This article was updated on 17th August 2023 for clarity and to improve text readability.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your chicken tetrazzini, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 15 of the most popular side dishes for chicken tetrazzini. In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes to serve with chicken tetrazzini are a green bean salad, garlic butter mushrooms, and garlic knots. You can also serve rainbow roasted veggies or bacon puff pastry twists. For more salad options, you can choose a chopped winter salad or a fresh Caesar salad.
For each side dish, I’ve provided alternative options to cater to various diets and lifestyles, including vegan, quick and easy, and health-conscious options.
Fresh and Crunchy Salads
Brighten up your meal with a selection of refreshing salads. Salads will add a vibrant, healthy touch and help cut through the richness of the creamy sauce.
Fresh Caesar Salad
4.9 ⭐️ | Prep time: 20 mins
A Caesar salad is my go-to side for chicken tetrazzini. It’s light, fresh, and the croutons provide a crunchy contrast to the pasta.
If you want to make your own croutons, don’t forget that day-old bread works best. I like using French bread and I always add some bacon to my Caesar salad. Because who doesn’t love bacon!
What readers are saying…
“Absolutely delicious! I am definitely making this again and again.”
“Reminds me of my favorite high end restaurants who specialize in Caesar salad. This is a recipe you’ll want to use over and over. Enjoy!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
❄️ Winter Caesar Salad
🌱 Vegan Caesar Salad
😇 Healthy Caesar Salad
Chopped Winter Salad
5 ⭐️ | Prep time: 20 mins
Add more life and greens to your meal by serving up a chopped winter salad.
It’s a flavor-packed salad that can hold its own against the pasta, or it would work well as a starter.
You can choose between red wine or balsamic vinegar for the dressing. They’ll both add a good dose of tartness!
What readers are saying…
“The dressing is nice and fresh, and the method of soaking the shallots in the vinegar before adding the oil is a great way to soften their flavour a bit.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Green Bean Salad
Prep time: 30 mins
Looking for a refreshing, but filling dish to serve with your chicken pasta?
Check out this green bean salad. It’s colorful, crisp, and nourishing.
You have tomatoes for sweetness, pine nuts for some earthiness, and mozzarella for creaminess. Then everything is tied together with a tangy vinaigrette.
What readers are saying…
“Hi, made this recipe for the first time yesterday and its delicious, I had leftovers tonight and its tastier!”
“I’ve made this twice now with and without cheese and beetroot. Awesome each time. Mushrooms went well in it too.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
🔥 Fried Green Beans
🇫🇷 French Green Bean Salad
Watercress Salad
5 ⭐️ | Prep time: 20 mins
Watercress is probably my favorite leafy green.
Its peppery nature will contrast with the creamy, buttery pasta sauce and keep this dish from getting too heavy.
The sharp notes of lemon and green apple will also help add bite to your meal and make sure the whole thing doesn’t get rich.
What readers are saying…
“I love all your salad recipes.”
“Fresh, tasty, light, yet loaded with nutrients, excellent.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Hearty Carbs
If you enjoy a comforting and warming meal, these hearty sides are for you. They’re not the lightest options, but everyone deserves to indulge sometimes!
Cheesy Garlic Bread
5 ⭐️ | Prep time: 10 mins
Cheese, chicken, and pasta are always a winner. So serve up your creamy pasta casserole with some gooey, cheesy garlic bread.
Filled with a trio of herbs – parsley, basil, and rosemary, this bread’s aroma will have you coming back to it every single time.
And for an extra burst of flavor, you could even add in some pesto.
What readers are saying…
“Made this recipe the other day and it was delicious. Will be making again.”
“Looks delicious!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
😇 Gluten-Free Cheesy Garlic Bread
🌱 Vegan Cheesy Garlic Bread
Bacon Puff Pastry Twists
3.7 ⭐️ | Prep time: 20 mins
Why settle for plain old breadsticks when you can have these bacon puff pastry twists instead.
The bacon is coated in a moreish combination of rosemary and brown sugar, which might sound strange but is actually super tasty.
What readers are saying…
“I made these to bring to a function and everyone LOVED them”!
“these are delish! Would suggest laying a piece of bacon on the pastry strip before twisting to make your life easier 😉”
Deliciously different alternatives…
🌱 Pesto Puff Pastry Twists
🥓 Spiced Bacon Twists
🍕 Pizza Puff Pastry Twists
Caprese Bruschetta
5 ⭐️ | Prep time: 5 mins
I had to mention caprese salad somewhere. These cool little bruschetta sliders are great for an appetizer before the main event.
They’re filled with classic Italian flavors and are small enough to leave room for the filling pasta that’s coming next.
What readers are saying…
“You just combined the two loves of my life – caprese salad & bruschetta. Seriously, there is nothing better than this. Absolutely delicious.”
“So fresh and delicious!“
Deliciously different alternatives…
🌱 Vegan Bruschetta
🔥 Roasted Caprese Salad
🍄 Mushroom Bruschetta
Garlic Knots
4.9 ⭐️ | 30 mins
Not feeling the classic garlic bread? I’ve got another suggestion – garlic knots!
You can make the dough ahead of time and freeze it, so all you need to do on the day is pull it out and bake it.
This means these little balls of flavor are a great side dish option for a busy weeknight.
What readers are saying…
“These were easy to make and a hit with the in-laws. Made them as a side to lasagna. Perfect!”
“Tip: if you don’t want to wait 90 minutes for the dough to rise, just toss in the oven at the lowest temp for about 15 minutes then leave in oven checking it often.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
🥛 Dairy-Free Garlic Knots
😌 4-Ingredient Garlic Knots
🌱 Healthy Garlic Knots
Vegetables
These veggie sides will enhance your chicken tetrazzini meal with a variety of textures, colors, and flavors. And don’t worry, they’re a far cry from soggy steamed broccoli!
Shredded Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
4.7 ⭐️ | Prep time: 20 mins
Tired of the same old roasted Brussels sprouts recipe? Try this shredded sauteed version.
These shredded Brussels sprouts are cooked with some fresh lemon juice and parmesan cheese, which brightens up the dish and helps cut through the richness of the creamy pasta sauce.
What readers are saying…
“I used an olive wood smoked olive oil for a slight smokey flavor. So good!”
“This is the best way I’ve ever eaten Brussel Sprouts. I will never cook whole Brussel Sprouts again. No comparison!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
🔥 Crispy Shredded Brussels Sprouts
🥬 Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Broccolini With Lemon
5 ⭐️ | Prep time: 10 mins
This roasted broccolini is a simple side, but the flavor does the talking. Since chicken tetrazzini is more of a one-pot dish, you don’t need to add much to it.
But a side of roasted broccolini that’s sprinkled with lemon would be a wonderfully healthy addition.
Broccolini is more tender than broccoli and has more stalk (which I think is the tastiest bit).
What the chef says…
“This is a simple side, but a real powerhouse of nutrition and flavor. Just a few ingredients, and the oven does all the work.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Garlic Mushrooms
Prep time: 5 mins
If there aren’t any mushrooms in your pasta already, then they’re the perfect side dish.
The umami flavors add depth to your dish, and they’re simply irresistible.
Especially if you douse the mushrooms in a garlic sauce to keep them nice and juicy.
(you can never have too much garlic!)
What readers are saying…
“side dish goals is right! I love me some mushrooms and these look fantastic!”
“This looks fantastic. I am going to make it this week.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Rainbow Roasted Veggies
4.7 ⭐️ | Prep time: 5 mins
You’ve already got a casserole of chunks of chicken and tender spaghetti.
The only thing you’re missing is a big helping of veggies.
So take a look in your fridge and see what vegetables you have to hand, chop them up, and then chuck them in the oven.
After 20 minutes you’ll have a side dish ready to go.
What readers are saying…
“Wow‼️ I made these tonight‼️ It’s AMAZING‼️ I cannot believe this is so WONDERFUL & EASY‼️”
“Thank you for these amazing recipes.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Crispy Kale
4.9 ⭐️ | 5 mins
Want to add some veggies but don’t want more soft textures on the plate? Turn them into crispy chips instead. For a side dish, I’d stick to simple seasonings like pepper and salt.
But if you also want to make some for a snack, you can jazz them up with things like nutritional yeast or chili powder.
What readers are saying…
“this is my fav way to make kale chips.”
“Makes a wonderful snack. Highly recommended.”
“What a great recipe to make with the kiddos.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Desserts
Complete your Italian-American feast with an elegant and indulgent dessert. Tiramisu is never a disappointment, and I always have some sorbet in the freezer in case I’m feeling really full.
Authentic Italian Tiramisu
5 ⭐️ | Prep time: 20 mins
Looking for a sweet dessert to finish up your meal? Well, look no further because the classic Italian tiramisu is here.
This no-bake dessert is a gem that you can assemble ahead of time using only six ingredients.
It has a smooth creamy texture that’s filled with a balanced flavor from bitter coffee and sweet mascarpone.
What readers are saying…
“Absolutely delicious! I am definitely making this again and again.”
“Reminds me of my favorite high end restaurants who specialize in Caesar salad. This is a recipe you’ll want to use over and over. Enjoy!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
☕️ Chocolate Tiramisu (No Coffee)
😌 Easy Tiramisu
🌱 Vegan Tiramisu
Coconut Milk Panna Cotta With Citrus
5 ⭐️ | 10 mins
This coconut milk panna cotta is dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and there’s a vegan option.
But it doesn’t compromise on flavor. I loved the hint of nuttiness from the coconut with the sharpness of the citrus fruits. YUM.
What readers are saying…
“That’s so beautiful! I love panna cotta – never made it with coconut milk before though.”
“What an incredibly beautiful dish!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
What To Serve With Chicken Tetrazzini
Ingredients
- 1 portion Crispy Kale
- 1 portion Shredded Brussels Sprouts
- 1 portion Garlic Knots
- 1 portion Chopped Winter Salad
- 1 portion Bacon Twists
Instructions
- Prepare your chicken tetrazzini according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: fresh caesar salad, cheesy garlic bread, shredded sauteed brussel sprouts, chopped winter salad, roasted broccolini with lemon, garlic knots, green bean salad, bacon puff pastry twists, garlic mushrooms, watercress salad, rainbow roasted veggies, caprese bruschetta, and authentic Italian tiramisu,
- Serve immediately and enjoy!