15 Easy Sides to Serve with Chicken Parm

updated Jul 5, 2022

Page URL

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

Antipasto salad in bowl. — Credit: Photo: Ghazalle Badiozamani / Food Stylist: Jesse Szewczyk
Antipasto Salad

With a blanket of crisp breadcrumbs, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, chicken Parmesan is a weeknight wonder. (Especially if you use our faster sheet pan method.) While the chicken bakes in the oven you’ve got 20 minutes or so to round out dinner with a side dish. Boiling a pot of water for some pasta is a common go-to, and while it’s easy and comforting, it never hurts to get some veggies on the plate.

Since the oven is already on, it’s easy enough to slide in a baking sheet for some roasted broccoli or Brussels sprouts. Take advantage of the open stovetop for a quick vegetable sauté, or go for a salad like a classic Caesar or try a version that takes inspiration from your favorite pizza joint.

These are 15 of our best chicken Parmesan sides to round out dinner.

But First! Get a Chicken Parmesan Recipe

1 / 15

Easy 10-Minute Garlic Broccolini

Broccolini is basically broccoli's easy going cousin, that's arguably tastier and quicker cooking. Just toss it in a hot pan with olive oil and lots of garlic until it’s vibrantly green and tender.

2 / 15

I'm in love with this salad that pairs perfectly with anything cheesy, tomatoey, and baked from pizza to chicken Parmesan. Double the dressing and you can make this simple but splendid salad anytime.

3 / 15

Romaine and Celery Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Celery is really underrated. Partner it with cool, crisp romaine and creamy dressing and you've got the most ideal counterpoint to crispy and gooey chicken Parm.

4 / 15

Light & Easy Broccoli Salad

Raw broccoli is so sweet and crunchy and requires zero cooking while you monitor the oven.

5 / 15

Chilled Zucchini Noodle Salad

If you're skipping the noodles under your chicken Parmesan, this light and flavorful salad of zucchini noodles is the best side dish for you. You'll get all the fork-twirling satisfaction of noodles with a cool, crisp flavor.

6 / 15

Classic Caesar Salad

You can't get much more classic with a pasta night salad than Caesar. The piquant but creamy dressing packs a punch against the warm, breaded chicken breasts of chicken Parm.

7 / 15

Every Pizza Place Salad

This salad has it all with crispy (and a little bitter) radicchio, plus briny olives and tangy feta. And if it pairs well with pizza you know it is going to be good with chicken Parm!

8 / 15

Rainbow Noodle Salad

One of the things I love about this salad is its vibrant hue! Sure, it's crispy and cold and tangy (basically everything you want in a side salad), but it really helps you eat the rainbow at the same time.

9 / 15

Garlicky Roasted Broccoli

If you're making our sheet pan chicken Parmesan, then you'll already have the oven primed for this simply delicious take on roasted broccoli. My kids love it, and so do my in-laws.

10 / 15

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Another easy side you can slide in the oven with your chicken Parm? Roasted Brussels sprouts! Halve them and roast cut-side down for extra-flavorful sprouts.

11 / 15

Cacio e Pepe Broccoli

The beloved pasta meets roasted broccoli florets in this place, feel-good side dish.

12 / 15

Fiery Kale with Garlic and Olive Oil

Because you know you want to give those greens on your plate a little more oomph. This is how we like to do it.

13 / 15

Antipasto Salad

This satisfying salad is packed with all good things from an Italian antipasto spread like salami, marinated vegetables, cheese, and olives.

14 / 15

Simple Arugula Salad

This quick and easy, unfussy arugula salad is tossed in a lemon vinaigrette and finished with shaved Parmesan.

15 / 15

Blistered Green Beans with Pickled Shallots and Toasted Breadcrumbs

Fresh green beans are stir-fried until blistered, then tossed with tangy pickled shallots and topped with crunchy, salty breadcrumbs.

Filed in: