If you're here, I'll bet you probably are already planning on serving some zesty lemon pepper chicken. After all, as long as you have some olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, and chicken, you've got the makings of a delicious entree that's perfect for busy weeknights. Now you just have to decide what to serve with it. Here you'll find a variety of side dishes, organized by food type: vegetables, salads, breads, potatoes, pastas and rice. Whether you're in the mood for something light and refreshing to balance the zest, or rich and creamy to complement the seasoning, you'll find it on this list.
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First things first though, I want to make sure you've got a reliable chicken recipe. I typically make easy lemon pepper chicken thighs in the slow cooker, or lemon pepper drumsticks in the oven depending on what time of day I get started on dinner. Now that we've got that covered, on to the side dishes!
What to Serve with Lemon Pepper Chicken
Lemon pepper chicken is perfect any time of year, just switch up your side dishes to fit the season. Summer is perfect for squash or a light salad, in the winter you might pefer potatoes and roasted vegetables.
Vegetables
Our chicken gives us plenty of satisfying protein, adding a vegetable can make it a more complete meal. Here are some great pairings for it!
Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash
In the summer, zucchini and yellow squash take over gardens and supermarkets everywhere. Air frying keeps them tender inside and lightly crisp outside with ease.
Air Fryer Broccoli and Cheese Sauce
If your family won't touch broccoli that doesn't have cheese sauce, I've got you. This simple recipe uses an easy 2 ingredient sauce.
Easy Air Fryer Canned Green Beans
Need a fast and easy side? Just grab a can of green beans from your pantry along with some butter, salt, and pepper.
Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes
If you've got a bit more time and fresh green beans on hand, try roasting them along with some cherry tomatoes.
Easy Skillet Charred Blackened Corn
This charred cajun corn uses a homemade blackening seasoning for a slightly sweet and smoky side dish. It's finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, making it a perfect side dish for any lemon chicken.
Brussels Sprouts Bliss: Caramelized to Perfection
Elevate your meal with these caramelized Brussels sprouts, which are lightly sweet and delightfully crispy- the ideal side for your zesty chicken!
Sauteed Butternut Squash - Easy, Delicious Fall Side
Have you been avoiding butternut squash because prepping it seems intimidating? Gen breaks it down the best way to cut it step by step and cut by cut, so you can easily add it to your skill set!
Easy Grilled Eggplant with Balsamic and Garlic
Grilled Eggplant is simple and delicious! Perfectly charred and then seasoned with garlic, herbs, and balsamic vinegar this is makes a quick and flavorful side dish.
Grilled Zucchini Fritters
Shredded zucchini and parmesan cheese give these fritters great flavor, and while fritters are usually deep fried these ones are cooked on a griddle or pan.
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
A mix of roasted vegetables tossed in mediterranean seasonings, lemon juice, and olive oil, then garnished with fresh herbs and lemon slices after cooking.
Air Fryer Asparagus
Tender but crisp this easy roasted asparagus is just 4 ingredients- a great choice for a busy family dinner.
Easy Thai Carrot Salad
Grab a bag of shredded carrots, we're whipping up a quick homemade peanut sauce to toss them in for a no-cook side dish!
Extra Creamy Swede Mash
This mashed rutabega might look a bit like mashed potatoes, and like potatoes are a root vegetable. They are a cross between cabbage and turnips, and great to try if you're looking to expand on your usual vegetables.
Salads
Fresh salads are perfect when you're looking for a lighter side dish that still adds a lot of flavor.
Greek Salad Recipe
Greek salad has the most satisfying crunch between the romaine, red onion, and cucumber. With feta cheese and kalamata olives and an easy homemade dressing it's also a super flavorful side salad!
Brussels Sprout Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Suprised by brussels sprouts in a salad? Shaving this member of the cabbage family makes it salad friendly, especially when balanced with tart and sweet fruits, then tossed with a honey mustard dressing.
Panzanella Toscana
Panzanella Toscana is an italian bread salad that makes homemade croutons the star instead of an add on. It's ideal in the summer as a great way to use fresh tomatoes, and the flavors pair perfectly with lemon pepper.
Simple Strawberry Spring Mix Salad
This Strawberry Spring Mix Salad features a mix of fresh spring greens, plump strawberries, and zesty balsamic citrus dressing made with simple ingredients. It's a versatile side dish for your table, simple yet ready to impress!
Simple Fennel Salad with Cucumber | Minty Kitchen
This crisp, refreshing salad uses a simple lemon vinaigrette that makes it a perfect match for any lemon pepper chicken. One caveat: while it has a much more delicate flavor, if you absolutely hate licorice, fennel is in the same family as anise and may remind you of it.
5 Minute Creamy Coleslaw (using bagged mix)
This deli salad starts with a bag of coleslaw mix and makes a quick homemade dressing for a super fast side dish.
Mango Cucumber Salad
This simple fruit salad is a light and fresh option that is just perfect in the summer.
Kale Slaw with Apples
This salad feels like fall, but is perfect year round with kale, apples, and a simple dressing.
Hearty Roasted Vegetable Salad
In the fall or winter a salad with roasted vegetables is a great addition to any main course. This one features a homemade dressing and is flexible with what vegetables you use.
Breads
Particularly if you're serving a salad, bread is a natural choice to add to your meal and make it more filling and more delicious.
Shortcut Focaccia Bread with Premade Pizza Dough
This focaccia dough is semi-homemade- we take a shortcut by starting with store bought pizza dough and then letting it rise before topping it with oil, salt, and your favorite toppings.
One Hour Dinner Rolls
If you're a novice baker- or just busy- and looking for an easy recipe to get started with, this simple roll recipe is for you.
The Best Garlic Bread Baguette
You'll love this yummy garlic bread baguette! It's filled with tasty herbs and garlic butter, then baked in the oven or cooked on the grill. Either way, it's easy to make!
Calabrian Chili Garlic Bread
Prefer your garlic bread with some kick? This spicy, buttery garlic bread is prepared by mixing calabrian chili with herbs and butter, then spreading it on a french loaf before baking.
Cheesy Garlic Bread (The BEST!)
Is there anything that doesn't go well with cheesy garlic bread? If there is, well, I haven't found it yet.
Easy Mexican Cornbread Recipe
Cornbread is a quick scratch option since it doesn't need to rise. This mexican inspired cornbread packs a kick with jalapenos.
Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes
Is there any more classic side dish than potatoes? Versatile, they can be cooked so many different ways- here are some potato and sweet potato dishes that go well with lemon pepper chicken.
Air Fryer Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are one of the best side dishes of all time. This air fryer version roasts the poatoes and a whole head of garlic before mashing them together.
Easy Slow Cooker Hasselback Potatoes
Hasselback potatoes look fancy, but they're actually simple to make and don't take long to prep. You can roast them in the oven, but this slow cooker version won't heat up your kitchen!
Roasted Red Potatoes
Halved baby red potatoes roasted to perfection with italian seasoning and parmesan cheese make for an excellent side dish for countless chicken recipes.
Colcannon Recipe
Colcannon, a traditional Irish side, melds the richness of creamy, buttery mashed potatoes with the savory taste of sautéed greens. It's perfect for any season and pairs wonderfully with your favorite lemon pepper chicken recipe.
Crispy Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Crispy smashed potatoes are boiled, then placed on a baking sheet and- you guessed it- smashed! Then they get seasoned and baked until nice and crispy, sort of like a french fry you didn't have to cut up.
Italian Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Air frying whole fingerline potatoes in a bit of oil and spices are a quick and easy way to make a satisfying side.
Easy Cheesy Potatoes (From Scratch!)
Cheesy potatoes in a casserole dish are a classic dish that the whole family is always sure to approve of.
Crockpot Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Butter
Mashed sweet potatoes go well with just about everything. The sweet flavor provides a delightful contrast to the savory flavors of the chicken.
Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Brown Sugar
For a faster sweet potato, just slice and roast! Top with brown sugar and broil at the end for a caramelized version, or top with rosemary and garlic powder for a more savory taste.
Mexican Sweet Potato Salad
This sweet potato salad adds tomatoes, black beans, corn, and jalapeño for a zesty side dish that is great served hot or cold.
Pasta & Other Grains
In addition to pastas and rice dishes, quinoa, couscous, and even buckwheat are great ways to make your chicken dinner even more satisfying.
Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta
What better pasta to put with lemon chicken than lemon pasta? This one uses lemon zest, lemon juice, and tops it with parmesan cheese.
Italian Broccoli Pasta with Pecorino and Lemon
This broccoli pasta combines our veggie with our carb for a side dish that could double as a meatless monday main dish. It also uses lemon zest, so be sure to zest your lemon before jucing it for your lemon chicken recipe.
Pasta e Piselli
Pasta with peas aka pasta e piselli is a simple creamy pasta that goes well with your favorite chicken dish.
Lemon Orzo Salad- Easy Summer Pasta Salad Recipe
Orzo pasta tossed in a lemon vinaigrette with blanched asparagus and roasted red peppers is both summery and satisfying.
Saffron Rice
Saffron is a flavorful, powerful spice, so you'll only need a little under a half teaspoon for this basmati rice. You'll also need an onion and chicken broth for maximum flavor.
Lemon Dill Rice
A light flavored rice that smells incredible, Nelo's instructions come with all the tips and tricks you might need to make it perfectly.
Mediterranean Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is a fantastic side for chicken. Wondering what makes golden rice golden? Turmeric- you'll need a teaspoon of it.
French Onion Rice
This french onion rice leans on canned soup to keep the ingredient list short and sweet. It's a dump and bake dish, making it a great option for busy weeknights.
Lazy Slow Cooker Quinoa
Made with just quinoa, salt, and water, this is the perfect easy, hearty side dish for those busy days!
Sweet Potato Quinoa with Lemon Feta Vinaigrette
This quinoa salad features sweet potato and feta cheese, along with some flavor boosting greens like fresh parsley and green onion.
Instant Pot Buckwheat - Savas Kitchen
Packed with nutrients and easy to customize, buckwheat groats are a wholesome side dish for any dish.
Summer Couscous Salad
This couscous salad has zucchini, tomatoes, and onions in it for a side that covers all your bases! Lime juice gives a tart and fresh flavor that pairs well with our lemon chicken.
I hope you found plenty of delicious sides that your family will love. Happy eating!
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