15 Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Pesto Chicken

You’ve come to the correct spot if you’re wondering what to serve with your pesto chicken.

In this essay, I’ll discuss 15 of the most popular pesto chicken side dishes.

In a rush? Heres the short answer.

Rice pilaf, Italian salad, sautéed spinach, and aglio e olio pasta go well with pesto chicken. For extra vegetable alternatives, try zucchini noodles, mashed cauliflower, or roasted asparagus. Serve with garlic crack bread, couscous salad, or mashed potatoes.

Ready? Lets jump right in.

Greek lemon rice pilaf 

Rice pilaf is the ideal starchy side dish to accompany your pesto chicken entrée.

Toasting the rice and orzo in butter is an important step in this recipe, so don’t omit it.

It imparts a rich, nutty taste that pairs well with the acidic lemon.

Greek lemon rice pilaf with pesto chicken is a unique take on chicken and rice!

Smashed potatoes

Smashed potatoes are a quick and simple technique to create crispy roasties.

It’s a lot of fun crushing them, and it creates a lot of nooks and crannies for the seasoning (sea salt in this recipe) to fall into, making them extra delectable.

As a final touch, sprinkle some of your pesto chicken sauce over these crispy smashed potatoes.

Italian salad

This delicious and healthful Italian salad is my go-to side with pesto chicken.

Its easy to put together, but its not boring.

Along with the traditional romaine lettuce, the salad includes red onions, black olives, and the standout component, some acidic pepperoncini (use jalapeño peppers if pepperoncini are unavailable).

Its the perfect option for a hot summer evening.

Sauteed spinach 

Need something quick and healthy?

Try this garlic sauteed spinach.

This recipe requires just 5 ingredients (two of which are salt and pepper!) and takes no more than 15 minutes to prepare.

You may also add additional vegetables to the pan if you like. I like the combination of spinach and mushrooms.

Zucchini noodles

Craving pasta, but dont want all the carbs?

Instead, try these zucchini noodles to satisfy your hunger.

Spiralizers are often used, although a julienne peeler or your trusty knife can do in a pinch.

You won’t even know the noodles aren’t genuine pasta after they’re coated with a deliciously creamy, pesto sauce with some chicken added in!

Mashed cauliflower

Mashed potatoes are a delicious side dish, but mashed cauliflower is a little lighter choice.

Instead of steaming or boiling the chopped cauliflower, this recipe asks for roasting it. This simple method makes a significant difference in the texture and taste of the mash.

Boiled cauliflower mash can be watery and bland.

Do you want to give it a shot? Every Last Bites has the finest cauliflower mash recipe.

French bread rolls 

Making bread in your own home does not have to be frightening.

These simple bread rolls taste like crusty French baguettes, soft and fluffy on the inside with a golden-brown chewy exterior.

That means they’re ideal for sopping up the rich pesto sauce from your pesto chicken.

Want to have a go?

You may start with a great crusty French bread rolls recipe from Dinner Then Dessert.

Garlic roasted asparagus

When you want a quick and easy side dish, make roasted asparagus.

Once you’ve seasoned the asparagus, let your oven handle the rest.

For taste, this recipe calls for lemon and garlic, but you can also add parmesan, balsamic vinegar, or even chili flakes for a dash of spice.

Spring into action with pesto chicken and garlic grilled asparagus.

Pasta aglio e olio

Serving your pesto chicken with spaghetti is a no-brainer.

And aglio e olio is perfect.

It’s created using basic store-cupboard items, so there’s no need to go shopping.

Every mouthful will be excellent after the pesto sauce combines with the garlicky, somewhat spicy sauce on the pasta.

And the best part?

It will just take 15 minutes to prepare this spaghetti aglio e olio.

Broccoli cheese casserole

This broccoli cheese casserole is decadent, but it’s also sure to delight.

It’s made with three distinct types of cheese (yes, three!) and baked to crispy perfection.

My favorite part is the somewhat charred broccoli poking out the top.

Everyone will be vying for a corner piece.

With your chicken, this creamy broccoli cheese casserole will be comfort food bliss.

Avocado corn couscous salad

This couscous salad is a great side dish if you want something light but don’t want to eat a lot of greens.

Fresh food such as maize, tomatoes, cucumbers, and avocado abound in this meal.

And it’s all brought together with a mustard-y dressing that helps balance out the various tastes.

This brilliant avocado corn couscous salad will go well with your equally vibrant pesto chicken.

Garlic mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes

With a side of these garlic mushrooms, your pesto chicken will shine.

By sautéing normal cremini mushrooms with garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, you get a big flavor boost.

What more could you want than earthy mushrooms, sweet-but-tart tomatoes, and a zesty pesto sauce?

Make this meal using Eat Well 101’s simple recipe.

Quinoa and zucchini fritters

These quinoa and zucchini fritters are a delightful way to include more veggies on your plate.

But my favorite thing about them is the cheese.

The recipe calls for parmesan, but if you want them gooier, use cheddar or mozzarella.

Dip the fritters into the pesto chicken sauce!

Get the recipe here.

Cheese and garlic crack bread

Serving a crowd?

Make a fun cheese and garlic crack bread using sourdough bread.

Each person may take their own slice of buttery, cheesy bread from the loaf and watch the cheese extend for miles.

Therell be plenty of laughter!

It’s worth it to use nice bread for your cheese and garlic crack bread.

Snap pea salad

Pesto chicken is already a bright main dish.

So let’s keep it fresh with a snap pea salad.

This snap pea salad is somewhat sweet, but the lemon vinaigrette adds enough crisp lemony undertones to cut through the thick pesto.

Check out the minimalist baker’s 15-minute recipe.

It also goes nicely with other green vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, or asparagus.

The best side dishes to serve with pesto chicken

• Greek lemon rice pilaf
• Smashed potatoes
• Italian salad
• Sauteed spinach
• Zucchini noodles
• Mashed cauliflower
• French bread rolls
• Garlic roasted asparagus
• Pasta aglio e olio
• Broccoli cheese casserole
• Avocado corn couscous salad
• Garlic mushrooms with sun-dried tomatoes
• Quinoa and zucchini fritters
• Cheese and garlic crack bread
• Snap pea salad