Trying to come up with something to serve with chicken and dumplings? You’ve come to the right place!
There may never be a more perfect comfort food than chicken and dumplings. This creamy soup-like dish that’s loaded with tender chicken and fluffy dumplings is a southern staple.
And while it’s so filling, making it a complete meal with some classic side dishes is the essence of southern charm and hospitality. Fill up your family’s bellies with even more love by adding the best side dishes to pair with this classic dish!
As you plan the meal, remember to offer something wonderful to drink. I like to serve chicken and dumplings with a choice of sweet tea, water, or this yummy pineapple smoothie.
Chicken and Dumplings – The Perfect Comfort Food
Delicious chicken and dumplings make a cozy meal that is perfect for chilly nights or evenings when you need something soothing. This main dish is also a must-make when you have guests joining you for dinner.
This chicken and dumplings dish is an easy recipe from Back to My Southern Roots. It’s one of the best recipes I’ve seen for a chicken and dumpling dinner. Once you try it, you’ll want to make it often.
I like to make it in either a large soup pot or Dutch oven on top of the stove. You can also make it in your Crock Pot if you want. It’s a matter of personal preference and whether or not you’ll be home while it cooks.
If you choose the slow cooking method, start everything but the dumplings before you leave in the morning. Then an hour or two before you want to serve it, add the dumplings. Regardless of what vessel you use to cook this dish, it’s something that warms you from the inside out. But I even like it during the warmer months because it tastes so good!
Feeding friends and family is easy this way, and it’s even easier to make a ton of it to ensure that everyone gets plenty of some creamy chicken and dumplings in their bowl.
I like to keep plenty of chicken broth or chicken stock in order to make this delicious dish. You can either purchase it ready-made or make it yourself. Chicken stock is easy to make by putting whatever chicken you have, including skin and bones, in your slow cooker. Add salt and pepper and simmer all day long.
I strain the broth and store it in mason jars. I separate the chicken from the bones and make either this chicken salad or add it to another dish like this chicken noodle casserole.
Condiments to Serve with Chicken and Dumplings
My family enjoys chicken and dumplings with just a little salt and black pepper. However, you may want to provide a few other condiments for those who want even more flavor.
Here are some condiments you can place on the table for those who want them:
- Parmesan cheese
- Sour cream
- Heavy cream
- Greek yogurt
- Red pepper flakes
Best Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken and Dumplings
You’ll be happy to know that there is no one perfect side dish for a chicken and dumplings dinner. In fact, there are many of them. Feel free to mix and match to fill up your dinner table with these sides to make a complete meal! Your family and friends will surely appreciate having so many delicious options!
Warm Vegetable Side Dishes
1. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Easy roasted Brussels sprouts are a great way to add more veggies to your chicken and dumplings meal.
You’ll make everyone’s taste buds very happy with this healthy side dish.
2. Fried Green Tomatoes
These fried green tomatoes from Julia’s Simply Southern are a truly southern experience and a classic side dish that will become a family favorite. That said, they’ll be a smash hit with this comforting meal.
3. Sautéed Spinach and Tomatoes
Spinach is a nutritious vegetable that you’ll want to serve as often as possible. So sauté it with tomatoes, and it will be a huge hit.
4. Southern Collard Greens
Collard greens are another southern staple that you can and should make plenty of room for on the table. If you’ve never tried these collard greens from Southern Bite, it’s time to try them. With the addition of bacon, these become irresistible!
5. Sweet Potato Patties
Sweet potatoes are one of the best ways to sneak more nutrition in for your family. We love these sweet potato patties. Here are a couple of bonus recipes: We also enjoy these sweet potato fries and this holiday favorite sweet potato casserole! You never have to wait until the holidays to enjoy your favorite food!
6. Stovetop Cheesy Green Beans
Fresh green beans are a true southern treat. My stovetop cheesy green beans are definitely a winning combination for this meal! You can make this dish with fresh, frozen, or even canned green beans.
Fresh Salad Sides to Serve with Chicken and Dumplings
When serving up creamy chicken and dumplings, a crisp green salad is another one of those great ideas you need to throw together for the table. Salads can be made in so many ways to keep them exciting.
7. BLT Salad
A fresh green salad becomes far more exciting when you add different tastes and textures into the bowl … like bacon! Then it becomes something everyone wants to eat.
8. Broccoli Slaw
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box with salads either. This broccoli salad is a delicious side dish that provides plenty of crunch. And with the creamy dressing, it is downright irresistible.
9. Easy Chickpea Salad
Or go with a chickpea salad to help your friends and family load up on healthy protein and fiber. Whether you call it a chickpea salad or garbanzo bean salad, it’s absolutely delicious!
10. Five Bean Salad
This easy 5 bean salad recipe is perfect for potlucks and get-togethers with friends. Everyone always wants more of my 5 bean salad!
Breads
There are so many different types of bread that you can serve with a chicken and dumpling dinner. Here are some of my favorites.
11. Cloud Bread
Serve cloud bread with chicken and dumplings for a deliciously light and fluffy bread option. It’s made without any type of flour, so it’s gluten free!
12. Soft Dinner Rolls
This easy dinner rolls recipe from Back to My Southern Roots tastes good with butter … or without. They will literally melt in your mouth!
13. Southern Style Cornbread
I grew up having a cornbread option on the the table for every single meal. And there’s a good reason for that. It’s delicious and goes with everything!
14. Basic Chaffles
Here is another way to enjoy bread with a meal that’s gluten-free. These basic chaffles are made with a waffle iron and are delicious slathered in butter!
Don’t Forget Dessert!
Even when you serve up family favorites like chicken and dumplings for dinner, you’ve got to save room for dessert. This is especially important for anyone who likes to take care of a sweet tooth.
15. No-Bake Pineapple Pie
If you want to serve a light dessert, this pineapple pie is perfect! That is, if you’re looking for an easy dessert that makes everyone smile. This one certainly does!
16. Brownie Waffles
These brownie waffles are delicious on so many levels. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and you have a dessert fit for royalty.
17. Easy Banana Pudding
The next time you make this main dish, whip up some creamy banana pudding with this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen. There are a lot of different versions, but I think this one is a good option.
18. Creamy Cool Fruit Salad
Ever heard of a dessert salad? Well, you have now! Your favorite fruits are a fresh way to complement this meal. I added this deliciously creamy cool fruit salad to the desserts section because it’s a delightfully sweet way to end the meal.
19. 3 Ingredient Mug Cake
If you’re not sure what everyone would like for dessert, don’t fret. Add more fun to the end of the meal by letting each person decide what flavor of mug cake they want! It’s super easy, and everyone will leave the table with smiles on their faces.
20. No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream
Do you enjoy homemade ice cream but don’t have an ice cream maker? Don’t fret! This amazing no-churn ice cream recipe always turns out great. And it’s super easy to make without any special equipment!