Maybe you are tired of eating regular chicken salad, and you’ve been wondering about suggestions for eating with chicken salad; you are at the right spot!
Let’s explore some of the common side dishes you can serve with chicken salad.
1. What is Chicken Salad?
Chicken salad is a very delicious and nutritious meal that contains all the nutrients needed in a meal. As much as there are different ways to prepare chicken salad, most people prefer to cook it with curry powder and yogurt. It can serve as a stand-alone meal as well as combined with another side dish. Chicken Salad can be prepared into a sandwich for more satisfaction.
2. How to Prepare Chicken Salad
You can prepare your chicken salad in so many ways:
2.1. Prepare Your Ingredients
You should get your ingredients ready for your chicken salad. Here are the ingredients you will need:
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 diced cucumber
- 2 boneless chicken breast
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes
- 6 cups of mixed salad greens, which include spinach, lettuce, and arugula.
- Pepper and salt to taste
- Half a cup of crumbled feta cheese
- 1 minced clove garlic
- 1 red onion
- Chopped fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley
2.2. Cook the Chicken
You can begin by thoroughly washing the chicken before cooking. You can either bake, boil, or grill the chicken till it’s well-cooked. After cooking, you can now dice and cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces after you have allowed it to cool off.
2.3. Prepare the Vegetables
It is important that the vegetables to be used for the salad have no form of dirt in them. Wash thoroughly and chop them. You can decide to be creative with the combination of the veggies to get a visually appealing salad. Then, you can wash the green salads and mix them with the vegetables in a bowl.
2.4. Assemble the Salad
In this step, you will have to add the diced chicken to the bowl where the veggies and greens are placed. You can also add other ingredients, like nuts or avocado, based on your preference.
2.5. Seasoning
This is the point where you add some spices to taste. You should add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to the bowl of salad for a unique taste. Bear in mind that your salad can get salty if you’re not careful with the amount of salt added.
2.6. Add Dressing
You can decide to add any suitable dressing of your choice. You can start by adding a little portion of the dressing till you are satisfied with the outcome.
2.7. Mix Together
You can now gently mix the salad together so there is an even distribution of the seasoning and dressing. You can use your hands in this step, but ensure that you do not crush and damage the delicate ingredients. However, a salad tong is a suitable alternative for mixing.
2.8. Taste and Adjust
You can have a taste of your chicken salad. This will help you make adjustments when necessary. You’ll know when to add more salt or more pepper to taste.
2.9. Serve
Once you are done with the adjustments, it is now time to serve and enjoy your salad. You can decide to garnish your chicken salad with additional herbs based on your preference.
3. Ideas for Eating Alongside Chicken Salad
There are a variety of different side dishes you can eat with chicken salad:
3.1. Fruit Salad
This is a very refreshing and light meal you can eat with your chicken salad. It gives a rare kind of sweetness, especially when prepared with fresh seasonal fruits like berries, citrus, grapes, and melons. To make the most of it, combine the fruit with honey-lime dressing for the perfect flavor. Eating your chicken salad alongside fruit salad gives the meal a balanced contrast in texture and flavor.
3.2. Butternut Squash Soup
This is a soup with a smooth texture that is made from garlic, onions, aromatic spices, and, most importantly, roasted butternut squash. The sweetness of this soup is enhanced during the roasting process as it results in a very rich soup.
The combination of chicken salad and butternut squash soup is the best as the flavors and textures blend perfectly. This gives off an amazing dining experience as the creamy nature of the soup contrasts with the crunchiness of the salad. Butternut squash soup is a highly nutritious meal as it contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
3.3. Sweet Potato Chips
This is a very nutritious and delicious meal especially when paired with chicken salad. It comes with a natural sweetness and gives the best taste when combined with chicken salad. Its crunchiness makes a satisfying contrast with the chicken salad, improving the dining experience. It also contains dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals making the meal possess high nutritional value.
3.4. Roasted Radishes
Although radishes are well known for their slightly bitter taste, they taste differently when roasted. Roasting radishes enhances their natural sweetness and, as a result, compliments chicken salad in a unique manner.
The crispiness of the radish when roasted is best enjoyed with a chicken salad with a softer texture. This adds complexity to every bite you take. You shouldn’t forget about the visual appeal it brings. The combination of both meals gives out an amazing mouth-watering view.
You can prepare roasted radishes by marinating your already trimmed radishes with pepper, salt, and olive oil. You should make sure that they are evenly distributed. Then, you can add any spice of your choice to enhance the flavor. Once you’re done, you can lay the seasoned radishes on a baking sheet and roast them in a preheated oven.
Since radishes are an excellent source of vitamins, a combination with chicken salad makes it a meal of high nutritional value.
3.5. Kale Slaw
Kale slaw is basically a ‘twisted’ version of the traditional coleslaw. It has a lot of health benefits, especially when combined with chicken salad. The meal is prepared from a mixture of thinly sliced kale leaves and flavorful slaw dressing. This dressing can be made with honey, mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, and seasonings.
Kale contains vitamin A and antioxidants, making it a highly nutritious meal. The sweetness and tanginess of the slaw when combined with chicken salad, gives a satisfying experience.
3.6. Roasted Asparagus
This can be prepared by blending the asparagus and marinating it with salt, olive oil, and seasonings. Minced garlic or grated parmesan can be added for a better taste. You can now spread the already-seasoned asparagus on a baking sheet and roast it in a preheated oven for about 15 minutes. This is largely dependent on how thick the spears of the asparagus are.
The combination with chicken salad brings out its nutty and sweet taste.
It is the perfect complement to the savoury taste of the chicken salad. Roasted asparagus is crispy in nature, making it an ideal with chicken salad which has a softer texture. Apart from the visual appeal this gives, it also contains essential nutrients needed in a meal. A combination of roasted asparagus and chicken salad will give you a wonderful dining experience with a touch of elegance.
3.7. Refrigerator Pickles
These types of pickles are not stored in a can. They can be prepared by dicing the pickles and keeping them in a brine mixture that is made up of rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, sugar, salt, and water.
The flavor becomes more pronounced due to the sugar and salt content. This also helps to balance the acidity of the flavor.
Spices and aromatics can be added to refrigerator pickles for an amazing and unique taste. After you have prepared the pickles, you can place them in the refrigerator for a few hours to develop their texture and flavors. This makes the pickles soft as they retain their crunchiness.
It is a very good meal to be paired with chicken salad, as the acidity in the pickles cuts through the savory flavor of the chicken salad, giving off a refreshing taste. Refrigerator pickles are easy to make and fit perfectly as a side dish with chicken salad.
3.8. Marinated Tomatoes
This is a very flavorful side dish which when combined with chicken salad, gives a fresh and savory taste. You can prepare marinated tomatoes by soaking slices of tomatoes in an already seasoned mixture that consists of garlic, olive oil, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper.
These tomato slices take in all of the flavors of the marinade, thereby improving their natural sweetness. You not only improve the taste of the slices of tomatoes when you marinade them, but their texture is also enhanced.
Combing marinated tomatoes and chicken salad gives a delightful and refreshing meal. The marinade’s flavor mixes with the chicken salad to create a spontaneous and enjoyable dining experience. They go so well with chicken salad, as the savory marinade improves the taste of the entire dish.
3.9. Bread and Crackers
Bread and crackers complement chicken salad as they provide a variety of flavors and textures to the dish. Bread, when served with chicken salad, can help to balance the texture and flavors of the chicken salad. You can also decide to use the bread to make a chicken salad sandwich. You can also dip the bread into the chicken salad as you enjoy the meal.
Crackers, on the other hand, either whole wheat, plain, or flavoured, add crunchiness and crispiness to the meal. You can place them on the side of the plate so you can easily grab them as you eat your chicken salad.
They can also come in different shapes and sizes to satisfy your cravings. They can enhance the satiety factor of the meal when bread and crackers are added as a side dish with chicken salad.
3.10. Green Salad
This is a very nutritious side dish that, when added to chicken salad, gives out different colors, textures, and flavors to the meal. A green salad consists of different types of leafy greens like spinach, arugula, and lettuce. It can also contain vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and tomatoes. You can add cheese, nuts, and dressings for extra taste and flavor. Combining green salad and chicken salad gives a balanced meal.
This is because of the minerals and vitamins present in the leafy greens. It also provides a delightful contrast to the creamy nature of the chicken salad. This blend adds depth as you take each bite.
The colors of the vegetables in the green salad make the meal aesthetically pleasing. You can customize your green salad to the vegetables of your choice. This allows you to create your salad based on your taste and dietary preference. This is one meal that appeals to both the eyes and taste buds.
3.11. Carrot Fries
This is a very healthy substitute for regular french fries. It is also a flavorful side dish, especially when served with chicken salad. You can prepare carrot fries by cutting the carrots into the shape of fries. The carrot slices are now marinated in a mixture of oil, pepper, salt, herbs, and spices of your choice.
You can decide to bake, or air fry the carrot stripes to create a crispy texture while maintaining its sweetness. Carrot fries are rich in vitamins and fiber. Carrots are naturally sweet, which gives an amazing contrast to the savory taste of the chicken salad. Combining carrot fries with chicken salad offers a vegetable-rich meal and ensures an all-around satisfying, balanced, and nourishing meal.
3.12. Creamy Bacon Potato Soup
This is a rich side dish that blends well with the freshness of chicken salad. Creamy bacon potato soup involves a blend of potatoes mixed with a creamy base made from milk. You can add seasonings like garlic, onions, cheese, and herbs to improve the taste. The soup can provide comfort and warmth, especially when taken on a rainy or cool day.
The soup gives a satisfying contrast when combined with chicken salad. Creamy bacon potato soup has a velvety texture, which blends really well with the crispy components of chicken salad. You should know that the soup has rich colors that make the meal visually appealing when combined with chicken salad.
3.13. Cucumber Soup
Cucumber soup is one very refreshing side dish that can be combined with chicken salad. You can prepare cucumber soup by blending the cucumbers with broth, buttermilk, and sour cream to have a creamy and smooth texture. You can also add fresh herbs to improve the flavor and taste.
The soup is perfect to take in hot days, and it brings a hydrating quality to the meal. It creates a refreshing counterbalance when combined with chicken salad. The sweet flavor of the soup blends well with the ingredients of the chicken salad without overshadowing them. The fact that they have different textures makes the meal more enjoyable and interesting.
Since cucumbers contain a high water content, they have mild detoxifying properties, making them a healthy meal. You can decide to customize your cucumber soup by adding different herbs and ingredients of your choice. The combination of chicken salad and cucumber soup creates a gentle taste.
3.13. Broccoli Apple Walnut Salad
This side dish blends well with chicken salad as it harmonizes the flavors and textures. You can prepare this salad by chopping the broccoli into florets and steaming them to maintain their crisp texture and green color.
You can then add slices of apples for sweetness. The addition of the apple creates a juicy and fruity mix. You can make use of different apples for this salad to achieve that tartness and honeys-crip taste. When combined with chicken salad, it creates a wide range of tastes and sensations. It also helps to enhance the overall meal.
4. In the End
There are a variety of dishes that you can combine with a chicken salad for maximum satisfaction. Make sure that the side dish you are serving with your chicken salad has all of the nutritional value and a balance of flavors and textures.
Last Updated on by Arnab