Name: What To Serve With Turnip Greens
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 portion turnip greens

Table of Contents

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

In this article, I list 13 of the most popular side dishes for turnip greens.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes to serve turnip greens are smothered pork chops, panko-crusted chicken strips, and smoked turkey. If you want something that can soak up a sauce, choose cornbread or garlic mashed potatoes. For more fun sides, serve maple candied bacon or apple slaw.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Panko-crusted chicken strips

Want something simple but filling?

Then these panko-crusted chicken strips are it.

Fun and delicious – they’re a light protein to pair with your savory turnip greens.

The crust brings a crunchy texture with every bite and you can even make a dip for them.

Cooking therapy shows you exactly how to make this dish your own (along with his honey mustard dip).

Creamy pepper sauce

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/172192385742235754/

A simple pepper sauce can do wonders for a root veggie like turnip greens.

It will give the vegetables a nice pick-me-up and mean you’re not serving the same old side every time.

Check out simply delicious for the full recipe.

Cornbread

From one quintessential Southern side to another.

Turnip greens and cornbread belong on the plate together, along with whatever saucy, sauce main staple you’re serving.

This easy Southern cornbread is crumbly, buttery, and oh-so-delicious.

That cornbread recipe is pretty plain, but feel free to jazz it up by adding different ingredients like jalapenos or cheese.

Psst… both these sides go great with neck bones too.

Apple slaw

Turnip greens can feel quite earthy and wintery, and serving them with a slaw will help to brighten things up.

I find apple slaw particularly refreshing.

It’s crunchy, with a light vinaigrette that will cut through the richness of your meal.

You can easily make this apple slaw in less than 20 minutes, so it’s the perfect addition to a last-minute party.

Smoked turkey

Planning a Thanksgiving dinner party?

Serve some beautiful smoked turkey along with your healthy greens.

Smoked turkey is juicy and packed with savory flavors – just like your turnip greens.

And its homemade smoke rub gives it a spicy kick that differentiates it from traditional turkey.

Don’t forget a glass of your favorite wine as well.

Garlic mashed potatoes

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/281543718429822/

Who can resist a good old creamy mashed potato?

It’s filling, hearty, and takes you right back to your grandmother’s house.

It’s also a delicious carb that won’t outshine the peppery but sweet flavor of your turnip greens.

Check out Meghan’s creamy garlic mashed potatoes here.

And if you’re looking for a low-carb alternative, make mashed cauliflower instead. And in the summer you can pivot to a potato salad.

Cheesy lasagna

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/621778292319177890/

Nothing beats a cozy home-cooked meal like a cheesy lasagna.

And turnip greens are an equally comforting veggie side dish.

The combination of the two make for a healthy, satisfying meal that will warm your insides.

Follow simply scratch for this saucy lasagna recipe.

Psst… any pasta dish will do, I’m a big fan of macaroni and cheese too.

Rosemary turnip fries

Have you heard of eating nose to tail?

It normally applies to meat, but you can apply it to vegetables too.

You’ve got turnip greens, and with the root of the vegetable, you can make these crispy turnip fries.

Kimberly flavors hers with rosemary, but if you want something spicier you can use cayenne pepper. Or you can keep things simple with just salt and pepper.

Pork chops in creamy mushroom sauce

Turnips greens have a bitter undertone to them, which means they work well with creamy meat mains like pork chops.

These creamy pork chops are bursting at the seams with umami flavor from the mushrooms and they only take 30 minutes to cook.

They make a great mid-week meal.

Maple candied bacon

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1143844005331753473/

I hear you… Southern turnip greens are usually topped with bacon bits.

But if you love bacon as I do, you can never have too much of it.

Add a side of tall crispy bacon and you’ll have a satisfying texture combination of soft veggies and crunchy pork.

This maple candied bacon is amazing! You won’t be able to stop snacking.

Green bean salad

This salad could be your next favorite thing (if it’s not already your favorite thing!).

Think all the best beans (kidney, garbanzo, and green beans) mixed up with a zesty dressing.

A crunchy, cooling way to beat hot days.

Pair your three-bean salad with turnip greens and you’ve got a wonderful contrast of savory and refreshing flavors.

Cheesy scrambled eggs

Collard greens don’t just have to be for dinner.

They can make a great healthy breakfast too mixed into some scrambled eggs.

I like to add some shredded cheese too. It gives a major flavor boost for not much more work.

Get the fluffiest cheesy scrambled eggs ever with this recipe.

Oven-baked BBQ ribs

Want to go on a culinary adventure?

Serve your collard greens with a generous helping of these BBQ ribs.

The juicy, fall-off-the-bone ribs are covered in a sticky sweet glaze that will leave you licking your fingers.

Y-U-M.

Cooking the meat will take some time (around 3.5 hours), but it will all be worth it once you get a taste of these oven-baked ribs.

The best sides to serve with turnip greens

Panko-crusted chicken strips
Creamy pepper sauce
Cornbread
Apple slaw
Smoked turkey
Garlic mashed potatoes
Cheesy lasagna
Rosemary turnip fries
Pork chops in creamy mushroom sauce
Maple candied bacon
Green bean salad
Cheesy scrambled eggs
Oven-baked BBQ ribs