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If you’re wondering what to serve with your chicken adobo, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 14 of the most popular side dishes for chicken adobo.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes for chicken adobo are garlic fried rice, lumpia shanghai, or some good old Filipino pancit. You can also serve chop suey, fluffy mashed potatoes, or sauteed spinach. For fresh salad options, try a Thai mango salad, smashed cucumber salad, or a ginger and sesame green bean salad.

Ready? let’s jump right in.

Sinangag (garlic fried rice)

My favorite dish to serve with chicken adobo is some flavorful Filipino fried rice.

Sinangag is a catch-all term for any long-grain rice that’s cooked with fresh garlic and some other basic seasonings.

It does a marvelous job of absorbing the salty and sour sauce of chicken adobo.

This garlic fried rice is fluffy, comforting, and delicious to its core.

Thai mango salad

Explore more Asian flavors and serve your Filipino chicken stew with a Thai mango salad.

It has a subtle tart flavor with a hint of sweetness, which will cut through the rich and savory flavors of chicken adobo nicely.

Bright and refreshing, this 20-minute salad is a colorful addition to any dining table.

Oh and make sure you serve this salad right away after mixing in its acidic dressing, so that the chopped mangoes won’t lose their crunchy texture.

Chop suey

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Chicken adobo is the national dish of the Philippines.

And what’s a bold-flavored protein without its healthy counterpart, vegetables?

Chop suey is a stir-fry medley that not only tastes great but also helps you clean out your fridge.

Pretty much any vegetable you have in your fridge can be chucked in your chop suey.

Check out the full recipe at Foxy Folksy.

Smashed cucumber salad

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Continuing our exploration of the globe, I think this Chinese-inspired smashed cucumber salad works really well with chicken adobo.

It’s light and crunchy, with a spicy kick from some chili oil that will wake up your taste buds.

It also features some raw garlic, which really amps up the flavor.

This cucumber salad isn’t for the faint-hearted!

And a pro tip from healthy nibbles and bits – use Japanese cucumbers if you can get them.

Lumpia Shanghai

Lumpia shanghai is the Filipino version of egg rolls.

You can load them with healthy veggies or mix in some pork or beef to make them meatier.

Whatever filling you go for, they’ll add a nice texture to your dish.

And you can dunk them in the chicken adobo’s tangy sauce. Or pair them with a traditional sweet and sour dipping sauce. It’s up to you.

Filipino pancit

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Got 30 minutes to spare in the kitchen?

Make this classic Filipino pancit.

Made from thin rice noodles, chopped veggies, and meat (if you want), this pancit is quick and easy to throw together.

And the chewy noodles will taste great coated in the strong umami flavors of the adobo sauce.

Learn how to make this classic stir-fried noodle dish here.

Instant pot mashed potatoes

All you really need is a dollop of these delicious mashed potatoes to make your tender stew shine.

Buttery, smooth, and fluffy, this side dish melts in your mouth just like your chicken adobo.

The potatoes will soak up all the sauce, meaning not a drop of flavor will go to waste.

And if you’re looking for a low-carb alternative, try making mashed cauliflower.

Simple tossed green salad

Throwing a bunch of greens together and making a salad can be a lifesaver if you’ve left everything to the last minute.

Or if you just don’t feel like spending any more time in the kitchen.

The only thing that requires a slight bit of effort for this tossed salad is making the mustardy-vinegar dressing.

Psst… to make this more crunchy, add some sliced Brussel sprouts into the mix.

Mango avocado salsa

Add a tropical touch to your meal by serving it with a side of mango avocado salsa.

Bright, vibrant, and bursting with fruity flavors, the sweet mango and creamy avocado will help tone down the savory flavors of the chicken.

This mango avocado salad is perfect for summer and will taste great paired with the garlic rice I mentioned earlier.

Thai coconut rice

The traditional way to serve chicken adobo is on a bed of white jasmine rice.

But you can add a little twist to it by adding some coconut milk.

Your rice will be creamier and have a nutty flavor that will blend well with the spices in the adobo.

Plus the dish only requires three simple ingredients and 20-minutes to make.

Check out the full recipe here.

Sauteed spinach

A hearty meal like chicken adobo doesn’t need fancy sides, a simple veggie dish will work great.

Sautéed spinach is very simple, but it’s not lacking in flavor. It’s also packed with nutrients.

Anna’s recipe uses caramelized onions and LOTS of garlic to flavor her spinach. It’s the perfect dish for a busy weeknight.

Psst… any green vegetables will do! I’m also partial to some steamed broccoli.

Simple potato salad

No one can resist a creamy potato salad, especially when it’s next to a steaming bowl of chicken adobo.

Potato salads can get pretty complicated.

But this one is just potatoes, a creamy dressing, and some chives. That’s all you really need when you already have a flavor-packed main.

You can serve potato salad warm or cold, and Ajoke gives you plenty of dressing options.

Sesame ginger green bean salad

Ginger is a great palate cleanser and has a sharp bite that will help cut through all the rich, umami sauce on your chicken.

Pair it with some nutty sesame and crunchy green beans for a unique, delicious salad.

The recipe also uses peas for some sweetness.

This ginger green bean salad is also ideal if you want something that you can make ahead of time.

Pickled onions

Chicken adobo is a heavily spiced, deeply flavorsome dish and I love pairing it with some pickled onions.

Their tart flavor will help brighten up the sauce, and the vibrant pink hue will look very attractive next to the deep brown stew.

Anytime you need some extra tang, these pickled onions will be there for you.

The best side dishes for chicken adobo

Sinangag (garlic fried rice)
Thai mango salad
Chop suey
Smashed cucumber salad
Lumpia Shanghai
Filipino pancit
Instant pot mashed potatoes
Simple tossed green salad
Mango avocado salsa
Thai coconut rice
Sauteed spinach
Simple potato salad
Sesame ginger green bean salad
Pickled onions