It is very normal if you are trying chicken and waffles for the first time and want to add something of your taste; then there is no need to worry. We have listed the 10 best side dishes that goes well with chicken and waffles.
If you are about to host an American friend, and they have requested you to make chicken and waffles. But you have no idea what you can serve with it?
There is a vast range of options that you can serve with chicken and waffles. There are two general categories to consider when it comes to what goes with chicken and waffles? These are “SIDES “and “TOPPINGS“, similar to French onion or butternut squash soup.
Fried chicken and waffles is a culinary phenomenon that is sweeping the nation. It’s a southern classic that has been around for generations, but it’s recently been getting a lot of attention from foodies and chefs alike.
If you are wondering what goes well with fried chicken and waffles, here are some great pairings:
- Fried Chicken And Waffles With Maple Syrup
- Fried Chicken And Waffles With Bacon
- Fried Chicken And Waffles With Gravy
- Fried Chicken And Waffle Sandwiches
- Fried Chicken And Waffle Soup
Note:
Chicken and waffles is a dish that consists of fried crispy chicken with bread crumbs atop a bed of waffles, as the name suggests. This is frequently followed by a sweet, spicy, or savory sauce.
Some people, mainly those not from the United States of America, may find this an odd lunch idea. Regardless, many individuals who try it will become enthusiasts of chicken and waffles.
What Can You Serve with Chicken and Waffles As a Side Dish?
Trying different toppings with the chicken and waffles is a wonderful idea, but here you will find some side dishes that you can serve to make it substantial.
Not one but even two side dishes will be a great addition to make it a complete meal. Consider the following terrific side dish options:
1. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts have recently gained popularity among the people, and it has now been used as a side dish in restaurants. It is also served with chicken and waffles, so you should try it as well.
These small green cabbages are roasted in light butter or olive oil until the outer side becomes crispy. Then, mix them with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder for an added touch of hotness.
Now serve it with chicken and waffles instead of bacon to give your brunch meal a little twist.
2. Mac and Cheese
Mac and Cheese is one of the favorite dishes of southerners. Macaroni pasta and cheese sauce is used to make this dish. Cheddar is the most often used cheese. Mozzarella cheese is also a wonderful option.
Waffles and chicken also go perfect with the creamy mac and cheese. However, it is recommended that you use a mild type of cheese, such as cheddar cheese, if you’re going to serve dinner for children.
3. CornBread
Cornbread is one of those dishes that goes with almost anything. It also adds some uniqueness to the meal; the same goes with waffles and chicken, as it gives a mild sweetness that goes well with a variety of different variants of the dish.
Cornbread is quite simple to make from scratch and may be flavored in various ways. However, if you’re going to make cornbread, it is recommended to use buttermilk for a beautiful crumbly texture.
4. Baked Sweet Potato
If you are planning to eat chicken and waffles in your next meal and are searching for a side dish that can go with it, experts recommend you go with baked sweet potatoes with closed eyes.
Baked Sweet Potato is a perfect option if you are not into deep-fried food. The nicest part about cooking them at home is that they don’t leave a greasy residue on your stovetop, unlike fried dishes.
Use parchment paper-lined baking sheets to provide a uniformly crispy texture and reduce the danger of burning.
Any too sweet flavor of waffles or syrup-showered chicken will be balanced out by the sweetness of this savoury root vegetable. While also providing necessary nutrients for staying refreshed after a weekend brunch.
Do add some other fresh vegetables like tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach leaves before baking them to crisp perfection, so they’re ready when it’s time for everyone at the table to dig in.
5. Fruit Salad
Having Chicken and waffles for dinner can be heavy for health freaks. Therefore nutritionists would like to inform you that you can have fresh fruit salad to eat a tasty and healthy diet at the same time.
Like any other salad, a fruit salad can be made out of a variety of fruits. A common mix of chopped bananas, sliced apples, oranges, grapes, cranberries, and strawberries is a favorite.
You can also try different variations with the salads by putting some yogurt, cream, custard, or, appropriately enough, syrup to make it a dessert.
6. Potato Salad
Potato salad is a very delicious German meal. It’s frequently served as a side dish and goes well with many dinners and other cuisines.
When serving chicken and waffles, make the potato salad as creamy as possible to provide more moisture to the dish. If you want to make your potato salad a little fancier, add cooked eggs or celery.
7. Cheesy Cauliflower Gratin
A side dish makes the chicken and waffles perfect, but when that side dish is mac and cheese or cheesy cauliflower gratin, the whole meal goes to another level.
This cauliflower gratin is a great substitute for mashed potatoes for people on a low-carb diet. It offers the same soothing effect as the potato but fewer carbs and calories.
Crispy breadcrumbs combine with just enough buttery cheese to provide a wonderful accompaniment to hot maple syrup, which may be used on savoury or sweet meals.
The nicest aspect about this dish is that it just has four ingredients and can be made in bulk. It would be ideal for holiday feasts or large gatherings where mashed potatoes would be too time-consuming to prepare.
8. Baked Mushrooms
At first, this may sound weird how mushrooms can be a good side dish for waffles. But once you try, you will realize how delicious it is. There’s no going back after you’ve eaten it.
Vegans will enjoy this dinner of waffles and mushrooms. Not to mention how wonderfully the meaty texture of mushrooms complements waffles. Of course, this recipe will be even tastier if you add barbeque sauce to it.
9. Chutney
Chutney is a fantastic addition to chicken and waffles for exceptionally savoury or spicy variations.
In addition, chutney is frequently used to accompany curry dishes, so this is especially important if you want to use a curry sauce as your topper sauce.
The extra benefit of chutney is that it comes in a range of flavors to complement the other items in your dishes, such as caramelized onion or mango chutney. As a result, no matter what your chicken and waffles taste like, there will always be one taste of your choice that you can enjoy.
10. Sautéed Collard Greens
Sautéed Collard Greens is another great option for a balanced meal as a side meal of chicken and waffles. This is a wonderful and easy way to get more greens into your diet.
Sautéed collard greens are simple enough for weeknight dinners while yet being elegant enough for gathering. In addition to olive oil, red pepper flakes (optional), garlic cloves, salt, and water, you will require two chopped fresh or frozen kale sets.
Start by cooking the vegetables in a large skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat until they wilt down, about five minutes. If you want a little more kick, add the seasonings now. Stir from time to time until all of the vegetables have wilted and become soft; it will take about 7 minutes additionally.
After it’s cooked through, season with salt and a cup of water, and wait until the mixture starts to boil, stirring from time to time, for about two minutes, or until all the liquid has evaporated.
Remove from the heat and serve over waffles or chicken fried steak.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Chicken and Waffles?
When it comes to comfort food, chicken and waffles are a classic combination that has been enjoyed for decades.
The crispy fried chicken paired with the fluffy waffles creates a unique texture and flavor many love. While chicken and waffles can certainly stand alone as a main dish, serving them with side dishes can take the meal to a whole new level.
One reason to consider serving side dishes with chicken and waffles is to provide a variety of flavors and textures to the meal. While the chicken and waffles may be the show’s stars, the sides can provide a contrasting or complementary flavor that enhances the overall taste experience.
For example, serving savory sides like bacon or eggs can balance out the sweetness of the waffles, while adding a side of fruit can add a refreshing burst of flavor.
Another reason to serve side dishes with chicken and waffles is to make the meal more satisfying and filling. While the chicken and waffles are delicious, they may not provide all the necessary nutrients or calories for a complete meal.
Sides like salad, vegetables, or beans can add fiber, protein, and vitamins to the meal, making it more well-rounded and satisfying.
Serving side dishes with chicken and waffles can also make the meal more visually appealing and exciting. Placing various colorful sides on the plate can create an aesthetically pleasing presentation that will impress guests.
Additionally, serving a variety of sides can create a fun and interactive dining experience, allowing guests to mix and match different flavors and textures.
Overall, serving side dishes with chicken and waffles is a great way to enhance the meal and provide a more satisfying and enjoyable dining experience.
Whether you prefer savory or sweet sides, there are endless options to choose from that can complement and elevate the classic chicken and waffles combination.
What Toppings Go Well With Chicken And Waffles?
What you put on top of the chicken and waffles will have a huge impact on the general flavor of your dish.
As a result, the topping you choose will likely be dictated by whether you’re in the mood for anything sweet, savoury, spicy, or a combination.
Let’s discuss these topping options one by one!
1. Gravy
If you are a frequent eater of Chicken and waffles and have never tried it with gravy, you are missing out a lot.
Since it brings a good amount of fat, some of you won’t even consider it. However, a significant amount is worth it.
The maple gravy is the favorite of many foodies. Other gravies, such as chicken gravy, white gravy, or even chili gravy, go nicely with waffles.
2. Sweet Chili Sauce
A sweet chili sauce topping for your chicken and waffles is necessary for a perfect combination of sweet and spicy.
This theory proves correct when you marinate the fried chicken with bold flavors like ginger and lemongrass.
However, how hot or sweet you want it to be is all up to personal preference.
3. Salsa
To give your meal a more Mexican flavor, garnish the chicken with salsa. Whether you want something hotter or something more refreshing, it’s entirely up to you, and both work very well.
You may also add jalapeños to the waffle batter and spice up your fried chicken with cayenne pepper powder or red pepper flakes.
4. Curry Sauce
Like gravy, curry sauce is another savory option that can go with the chicken and waffles.
Many different curry sauces, such as a sweet and creamy pasanda, a hot vindaloo, or a buttery korma. Similarly, if you want a taste of Indian food with your chicken and waffles, the options are nearly endless.
Furthermore, while plain and shredded waffles are options, they are far from the only ones. Many curries pair well with sweet naan bread like Peshwari naan, and the same can be said for sweet waffles.
5. HONEY
If you want to use something sweet and healthy, honey is a great option.
Honey is a gift of nature, and it will offer a delightful sweetness to the meal while also providing some more flavor. The flavors that honey adds can vary based on the honey in question. However, some options are smoky, nutty, slightly spicy, or flowery.
6. SYRUP
Whether it’s golden syrup, maple syrup, or something else, the syrup is a well-known topping for waffles.
Maple syrup is often the most popular choice with its smooth flavor and lovely aroma, but other syrups can lend a creative twist to this classic alternative.
Another option to add a twist to syrup is to add some spicy sauce before serving to give it a kick.
7. CRISPY BACON
Crispy bacon, unlike the other topping options, is not a sauce. However, it pairs well with waffles, fried chicken, and maple syrup. As a result, sprinkles of crispy bacon chopped into little bits are a fantastic topping option.
If you don’t want to use syrup, sour cream is a great alternative, especially when coupled with crispy bacon.
Conclusion
The article has briefly discussed what topping or side can go with the chicken and waffles.
However, we recommends that before you start with any of the dishes, make sure that it does not include any ingredients that you are allergic to.
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