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

In this article, I list 52 of the most popular side dishes for orange chicken.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with scallops are spring pea risotto, crispy polenta slices, pasta aglio e olio, and grilled asparagus. You can also serve parsnip puree, creamed spinach, corn succotash, kale orange salad, and pineapple salsa. For a surf and turf meal, try them with filet mignon.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Crispy polenta slices

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/511862313909981258/

Frying polenta is a fun and tasty twist to its usual porridge-like consistency.

The crunchy parmesan and panko crust and creamy interiors are an excellent complement to your tender scallops.

Just add your choice of marinara or pesto sauce to complete the meal.

Why we love this recipe: you can make them healthier by air frying them!

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Pan-fried polenta slices
Fire up the grill
Grilled polenta
Make it indulgent
Polenta florentine

Pasta aglio e olio

Scallops are superb with loads of pasta dishes, but I especially love them with aglio e olio.

The pasta has tons of garlic flavor and a touch of heat from the chilis.

It’s flavorful but light enough that it won’t overwhelm your scallops.

Why we like this recipe: it’s super simple to make and you probably already have all the ingredients.

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Pasta aglio e olio
Make it healthy
Spaghetti aglio e olio with vegetables
Change the flavor
Lemony spaghetti aglio e olio with arugula and pancetta

Grilled asparagus

Planning on grilling your scallops? Hit two birds with one stone and toss some asparagus spears beside them.

Grilling the asparagus enhances their sweet, earthy flavor that goes nicely with the scallops.

I like to have them with beurre blanc sauce to add a refreshing, tangy bite.

Why we love this recipe: you only need 17 minutes to whip up a family-sized serving of these grilled asparagus.

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Grilled asparagus
Skip the grill
Oven-roasted asparagus with garlic parmesan
Make it decadent
Asparagus gratin

Parsnip puree

Serve your seared scallops over a bed of parsnip puree for a simple, restaurant-worthy meal.

Unlike its cousin carrots, parsnips are less sweet, with a nutty and mildly earthy flavor enhanced by adding rosemary and garlic.

Why we love this recipe: it’s rich and creamy, an excellent complement to your scallops.

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Parsnip puree
Add carrots
Roasted carrot and parsnip puree
Make it low-carb
Roasted garlic mashed cauliflower

Creamed spinach

Have you ever tried scallops with creamed spinach?

The combination of the creamy sauce and tender, buttery greens give a major flavor boost to your simple seared scallops.

Why we love this recipe: it calls for the addition of nutmeg and paprika, making the cream sauce more flavorful.

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Steakhouse creamed spinach
Make it healthier
Skinny creamed spinach
Make it dairy-free
Vegan creamed spinach

Sauteed green beans with cherry tomatoes

Jazz up your usual sauteed green beans by adding cherry tomatoes to the mix.

Not only do they look appetizing, but the tomatoes also add a tasty burst of acidic and sweet flavors, making this dish even more delicious.

Serve alongside your seared scallops for a complete, healthy meal.

Why we love this recipe: it’s an easy-to-make side that won’t overpower your main dish.

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Sauteed green beans with cherry tomatoes
Ditch the stovetop
Roasted garlic parmesan green beans with tomatoes
Make a salad
Green beans Caprese salad

Corn succotash

Brighten your scallops with a serving of this vibrant corn succotash.

This dish is chock-full of colorful produce with varying textures and flavors that give you a satisfying bite.

Why we love this dish: not only is it deliciously filling, it’s super healthy too!

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Corn succotash
Make it savory
Southern succotash with bacon
Make a salad
Basil and feta corn salad

Filet mignon

Whip up a classic luxurious surf and turf meal by pairing your scallops with a beautiful filet steak.

This cut is expensive because it’s tender, flavorful, and oh-so-buttery – just what you need with your scallops.

Why we love this recipe: it’s probably the most comprehensive filet steak recipe on the Internet.

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Best filet mignon
Add bacon
Bacon-wrapped filet mignon
Make it affordable
Marinated flank steak

Kale orange salad

A side salad is the best accompaniment to your scallops if you want to keep things simple.

I especially like this kale orange salad.

It’s perfectly balanced, with a delicious combination of tangy, salty, and bitter flavors that help brighten your main dish.

Why we love this recipe: it’s highly nutritious and a unique take on the usual citrus salads.

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Kale orange salad
Make it hearty
Kale and quinoa salad with lemon vinaigrette
Skip the kale
Orange and arugula salad

Israeli couscous

Want a starchy alternative to your usual rice dish?

Try couscous – it gives you more protein, vitamins, and minerals than regular rice.

Still, adding vegetables like spinach and mushroom to the mix can make it even healthier.

Why we love this recipe: it’s incredibly simple to cook without lacking in flavor.

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Israeli couscous with spinach and mushrooms
Make it simple
Lemon-infused Israeli couscous
Make it low-carb
Mushroom cauliflower rice

Ratatouille

This show-stopping veggie side dish is a fantastic addition to your scallops.

It features tender slices of zucchini, tomatoes, and eggplant drenched in a robust tomato and red bell pepper sauce.

Imagine drizzling your scallops with this fiery red, flavorful sauce. Yum!

Why we love this recipe: it takes the tomato sauce up a notch by adding paprika and cream.

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Smoky and creamy ratatouille
Change the flavor
Pesto ratatouille
Make it easy
Dump and bake ratatouille

Italian salsa verde

This isn’t a side dish, but it’d be remiss not to have your scallops with this tasty sauce.

It has sharp, salty, and tangy flavors – the perfect contrast to your scallop’s subtle sweetness.

Why we love this recipe: basil and chopped cornichons are added, making this sauce even more flavorful.

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Italian salsa verde
Make another Italian classic
Basil pesto
Go Argentinian
Chimichurri

Sauteed mushrooms

Inject your humble scallops with yummy umami flavors by serving them with these sauteed mushrooms.

Mushrooms are already loaded with umami – but cooking them with balsamic vinegar amps up the flavor massively.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

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Sauteed mushrooms with balsamic glaze
Make it creamy
Creamy garlic mushrooms
Add more umami
Garlic mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes

Pineapple salsa

Crown your scallops with a spoonful of this pineapple salsa.

Combining sweet pineapples, bell peppers, lightly spicy jalapenos, sharp onions, zesty lime, and cilantro – this salsa is chock full of bright, zippy flavors.

Why we love this recipe: it’s a light and refreshing addition to your delicate scallops.

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Pineapple salsa
Add another fruity note
Mango pineapple salsa
Go back to basics
Pico de gallo

The best side dishes for scallops

Crispy polenta slices
Pasta aglio e olio
Grilled asparagus
Parsnip puree
Creamed spinach
Sauteed green beans with cherry tomatoes
Corn succotash
Filet mignon
Kale orange salad
Israeli couscous
Ratatouille
Italian salsa verde
Sauteed mushrooms
Pineapple salsa