What to Serve with Blackened Chicken (37 best sides!)

You have your delicious blackened chicken recipe, but what should you serve with it? From southern style sides to dipping sauces and everything in between, I’ve gathered up some of the best side dishes that pair perfectly with your spicy blackened chicken!

The best side dishes for blackened chicken

So what to serve with blackened chicken? 

Blackened chicken is a spicy Cajun dish so it pairs best with southern style side dishes, like Mac and Cheese, Smothered Green Beans, or Creamed Corn. 

I also love it with cool and refreshing dishes like salads or mango salsa to balance all that heat!

Pair blackened chicken with your favorite sides to make a delicious meal. 

What is blackened chicken?

Before we jump into what sides go with blackened chicken, let's answer an important question. What IS blackened chicken?

The blackening technique is a cooking process rooted in Cajun cuisine, made popular by the late New Orleans chef Paul Prudhomme.

Blackened chicken is heavily seasoned with a special cajun spice mixture called blackening seasoning, then seared in a very hot skillet. It has a spicy blackened coating with a juicy interior. You’ll never want to eat plain chicken again!

Blackening Seasoning is a blend of spices with smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Some also contain dark brown sugar, chili powder, or white pepper. 

Want an easy blackened chicken recipe? Get out your cast-iron skillet and try Blackened Chicken Breasts, Blackened Chicken Tenders, Blackened Chicken Thighs, and Blackened Chicken Wings. 

What sides go with blackened chicken?

Here are some of the absolute best blackened chicken side dishes to go with your main course!

Four Cheese Mac & Cheese

You can not go wrong with a creamy cheesy macaroni and cheese recipe! This one is made with four cheeses melted into a béchamel sauce, then topped with buttery toasted crumbs for the perfect contrasting textures. You'll be licking the spoon (and the plate) with this elevated ultimate comfort food! 

Four Cheese Mac & Cheese Recipe

Southern Fried Green Tomatoes

Is there anything more southern than Fried Green Tomatoes? These juicy green tomatoes are seasoned with a cornmeal flour mixture, then deep fried to perfection. They’re golden and crispy on the outside, and warm and juicy on the inside. They make a great blackened chicken side dish.

Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe

New Orleans Remoulade Sauce Recipe

This classic cajun remoulade sauce is sure to spice up any chicken dinner! It makes a great dipping sauce for blackened chicken, or use it as a salad dressing for a chicken salad.

Go to recipe

Smothered Green Beans

Southern Green Beans are slow cooked string beans combined with onion, garlic and crisp bacon. The end result is heavenly with scrumptious tender melt in your mouth green beans.

Smothered Green Beans Recipe

Blackened Skillet Charred Corn

Blackened corn is a great side dish recipe to spice up your meal! Juicy corn is charred in a cast iron pan then tossed with blackening seasoning, butter, lemon, and parsley. It’s sweet, smoky, and all around delicious.

Blackened Corn Recipe

Roasted Green Beans and Brussel Sprouts

Roasted Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts is a simple, but flavorful side dish! This easy sheet pan recipe has perfectly tender but crisp brussels sprouts and green beans tossed with fresh basil, lemon zest, and a hint of garlic. It is the perfect side dish with a pop of flavor!

Green Beans and Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Homemade Chipotle Lime Sauce

Double down on the spice, and dip your blackened chicken in this zesty chipotle lime sauce! It's extra creamy, smoky, and spicy. It’s easy to prepare, and only takes about 5 minutes to make!

Chipotle Lime Sauce Recipe

Southern Style Cream Corn

This creamed corn recipe is a southern staple! It goes great with the spicy blackened chicken. Simple, creamy, and easy to make. You will love this cream corn!

Southern Cream Corn Recipe

Orzo Pasta Salad with Pesto

Cool down the spicy cajun chicken by serving it with a cold pasta salad! This one has pesto, orzo, tomatoes, mozzarella balls, arugula, and sweet balsamic glaze.

Orzo Pasta Salad Recipe

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

This sweet potato casserole with pecans is the a great side dish for your meal! Creamy sweet potatoes and crunchy pecan topping. Sweet potato casserole is for more than just the holidays!

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe

Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad

This delicious roasted corn and tomato salad proves simple is best! Just 3 ingredients and you have the star of every summer meal. It's crisp and refreshing, and makes the perfect side for spicy blackened chicken.

Corn and Tomato Salad Recipe

Scalloped Potatoes with Gruyere and Thyme

This recipe for super creamy, tender and thinly sliced scalloped potatoes is made with gruyere cheese, thyme and sage. An absolutely delicious potato side dish and perfect for serving with blackened chicken.

Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

These brussels sprouts are pan-fried with crumbled bacon and butter, and topped with parmesan for a flavorful side dish! Plus bacon makes everything better!

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Recipe

The Best Cajun Ranch Dressing

This homemade cajun ranch dressing is so good drizzled over blackened chicken. This creamy sauce has a delicious Cajun kick with cajun spices.

Cajun Ranch Recipe

Tomato Avocado Feta Salad with Grilled Corn

This super simple tomato avocado feta salad makes a combination of flavors that is elevated with a vinaigrette made with fresh herbs.

Tomato Avocado Feta Salad Recipe

Garlic Butter Mushrooms

Sautéed garlic butter mushrooms are perfect for weeknights and to serve at any holiday. The herb garlic butter on these mushrooms go with everything! Plus these take less than 15 minutes to make! You can whip them up while you let your chicken rest.

Garlic Butter Mushrooms Recipe

Mango Pico de Gallo

Another great way to cool down the spice blend of blackened chicken is by serving it with a cold salsa! This mango pico de gallo has sweet mango and spicy jalapeño. It goes great on top of blackened chicken breasts.

Mango Salsa Recipe

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

This cheesy au gratin potatoes recipe is layered with both cheddar and parmesan cheeses and baked till creamy inside and crispy on top! This kind of recipe was a staple at my southern family's Sunday dinners!

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe

Warm Potato Salad with Bacon

This potato salad can be served warm or at room temperature. Plenty of bacon, dill, and sour cream make this an easy crowd pleaser and delicious side dish. Not only is warm potato salad delicious, it’s also a time saver!

Warm Potato Salad Recipe

Cajun Blackened Green Beans Recipe

Easy green beans side dish ready in 20 minutes! Blistered green beans are tossed in blackened seasoning, garlic, onions, and butter. Lots of flavor, little time.

Go to recipe

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Creamy old fashioned baked mac and cheese with evaporated milk -- the best southern baked mac and cheese recipe topped with more cheese!

Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe

Chipotle Copycat Roasted Corn Salsa

This easy roasted corn salsa has a little bit of heat and lots of flavor. Made with just a few ingredients - jalapeño, red onion, white corn, cilantro, lime and salt. It's the perfect addition to tacos, burritos, bowls or to serve as a side.

Corn Roasted Salsa Recipe

Roasted Green Beans and Carrots

Perfectly roasted green beans and carrots seasoned with garlic, tarragon, and thyme make a super easy vegetable side dish!

Green Beans and Carrots Recipe

Cajun Alfredo Sauce

This delicious creamy alfredo sauce is full of cajun seasoning. Slice your blackened chicken breasts and toss with this cajun alfredo sauce and your favorite pasta.

Cajun Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Roasted Broccoli and Potatoes

This simple roasted broccoli and potatoes is an easy and tasty side dish! Crispy potatoes and tender broccoli florets make a delicious side dish, ready in 30 minutes!

Broccoli and Potatoes Recipe

Easy Sautéed Sweet Potatoes

Sautéed sweet potatoes are the perfect easy side dish for dinner! The sweet potatoes have tender insides with crisp outsides and are coated in tasty warm spices.

Sweet Potatoes Recipe

The Best Grilled Vegetable Salad

This Grilled Vegetable Salad Recipe is the absolute BEST! Kalamata olives, artichokes, and feta cheese add a Mediterranean flair. Not only is it beautiful, but it tastes delicious. A great way to add more veggies with your blackened chicken dinner.

Grilled Vegetable Salad Recipe

Boursin Mashed Potatoes

These Boursin Mashed Potatoes are ultra smooth and buttery with delicious creamy Boursin cheese. Made with only four ingredients and ready in 30 minutes!

Boursin Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Spicy Cajun Garlic Aioli

Another great sauce for dipping your blackened chicken in! This one is spicy and zesty with horseradish and lemon. Full of flavor and cajun spice.

Cajun Garlic Aioli Recipe

Green Bean Amandine

This easy green bean almondine (or amandine) is made with fresh or frozen beans cooked in butter and topped with toasted almonds. This veggie side dish is based on Julia Child’s buttered green beans.

Green Bean Amandine Recipe

Creamed Spinach

Creamed spinach is made with shallots, garlic, butter, and heavy cream to make a rich cheesy sauce worthy of a steakhouse experience. It's perfect for family dinner!

Creamed Spinach Recipe

Southern Tomato Pie

Southern Tomato Pie is a savory pie made with fresh tomatoes, basil, thyme, mayo, and three cheeses in a buttery cracker crust. This classic summer dish goes great with spicy blackened chicken!

Southern Tomato Pie Recipe

Tomato Cucumber Salad

This Israeli salad updates a classic tomato cucumber salad. Modern twists include olives, avocado, sumac, and mint. Perfect for summer eating. A great dish to cool down the spicy blackened chicken.

Tomato Cucumber Salad Recipe

Grilled Mango Skewers

Cubed mango is marinated in honey and dark rum for some Caribbean flair and then lightly charred on the grill on skewers. This is a fun one especially if you're grilling the blackened chicken!

Grilled Mango Skewers Recipe

Italian House Salad

This Italian House Salad is just like the kind they serve at Italian restaurants! You’ll love the bold flavors and how easy it is to make it. A great simple side dish.

Italian House Salad Recipe

Grilled & Stuffed Avocado

Avocados are grilled and stuffed with a fresh, homemade pico de gallo in this grilled avocado side dish recipe. Another great recipe to serve if you are firing up the grill for your blackened chicken.

Grilled & Stuffed Avocado Recipe

Sautéed Zucchini and Yellow Squash

The perfect summer recipe, this Sautéed Zucchini and Yellow Squash with Herbed Parmesan is a fresh, light, savory, and easy side dish.

Sautéed Squash Recipe

Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes

These creamy mashed potatoes are loaded with bacon, cheese, and green onions. All the best parts of twice baked potatoes without the hassle!

Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Sautéed Broccoli

Sautéed Broccoli is a healthy side dish with crisp-tender broccoli, garlic, lemon and red pepper flakes that cooks in just 10 minutes!

Sautéed Broccoli Recipe

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About me

Hey good lookin', what ya got cookin'? I'm Lauren and I love to teach you how to make the good stuff, from scratch! I use fresh quality ingredients to create impressive but approachable restaurant worthy recipes.