet potato ones.

Baked or fried, sweet potato fries are a healthier option that doesn’t skimp on flavor And you can jazz them up with whatever dipping sauce

The one downside of sweet potato fries is that they don’t tend to get as crispy as regular fries, but this has never bothered me!

Why we love this recipe: it’s so incredibly moreish.

Featured recipe
Sweet potato fries
Change it up
Garlic parmesan sweet potato fries
Keep it simple
Classic potato fries

Black bean and corn salad

This salad is a fiesta in a bowl, with black beans, corn, tomatoes, and avocado all tossed together. The lime juice dressing adds a zesty kick, and provides some acidity to cut through the chicken.

Chopping up the veg so small might seem tedious, but its worth it to get a taste of everything in each bite.

Why we love this recipe: it will still taste just as good the next day.

Featured recipe
Black bean and corn salad
More beans
Mexican bean salad
Simplify it
Simple corn salad

What To Serve With Blackened Chicken [15 Side Dishes]

In this short recipe, I show you exactly what to serve with your blackened chicken.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: blackened chicken side dishes, what to serve with blackened chicken
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 1 person
Calories: 180kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 portion blackened chicken

Instructions

  • Prepare your blackened chicken according to your favorite recipe.
  • In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
  • Side dishes include: creamed corn, alfredo pasta, cilantro lime rice, mango salsa, caesar salad, southern green beans, spinach quinoa, macaroni salad, sour cream and chive mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli, and creamy avocado dip.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 180kcal

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating