Choosing the perfect side dishes is crucial when serving a flavorful main course like lemon pepper chicken. Knowing what goes with lemon pepper chicken can elevate your meal, offering a balanced and satisfying dining experience.
Lemon pepper chicken is a zesty, aromatic dish that combines the tangy flavor of lemon with the heat of black pepper, and the right complement to lemon pepper chicken can enhance these unique flavors.
What Goes With Lemon Pepper Chicken
If you’re looking for something special to serve alongside your lemon pepper chicken, you’ve got a plethora of options across various categories of side dishes. Whether you opt for starchy sides like mashed potatoes or couscous, vegetable options such as steamed asparagus or roasted vegetables, or even salads and fruit-based sides, choosing the right accompaniment can elevate your meal.
However, if you want a universally delicious side that’s versatile enough to pair with any of these categories, consider a simple yet flavorful option like garlic bread topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Categories Of Side Dishes
When considering what goes with lemon pepper chicken, starchy sides often provide the ideal complement to its zesty, spicy flavors. Here are some recommendations:
Starchy Sides
- Mashed Potatoes: These offer a creamy and comforting backdrop to the citrusy and peppery chicken. Sweet potatoes can also serve as a savory and nutritious alternative.
- Rice Pilaf: Whether you opt for basmati rice, white rice, or even a healthy twist with cauliflower rice, this versatile side dish can be seasoned in various ways to match the chicken’s flavor profile. Rice offers a fluffy and absorbent texture that soaks up the chicken’s juices while also balancing its strong flavors.
- Couscous: Another grain that pairs well with lemon pepper chicken is couscous, which can be jazzed up with ingredients like spinach for added nutritional value. Similar to rice, couscous provides a neutral but flavorful canvas that complements the chicken.
These are just a few side dishes to serve with lemon pepper chicken that can satisfy a range of taste preferences while complementing the main course perfectly.
Vegetable Sides
Don’t overlook the importance of vegetable sides when contemplating what goes with lemon pepper chicken. These options add color and nutrients to your plate and offer a flavorful side dish that can beautifully complement lemon pepper chicken.
- Steamed Asparagus: This is a quick and easy side dish that’s also nutritious. The natural flavors of asparagus pair well with the zesty lemon pepper seasoning on the chicken, providing a balanced and healthy side.
- Roasted Vegetables: Consider serving side dishes like roasted vegetables that can be seasoned similarly to the chicken. Including veggies like red peppers, zucchini, and carrots allows for various textures and flavors that complement the main course.
- Grilled Corn on the Cob: This side dish provides a touch of sweetness that balances out the spice and zest of the chicken. It’s another quick and easy option, and its smoky flavor makes it a great match for lemon pepper chicken.
These vegetable options are just a few examples of a variety of side dishes that can elevate your meal, each offering unique flavors and textures to complement lemon pepper chicken.
Salad Sides
Salads make for a light and delicious side dish when figuring out what goes with lemon pepper chicken. They can balance the savory flavor of the chicken dish and add a fresh touch to your meal.
- Caesar Salad: This classic salad with lettuce, croutons, and Caesar dressing pairs with lemon pepper chicken beautifully. A drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper can enhance the flavors even more.
- Coleslaw: A mix of shredded cabbage and carrots with a tangy dressing adds a crunchy texture that complements the main dish. It’s simple to make and adds a fresh bite to your meal.
- Quinoa Salad: Quinoa mixed with veggies like cucumber and green beans makes a healthy and tasty side. You can season it with olive oil, salt, and a bit of balsamic for added depth.
These salad options offer a range of flavors and textures that go well with lemon pepper chicken, making your dining experience even more enjoyable.
Fruity Sides
- Fresh Fruit Salad
If you’re wondering what goes with lemon pepper chicken, consider adding a touch of sweetness with a fresh fruit salad. The zesty flavors in the salad can go well with the tangy lemon and spiciness in the chicken pieces.
You can add some lemon zest and a sprinkle of basil to tie the fruit salad into the lemon pepper chicken’s overall flavor profile. The natural sweetness of the fruit, maybe with a dash of brown sugar, can balance the tanginess of the chicken, making it a refreshing and simple side dish option.
Beverage Sides
The right drink in the meal can make it even better when you’re enjoying delicious lemon pepper chicken. Here are a couple of beverages that go well with this dish:
- Lemon-Balsamic Fizz: Mix some sparkling water with a splash of lemon juice and a bit of balsamic vinegar. This creates a zesty, refreshing drink that complements the tangy flavors in the chicken, making it an excellent match that’s sure to become a favorite.
- White Wine: A crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc pairs well with the lemon and pepper flavors in the chicken. The wine’s light and airy taste balances out the richness of the chicken, making it an excellent choice for a more elegant meal.
These beverages enhance the dining experience, matching well with the delicious lemon pepper chicken on your plate.
Factors To Consider When Choosing Side Dishes
When you’re deciding what goes with lemon pepper chicken, it’s good to think about a few key factors:
- Texture: You want a side dish that offers a different feel in your mouth compared to the chicken. For example, a creamy rice dish can offer a nice contrast if you have grilled lemon pepper chicken.
- Flavor: The side dish should go well with the flavor of the lemon pepper chicken. If your chicken is drizzled with olive oil and has a grilled lemon or butter sauce, you might want to choose sides like roasted green beans that can be seasoned similarly, making this dish even more tasty.
- Nutritional Balance: Thinking about making a well-rounded meal is also good. If your main dish is flavorful lemon pepper chicken, adding a vegetable or a salad can provide the vitamins and minerals that make the meal more balanced.
These factors will help you pick the perfect sides to make your lemon pepper chicken meal truly special.
FAQs
What to serve with Ina Garten lemon chicken?
What can you have with lemon chicken to make it even better? We recommend a lemon and thyme-flavored risotto or Ina Garten’s lemony mashed potatoes. A simple celery salad is also a good choice to go with the lemon taste of the chicken.
What goes best with chicken breast?
What’s a good side dish for chicken breast? You can try a tasty potato salad with bacon or cheesy bread made from crescent roll dough. Herb-flavored rice from the slow cooker is another good option. Simple mashed potatoes, spiced carrots, and cheesy asparagus also work well.
What to serve with chicken and rice?
To go with chicken and rice, you could add well-liked extras like garlic toast for a tasty crunch or a spinach leaf mix for a fresh, green side. Add a bowl of mixed fruit for a light and tasty option to make your meal more colorful and fun.
Conclusion
You’ve come to the right place if you’ve been wondering what goes with lemon pepper chicken. From creamy rice dishes and roasted green beans to refreshing salads and fruit options, a side dish for your lemon pepper chicken will complete your meal.
And don’t forget the drinks! Whether it’s a zesty lemon-balsamic fizz or a glass of crisp white wine, the right beverage can improve your meal. Feel free to experiment and find the pairing that’s perfect for you. Happy eating!
References:
- Quora – What side dishes go with lemon pepper chicken? – https://www.quora.com/What-side-dishes-go-with-lemon-pepper-chicken
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