Barbecued chicken is a summertime favorite for good reason – it’s fast, easy, and delicious! The beautiful thing about BBQ chicken is that it goes well with so many different side dishes, making it an extremely versatile main course option. When cooking up a batch of barbecued chicken, it’s important to think about what sides will perfectly complement the smoky, tangy flavors. Here are some of the best options for what to serve alongside your fallen-off-the-bone BBQ chicken.
Salads
Fresh, light salads are a fantastic choice to serve with saucy, messy barbecued chicken. The cool crispness balances out the savory decadence of the chicken, allowing you to enjoy the best of both worlds. Here are some salads that pair especially nicely.
Classic Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a classic BBQ side for good reason – the sweet cabbage and carrots are the perfect foil for barbecued meat. The acidity in the pickled vegetables cuts through the rich fattiness of chicken skin, while the crunch provides an appealing textural contrast.
To make classic coleslaw, simply toss shredded cabbage and carrots with mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and pepper. For even more flavor, try adding sliced onions, chopped parsley or cilantro, a touch of mustard, or a few shakes of celery seed. Serve the coleslaw chilled right alongside your hot BBQ chicken.
Broccoli Salad
Another excellent salad choice is broccoli salad loaded up with lots of chopped raw broccoli florets, dried cranberries, shredded cheese, and bacon. Toss the broccoli and mix-ins with a sweet dressing made with mayo, sugar, and vinegar. The combination of flavors and textures makes this salad the perfect pairing for your barbecue chicken.
The slight bitterness of the broccoli is balanced out by the sweetness of the dressing and dried fruit. The bacon adds a smoky, salty pop of flavor that brings out the savory notes in the BBQ chicken even more. Crunchy and fresh, this salad cools your mouth between bites of chicken.
Mediterranean Chopped Salad
For a more hearty salad, try a Mediterranean chopped salad packed with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, and chickpeas. Toss with a lemony vinaigrette and serve alongside your chicken for a nice Mediterranean-flair meal. The briny olives, creamy cheese, and fresh vegetables make for a bright, tasty counterpart to the BBQ flavors.
Watermelon Feta Salad
If you want something on the lighter, fruitier side, then a watermelon feta salad is sure to hit the spot. Dice up juicy watermelon and combine it with crumbled feta, fresh mint, and a squeeze of lime. The sweetness of the watermelon paired with the salty creaminess of the feta cheese makes for an incredibly refreshing salad when served with barbecue chicken.
Pasta Salads
Chilled pasta salads are another excellent choice for what to serve with BBQ chicken. The starchiness of the noodles along with zesty flavors like pesto or vinaigrette perfectly complement the savory chicken. Here are some fantastic pasta salad options.
Macaroni Salad
For a classic backyard BBQ side, you can’t go wrong with macaroni salad loaded up with diced vegetables. Cook up some elbow macaroni and toss with mayo, mustard, chopped celery, shredded carrots, diced onions, relish, and seasonings. The starchy noodles soak up the creamy dressing and provide a wholesome base alongside the barbecue chicken.
Italian Pasta Salad
An Italian-themed pasta salad with salami, tomatoes, mozzarella, peppers, onions, olives, and a red wine vinaigrette also makes for a tasty BBQ chicken pairing. The sharp, briny flavors enhance the smoky notes of the chicken beautifully. Serve chilled for a fresh and filling salad the whole family will love.
Greek Pasta Salad
For a Greek-style pasta salad, combine cooked penne with chopped cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta, and red onion, all tossed in a lemony dressing. The cool, bright flavors are absolutely delicious served with your savory BBQ chicken. It’s like a deconstructed Greek salad in pasta form!
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
If you want to get creative, try making Buffalo chicken pasta salad with some leftover BBQ chicken. Dice and mix the chicken with cooked rotini, cheddar cheese, celery, and Buffalo sauce or ranch dressing. The spicy, creamy pasta salad is the ultimate pairing with your additional BBQ chicken – like Buffalo wings turned into a hearty, delicious pasta dish!
Baked Beans
No barbecue would be complete without a side of baked beans. The sweet and smoky beans are practically made for serving with BBQ chicken. The creamy legumes soak up the tangy barbecue sauce beautifully, making for finger-licking good comfort food. Here are some varieties to try:
Traditional Baked Beans
The classic baked bean recipe combines navy beans with bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, onion, and barbecue sauce. Bake until the beans become soft and saucy. The sweetness and smokiness are perfect alongside your chicken.
Cowboy Beans
For cowboy beans, add extras like ground beef, tangy BBQ sauce, chili sauce, bell peppers, pepperoncini, and different seasonings into the bean mix before baking. This amped up version is packed with spicy Tex-Mex flavor.
Bourbon Baked Beans
For an adult spin, splash in some bourbon along with molasses, maple syrup, and coffee to make bourbon baked beans. The blend of sweet and boozy flavors take these beans over the top.
Southern-style Collard Greens and Black Eyed Peas
For a more classic Southern soul food take, try serving collard greens and black eyed peas with your chicken. Slow cook the greens with smoked ham hocks and serve the hearty braised greens with creamy black eyed peas, rice, and your barbecue chicken for the full experience.
Slaw-topped Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are a beloved barbecue staple. To switch things up, try topping your spuds with tangy coleslaw for a perfect meal accompaniment.
Simply bake some russet potatoes until tender all the way through. Slice them open and top with butter, sour cream, chopped green onions, cheese, and a heaping scoop of your favorite coleslaw. The creamy potato, richness of the butter and sour cream, and the freshness of the slaw makes for an unbeatable combo.
Corn on the Cob
Don’t forget simple corn on the cob – those sweet, juicy kernels are always a perfect pairing for savory meats straight off the grill. Slather your grilled corn with compound butter spiked with lime, chili powder, herbs, or other fun flavors to complement the barbecue chicken even more.
Charred and slightly caramelized grilled corn brings out the summery essence of BBQ chicken. For added texture, sprinkle the corn with cotija cheese or tajin seasoning. Grab the corn with one hand and a chicken leg with the other for quintessential backyard dining.
Potato Salad
Creamy, cool potato salads are pretty much required at any cookout. And it’s no surprise, as the pillowy potato chunks pair so perfectly with saucy, messy meats. The starchiness helps soak up the juices and sauces, while the mayo-based dressing provides a luscious counterpart to the chicken.
Some easy ways to spice up traditional potato salad include adding in bacon, hard boiled egg, pickles, mustard, celery, onion, relish, or an array of other mix-ins. Vinegary German-style potato salads also pair nicely. No matter which you choose, potato salad always goes great with barbecue chicken.
Cornbread
Warm, buttery cornbread is another essential for any Southern-style BBQ chicken dinner. The slightly sweet, crumbly cornbread soaks up the barbecued juices delightfully. For added texture, try adding corn, peppers, or green onions to the cornbread batter. Or top your cornbread with honey butter for even more flavor.
Split open the piping hot cornbread alongside your chicken and enjoy this winning carbohydrate and protein pair. Leftover cornbread also makes for amazing barbecue chicken sandwiches the next day.
Dinner Rolls
Soft, fluffy dinner rolls are ideal for mopping up every last bit of sticky BBQ sauce left behind on your plate. Pair warm rolls fresh from the oven with butter so you have something to soak up the sauce and scoop up those incredible barbecue chicken drippings.
Potato rolls, Hawaiian rolls, and buttermilk biscuits all make excellent choices here. For added flavor, top your rolls with melted butter, herbs, or Parmesan cheese. Simple, but oh so tasty alongside BBQ chicken.
Mac and Cheese
Is anything more comforting alongside barbecue than ooey-gooey mac and cheese? Elbow noodles baked in a rich, cheesy sauce make the ultimate partner for your BBQ chicken. The creaminess helps cut through the spice and tang of the sauce, while the cheese enhances all the savory flavors even more.
Make it an indulgent main meal by mixing in baked beans, chili, shredded chicken, crispy bacon, caramelized onions, or other tasty add-ins. Mac and cheese may seem like an unconventional barbecue side, but it’s a total crowd pleaser.
Corn Casserole
For another fun spin on corn as a side, a cheesy corn casserole also pairs wonderfully with barbecued chicken. The sweet corn combined with egg, sour cream, butter, and gooey melted cheese makes for ultimate comfort food. Add in herbs, jalapenos, or other seasonings to spice it up.
The richness of the corn casserole provides balance alongside the acidic barbecue chicken. Serve the casserole warm in a dish alongside your chicken and watch it disappear.
Green Salad
A simple green salad is always a smart choice for adding color and freshness to a barbecue chicken dinner. The crisp lettuce and vegetables add a nice, light contrast to the savory chicken. Make your salad more interesting by:
- Using a mix of lettuces like spinach, arugula, and romaine
- Tossing in fresh summer veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc
- Adding nuts, seeds, croutons, or crunchy wonton strips for texture
- Including chopped fruits like strawberries, blueberries, apples
- Topping with cheese, bacon, avocado, hardboiled egg
- Drizzling with a light vinaigrette, ranch, blue cheese, etc
Even just a basic mixed green salad brings a freshness that perfectly complements rich barbecue chicken straight from the grill.
Grilled Vegetables
For a lighter option, try grilling up a platter of colorful summer vegetables to serve alongside your chicken. Think grilled corn, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, or asparagus. Simply toss the veggies in olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill until charred and tender.
The smoky grilled veggies pair so nicely with the savory barbecue flavors. Plus you get that fun, interactive experience of picking up the veggies with your hands straight from the grill. Grilled veggies add tons of flavor without the carbs and fat of heavy sides, making them an ideal choice.
Fruit Salad
A fresh fruit salad makes for a pleasantly light and refreshing BBQ side. Watermelon, berries, mango, pineapple, grapes, oranges – the options for tasty fruit combinations are nearly endless. Include a combination of different fruits and toss with a bit of lemon or lime juice to really make the flavors pop.
The juicy sweetness is the perfect foil for sticky, saucy barbecue chicken straight off the grill. Fruit salad is hydrating, vitamin-filled, and easy for kids and adults alike to enjoy.
Garlic Bread
Warm, buttered garlic bread is comfort food at its finest, not to mention a fantastic accompaniment for BBQ chicken. The rich garlic butter seeping into the crispy toasted bread soaks up all the delicious barbecue flavors wonderfully. An easy way to make it is to simply spread baguette slices or ciabatta rolls with butter mixed with minced garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Grill or broil until golden brown and enjoy!
The garlic spice goes so nicely with the herbs and spices used on the chicken. Serve the garlic bread right off the grill alongside the chicken for an amazing aroma and flavor experience. Definitely have plenty of napkins on hand!
Coleslaw
Creamy, tangy coleslaw is a favorite for good reason. The crunchy cabbage and carrots paired with a zesty dressing provides the perfect acidic, textural contrast to richly sauced barbecue chicken. Try making your coleslaw with mayo and cider vinegar or experiment with different seasonings like mustard, celery seed, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, etc.
Coleslaw can be made ahead of time and keeps well, making it an easy go-to for any barbecue feast. The light veggie goodness balances out the heaviness of chicken swimming in sauce.
Beans and Rice
Beans and rice make for a satisfying and surprisingly complementary side with barbecue chicken. Try serving up black beans, pinto beans, red beans, or white beans over fluffy rice or cauliflower rice. Season the beans and rice with onions, peppers, garlic, cilantro, chili powder, and other spices of your choosing.
The hearty beans and rice provide a pleasant texture contrast to the tenderness of barbecued chicken. The spices also help bring out the flavors even more. It’s affordable, filling comfort food at its best.
Cornbread Salad
Looking for a fun way to use up leftover cornbread? Try turning it into a flavor-packed cornbread salad. Crumble up cooled cornbread and mix it with black beans, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, cilantro, and a splash of lime juice and olive oil. You can also add corn, avocado, cheese, or other extras.
The cool, fresh salad makes the perfect side when serving more hot and heavy BBQ chicken. Turning cornbread into a salad adds a fun twist to the traditional side while still enjoying its awesome flavors.
Caprese Salad
A light and fresh caprese salad is a fantastic way to balance out saucy barbecue chicken while packing in more flavor. Simply alternate juicy tomato and mozzarella slices on a platter, season with salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and scatter fresh basil leaves over the top.
The bright tomatoes and creamy mozzarella pair so nicely with smoky BBQ chicken. Basil also complements the herby notes beautifully. Easy to throw together but impressive enough to serve guests – it’s a winner all around!
Cucumber Salad
On hot summer days when you want something ultra refreshing, a cucumber salad is sure to satisfy. Toss thinly sliced cucumbers with red onion, vinegar, olive oil, dill, and salt and pepper. Chill the cucumbers allowing them to soak up the flavors.
The crisp cucumber salad provides a cooling, palate-cleansing quality that lets the barbecue chicken flavors shine even more. Quick and easy to prepare, yet totally delicious.
Grilled Peach Salad
For a unique take, try topping your salad with sweet n’ smoky grilled peaches. Simply brush peach halves with olive oil and grill cut side down until you have nice char marks. Place the peaches over mixed greens, berries, goat cheese, and toasted almonds. Drizzle with a balsamic vinaigrette.
The caramelized grilled peaches are sensational with BBQ chicken. The interplay of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors is sure to be a hit.
Greek Orzo Salad
A Greek orzo salad is packed with bright Mediterranean flavor that pairs beautifully with smoky chicken straight off the grill. Toss cooked orzo with cucumbers, grape tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, red onion, fresh herbs like parsley or mint, lemon juice, and olive oil.
The zesty flavors and textures are so refreshing alongside saucy barbecue chicken. It’s cool, crunchy, and absolutely delicious.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
For the ultimate crowd-pleasing side, try this bacon ranch pasta salad. Toss together cooked rotini with crispy cooked bacon pieces, shredded cheddar, chopped cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, sliced green onions, and of course plenty of ranch seasoning and dressing.
The cheesy flavors, bacon crunch, and zip of the ranch dressing take this pasta salad over the top. It’s indulgent while still refreshing thanks to the veggies. Serve it up with your chicken for an unbeatable meal combo.
Succotash
For traditional Southern-inspired flavors, succotash made with corn, lima beans, bell pepper, and onion makes an amazing partner for BBQ chicken. Saute the veggie medley in butter and seasonings. The simplicity of succotash lets the fantastic flavors shine.
The sweet corn and savory lima beans soak up the barbecue sauce delightfully. Succotash is easy to make ahead too, making it an effortless addition to your cookout spread.
Curried Couscous Salad
For an unexpected twist, serve up a curried couscous salad alongside your chicken. Simply prepare couscous according to package directions and toss with diced cucumber, shredded carrot, currants or raisins, sliced almonds, green onion, and a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and curry powder.
The bright citrus and warming curry flavors complement the barbecue chicken beautifully, adding global flair to your good old American cookout menu. It’s light, refreshing and packed with flavor.
Spinach and Strawberry Salad
A spinach and strawberry salad is both beautiful and delicious served alongside saucy chicken straight off the grill. Toss together spinach, sliced strawberries, feta cheese, toasted pecans or walnuts, and red onion. Drizzle with a balsamic vinaigrette.
The salad provides sweetness along with nutty crunch – a nice change of pace from some of the richer classic barbecue sides. The color contrast also makes for an inviting presentation.
Hawaiian Coleslaw
Put a tropical twist on classic coleslaw by making Hawaiian coleslaw featuring pineapple and chili pepper. Shred cabbage and carrots, then stir in chunks of fresh pineapple