This article was updated on the 9th of August 2023 for clarity and freshness.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your fried oysters, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 33 of the most popular side dishes for fried oysters.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with fried oysters are corn nuggets, a simple salad, cheesy grits, and clam chowder. Try pickled red cabbage, roasted asparagus, or sauteed zucchini and corn for healthier options. Another idea is to make a sandwich with fried oysters.
Ready? Let’s get started.
Arugula and orange salad
You can’t go wrong serving this fresh salad with your fried oysters.
The combination of the lemony dressing, peppery arugula, and fresh orange slices helps undercut the greasiness of your fried oysters, giving you a more balanced bite.
You can enjoy this salad on the side, but I like tossing the oysters with the salad so they get coated with the dressing too. Yum.
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Orange and arugula salad
Make it festive
Apple-cranberry feta spinach salad
Keep it simple
Lemon parmesan lettuce salad
Jalapeno cheddar grits
Turn your oysters into the ultimate comfort food by serving them over a bed of grits. It’s just like the classic shrimp and grits combo, but crispier.
The traditional recipe for grits often only includes additions like butter and cheese, but Spicy Southern Kitchen also adds minced jalapeno peppers in their version. These peppers infuse the thick, creamy grits with a mildly spicy kick that’ll wake up your taste buds.
Just a heads up, though — you’ll be tempted to take a nap right after this meal with how decadent these grits are.
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Jalapeno cheddar cheese grits
Go Italian
Parmesan polenta
Preheat the oven
Baked cheesy grits
Oven-baked Fries
Add a fun British twist to your fried oysters by making some fries (or chips, as the Brits say) to go with them.
These oven-baked fries are easy to make but take some time to cook, since you’ll need to bake them twice to achieve fluffy, extra-crispy fries that aren’t oozing with grease.
And the best part? They don’t lose their crunch even when they cool. No soggy fries here!
Psst… make a dipping sauce to go with your fried oysters and fries. My go-to is a classic tartar sauce, but you can also try Sriracha mayo for a bit of heat.
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Oven-baked French fries
Make it crunchier
Air fryer potato chips
Make it low-carb
Baked parmesan zucchini fries
Sauteed zucchini and corn
Keep things nice and simple with this sauteed corn and zucchini side dish. It may sound plain, but I assure you it’s not!
The secret lies in using brown butter, just like what recipe creator Katie does. It infuses the corn kernels and zucchini with a delightful nutty flavor that enhances their natural sweetness. Add a spritz of lemon juice to bring a bright touch, and you’ve got a tasty, filling side dish.
Psst… you can use fresh or frozen corn kernels for this dish.
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Sauteed corn and zucchini in lemony browned butter
Make it Mexican-inspired
Calabacitas
Make a classic
Harvest succotash
Pickled red cabbage
Quick pickled red cabbage is the perfect palate cleanser to serve with your fried oysters. Not only does it bring a bright pop of color, but the cabbage’s sharp, tart flavor is exactly what you need to offset the greasiness of your crispy oysters.
Plus, making this is easy as pie. There’s zero cooking involved, only prep work. But you do need patience because the cabbage has to sit in the pickling solution for about five hours before you can dig in.
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Quick-pickled red cabbage
Make it different
Quick pickled red onions
Keep it fresh
Homemade coleslaw
Green bean casserole
Planning on serving fried oysters at your Thanksgiving feast? Pair them with everyone’s favorite green bean casserole.
The creaminess from the mushroom sauce and the hint of earthiness from the green beans play well with your salty fried oysters.
Plus, you have the option to serve the oysters alongside the casserole. Or you can ditch the crispy onions and use the fried oysters as a casserole topping. Pretty neat, huh?
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Green bean casserole
Make it easier
Creamy garlic parmesan green beans
Make it simple
Garlic butter green beans
Clam chowder
Clam chowder is typically eaten with oyster crackers, but you can make it even more special by serving it with fried oysters instead. Can you imagine you’ll be dipping your crispy oysters in your chowder’s thick, rich broth? Yum.
And no worries, you won’t need to buy fresh clams for this recipe. In fact, you’re better off using canned clams. They’re easy and convenient, plus this recipe uses their juices to give the chowder an extra burst of flavor.
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New England clam chowder
Another version
Manhattan clam chowder
Skip the seafood
Homemade corn chowder
Roasted asparagus with hollandaise
Roasted asparagus is a classy and versatile side dish that you can whip up at a moment’s notice.
The high heat draws out the asparagus spears’ natural sweetness, making them an excellent side dish to salty, meaty fried oysters.
The hollandaise in this recipe is optional, although it has a mildly tangy flavor that also pairs well with fried oysters. You can opt to use powdered hollandaise, but give Foodie Crush’s recipe a shot — it’s easier than you think.
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Roasted asparagus with hollandaise
Make it indulgent
Cheesy garlic roasted asparagus
Keep it simple
Shaved asparagus salad
New Orleans-style French bread
Fried oysters are good on their own, but have you tried them in a po’boy? A po’boy sandwich is a traditional New Orleans dish and consists of fried seafood inside a crusty New Orleans-style French bread.
Stuff your fried oysters in a crusty po’boy roll with your favorite greens and mayo to complete the meal. And if you’re really hungry, whip up a batch of fries and tartar sauce on the side. Now that’s what I call a feast.
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New Orleans Po’boy rolls
Make a classic
White sandwich bread
An Italian classic
No-knead ciabatta rolls
Corn fritters
If you’re not from the South, you might be unfamiliar with corn fritters. They’re crisp, fluffy morsels studded with sweet corn kernels.
Toss these corn fritters and your fried oysters in one platter for the ultimate mid-afternoon treat. The Gunny Sack recommends serving the fritters with a drizzle of maple syrup, although I’m not sure how that would go with fried oysters. A Cajun remoulade sounds amazing for both treats though!
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Corn fritters
Another Southern classic
Southern hushpuppies
Make it different
Baked corn ribs
Roasted tomato and pepper gazpacho
Fried oysters can get pretty heavy, so I like to serve them with a bowl of gazpacho. It’s a light, cold soup that provides a refreshing contrast to the fried oysters.
And as a bonus: the soup can replace your dipping sauce.
Usually, gazpacho is made with raw vegetables, but using roasted tomatoes and peppers will bring a smoky flavor that takes your gazpacho up a notch.
Living The Gourmet keeps their soup thick and chunky, but you can blend it into a thin, smooth consistency if you like.
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Roasted tomato and pepper gazpacho
Switch it up
Cucumber gazpacho
Make it classic
Authentic gazpacho
What To Serve With Fried Oysters [33 Ideas]
Ingredients
- 1 portion arugula salad
- 1 portion green bean casserole
- 1 portion sauteed zucchini and corn
- 1 portion roasted asparagus with hollandaise
- 1 portion pickled red cabbage
- 1 portion corn nuggets
- … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your fried oysters according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: a simple salad, cheesy grits, oven-baked fries, sauteed zucchini and corn, pickled red cabbage, green bean casserole, clam chowder, roasted asparagus with hollandaise, New Orleans-style French bread, corn nuggets, tomato and pepper gazpacho
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
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