Looking for what to serve with Chicken parmesan besides pasta? Then, you’ve come to the right place! Let us inspire you with these 21 delicious sides that pair beautifully with any chicken parmigiana recipe.
Chicken parm is classic italian favorite that’s perfect for a hearty family dinner, a romantic date night or a even a quick weeknight meal.
What makes this classic Italian dish so famous is its crispy breaded chicken breasts with parmesan cheese and tangy marinara sauce all lovingly layered and baked until bubbly hot. It’s the main dish that the whole family will enjoy!
Chicken parmesan is delicious on its own but most folks like to serve it with a side of pasta which is totally understandable.
What we like to do is add some variety into the mix and serve our favorite easy chicken parmesan recipe with some tasty sides that’ll blow your mind and taste buds. What we’ve found, is that this family favorite tastes even better when it’s not the only star on the plate.
Whether you’re tired of plain ol’ spaghetti or just looking for some new great side dish ideas, here are 21 simple recipes that pair beautifully with chicken parmesan recipes.
Bon Appetit!
What to serve with Chicken parmesan besides pasta?
Chicken parmesan pairs beautifully with a variety of different side dishes.
Parmesan chicken is really delectable dish that pairs with much more than just any kind of pasta.
Some of our favorite side dishes to serve with this classic Italian dish are roasted vegetables, a loaded side salad, garlic bread and even cheesy garlic mashed potatoes. But, there are dozens of delicious ways to pair a good chicken parmigiana recipe that don’t include spaghetti noodles.
Here are our favorite side dish ideas for chicken parmigiana:
- Classic Caesar salad
- Cheesy garlic bread
- Zucchini noodles
- Broccoli rabe
- Eggplant parm
- Brussels sprouts
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Roasted root vegetables
- Copycat Olive Garden salad
- Roasted broccoli
- Broccoli salad
- Caprese salad
- Mashed potatoes
- Arugula salad
- Polenta
- Italian green bean salad
- Roasted cauliflower
- Roasted Italian potatoes
- Baked rice
- Cornbread
- Stuffed Italian artichokes
Continue reading to see 21 of our favorite recipes to serve up with your favorite chicken parmesan! Or, use the convenient table of contents to quickly jump around the recipes listed below.
21 Tasty Sides For Chicken Parm
Classic Caesar Salad
Figuring out what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta doesn’t get much easier than this classic Caesar salad recipe from Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats pictures above.
In her recipe, crisp romaine lettuce is smothered in a creamy dressing made with mayo, parmesan, anchovy (a must!), Dijon, Worcestershire and garlic.
Topped with crispy croutons and bacon this classic Caesar salad is a must for anyone struggling with figuring out what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta.
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is the perfect side dish to serve with chicken parmesan and we’ve got the best recipe for you to try!
This garlic bread from The Recipe Critic is a cheesy, buttery treat that will be perfect as a side dish for your favorite homemade chicken parm recipe.
What makes this recipe extra special is the ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese and Colby jack topping!
The best part? This cheesy garlic bread is perfect for soaking up extra sauce and cleaning your plate.
Zucchini Noodles
We love zucchini noodles as a healthy alternative to regular noodles and they’re perfect for serving up with your favorite chicken parmesan recipe!
This keto-friendly Aglio e Oglio zoodle recipe from The Iron You is simple, easy and seriously delicious.
Loaded with olive oil, garlic and pepperoncino (red chili flakes) and topped with fresh parsley this is a good side dish for anyone looking to serve up something light and different.
Related: 7 Best Zoodle Recipes You Need In Your Life
Italian Style Garlicky Broccoli Rabe
We love rapini (aka broccoli rabe) and think its a great chicken parmesan side dish. Broccoli rabe is a great alternative to broccoli, asparagus or brussel sprouts.
This delicious Italian style garlicky broccoli rabe from She Loves Biscotti is simple garlic broccoli rabe that ‘s prepared by boiling in a pot of water and then sautéing with plenty of garlic in a large skillet on medium heat.
Eggplant Parmesan
Another great choice of what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta is eggplant parm.
This simple oven baked Eggplant Parm from The Seasoned Mom is a tasty dish that is simple to make and delicious. What makes this recipe different from other similar recipes is that this recipe calls for cornflakes instead of bread crumbs to get some phenomenal crunch on her eggplant slices.
She also bakes her eggplant instead of frying it, which keeps the eggplant nice and moist (without being too oily). Plus, it’s covered in a thick layer of melted mozzarella cheese and homemade sauce.
Brussels Sprouts
Let’s be honest, brussels sprouts can be a tough sell. I get it. But, these delicious roasted brussels sprouts with Balsamic vinegar and honey from Once Upon A Chef are a must try.
These brussel sprouts are a delicious vegetable side dish and a great alternative to a traditional pasta side dish.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Raise your hand if you love sweet potatoes! This incredibly delicious recipe for roasted sweet potatoes with toasted pine nuts and arugula comes to us from A Pleasant Little Kitchen and is guaranteed to become one of your favorite foods pronto!
This roasted sweet potato side dish comes together on a baking sheet (no mess folks!) and is coated in fresh herbs and a balsamic glaze.
Once you make this side dish the first time you’ll never struggle with what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta again!
Triple this recipe and wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and eat the next day! It’s seriously THAT good.
Roasted Vegetables
Roasted veggies are another great choice when you are searching for what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta.
Roasted root vegetables pair especially well with Italian food so a combination of roasted carrots, potatoes and parsnips are a great starting point. We just love these parmesan garlic and herb roasted root vegetables from Carls Bad Cravings.
While your parmesan chicken bakes you can simultaneously roast these vegetables and call the whole thing a meal. This one is a great choice for busy weeknights when you want something very hands off.
Copycat Olive Garden Salad
Another wonderful option for what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta is this delicious copycat Olive Garden salad from Dinner At the Zoo.
This simple replica includes crunchy lettuce, cherry tomatoes, olives, onions, croutons, parmesan shavings, pepperoncini peppers and a creamy Italian dressing loaded with herbs, garlic powder and seasonings.
Roasted Broccoli
We love roasted broccoli and think it’s a great choice for times when you are searching for what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta.
This simple roasted broccoli recipe from Love and Lemons is going to totally transform your idea of broccoli!
What makes this recipe really special is that you roast the broccoli florets with some good quality olive oil and then really up the flavor profile by finishing it off with freshly squeezed lemon juice and crushed red pepper flakes.
Broccoli Salad
Since we love broccoli so much, we wanted to come at you with another easy broccoli side dish that pairs incredibly well with classic chicken parmesan.
This broccoli salad from Spend With Pennies is insanely easy to prepare. It comes together in just minutes thanks to a quick and delicious sauce that you easily make ahead and let set in the fridge.
This salad is so good that the next time you need to make a quick side dish you’re never gonna struggle to come up with what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta again.
Caprese Salad
Since we’re on a salad kick we want to present you with this epic avocado Caprese salad from Cafe Delites.
One of the unique things about this take on Caprese salad is the avocado which makes this a hearty dish that pairs beautifully with any homemade chicken parm dinner.
In fact, this is a great side dish choice for other dinners too like chicken cutlets or slow cooker chicken parmigiana sandwiches made with leftovers. It’s a versatile, delicious, and hearty salad that is loaded with flavor from minced garlic, fresh basil, black pepper, and balsamic glaze.
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed taters might seem like an unusual side dish choice. But when you think about classic chicken parmesan dinners you might recall the mashed potatoes served at your favorite Italian joint.
What do they put on their mashed taters? How come they taste so good? What makes this side of potatoes perfect for serving with chicken parmesan is that it’s chock full of butter, cream cheese and garlic and of course, salt and pepper.
Our favorite go-to mashed potato recipe comes from Gimme Some Oven. Loaded with flavor these mashed taters are the ideal way to prepare a good potato mash!
Arugula Salad
We’ve already given you a crazy good broccoli salad recipe, so why not go with something totally different? What about giving this arugula salad from Foodie Crush a shot?
This is another super simple recipe that comes together in just a few minutes. It’s bright and flavorful with a delicious lemon vinaigrette that includes olive oil, honey, lemon juice and grated parm.
This simple and earthy salad is a quick and delicious solution when you find yourself struggling to find what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta.
Polenta
Polenta is also another easy side dish that pairs well with chicken parmesan. What makes polenta so great is how versatile it is.
It can be served creamy or firm and topped with homemade tomato sauce and little shreds of basil or sauteed vegetables. Polenta is made with cornmeal, water and a little bit of salt and by itself doesn’t really pack enough flavor so topping choices really matter.
Check out these baked polenta squares with mushroom ragu from Italian Recipe Book for some Polenta inspo!
Italian Green Bean Salad
Green beans are another great side dish choice for chicken parm. This Italian green bean salad from Plain Chicken is a perfect combination of the best Italian flavors.
It’s full of delicious Italian flavors like garlic and olive oil. But, it gets its signature flavor from a tangy lemon vinaigrette that will totally change your mind about plain ol’ green beans.
What makes this recipe even more incredible is that you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate until it’s time to eat!
Baked Roasted Cauliflower
Unsure what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta? Then, we strongly urge you to consider making this easy roasted cauliflower recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen.
This quick and easy side dish is hearty and easy to make. It pairs beautifully with homemade chicken parm and is even more delicious dunked in extra pasta sauce.
Roasted Potatoes
Roasted potatoes are another one of those great simple side dishes that work well with bubbly pipping hot chicken parm.
Roast potatoes come in a variety of different flavor combinations and our absolute favorite recipe is Rasa Malaysia’s Italian roasted potato recipe.
Here’s why we love it: it’s fast, it’s delicious and it’s budget-friendly. Load it with extra shredded basil and parsley to boost the flavor profile even more.
Baked Rice
A good baked rice is a family favorite in our home. We particularly love this oven baked rice with vegetables from My Gorgeous Recipes because it’s a one pot wonder with respect to side dishes.
You can use brown rice or white making it a versatile choice. It’s loaded with flavor, rice and vegetables making it a great quick and easy side dish for busy families with kids.
We like to add a small amount of tomato paste to our stock to boost the flavor and color.
So, the next time you are racking your brain trying to figure out what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta head straight to the pantry and start making this baked rice dish.
Sweet Cornbread
Looking for something a little sweet but totally different to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta? Give this cornbread recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction a try!
The slight sweetness pairs beautifully with the acidity of the tomato sauce in chicken parm making these two an unlikely pairing that will impress your family and guests alike.
Stuffed Italian Artichokes
Ever chowed down on a stuffed italian artichoke? If not, you’ve gotta try this right now.
There’s something about the way these bad boys combine artichokes, a seasoned bread crumb mixture and cheese that is just so satisfying and pairs so well with an Italian classic like chicken parm.
What we really love about this stuffed artichoke recipe from The Lemon Bowl is how easy it is to make – plus, you can even prep them ahead of time and cook right before serving! The only thing is we know you wont be able to eat just one!
Final Thoughts On What To Serve With Chicken Parmesan Besides Pasta
There you have it! 21 creative side dishes that pair beautifully with a good classic Italian chicken parm any night of the week.
From classic Caesar salad to Italian roast potatoes with vegetables to sweet cornbread and even stuffed artichokes, these side dish inspirations will keep your family fed!
Save this post so that the next time you find yourself scratching your head trying to figure out what to serve with chicken parmesan besides pasta you can quickly find this post and not have to search the internet for hours!
What are your must-have side dishes when it comes to chicken parmesan? Comment below! We’d love to learn what other readers are serving!
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