Barbecue chicken is a classic summertime favorite for good reason – it’s tasty, easy to make, and goes great with a variety of side dishes. But with so many options, it can be tricky to figure out what sides pair best with your barbecue chicken. This ultimate guide will walk you through the best side dish pairings to complement your barbecue chicken and take your meal to the next level.
Introduction
Barbecue chicken is both a cooking method and a flavor profile. It typically consists of chicken parts or a whole chicken coated in a sticky, tomato-based barbecue sauce. The chicken is then grilled or smoked over indirect heat, allowing the sauce to caramelize. This imparts a sweet, tangy and smoky flavor to the meat.
The possibilities for side dishes that go well with barbecue chicken are nearly endless. However, certain flavors and textures make better pairings than others. The goals are to complement the sweet and tangy flavors of the sauce, add color and nutrition to the plate, and provide contrasting textures to the tender chicken.
What Goes Good With BBQ Chicken?
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a classic barbecue side for good reason. The crunchy cabbage and carrots pair perfectly with saucy, tender barbecue chicken. The creaminess of the dressing balances the acidity of the tomato-based sauce.
Make your coleslaw interesting by using different variations, like apple coleslaw with sliced apples, raisins, and poppy seed dressing. Or give it some crunch with the addition of peanuts or sunflower seeds. Coleslaw adds brightness and crunch to complement fall-off-the-bone barbecue chicken.
Corn on the Cob
Sweet corn on the cob is another quintessential barbecue side. The sweetness balances the tangy barbecue sauce while the corn’s texture contrasts with the soft, juicy chicken.
Leave the corn unadorned to highlight its natural sweetness or season simply with a pat of butter, a squeeze of lime, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. For a Mexican-inspired twist, coat grilled corn with a dollop of mayonnaise, crumbled cotija cheese, cilantro, and chili powder.
Baked Beans
No barbecue would be complete without a scoop of classic baked beans. Their sweet and smoky flavor is reminiscent of the barbecue sauce, while their smooth, soft texture contrasts with the chicken.
Jazz up a basic baked bean recipe with additions like bacon, onions, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce. Or put a twist on the original with black beans, pinto beans, or a blend. Baked beans make the perfect backyard barbecue companion.
Macaroni and Cheese
For the ultimate comfort food pairing, serve barbecue chicken with macaroni and cheese. The creamy, cheesy pasta complements the saucy chicken.
Make your mac extra decadent with add-ins like smoked gouda, parmesan, roasted garlic, crispy bacon, or panko breadcrumbs. The soft, rich noodles contrast the texture of the barbecue chicken for a match made in heaven.
Potato Salad
Potato salad is a classic complement to barbecue chicken. The potatoes soak up the sauce drippings beautifully while adding starch and substance.
Keep your potato salad creative with mix-ins like hard boiled egg, sweet pickle relish, mustard, celery, red onion, bacon, and fresh herbs. The potato salad’s cool, creamy texture perfectly balances the hot, saucy chicken right off the grill.
Collard Greens
For a lighter take, collard greens make an excellent match for barbecue chicken. Their slightly bitter, robust flavor stands up well to sweet and tangy barbecue sauce.
Slow cook collards with smoked ham hocks or turkey wings for full-flavored greens. Season simply with vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes and serve warm alongside savory barbecue chicken and corn bread.
Macaroni Salad
Just like potato salad, macaroni salad deserves a spot beside your barbecue chicken. The creamy pasta salad soaks up the barbecue sauce drippings while adding starch, color and crunch.
Jazz up macaroni salad with shredded carrots, celery, red onions, radishes, cucumber, and fresh herbs. Pepper jack, cheddar, or blue cheese add extra flavor. The cool, creamy salad perfectly complements hot-off-the grill chicken.
Corn Bread
No barbecue meal is complete without an accompaniment of hearty corn bread. Corn bread makes an ideal vehicle for soaking up barbecue sauce and chicken juices.
Bake your corn bread from scratch or prepare corn bread muffins so each diner gets their own portion. Add interest to the batter with jalapeños, cheese, or corn kernels. Serve corn bread warm with plenty of butter to match with saucy barbecue chicken.
Watermelon Slices
For a cool, refreshing contrast, serve sliced watermelon alongside your barbecue chicken. Watermelon’s sweetness offsets barbecue sauce’s tanginess, while its juicy texture balances the chicken’s richness.
Make watermelon more savory by dressing it with a bit of salt, lime, and fresh mint. Chilled, crisp watermelon slices clear the palate between bites of saucy barbecue chicken off the grill.
Complementary Flavors for BBQ Chicken
Certain ingredients make natural flavor complements to barbecue chicken:
- Sweet fruits: Peaches, pineapple, grapes, and mango have enough sweetness to balance barbecue sauce’s acidity.
- Earthy vegetables: Mushrooms, roasted red peppers, grilled onions, and eggplant accent the smokiness.
- Creamy dairy: Sour cream, buttermilk, Greek yogurt, and cheese soften spicy heat.
- Fresh herbs: Cilantro, parsley, basil, and mint brighten up rich meats.
- Crunchy components: Nuts, crackers, tortilla chips, and pickles provide contrasting texture.
- Spicy seasonings: Barbecue rubs, hot sauces, chili flakes, jalapeños add back heat.
Pairing Sides and Sauces
The type of barbecue sauce used on the chicken can help determine the best sides to serve:
Tangy tomato-based sauce: Pairs well with cooling sides like coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans.
Sweet and sticky sauce: Goes great with corn bread, corn on the cob, mac and cheese.
Spicy sauce: Balanced out by creamy coleslaw, macaroni salad, fresh melon.
Mustard-based sauce: Matched with collard greens, fried okra, corn on the cob.
Vinegar-based sauce: Complements hearty beans, slaw, and corn bread.
Tips for Serving BBQ Chicken Sides
- Offer a mix of hot and cold sides to add variety and contrast.
- Include crunchy, creamy, and tender textures for mouthfeel.
- Incorporate sweet, salty, tangy, savory, spicy, and umami flavors.
- Allow for color variation with selections like corn, coleslaw, roasted veggies.
- Let guests build their own plates by serving sides family-style.
- Chill cold salads and sides thoroughly before serving.
- Keep hot sides heated until serving time in chafing dishes or slow cookers.
- Include vegan and vegetarian options by serving meatless baked beans, slaw, roasted veggies.
- Offer cornbread with honey butter, salted butter, olive oil, or pesto for drizzling.
- Set out barbecue sauce and hot sauces so guests can add more to taste.
6 Perfect BBQ Chicken Dinner Menus
Here are some recommended menus for crowd-pleasing barbecue chicken dinners:
Classic Summer Cookout
- Barbecue Chicken Legs and Thighs
- Corn on the Cob
- Coleslaw
- Cornbread Muffins
- Watermelon Slices
Southern Soul Food Feast
- Barbecue Chicken Breasts
- Collard Greens
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Baked Beans
- Cornbread
Southwest Fiesta
- Barbecue Chicken Salad
- Grilled Corn with Cotija
- Pinto Beans
- Tortilla Chips
- Guacamole
- Mexican Rice
Italian Night
- Barbecue Chicken Pizza
- Caesar Salad
- Garlic Bread
- Baked Ziti
- Tiramisu
Asian Inspiration
- Barbecue Chicken Kebabs
- Coconut Rice
- Mango Chutney
- Cucumber Raita
- Naan Bread
Mediterranean Dinner Party
- Barbecue Chicken Kabobs
- Grilled Vegetable Platter
- Hummus
- Tabbouleh
- Pita Bread
- Baklava
FAQs
What are the best starch sides to serve with barbecue chicken?
Some excellent starchy sides to pair with barbecue chicken include macaroni salad, potato salad, baked beans, corn bread, corn on the cob, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese.
What are good vegetable sides to accompany barbecue chicken?
Great vegetable sides to serve alongside barbecue chicken include grilled or roasted veggies like zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. You can also make salads with greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots or broccoli slaw.
What are some refreshing sides that go with barbecue chicken?
Some light and cooling sides that pair well with saucy barbecue chicken are watermelon slices, cucumber salad, fruit salads made with pineapple, grapes, or peaches and green salads topped with a tangy vinaigrette.
Is pasta salad a good match for barbecue chicken?
Yes, pasta salads make an excellent complement for barbecue chicken. The creamy pasta absorbs the sauce beautifully. Try macaroni salad, tortellini salad or orzo salad with vegetables as a pairing.
What bread should you serve with barbecue chicken?
Great breads to serve alongside barbecue chicken include classics like corn bread, biscuits, Hawaiian rolls, focaccia, and crusty Italian bread for sopping up sauce. Have butter on hand.
Conclusion
Backyard barbecue chicken gets even better with the right combination of side dishes. Classic pairings like coleslaw, corn on the cob, and baked beans never disappoint. But don’t be afraid to also explore creative, international flavors too. Mix colors, textures, temperatures, and tastes for a balanced meal. Just be sure to include plenty of napkins – because barbecue chicken gets messy! With this ultimate guide, you can approach your next barbecue chicken dinner with confidence about what goes good with bbq chicken.