Summer Side Dishes For Chicken are the ultimate way to brighten up your seasonal menu and keep things feeling light. These recipes focus on fresh produce and vibrant flavors that perfectly complement various styles of poultry.
Finding the right accompaniment can transform a simple meal into a memorable outdoor dining experience. You will discover a variety of textures and tastes in this collection that are designed to make your kitchen time both efficient and enjoyable.
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Zucchini Sauce with Heavy Cream
This rich and velvety sauce is a fantastic way to utilize a summer garden surplus of zucchini. It transforms a simple piece of poultry into a gourmet meal, especially when served over a bed of warm pasta alongside your favorite cut of meat.
Zucchini Sauce with Heavy Cream
This Creamy Zucchini Sauce with Heavy Cream is a fantastic addition to any meal. It's rich, flavorful, and so easy to make. Whether you’re serving it over pasta or alongside your favorite main course, this sauce is sure to impress. Try it out for your next family dinner—it’s a winner!
Combining protein-packed chickpeas with sweet corn makes this a hearty yet fresh addition to your table. It is one of those summer side dishes with chicken that works perfectly for a quick lunch or a large weekend gathering.
Chickpea Salad with Corn recipe
Here's one simple chickpea side dish recipe! This Chickpea Salad with Corn is a perfect go-to recipe when you want something quick, healthy, and delicious. It’s fresh, flavorful, and packed with nutrients. Try it out for your next meal or gathering, and enjoy the simplicity of this delightful dish. Give this recipe a try and see how a great combo chickpea and corn are!
I chose this recipe because it captures the essence of peak-season tomatoes without requiring you to turn on the stove for long. This zesty sauce is incredible when spooned over freshly cooked breast meat for a burst of acidic brightness.
Roasted Cherry Tomato No-cook Recipe
This roasted cherry tomato sauce is not just easy and quick to prepare, but it’s also incredibly tasty and versatile. Give it a try tonight as the perfect addition to your dinner table, whether you’re dressing up a pasta dish, spooning it over grilled chicken, or dipping your favorite chips. It’s especially ideal for casual dinners or when you need a quick sauce that impresses without any fuss.
These crunchy fries are a healthy alternative to traditional potatoes and are guaranteed to disappear quickly at any party. They are fantastic easy summer side dishes for grilled chicken when you want a finger-food option that isn’t heavy.
Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
Check out this healthy air fryer zucchini fries recipe! This simple recipe not only adds a burst of flavor to your snack time but also offers a way to enjoy vegetables in a fun and tasty format. Try them out and see how quickly they disappear at your next gathering!
This light and protein-rich salad provides a cool, refreshing contrast to warm meats on a hot July afternoon. It keeps the meal healthy and satisfying, ensuring everyone at the table stays happy without feeling overstuffed.
Simple Cottage Cheese Salad
This Simple Cottage Cheese Salad is not only easy to prepare but also brings a refreshing touch to any meal, especially during the summer months. It’s a light, protein-rich option that will keep everyone at the table happy and healthy!
The peppery bite of radishes pairs beautifully with the hydrating crunch of cucumbers in this vibrant bowl. It serves as a great palate cleanser between bites of savory poultry and is especially lovely for spring or summer celebrations.
Cucumber Salad with Radish
This Cucumber Salad with Radish is not only easy to make but also brimming with freshness. It's perfect for spring gatherings, Easter celebrations, or any time you crave something light and refreshing. Give this easy recipe a try and see how simple ingredients can come together to create a dish that's both delightful and satisfying. Don’t forget to invite your friends and family to try this fantastic salad at your next get-together!
These veggie-packed tots are a clever way to get kids to eat their greens while enjoying a fun, snackable side. They are perfect for lunch boxes or as a playful, nutritious addition to a casual weekend dinner.
Oven Baked Zucchini Carrot Tots
These zucchini carrot tots are a delicious, veggie-packed treat that’s perfect for any occasion, from casual snacking to dinner parties. Give them a try for your next gathering or lunch box addition—they’re sure to be a hit with everyone!
Mushrooms and cream create a timeless flavor profile that complements the mild taste of poultry perfectly. Serve this during a more formal dinner party to give your main course a luxurious and comforting finish that guests will love.
Simple Creamy Mushroom Sauce
This Simple Creamy Mushroom Sauce is a delightful addition to any meal. It’s rich, comforting, and incredibly easy to make. I invite you to give this recipe a try—it’s perfect for dinner parties, family meals, or just treating yourself to something tasty!
Watercress offers a unique, slightly spicy flavor that makes this salad stand out from your typical leafy greens. It is a beautiful and nutritious way to round out your plate while maintaining a light and airy caloric footprint.
Healthy Watercress Salad Recipe
This Watercress Salad recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy a light, healthy, and flavorful meal that’s both easy to prepare and beautiful to present. Perfect for a quick lunch, a side at dinner, or as part of your next gathering, it brings a refreshing touch to any meal. Give this fresh watercress salad a try and enjoy the vibrant flavors and health benefits today!
This fiber-rich salad is filling and satisfying, making it a great choice for those who want a more substantial accompaniment. The refreshing dressing makes it one of the best summer chicken side dishes for a backyard picnic or potluck.
Healthy Kidney Bean Salad
This Healthy Kidney Bean Salad is a delightful and easy recipe that’s perfect for any occasion. Give it a try—you’ll love how refreshing and satisfying it is! It’s especially great for summer days but enjoyable all year round. So why not make it for your next meal? You won’t be disappointed!
This cheesy bake uses a garlic Alfredo sauce to create a decadent side that everyone will find irresistible. It is a fantastic option when you need a crowd-pleasing casserole that combines the best of summer squash and tender potatoes.
Zucchini Potato Bake
Creamy, cheesy Zucchini Potato Bake in a garlic Alfredo sauce. This potato bake recipe has simple ingredients, comes together quickly and tastes so good!
Featuring feta cheese, kalamata olives, and a zesty vinaigrette, this classic salad brings a taste of the Mediterranean to your home. It provides a sharp, salty contrast that pairs exceptionally well with herb-marinated grilled meats.
Greek Salad
This easy Greek salad is made with plum tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, bell pepper, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese tossed with a lemon and red wine vinegar vinaigrette dressing.
You only need ten minutes to whip up this simple yet elegant dish that highlights the natural sweetness of vine-ripened tomatoes. The garlic and balsamic infusion creates a deep flavor that enhances any simple grilled meal with minimal effort.
Balsamic Tomato Salad
It takes less than 10 minutes to toss together this fresh tomato salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic.
Combining snap-fresh green beans with juicy tomatoes and olives makes this a textured and colorful side. It is light, seasonal, and captures the very best flavors of a summer harvest in every single bite.
Tomato Green Bean Salad
A fresh summer tomato and green bean salad with cucumbers, olives, and herbs. Easy, light, and full of seasonal flavor!
Lime juice and parmesan cheese add a bright and savory finish to this quick ten-minute vegetable sauté. It is a versatile dish that goes with almost anything, making it a reliable staple in your summer recipe rotation.
Zucchini And Corn
Need more zucchini recipes? Here’s an easy, healthy vegetable side dish you can whip up in 10 minutes! Tossed with corn, lime juice, and parmesan cheese, this zucchini and corn side dish is the one for you! Who doesn’t love any easy side dish that goes with everything? I know I do!
Though traditional in Ireland, this mashed potato and kale dish is a deeply satisfying comfort food for cooler summer evenings. It is a budget-friendly option that pairs wonderfully with ham or savory poultry sausages.
Colcannon
On cool fall nights, when you’re hungry for something warm and deeply satisfying, make colcannon. It’s easy to make, hearty, and very affordable – requiring only a few simple ingredients. Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made with mashed potatoes, kale or cabbage, milk, and butter. Occasionally, other ingredients are added as well such as laver (a type of seaweed), parsnips, green onions, leeks, or onions. It’s commonly served with ham, sausages, or bacon.
This mayo-free version of the classic broccoli salad uses a tangy dressing that keeps it light and picnic-friendly. It is a smart choice for outdoor events where you want a crunchy side that stays fresh and safe in the sun.
Vegan Broccoli Salad
Our easy vegan broccoli salad recipe combines fresh broccoli with sweet and savory mix-ins, and a delicious tangy dressing you’re going to LOVE. (No mayo required!)
Loaded with mozzarella and Italian dressing, this pasta salad is an easy lunch or dinner side that scales up easily for big groups. It is among the most popular summer side dishes for fried chicken because it balances the richness of the meat.
The Best Italian Pasta Salad
If you don’t have a big bowl of this easy pasta salad in your fridge… you’re missing out! It’s the easiest quick lunch/dinner.side-dish ever! You’ll love this pasta salad recipe because it makes a huge bowl, tastes incredible, and is easily adaptable. Loaded with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh herbs, and Italian dressing.
Israeli couscous and avocado give this arugula salad a sophisticated texture and plenty of healthy fats. The basil vinaigrette ties it all together, making it a hit at any sophisticated garden party or brunch.
Summer Arugula Salad
Summer Arugula Salad with Israeli couscous, avocado, corn, tomatoes, cheese, pepitas, and a simple basil vinaigrette. Everyone loves this fresh and easy salad.
This nostalgic recipe uses red onions and fresh dill to recreate the classic flavors often found at a grandmother’s table. It is incredibly easy to prepare and provides a cooling effect that is perfect for intense summer grilling sessions.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad – just like Grandma made! This classic recipe is made with fresh cucumbers, red onions, fresh dill, and a handful of other ingredients for a side dish that everyone will love. It’s light, creamy, and incredibly easy to make. The perfect salad for picnics, pot lucks, or summer grilling!
This low-calorie and vegan-friendly salad is a great option for those focusing on healthy, weight-loss-friendly eating. It is simple, fresh, and relies on the quality of its basic ingredients to deliver a significant flavor punch.
Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
Mediterranean cucumber tomato salad with red onion is an easy low-calorie summer side that’s vegan, healthy, and weight-loss friendly.
White beans add a creamy texture and plenty of plant-based protein to this colorful medley of summer produce. It is naturally gluten-free and works well as a filling base for a light and healthy seasonal lunch.
White Bean Salad with Summer Vegetables
White bean salad with summer vegetables is an easy to make, filling and delicious. It’s full of protein, naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Griddled halloumi and peaches provide a delightful mix of salty and sweet that will surprise and delight your guests. This zesty arugula-based salad is a gourmet choice for anyone looking to try something unique and impressive this season.
Halloumi Salad
In this halloumi salad recipe, halloumi and peaches are griddled and mixed with peppery arugula, fresh cucumber, and a zesty citrus dressing.
This salad celebrates the peak of corn season by mixing it with other fresh ingredients for a quick and crunchy treat. It is a beloved staple for barbecues and potlucks because of its natural, crowd-pleasing sweetness.
Summer Corn Salad
This Summer Corn Salad combines summer’s freshest ingredients. It’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, potlucks or whenever! A quick and easy salad recipe that everyone loves!
Simmered in butter and brown sugar, these tender carrot coins provide a sweet element that balances a savory main course. They are a classic side that children particularly enjoy, especially when finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Glazed Carrots
These glazed carrots are tender carrot coins simmered in a mixture of brown sugar and butter and topped with a sprinkling of parsley.
Brown Butter Green Beans with Toasted Pistachios and Lemony Whipped Feta
This dish offers a sophisticated upgrade to traditional beans, featuring the nutty aroma of brown butter and a creamy whipped feta base. It is an effortlessly chic option that will surely be the talk of your next summer dinner party.
Brown Butter Green Beans with Toasted Pistachios and Lemony Whipped Feta
Your traditional green bean casserole called, and it got a massively delicious upgrade. Introducing my Brown Butter Green Beans with Toasted Pistachios and Lemony Whipped Feta – a fun, flavorful dish that’s full of fall flavors and is effortlessly chic.
A gluten-free coleslaw is an essential addition to any outdoor feast involving grilled or crispy poultry. The fresh cabbage and carrots provide a necessary crunch that makes it one of the most reliable summer side dishes with chicken.
Light and Crunchy Coleslaw
This Light and Crunchy Coleslaw recipe is full of fresh cabbage and carrots. It’s the perfect gluten free addition to a summer picnic or BBQ!
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the creative recipe developers and food bloggers who shared these wonderful culinary creations for everyone to enjoy.
Laura Bais is the owner of Julie's Cafe Bakery food blog. From a young age, she had a passion for cooking, and at the age of 13, she made her first meal. After finishing high school, she undergraduates in Cultural Studies at the University of Rijeka, and graduates in Journalism at the University of Zagreb. At that time she honed her cooking skills, but also worked in marketing. Since her love for cooking never faded, in 2021 she finally decided to share her recipes with the world. Laura turned her hobby into a career and loves every moment of it. Now she writes about common mistakes in the kitchen and how to avoid them, about adding twists to traditional meals, etc. Her love for trying new foods often leads her to visit restaurants and attempt to recreate the meals at home. She has been featured on F and B Recipes and BOXROX, to name a few.