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If you’re looking for great ideas on what to serve with chicken salad sandwiches, good news!
Here’s a list of our best side dishes that can elevate your favorite sandwich to new heights!
The venerable chicken salad sandwich is always a crowd-pleaser meal, especially when served during a quick summer lunch or dinner.
It’s also commonly present on the blankets of most picnic spreads!
It combines fresh vegetables and creamy chicken salad dressing, resting in between two slices of delicious toasted sourdough or fresh baguette.
The sandwich is tasty enough to stand on its own but partnering it with complementary side items can elevate the dish to new heights.
The right side dish is a deal maker or a deal breaker!
That’s why I make sure to whip up a few side dishes before gathering the crowd–scratch that, I’m making sure to cook up more than intended!
Because you can bet your winning lottery ticket that these delicious sides are going to be gone fast!
If you’re having trouble choosing which sides for a chicken salad sandwich, you aren’t alone!
When I was first making this list, I didn’t know whether to draw lots or spin a wheel!
So the best thing to do is take this recipe guide with you!
This article features my list of the best sides to serve with chicken salad sandwiches, from crisp green salads to warm homemade breads.
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A light salad like this Caesar salad is always a great pair for creamy chicken salad sandwiches.
It has to be the perfect mixture of creamy and tangy at the same time.
Unlike the traditional recipe, this Caesar salad excludes egg and anchovies in the dressing.
But don’t worry, it still tastes great!
I recommend making the salad the day before and allow it to chill in the fridge.
This allows the flavor to meld.
Imagine dunking your chicken salad sandwich into a bowl of cozy and hot Velveeta-based potato soup.
Now that’s heavenly!
As mentioned, the dish is made from a base of Velveeta cheese, resulting in a smooth and creamy texture.
The cheese is combined with other ingredients such as potatoes, carrots, bacon, celery, milk, and onions.
Also, the soup boasts a lot of variation potential.
You can include diced ham, sweet potatoes, and wilted spinach if you’re trying to get more veggies in the soup.
This Hawaiian macaroni salad features that distinctive tanginess coming from apple cider vinegar – one that ultimately blends well with the chicken salad sandwiches.
This recipe is also a simple dish and easy to customize.
Feel free to add pineapple chunks, green peas, pancetta, or crab meat to make your salad more delightful.
One should never forget the drinks!
A creamy and rich chicken salad sandwich works great with those refreshing beverages, one of which is iced tea.
It’s quick to put together too!
Whether it’s Southern, fruity, or cold-brewed iced tea, serving this thirst-quenching drink is sure to complement the flavors of your favorite sandwich.
What goes with chicken salad? Well, for one, the classic favorite–potato chips!
The softness of the chicken salad sandwich and the crispness of the potato chips creates a perfect combination that’s sure to delight everyone in your family.
And sure, you can easily get some store-bought chips, but why not stop buying a bag of potato chips at the grocery store and start making your own at home?
Another good candidate for the chicken salad sandwich side is my prized avocado and cucumber soup.
This recipe is so straightforward to make and only requires eight key ingredients to put together.
Simply peel the cucumbers, cut them into chunks, then chop the dill, put them into a blender along with other ingredients.
Let it chill in the fridge and you’re done!
Take note: Potato salad is creamy so serving it alongside your chicken salad sandwich with mayo-based dressing might not be the best thing to do.
However, I’m including this recipe for those people who prepare the sandwich without mayo or yogurt.
Also, my creamy red potato salad recipe is the perfect side dish for a picnic or a BBQ.
Just like the Caesar salad, I recommend that you make this recipe the day before and then allow it to chill in the fridge.
This Asian slaw recipe is noted for being one of the best chicken salad sandwich side dishes.
This side dish also goes great with Asian meatballs, fish, and glazed grilled chicken.
It’s light and quite easy to whip up.
All you need is to prepare the dressing, let it chill for a bit, prepare the salad mix, combine the ingredients, then serve!
My version of Carolina coleslaw is an ideal accompaniment for your creamy and rich chicken salad sandwich.
Why you ask?
That’s solely because it’s mayo-free!
Aside from the exclusion of mayo, this coleslaw also has an extra flavor punch of celery seeds that perfectly mix with cabbage, kale leaves, carrots, onions, cider vinegar, and mustard.
The result?
Sweetness and tanginess galore!
These roasted carrots make an excellent snack with a dip, as a side to pork chops, or too creamy chicken salad sandwiches.
It’s made from raw carrots, balsamic vinegar, thyme, olive oil, and garlic so overpowering the flavor of the sandwich is impossible!
Another soup option that makes a great pairing is this comfort food standard — homestyle chicken noodle soup. This soup is an easy, reliable choice to provide everyone around the table with a well-rounded meal, using a bag of frozen egg noodles, boneless skinless chicken thighs, and vegetables to keep you warm and cozy.
Arugula Salad
This is one of those moments when a super easy green salad like this one becomes your hero. The best part is that this salad only contains 6 ingredients, including the arugula.
Cucumber Tomato Salad
This cucumber salad with tomatoes and red onion is so simple to make. It’s a fresh and light side salad that’s perfect alongside many dishes.
Creamy Broccoli Salad
This crunchy yet creamy broccoli salad is a yummy side dish for any meal. It is pretty simple to make and you can make it advance because we recommend that you chill in the fridge prior to serving it.
Caprese Salad
Ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil combine for a refreshing appetizer perfect for any occasion. This dish is the perfect way to use fresh summer produce.
Greek Salad Skewers
These easy-to-make minute Greek salad skewers—loaded with tomatoes, feta, and olives—make a fresh, crowd-pleasing treat.
Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad
Served hot or cold, this quinoa salad includes fresh tomatoes, red onion, corn, black beans, cotija cheese, fresh lime, and avocados.
Farro Salad With Roasted Vegetables
Try this simple farro salad recipe as a hearty, filling side for chicken, fish, or pork, or eat as a hearty vegan meal on its own.
Marinated Tomatoes
It is simple, fresh, and only requires a handful of simple ingredients and a little time. They are best if you marinate them for at least two hours prior to serving them.
Creamy Pasta Salad
We love a creamy pasta salad—and this one is made with ranch! Pasta salad is such a wonderful side dish.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
It’s so tangy, creamy, spicy, and just so good! So if you love the flavors of eloté, I think you’ll really enjoy this recipe for pasta salad that brings them all together.
Red Cabbage Slaw
It’s a crunchy side dish that’s satisfying to eat and it’s good for you and your family at the same time.
Apple Carrot Slaw
This sweet apple carrot coleslaw recipe is just such a recipe: the right balance of sweet and tangy crunch.
Roasted Parmesan Green Beans
They come out crisp-tender, and sometimes I add an extra five minutes in the oven to make sure they are done and not tough. This recipe combines two of my favorite flavors that apply to nearly everything: garlic and parmesan.
Air Fryer Green Beans
These easy air fryer green beans are so tender and tasty, they will make a great side dish, even on busy weeknights.
Oven Roasted Radishes
Oven-roasted radishes are an uncommon but yummy way to prep and serve radishes. Roasting radishes brings out their sweet flavor and mellows that peppery bite a bit.
Panko Oven Roasted Zucchini
We love to roast zucchini in the oven as a quick and easy side dish. Flavor: Zucchini alone can lack flavor, but by adding the cheese and panko, you get the flavor and a nice crunchy texture.
Skillet Creamed Corn
This skillet creamed corn is a rich, comforting dish that comes together right on the stovetop. It’s creamy, full of flavor, and made with just a handful of ingredients.
Mexican Street Corn
Elote is a Mexican corn dish that is made with sweet corn, spices, mayo, lime, and cotija cheese. The best part is that you can serve this as a side dish or an appetizer.
Grilled Tomatoes
We had no idea how incredible grilled tomatoes tasted until we made them one day on a whim. Now we can’t stop eating these luscious red delights.
Creamed Spinach
If you are looking for a creamy and delicious spinach side dish, this is the perfect recipe for you.
Blackened Broccoli
In this case, you’ll end up with broccoli that’s a little burnt at the edges. The burnt bits will give you a nice charred flavor that works so well with the rest of the roasted vegetable.
Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
This amazing and quick appetizer brings together the salty flavors of prosciutto perfectly with the subtle sweetness of roasted asparagus, and puts them in little snackable bundles that ticks all the boxes for “perfect finger food”.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Cooking and serving sweet potato fries always feels like such a treat. The secret to getting the fries to crisp up is ensuring they are not crowded on the baking sheet.
Air Fryer Seasoned Fries
These air fryer seasoned fries are golden, crisp, and totally rave-worthy. Be sure to make an extra batch—everyone will be coming back for seconds.
Bacon Cheddar Smashed Potatoes
If you’re craving something cheesy, crispy, and loaded with bacon — but without spending hours in the kitchen — these Bacon Cheddar Smashed Potatoes are about to become your new obsession. They’ve got all the flavor of potato skins but without the hassle.
Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
The problem is, I can’t justify a whole restaurant trip every time I want those cheesy, garlicky little bites of heaven.
Honey Butter Biscuits
I love how the crumb stays soft enough to pull apart, yet sturdy enough to sop up pan juices or jam. Serve warm and split, then spoon on extra glaze.
English Muffin Bread
This homemade bread delivers that signature texture I love—soft, airy, and full of those butter-catching crevices—in an easy loaf. The result is an easy bread recipe that toasts beautifully and transforms even the most ordinary breakfast into something special.
No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread
I stumbled upon no knead bread during a particularly lazy Sunday when I craved homemade bread but couldn’t muster the energy for traditional kneading. My sister helped me tweak this recipe, but it’s only got four ingredients, so it’s pretty simple.
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
It is difficult to beat having a slice of a hot and buttery piece of cornbread with, well, pretty much anything. Then if you add some cheddar cheese and a hint of jalapeño, you have something seriously darn tasty and filling, and relatively easy and cheap to make.
Pumpkin Biscuits
Just picture it-warm, buttery, flaky homemade biscuits infused with pumpkin. You can serve them drizzled with honey or with apple butter.
Quick Pickled Cucumbers
We tend to eat pickled cucumbers as a condiment or as a side with salmon or burgers for dinner. Pickling cucumbers are a quick and easy way to transform the flavor into something unique and delicious.
Bacon Deviled Eggs
It turns out that bacon makes deviled eggs quite a delight. Don’t expect any leftovers with this side dish.
The bottom line
Chicken salad sandwiches can feed a hungry crowd with little effort.
It’s essentially simple to put together yet incredibly oh-so filling!
Also, there’s an endless number of sides that go well with the dish.
The side dishes you choose will depend on how your chicken salad dressing is made from.
If the dressing consists of grapes and nuts, ensure not to serve a side that features the same ingredients.
Or if you have a mayo-based dressing, then exclude potato salad and macaroni salad from the list to avoid redundancy.
Just always keep in mind to pick those side items that complement their texture and flavor.
The drinks listed will go with whatever you decide to make your chicken salad sandwiches with.
Just pick one and go with it!
