If you’re wondering what to serve with your jambalaya, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 42 of the most popular side dishes for jambalaya.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes to serve with jambalaya are fried okra, honey cornbread, white beans and bacon, and creamed collard greens. A kale salad or a cucumber salad are good lighter options. For fun sides, try blistered shishito peppers, corn ribs, or fried chicken wings.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Fried okra
Want something crunchy to contrast your jambalaya’s soft and tender textures?
Look no further than this cajun fried okra.
They’re deliciously crisp (thanks to the combination of cornmeal and flour) and have none of that slimy texture okra sometimes has!
Pro-tip: don’t cut off the okras’ pointy ends – they’re the best part.
Why we love this recipe: these irresistible treats are made with basic pantry staples.
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Cajun fried okra
Bring out the air fryer
Air fryer okra
Make it tangy
Fried green tomatoes
Cucumber salad
This cucumber salad is the perfect accompaniment if you plan to serve jambalaya at a potluck.
It’s crunchy and refreshing with a creamy sour cream dressing – the perfect contrast to your jambalaya’s spice and heat.
And it’s really easy to put together a massive portion.
Why we love this recipe: it takes five minutes to make.
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Creamy cucumber salad
Add tomatoes
Tomato cucumber salad
Make it Mexican-style
Mexican cucumber salad
White beans and bacon
If you hail from Louisiana, you’ll be used to having beans served up with your jambalaya.
They’re cheap, nutritious, and delicious fried with lots of bacon (isn’t everything?).
Why we love this recipe: it’s dairy free but still nice and creamy.
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White beans and bacon
Use a different bean
Black-eyed peas and bacon
Make a feast
Red beans and rice
Deep-fried chicken wings
For the ultimate crowd-pleasing meal serve your jambalaya with some Cajun fried chicken on top.
There are all sorts of fancy recipes for chicken wings, but this one is a no-frills guide to getting crispy wings – which is all anyone wants!
Why we love this recipe: these homemade chicken wings taste waaaay better than the fast food version.
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Cajun chicken wings
Go for fish
Southern fried catfish
Try something new
Crawfish pistoles
Honey cornbread
You’re getting twice the carbs by pairing cornbread with jambalaya, but it doesn’t hurt to indulge sometimes, right?
And the moist cornbread is perfect for wiping your plate clean at the end of your meal (French bread is also pretty great for this).
Psst… using a skillet gives you the BEST crispy golden edges.
Why we love this recipe: it’s the ideal sweet partner for savory dishes.
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Sweet and moist honey cornbread
Make it fusion
Cheddar garlic cornbread biscuits
Make it different
Creamy cheesy cornbread
Kale salad with dijon vinaigrette
Jambalaya is already a complete meal, so a light salad is an ideal side.
This one features fresh kale, avocado slices, walnuts, and seeds tossed in a simple honey dijon vinaigrette.
The slightly bitter kale is just what you need to offset the deep, smoky flavors of your jambalaya.
Why we love this recipe: it’s easily customizable – you can swap any ingredients you don’t like for your favorites.
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Kale salad with dijon vinaigrette
Keep it simple
Lemon arugula salad with pine nuts
Add a fruity note
Spinach apple salad
Corn maque choux
This classic Cajun dish is a medley of bell peppers, jalapenos, and corn cooked in bacon grease.
If you’ve never tried cooking something in bacon grease before – you’re in for a treat. It’s not the healthiest fat, but it’s undeniably tasty.
Adding heavy cream takes this up a notch, but you can also use broth if you think cream is too much.
Why we love this recipe: it adds a vibrant splash of color to any dish.
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Cajun corn maque choux
Keep it simple
Creamed corn
Make it healthier
Fresh corn and zucchini saute
Cider vinegar braised cabbage wedges
This braised cabbage dish is a simple but nutritious dish made with easily accessible and budget-friendly ingredients.
The cabbage wedges soak up all the tangy goodness from the cider vinegar mixture and get a nice char on the edges.
Yum.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a low-effort dish but looks fancy.
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Cider vinegar braised cabbage wedges
Add a fruity note
Braised red cabbage with red onion and apples
Make it quick
Sauteed cabbage
Blistered shishito peppers
Want more spice with your jambalaya?
It may not be traditional, but these blistered shishito peppers are so addictive I serve them at any opportunity.
Most of these peppers will be pretty mild, but every so often you’ll get one that’s really hot! And there’s no way of telling which one it will be…
Why we love this recipe: it’s a fun side that also works as an appetizer.
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Blistered shishito peppers
Fire up the grill
Grilled shishito peppers
Make a classic
Baked jalapeno poppers
Creamed collard greens
Are Southern-style collard greens getting too predictable?
Give this creamy version a try.
It involves blanched collard greens cooked in a luscious cream sauce and sweet onions to offset their bitterness.
The tender greens are an excellent contrast to your rich, meaty jambalaya.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a nourishing comfort dish.
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Creamed collard greens
Make it decadent
Collard greens au Gratin
Go back to basics
Southern-style collard greens
Homemade French bread rolls
These homemade bread rolls are so warm and fluffy on the inside, with a crunchy crust that’s great for biting into.
Slice one open, butter it and fill it with your jambalaya for a twist on the traditional sloppy joe.
Or if you don’t want to do that, simply dipping them into your rich sauce is amazing too!
Why we love this recipe: even beginner bakers can make them.
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French bread rolls
Make it cheesy
Homemade cheese bread
Add some flavor
Garlic bread
Garlicky balsamic broccolini
Broccolini has a mildly sweet, earthy flavor and a crisp-tender texture (as long as you don’t overcook it).
It’s also a great source of calcium, fiber, and magnesium, making this dish an excellent healthy addition to your jambalaya.
Why we love this recipe: you only need four ingredients to make this.
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Garlicky balsamic broccolini
Fire up the grill
Grilled broccolini with apple cider vinaigrette
Skip the broccolini
Garlic parmesan roasted broccoli
Mango slaw
This mango slaw is a fabulous side to serve with your jambalaya.
It’s lighter than your usual coleslaw because it has a lime juice vinaigrette instead of a mayo-based dressing.
And it is full of color so it makes the plate look really appetizing.
Psst… peaches and apples work well too.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a tropical dish that’s perfect for the summer.
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Mango slaw
Skip the mangoes
Pineapple slaw
Make it tropical
Mango spring rolls
Corn ribs
With a dish as loaded as jambalaya, sometimes all you want is a simple side.
But simple doesn’t have to mean boring.
These corn ribs are covered in a BBQ spice blend and topped with fresh herbs (plus some cheese if you fancy).
Why we love this recipe: it’s a TikTok phenomenon.
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Corn ribs
Keep it simple
Roasted balsamic vegetables
Go traditional
Grilled corn on the cob
What To Serve With Jambalaya
Ingredients
- 1 portion jambalaya
Instructions
- Prepare your jambalaya according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: fried okra, cucumber salad, white beans and bacon, deep-fried chicken wings, honey cornbread, kale salad with dijon vinaigrette, corn maque choux, cider vinegar braised cabbage wedges, blistered shishito peppers, creamed collard greens, homemade french bread rolls, garlicky balsamic broccolini, mango slaw, and corn ribs.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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