The Best Side Dishes for Chicken and Rice Casserole
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The only thing that can make dinner better than a warm and cozy chicken casserole is a delicious side to serve it with. These recipes pair perfectly with the casserole’s rich and creamy flavors.
What to Serve with Chicken and Rice Casserole
Chicken and rice casserole is an easy-to-make, classic comfort food the whole family loves. It’s filled with tender chicken and fluffy brown rice or white rice smothered in a creamy sauce. My favorite go-to recipe is this quick and easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole. It’s on a regular meal rotation at my house and when you try it, it will be at yours too.
Yet, the trick to turning this casserole into a satisfying and complete meal is picking just the right side to go with it. These easy side dish recipes complement the richness and creaminess of the chicken and rice mixture perfectly. We’ve included everything from simple side salad and tangy fruit salad recipes to roasted or sauteed veggies, homemade rolls, and more. There’s something here for everyone.
Why We Love These Recipes
- Perfect pairings – We selected recipes that will not compete with the richness of the casserole.
- Easy recipes – There are no complicated recipes included. Just tasty sides that are as easy to make as the main course.
- Variety – With plenty to choose from, even your pickiest eaters will find a new favorite side dish.
Best Sides Dishes for Chicken Rice Casserole
Veggie Favorites
1. Broccoli Salad
This easy broccoli salad recipe combines some of the best flavors through raw broccoli florets, sunflower seeds, sultana raisins, all topped with a creamy dressing that everyone will love!
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2. French Onion Green Bean Casserole
French's green bean casserole is a classic side dish that has green beans, cream of mushroom soup and topped with fried onions. It's not to rich and goes well with any main course.
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3. Sweet Potatoes with Pecan Topping
Sweet potato casserole is an old-fashioned recipe made with creamy mashed sweet potatoes baked and topped with a brown sugar pecan butter topping!
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4. Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
This Instant Pot corn on the cob is a great way to make a fuss-free side. It's the perfect side any time of the year with any main course.
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5. Zucchini Fritters
These scrumptious Zucchini Fritters are delightfully crunchy on the outside and deliciously soft and savory on the inside. They're super easy to make and can be enjoyed as a tasty snack, appetizer, or side dish.
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6. Air Fryer Parmesan Potatoes
These parmesan potatoes are a perfect side dish for any meal, but they're just as delicious on their own as a tasty snack. And with their quick and easy preparation, they're perfect for those busy weeknights when you need something delicious but don't have a lot of time.
Check out this recipe
7. World’s Best Pressure Cooker Fried Cabbage!
If you love fried cabbage with bacon you can now make it in just 3 minutes using this easy pressure cooker fried cabbage recipe! Love my Instant Pot!
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8. Green Bean Bundles
Bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles are an elegant side dish or appetizer that will make everyone fall in love with asparagus. Make this delicious low-carb asparagus recipe to serve with your holiday dinner or any day of the week.
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9. Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted butternut squash that is tossed with butter, sage, and toasted walnuts goes great with the rich flavor of chicken casserole.
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10. Maple Baked White Acorn Squash
White acorn squash is halved and then baked with maple syrup, butter and sugar for a deliciously easy fall inspired side dish. Perfectly savory & sweet!
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11. Bacon Roasted Vegetables
You can’t go wrong with these bacon roasted vegetables loaded with bell peppers, mushrooms, and more. It's a super simple side dish that your whole family will love!
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12. Parmesan Zucchini Spears
These parmesan cheese zucchini spears are cooked to perfection and coated with a crispy Italian parmesan mixture.
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13. Fried Green Tomatoes
Crispy on the outside and tender in the middle, these Fried Green Tomatoes are addictive! Serve them as an appetizer or side dish, a party snack, or make them the main attraction piled high on a BLT!
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14. Air Fryer Cauliflower
Air fryer cauliflower is easy to make in your Ninja Foodi or other machine. Healthy and full of flavor, it’s a great vegetable side dish or snack.
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15. Eggplant Parmesan Rounds
Eggplant parmesan is delicious, but the traditional version of this dish baked in a casserole dish can be quite labor intensive. This is a simple and healthy spin on traditional eggplant parmesan.
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16. Grilled Summer Squash
One of the best ways to cook fresh summer vegetables is over a hot grill. Grilled summer squash is a simple but delicious way to enjoy all the varieties of squash, from zucchini to yellow squash. In just a few minutes, perfectly tender and seasoned squash is ready to enjoy.
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17. Pan-Fried Crispy Okra
This Southern Pan Fried Okra recipe is a classic side dish that's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It's dredged in buttermilk and cornmeal mix, then pan-fried in a cast iron skillet for the best southern fried okra recipe you've ever tasted!
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18. Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
These Roasted Cauliflower Steaks are a simple, healthy, low-carb recipe that you can make as a main dish for dinner or as a side dish. Thick cauliflower slices brushed with olive oil and roasted to perfection.
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19. Parmesan Roasted Broccoli Recipe
Parmesan Roasted Broccoli is the perfect roasted vegetable. The parmesan and bread crumbs give it the best crunchy texture.
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Fresh Salads
20. Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
This Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad includes crisp green apples, crunchy almonds, and sweet pomegranate seeds.
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21. Caprese Salad with Balsamic Reduction
Nothing beats colorful salads. This classic and elegant Caprese Salad with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil is drizzled with a sweet balsamic vinegar reduction.
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22. Summer Salad with Goat Cheese and Lemon Vinaigrette
This summer salad is light and crunchy, topped with apples, strawberries, shallots, pecans, goat cheese, and a lemony, tangy vinaigrette.
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23. Kale Salad with Olive Oil and Lemon Dressing
This easy Kale Salad Recipe with Lemon Dressing is ready to eat in under 5 minutes. It's simple, yet full of flavor from the freshly grated Parmesan, lemon, garlic , and extra virgin olive oil.
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24. Fresh Fruit Salad
This easy recipe is perfect for picnics, barbecues, potlucks, and any family meal. It's topped with fresh mint and honey for extra flavor.
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25. Wedge Salad Skewers
This fun fresh salad on a skewer is a classic twist on the traditional wedge salad and make the perfect appetizer or side served at any party. Add all your favorite vegetables and creamy blue cheese dressing, and you're all set.
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26. Chickpea Quinoa Salad
This Quinoa Chickpea Salad is all about fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors. Made with an abundance of fresh herbs, colorful vegetables, beans, and quinoa, it’s a wholesome family favorite you can bring to picnics, barbecues, potlucks, and more!
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27. Roasted Beet Salad
The flavor of this roasted beet salad recipe is absolutely incredible. It's an excellent choice when you want a hearty and flavorful salad without a lot of hassle.
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28. Spinach Salad
An easy, healthy, and delicious recipe for spinach salad with bacon! Of all the spinach salad recipes, this one is my favorite, and it’s made with all healthy and simple ingredients.
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Rolls and More
29. Copycat Texas Roadhouse Rolls
We all know that everyone loves the Texas Roadhouse Rolls and their cinnamon butter, and now you can recreate these warm, buttery rolls at home. The Texas Roadhouse Rolls recipe is an easy copycat recipe.
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30. Olive Garden Copycat Breadsticks
Make your own Olive Garden breadsticks from scratch with yeast, sugar, flour and oil. These are perfect with Alfredo sauce, or alongside your favorite pasta dish, or salad.
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31. Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits
No one can resist Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay Biscuits, am I right? The flaky layers are cheesy, with hints of garlic, and absolutely addictive. Now you can make them at home, right in your air fryer!
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32. Zesty Ritz Crackers
These melt in your mouth Zesty Ranch Ritz Crackers are loaded with robust flavor from ranch seasoning, parmesan cheese, and a kick of heat from spicy red pepper flakes. This is a great recipe for parties or even as a topping for casseroles in the place of bread crumbs.
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33. Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls
These easy homemade dinner rolls come out perfectly soft, ridiculously tall, and gorgeously golden brown every time. And they are ready, start to finish, in just an hour!
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34. Garlic Pull Apart Bread
This garlic pull apart bread recipe paired with Marketside soups are the perfect lunch or dinner for your family, especially when you’re short on time
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35. Zucchini Cornbread Muffins
These zucchini cornbread muffins have a light and fluffy cornbread base loaded with shredded zucchini, corn, and cheddar cheese! They’re the perfect side dish for any meal.
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