If you’re wondering what to serve with your oyster stew, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 33 of the most popular side dishes for oyster stew.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with oyster stew are rosemary roast potatoes, seed crackers, sweet tea fried chicken, and fried mussels. You can also try warm mushroom bacon spinach salad, cheddar scallion biscuits, pickled jalapenos, homemade croutons, or okra hushpuppies.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Sweet tea fried chicken
Fried chicken usually starts with a buttermilk brine, but have you ever tried using sweet tea?
It may sound odd, but it gives your chicken an irresistible sweet-but-salty twist.
Psst… brine the chicken for at least 48 hours for maximum flavor.
Enjoy the crunchy chicken with a piping hot bowl of oyster stew for the ultimate Southern-inspired comfort meal.
Why we love this recipe: everyone will be begging for second helpings.
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Sweet tea fried chicken
Stick with the classics
Buttermilk fried chicken
Go veggie
Fried oyster mushrooms
Crispy shredded brussels sprouts
Jazz up your oyster stew with a topping of these brussels sprouts!
The shredded sprouts will get extra crispy under high heat, so you can think of them kind of like croutons.
They’re not short on flavor either, with a sprinkling of parmesan adding a nutty, umami boost.
Pro-tip: use a food processor or mandoline to easily shred the sprouts.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a fun way to get more vegetables onto the plate.
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Crispy shredded brussels sprouts
Ditch the oven
Deep-fried brussels sprouts
Make it different
French fried onions (copycat)
Cheddar scallion biscuits
Stick to the classics with some biscuits.
These biscuits are extra soft and flakey, making them ideal for soaking up your oyster stew’s broth.
The secret?
Freezing the butter and then grating it into the flour instead of cubing it. Genius!
Why we love this recipe: these will flood your kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma as they bake.
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Cheddar scallion biscuits
Make a Southern favorite
Buttermilk skillet cornbread
Make a classic
Homemade garlic bread
Okra hush puppies
Hush puppies and seafood go together like strawberries and cream.
But these aren’t your ordinary hush puppies, they’re studded with okra to give them a uniquely grassy flavor.
And the best part? These are super budget friendly and most of the ingredients are store cupboard essentials.
Pro tip: slice the okra thinly to ensure they cook through.
Why we love this recipe: these won’t last long on the table.
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Okra hush puppies
Stick with the basics
Southern hush puppies
Add heat
Jalapeno hushpuppies
Pickled jalapenos
These homemade pickled jalapenos are an excellent addition to your oyster stew.
They have a delightful tangy flavor with a hint of spice that helps balance out your rich stew.
Plus the green color will look great against the creamy broth.
Psst… the jalapenos will mellow out the longer they sit in the fridge.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a foolproof recipe.
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Pickled jalapenos
Ditch the heat
Quick pickled sweet peppers
Skip the peppers
Quick pickled red onions
Rosemary roast potatoes
One of my favorite things about the holidays are roast potatoes. I serve them any chance I get, and they happen to be great for dipping into some oyster stew!
These spuds are parboiled with rosemary sprigs, infusing them with a fresh, earthy flavor.
Then they’re roasted in a preheated baking dish, which makes them extra crispy. YUM!
Why we love this recipe: it fits with the festive theme.
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Rosemary roast potatoes
Make it fun
Baked potato skins
Make it crunchy
Air fryer potato chips
Seed crackers
Oyster stew is usually served with oyster crackers, but why not switch things up with these homemade seed crackers?
They’re made with five kinds of seeds and no flour, making them gluten-free and super healthy.
Pro-tip: thicker crackers are sturdier but will need a longer baking time.
Why we love this recipe: they’re way better than store-bought crackers.
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Ultimate seed crackers
Make it cheesy
Homemade rosemary cheddar cheese crackers
Make it quick
Parmesan herb wonton crisps
Bacon twists
Who needs breadsticks when you can have these bacon twists? They’re not exactly healthy, but who cares when they taste this good?
The sticks are flavored with sugar and cayenne pepper, giving your bacon a spicy twist.
And they couldn’t be simpler to make – just twist each bacon slice, season, and bake.
Why we love this recipe: bacon makes everything better.
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Bacon twists
Make it fancy
Herbed cheesy puff pastry straws
Make it different
Prosciutto parmesan cheese straws
Warm mushroom bacon spinach salad
This unique winter salad features a warm dressing made with bacon drippings and balsamic vinegar.
This gives your regular spinach salad a delicious savory-tart bite that melds so well with the salty oyster stew.
Psst… you can make the dressing ahead of time and reheat it later if you need.
Why we love this recipe: it’s the most addicting salad I’ve ever had.
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Warm mushroom bacon spinach salad
Keep it simple
Lemon parmesan kale salad
Skip the leafy greens
Shaved brussels sprouts salad
Homemade garlic butter croutons
Go simple and beef up your oyster stew with these homemade croutons.
They’re super easy to make at home, and you can flavor them however you want.
This recipe goes for a traditional garlic butter mixture seasoning, but to mix things up you can add things like chili powder, parmesan cheese, or your favorite herb.
Why we love this recipe: there’s only 5 minutes of hands on prep involved.
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Homemade garlic butter croutons
Make it different
Cornbread croutons
Make it low-carb
Parmesan keto croutons
Fried mussels
Another crunchy topping you could go for are these fried mussels.
The batter includes sumac, which is a dried berry powder with a uniquely lemony flavor.
If you’ve never tried it, you’re in for a real treat!
Psst… for best results use the freshest mussels you can find.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a celebration of seafood.
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Fried mussels
Skip the seafood
Fried oyster mushrooms
Make it tangy
Pickled mussels
The best side dishes for oyster stew
- Sweet tea fried chicken
- Crispy shredded brussels sprouts
- Cheddar scallion biscuits
- Okra hush puppies
- Pickled jalapenos
- Rosemary roast potatoes
- Seed crackers
- Bacon twists
- Warm mushroom bacon spinach salad
- Homemade garlic butter croutons
- Fried mussels
What To Serve With Oyster Stew
Ingredients
- 1 portion oyster stew
Instructions
- Prepare your oyster stew according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: sweet tea fried chicken, crispy shredded brussels sprouts, cheddar scallion biscuits, okra hush puppies, pickled jalapenos, rosemary roast potatoes, seed crackers, bacon twists, warm mushroom bacon spinach salad, homemade garlic butter croutons, and fried mussels.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!