Elevate Your Chicken Salad With 15 Healthy Side Dishes

Are you tired of defaulting to the same old potato chips, basic fresh fruit, or a few dill pickle spears? While these are certainly passable, your delicious chicken salad deserves more dynamic partners. Whether you prefer a classic cranberry walnut chicken salad, a plant-based option like soy curl chicken salad, or a convenient slow-cooker version, our comprehensive list has you covered. We’ve curated a collection of creative and wholesome side dish ideas that promise to tantalize your taste buds and impress your guests.

This guide is designed to help you craft a perfectly balanced and appealing menu. Our suggestions are predominantly fruit and veggie-based, ensuring they cater to a variety of dietary preferences and health-conscious eaters. You’ll find options that add crunch, sweetness, tang, and warmth, creating a delightful contrast to the rich and savory notes of your main dish. Plus, we’ve included thoughtful suggestions for different types of bread and crackers, including an array of low-carb alternatives, so you can enjoy your chicken salad exactly how you like it.

Get ready to mix and match these innovative ideas based on what’s in season, your specific event, and your personal cravings. Say goodbye to boring side dishes and hello to a world of flavorful possibilities that will make every chicken salad meal an unforgettable experience!

1. Crisp Green Salad with Zesty Dressing

A fresh green salad remains a timeless and impeccable choice to serve alongside chicken salad. Its crisp texture and vibrant freshness provide a wonderful counterpoint to the creamy main dish. But don’t settle for ordinary! Elevate your green salad by incorporating a diverse mix of ingredients. Think crunchy cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, and bell peppers for a burst of color and flavor. Add some toasted nuts like pecans or walnuts for an extra layer of texture, or crumbled feta or goat cheese for a touch of savory richness. Even a sprinkle of dried cranberries can echo flavors often found in chicken salad.

The true magic often lies in the dressing. Move beyond bottled options and consider a spectacular homemade vinaigrette. A sweet red wine vinegar dressing, for instance, offers a delightful balance with its subtle sweetness and tangy notes, beautifully complementing the savory profile of chicken. Its homemade quality truly shines through, promising rave reviews and transforming a simple side into an irresistible component of your meal. A light, lemon-herb dressing or a balsamic vinaigrette can also work wonders, ensuring each bite is refreshing and satisfying.

2. Hearty Butternut Squash Soup

Pairing chicken salad sandwiches with a comforting bowl of soup creates an incredibly appealing dining experience. The delightful contrast between the cool, creamy chicken salad and a warm, savory soup is a culinary delight that awakens the senses. Butternut squash soup, with its smooth texture and naturally sweet, earthy flavor, is an excellent choice, particularly during the cooler months of fall and winter. Its richness provides a satisfying depth to your meal.

For warmer weather, consider lighter options like a vibrant vegetable soup, a refreshing gazpacho, or a delicate tomato bisque. The beauty of soup as a side dish is its incredible convenience. Many soups can be prepared well in advance, even days before your meal, and then simply reheated when you’re ready to serve. This make-ahead aspect makes it an ideal option for entertaining or busy weeknights, ensuring a delicious and effortless addition to your chicken salad spread. Experiment with different spices and herbs in your soup to complement or contrast with your chicken salad’s flavor profile.

3. Refreshing Fruit Salad

A vibrant fruit salad is an exquisitely light and refreshing accompaniment to a savory chicken salad meal. Its natural sweetness and juicy textures provide a perfect palate cleanser and a delightful contrast to the richness of the main dish. The key to an outstanding fruit salad is using fresh, seasonal fruits, which will always deliver the most intense and authentic flavors. Think about incorporating a rainbow of colors and textures: crisp apples, sweet berries, tangy citrus segments, juicy grapes, and tropical pineapple or mango.

For an unexpected and highly popular twist, consider integrating grains or a zesty dressing. A quinoa fruit salad, for example, adds a fantastic protein boost and a slightly nutty texture that complements the fruit beautifully. Alternatively, tossing your fruit with a simple honey-lime dressing can brighten the flavors and add an irresistible zing. This unique approach transforms a standard fruit salad into a memorable party favorite, making it not just a side, but a standout dish in its own right. It’s an easy way to add natural sugars and essential vitamins to your plate.

4. Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Chips

For those who love the satisfying crunch of chips but are looking for a healthier alternative to traditional potato chips, baked sweet potato chips are an excellent choice. While potato chips are a common, albeit often mundane, accompaniment to chicken salad sandwiches, sweet potato chips offer a superior nutritional profile and a delightful natural sweetness that pairs wonderfully with savory dishes. You can find numerous packaged options in grocery stores, often seasoned with sea salt, paprika, or even cinnamon for a unique twist.

However, making your own vegetable chips at home is surprisingly straightforward and incredibly rewarding. While it requires some hands-off cooking time in the oven or air fryer, the effort is well worth it. Slicing sweet potatoes thinly, tossing them with a little olive oil and your favorite seasonings (garlic powder, chili powder, or rosemary all work well), and then baking them until crispy results in a snack that is both craveable and wholesome. They provide that essential crunchy texture that perfectly balances the soft creaminess of chicken salad.

5. Flavorful Carrot Fries

Here’s another fantastic and exciting side dish that will add a playful yet sophisticated element to your meal: crispy carrot fries. These vibrant, naturally sweet fries bring a delightful crunch and an unexpected burst of flavor that perfectly complements the soft texture and savory profile of chicken salad. They offer a healthier, more nutrient-rich alternative to traditional potato fries, while still delivering that satisfying “fry” experience.

Preparing carrot fries is simple. Begin by scrubbing whole carrots thoroughly, but leave the skin on for an added layer of crispiness and rustic appeal. Cut them into uniform segments or classic fry shapes. Then, roast them in the oven until tender-crisp and slightly caramelized, or achieve an even quicker and crispier result in an air fryer. For an enhanced flavor and textural contrast, serve these golden carrot fries with a cool, creamy dipping sauce, such as a tangy yogurt-dill sauce or a zesty lemon-garlic aioli. The combination of warm, sweet carrots with a refreshing dip creates a truly memorable side that will have everyone reaching for more.

6. Savory Roasted Radishes

If you’ve only ever thought of radishes as a spicy, raw garnish for salads, prepare to be amazed by the transformative power of roasting! Roasted radishes offer a surprising and delicious side dish option, especially for those seeking low-carb alternatives. When subjected to the heat of an air fryer or oven, radishes undergo a magical change: their characteristic peppery bite mellows significantly, and their texture softens to a tender, almost potato-like consistency. Many describe the flavor as remarkably similar to roasted potatoes, but with a fraction of the carbohydrates.

This unexpected revelation makes roasted radishes an amazing and health-conscious accompaniment to creamy chicken salad. They bring an earthy, slightly sweet flavor and a lovely texture that perfectly balances the richness of the main dish. Simply toss them with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper before roasting. Once done, a simple pat of butter, a sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley or chives, or a toss with your favorite dressing can further enhance their flavor. Your family will undoubtedly enjoy discovering this versatile and satisfying vegetable in a whole new light.

7. Wholesome Cauliflower “Tots”

If you’re looking for a versatile and nutritious side dish that appeals to nearly everyone, look no further than these delightful cauliflower “muffins”, affectionately known as cauliflower tots. Baked conveniently in a muffin tin, these mini-sized bites strikingly resemble and offer a similar satisfying texture to classic tater tots, but with a significant boost of vegetables. They are an ingenious way to incorporate more cauliflower into your diet without sacrificing flavor or fun.

This largely vegetable-based recipe is incredibly simple, typically involving a mixture of cauliflower rice, a binding agent like egg, and a touch of cheese for flavor and structure. The beauty of these tots lies in their adaptability; you can customize them with your preferred seasonings. We often recommend Italian seasoning for a universally appealing taste, creating a simple yet incredibly satisfying side dish that consistently impresses. Not a fan of cauliflower? The same easy formula can be applied to other vegetables, such as in these equally delicious broccoli muffins, offering another fantastic veggie-packed alternative. These tots offer a soft, savory contrast to the chicken salad while adding essential nutrients.

8. Nutrient-Rich Kale Slaw

Coleslaw has long held its rightful place on countless restaurant lunch menus, and for good reason—its crisp texture and tangy flavor provide an excellent complement to a wide array of sandwiches. A classic Southern vinegar coleslaw, with its bright, piquant dressing, is always a reliable and delicious choice that cuts through the richness of chicken salad beautifully. However, if you’re looking to venture beyond the traditional and embrace a more nutrient-dense option, a fresh kale slaw is an inspired selection.

For a side dish that’s a little different and packed with leafy green goodness, consider crafting a kale apple slaw. This vibrant creation offers a fantastic combination of earthy kale, crisp, sweet apples, and often a light, refreshing dressing that might include hints of lemon or poppy seeds. It’s a delightful copycat of the popular side dish found at places like Tropical Smoothie Cafe, offering a wonderful balance of sweet, savory, and tangy notes, along with an abundance of texture. The hearty nature of kale ensures it stands up well, providing a satisfying crunch that beautifully contrasts with creamy chicken salad.

9. Elegant Roasted Asparagus

When it comes to simple yet elegant side dishes, fresh asparagus stands out as a superb choice. The secret to truly amazing asparagus lies in starting with the freshest stalks you can find; their inherent sweetness and tender-crisp texture will shine through, regardless of your cooking method. Asparagus cooks quickly and beautifully, whether you opt for the convenience of an air fryer, the classic approach of roasting in the oven, or even a quick microwave steam for a fast meal.

For an elevated flavor profile, consider preparing balsamic asparagus, where the tangy-sweet glaze perfectly complements the vegetable’s natural taste. Personally, I have a soft spot for pencil-thin stalks; these delicate spears achieve an incredible crispiness when roasted, especially in an air fryer. To finish, a simple sprinkling of flaky sea salt and a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving brightens all the flavors. This minimalist approach allows the natural deliciousness of the asparagus to take center stage, creating a simple, delightful, and incredibly healthy side dish that pairs wonderfully with chicken salad.

10. Unique and Crispy Okra Fries

Move over, traditional French fries! There’s a new, exciting, and wonderfully healthy fry option in town, and it’s made from okra. Okra fries offer a delicious and nutritious alternative to potato fries, bringing a unique texture and earthy flavor to your meal. If you’ve ever shied away from okra due to its reputation for sliminess, prepare to be pleasantly surprised; when cooked properly, especially roasted or air-fried, okra becomes delightfully crispy and loses any undesirable texture.

These fries are not only crispy and flavorful but also incredibly satisfying and perfect for dipping into your favorite sauce. They provide an excellent textural contrast to the creamy chicken salad, adding a delightful crunch to every bite. What’s more, okra fries are remarkably easy to prepare. You can even start with a bag of frozen okra, making this a convenient option for any time. Simply toss them with a little oil and your preferred spices—a touch of smoked paprika, garlic powder, or even a hint of cayenne can elevate their taste. Bake or air fry until golden brown and crispy for a truly memorable side dish.

11. Zesty Refrigerator Pickles

While there are countless delicious ways to enjoy chicken salad, incorporating a few crisp, tangy pickle slices on the side is an absolute must for many culinary enthusiasts. The bright, tart flavor of pickles provides an essential counterpoint, beautifully balancing the inherent creaminess and richness of the chicken salad. This flavor contrast is not only delightful to the palate but also adds an appealing visual element to your plate with its vibrant green hue.

The best part is that crafting your own homemade pickled cucumbers (or other vegetables) is incredibly simple and much more rewarding than store-bought varieties. These “refrigerator pickles” don’t require canning and are ready to enjoy after just a few hours, lasting for days in your fridge. All you need are thinly sliced cucumbers and a quick pickling brine. For a wonderfully vibrant and flavorful experience, you can adapt a recipe like our pink pickled onions, substituting cucumbers or a mix of vegetables. Once you taste the fresh, crisp, and perfectly seasoned results, you’ll likely find yourself hooked on making your own tangy sides!

12. Juicy Marinated Tomatoes

For a side dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious, a platter of marinated tomatoes is an unbeatable choice. You won’t find a prettier or more effortlessly elegant accompaniment to chicken salad than a vibrant array of tomatoes, carefully sliced and allowed to soak up a tangy, aromatic vinegar dressing. This is one of the easiest side dishes you can prepare, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor impact. The key to achieving the best possible taste is to allow the tomatoes ample time to marinate – ideally for a few hours, or even overnight in the refrigerator – giving them sufficient opportunity to absorb all the wonderful flavors.

To keep things wonderfully simple, opt for seasoned rice vinegar. Its balanced sweetness and tang mean you won’t need to add much else. Just a generous drizzle over your fresh tomato slices is often enough. For added depth, you can incorporate a touch of fresh basil, a minced garlic clove, or a pinch of red pepper flakes if you desire a little heat. Use a variety of colorful tomatoes, such as cherry, grape, heirloom, and beefsteak, to create a visually stunning and flavor-diverse platter. The bright acidity of the marinated tomatoes offers a refreshing contrast to the rich and creamy chicken salad, making each bite lively and enjoyable.

13. Colorful Fresh Veggies and Dip Platter

Looking to effortlessly incorporate more healthy vegetables into your meal? A vibrant fresh vegetable and dip platter, often referred to as a crudité platter, is an excellent and attractive way to do so, especially when paired with creamy chicken salad. It’s a perennial crowd-pleaser that is inherently kid-friendly and wonderfully easy to customize according to everyone’s taste preferences. The key to a truly appealing platter is variety and presentation – think a rainbow of colors and an array of textures, all cut into convenient, bite-sized strips or florets.

Arrange your fresh vegetables artfully, much like this easy crudite platter from Take Two Tapas, ensuring a diverse selection. Popular choices include crisp carrot sticks, crunchy celery stalks, vibrant bell pepper strips (red, yellow, orange), tender broccoli and cauliflower florets, refreshing cucumber slices, and juicy cherry tomatoes. Don’t forget the star of the show: a truly delicious dipping sauce! This is where you can truly elevate your veggie experience. You can’t go wrong with classic ranch dressing, a zesty lemon garlic aioli, a creamy dill dip, a wholesome hummus, or even a simple, freshly made 4-ingredient guacamole. This interactive side dish adds freshness, crunch, and a burst of flavor to your chicken salad meal.

14. Delightful Whipped Cottage Cheese Creations

If you’re seeking a healthy, satisfying option to curb your sweet tooth after a savory chicken salad, whipped cottage cheese is an absolute game-changer. This often-underestimated ingredient transforms into a light, creamy, and protein-packed “dessert” or sweet snack that genuinely hits the spot without overloading on carbohydrates. It’s an ingenious way to enjoy something sweet while still maintaining a nutritious focus, making it a perfect end to a lunch or dinner.

As spring and summer roll around, you can get even more creative with it. Imagine indulging in strawberry cottage cheese ice cream or a refreshing cottage cheese fruit salad – both are surprisingly simple to prepare and offer a significant protein boost. The beauty of whipped cottage cheese lies in its versatility for toppings. Transform it into a standout dish by garnishing with rich chocolate chips, crunchy chopped nuts (like walnuts or almonds), or a medley of fresh berries and sliced fruit. For the ultimate treat, combine all three and layer them into a beautiful parfait, offering a delightful combination of textures and flavors in every spoonful. It’s a sweet, guilt-free pleasure that complements any meal.

15. Creative Bread and Cracker Pairings

Chicken salad is a dish often enjoyed on some form of bread or with crackers, but if you’ve been feeling limited to traditional choices like croissants or baguettes, or perhaps guilty about the carb content of white bread, it’s time to broaden your horizons. Many people are actively seeking healthy, low-carb, or simply more interesting alternatives to classic bread. The good news is, the culinary world offers an abundance of options that allow you to savor your chicken salad guilt-free and with renewed excitement. These innovative pairings cater to various dietary needs and taste preferences, ensuring everyone can enjoy their meal exactly as they like it.

Explore these delicious ideas that will revolutionize how you serve and enjoy your chicken salad:

• Crisp Lettuce Leaves: For a light and refreshing, low-carb option, large lettuce leaves are perfect. Seek out sturdy varieties like Boston bib, romaine, or butter lettuce. You can serve your chicken salad nestled on a bed of these leaves as a lighter meal, or use them as natural wraps for a satisfying, crunchy bite.
• 3-Ingredient Keto Chaffles: These ingenious bread alternatives have taken the low-carb community by storm, and for excellent reason! Made primarily from cheese and egg, chaffles are crispy, savory, and an incredibly delicious stand-in for bread in sandwiches or as dippers. Cauliflower waffles offer a similar, equally tasty low-carb option.
• Cottage Cheese Flatbread: A surprisingly versatile and low-carb option, cottage cheese flatbread can be prepared and used in various ways – as a pliable wrap, a sturdy base for a sandwich, or even rolled up and sliced into attractive pinwheels for entertaining. It’s packed with protein and a fantastic grain-free choice.
• Fluffy Cloud Bread: Another fantastic homemade low-carb friendly option, cloud bread is incredibly light and airy. Made with eggs, cream cheese, and a leavening agent, it provides a soft, cloud-like texture that makes for an interesting and delicious chicken salad vessel.
• Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas: While traditional tortillas can be carb-heavy, many grocery stores now offer excellent lower-carb varieties in various sizes. These are perfect for making chicken salad wraps or even crisp low-carb tortilla chips to scoop up your salad.
• Hearty Whole Wheat Pita Bread: For a more substantial option, choose whole wheat pita bread. You can stuff it with chicken salad and fresh greens, or cut it into wedges for dipping. The whole wheat variety adds fiber and a nutty flavor.
• Elegant Open-Faced Servings: If you truly love indulgent breads like brioche or a hearty sourdough, serve your chicken salad open-faced. This allows you to enjoy the flavor of a richer bread while keeping the portion balanced and visually appealing.
• Crispy Crostini: For a more gourmet presentation, thinly slice a baguette and lightly toast it in the oven until golden and crisp. Top these elegant crostini with a spoonful of chicken salad and perhaps a fresh herb garnish for a sophisticated appetizer or light lunch.
• Sturdy Crackers: When selecting crackers, opt for varieties that are large and sturdy enough to withstand the weight and creaminess of chicken salad without crumbling. Whole grain or seeded crackers offer added flavor and texture. For a unique, low-carb, and flavorful option, try homemade baked Parmesan cheese crisps, which provide a savory crunch.

With these diverse bread and cracker options, your chicken salad experience will never be dull, offering a perfect base for every preference and occasion.