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What To Serve With Drumsticks – 45 BEST Side Dishes

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

In this article, I list 45 of the most popular side dishes for drumsticks.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with drumsticks are French potato salad, apricot couscous, creamy slaw, baked mushroom rice, and steamed asparagus. You can also go with sweet potato mash, ratatouille, garlic roasted mushrooms, instant pot collard greens, or mac and cheese.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

French-style potato salad

I love creamy potato salads, but this French version is fast becoming my favorite.

Instead of a mayo-based dressing, the fork-tender spuds are tossed with lots of fresh herbs and a tangy vinaigrette.

Serve this lighter potato salad with baked chicken drumsticks for a healthier version of the classic barbecue pairing.

Why we love this recipe: everyone will be fighting over the last spoonful of this salad.

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Cucumber lemon orzo salad

This orzo salad is a summer delight.

The combination of lemon, cucumbers, fresh dill, and parsley infuses the orzo pasta with fresh, zesty goodness in every bite. 

This recipe adds crumbled feta for a hint of creaminess, but you can leave it out if you prefer to keep it dairy-free. 

Why we love this recipe: it gets better the longer it sits.

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Mashed sweet potatoes with ginger

Want something a little bit more special than your regular mashed spuds? You can’t go wrong with this recipe. 

The extra step of infusing butter or oil with shallots, ginger, and garlic will add a delectable savory flavor with a hint of spice to your sweet potatoes.

All you need is (lots of) gravy, drumsticks, and some green beans to complete your tasty dinner.

Why we love this recipe: leftovers are great for breakfast – just drizzle some maple syrup on top.

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Ratatouille

Take a page from French cuisine and whip up this classic ratatouille to go with your drumsticks. 

You might be tempted to toss everything in the pot to cook together, but the key to perfecting this dish is searing the veggies individually.

It’s extra work, but it ensures the vegetables are perfectly cooked and prevents them from turning mushy. 

Why we love this recipe: it’s easily customizable and you can use whatever vegetables you have to hand!

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Apple cranberry coleslaw

This isn’t your ordinary slaw.

Aside from the fruity additions, it features a Greek yogurt dressing instead of a mayo-based one.

This swap will still give you that classic creamy bite, but with an extra tang and fewer calories. Yay!

Why we love this recipe: it’ll make even regular dinners feel special.

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Instant pot collard greens

Go full on Southern and serve your drumsticks with these collard greens.

They need a long and slow cook, but this recipe speeds things up by using an instant pot.

True to its name, this nifty gadget will help you achieve tender greens and a delicious, concentrated broth in just 30 minutes. 

Psst…don’t have collard greens? Kale, turnip greens, and chard will still work with this recipe. 

Why we love this recipe: it’s effortless.

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Baked mushroom rice

This is probably the easiest rice casserole you can make.

You don’t need to pre-cook anything – just place the rice grains and the broth in the baking dish and top the rice with mushrooms. 

As the mushrooms cook, their juices drip onto the rice, making it extra tasty. 

Why we love this recipe: this will flood your kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma.

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Zucchini and squash casserole

Looking for an indulgent side dish that won’t make you feel too guilty? Try this casserole.

It’s rich, super cheesy, and jam-packed with sauteed zucchini and squash spirals.

Psst… Want a spicy kick? Add cajun spice to the cream sauce. 

Why we love this recipe: it’ll make you feel nostalgic.

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Pearl couscous with vegetables and apricots

Looking for something light but satisifying?

This couscous dish has your back.

The pearl couscous will fill you up without weighing you down. And the added spinach, butternut squash, and dried apricots makes the side super nourishing.

It’s not lacking in flavor either thanks to spices like smoked paprika, cumin, and cloves. 

Why we love this recipe: it celebrates delicious Middle Eastern flavors.

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Sheet pan roasted veg

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/374572894017839382/

Make things easy for yourself and cook everything you need on one tray.

With this recipe you can cook your vegetables (potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions) on the same pan as your chicken.

Minimal fuss, minimal work, and best of all, minimal washing up.

Why we love this recipe: it’s great for both regular and special dinners.

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Homemade buttermilk biscuits

Whether deep-frying or roasting your chicken drumsticks, buttermilk biscuits are a must-have (especially if there’s any gravy around). 

You can easily pop a can of premade dough, but nothing beats making these from scratch.

Pro tip: the trick to getting hundreds of flaky, buttery layers is to flatten and fold the dough instead of rolling it.

Why we love this recipe: it has a 4.80 rating from 400 reviews.

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Steamed asparagus

Keep things super simple with some steamed green veg.

And did you know you can steam asparagus in the microwave… in 3 minutes total!

Total game changer if you’re not a huge fan of cooking.

Dress these spears with butter or lemon juice before serving to give them a little pizazz.

Why we love this recipe: a serving only adds 23 calories to your meal.

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Chicken and chorizo paella

The iconic Spanish dish is great for dinner parties and it so easy to make your own.

The traditional recipe is seafood based, but you can skip all that and go for a crowd-pleasing combo of chicken and chorizo instead.

If you want to be really adventurous, you could even chuck some shrimp in there.

Why we love this recipe: it’s an Insta-worthy centerpiece for your meal.

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French onion mac and cheese

This recipe takes your typical mac and cheese up a notch by adding elements of French onion soup to the mix. 

Golden brown, caramelized onions are swirled with your cheesy bechamel and pasta, infusing both with a rich, sweet and nutty flavor.

You’ll be mopping up the sauce with your chicken drumsticks!

Why we love this recipe: one bite instantly lifts your mood.

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Garlic butter roasted mushrooms

Mushrooms act as a sponge for whatever flavors you cook them in.

This recipe goes for a classic garlic butter, but also uses lemon and thyme to add a hint of freshness. 

And my pro tip – go for large mushrooms so you get more juices to spoon over your drumsticks. 

Why we love this recipe: it transforms a simple ingredient into something delicious.

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The best side dishes to serve with drumsticks

  • French-style potato salad
  • Cucumber lemon orzo salad
  • Mashed sweet potatoes with ginger
  • Ratatouille
  • Apple cranberry coleslaw
  • Instant pot collard greens
  • Baked mushroom rice
  • Zucchini and squash casserole
  • Pearl couscous with vegetables and apricots
  • Sheet pan roasted veg
  • Homemade buttermilk biscuits
  • Steamed asparagus
  • Chicken and chorizo paella
  • French onion mac and cheese
  • Garlic butter roasted mushrooms

What To Serve With Drumsticks

In this short recipe, I show you exactly what to serve with your drumsticks.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, British
Keyword: drumstick side dishes, what to serve with drumsticks
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes
Servings: 1 person
Calories: 214kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 portion drumsticks

Instructions

  • Prepare your drumsticks according to your favorite recipe.
  • In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
  • Side dishes include: French-style potato salad, cucumber lemon orzo salad, mashed sweet potatoes with ginger, ratatouille, apple cranberry coleslaw, instant pot collard greens, baked mushroom rice, zucchini and squash casserole, pearl couscous with vegetables and apricots, sheet pan roasted veg, homemade buttermilk biscuits, steamed asparagus, chicken and chorizo paella, French onion mac and cheese, and garlic butter roasted mushrooms.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 100g | Calories: 214kcal

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