Lemon chicken is a delicious way to prepare chicken and serves as a perfect meal for the whole family. However, this dish can become boring after a period of time. Side dishes are important in any meal, particularly to accompany your lemon chicken. These 20 side dishes will make your lemon chicken even more enjoyable and tasty. What’s great about these side dishes is you can pair them with any other dish that uses lemon as a main ingredient.
What Are Lemon Chicken?
Lemon chicken is a popular dish in Chinese cuisine. It is prepared by marinating chicken pieces in a mixture of lemon juice, soy sauce and other spices. The ingredients are cooked together in a wok or a deep pan until the meat is tender. Lemon chicken can be served with rice or noodles and is often garnished with freshly chopped green onions (scallions) and sesame seeds.
The name lemon chicken was originally used to describe a dish that uses chicken as the main ingredient and includes lemons as one of its key ingredients. However, since then it has also become common practice to use other types of citrus fruit such as orange juice instead of lemon. This variation does not necessarily include any lemons in its preparation but still retains its name as lemon chicken.
In addition to being prepared using different types of citrus fruits, lemon chicken can also be prepared using other types of meat such as pork or beef instead of chicken.
Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Lemon Chicken?
The lemon chicken is one of the most popular dishes on the menu and it’s easy to see why. It’s a light, flavorful dish that goes well with almost any kind of meal.
But what about those nights when you want a quick and easy dinner? You don’t want to spend all night cooking, but you still want something tasty. In this case, consider serving side dishes for lemon chicken instead of making an entire meal out of it.
Here are some reasons why:
1. It’s healthier than ordering takeout or delivery
When you order takeout or delivery from a restaurant, you often get more than just your main course, but also a lot of extra fat and calories that you don’t need in your diet. By serving side dishes for lemon chicken instead of making an entire meal out of it, you can cut down on the amount of unhealthy ingredients in your diet without compromising on taste!
2. You don’t have to spend much time in the kitchen
If you plan on making an entire meal out of lemon chicken, then be prepared to spend some time in the kitchen preparing everything from scratch. But when you serve side dishes for lemon chicken instead of making an entire meal out of it, you don’t have to worry about the time it takes to cook, fry or bake. All you need to do is place your order online and within minutes you get what you need.
3. It’s versatile
For those who are on a healthy diet, choose side dishes recipes that can be served with almost any meal.
What to Serve with Lemon Chicken? 20 BEST Side Dishes
1. Roasted Potatoes
This is a simple dish to prepare, but it is delicious. The potatoes will be crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside. You can also use sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes.
2. Pasta
Pasta is a great way to pair with lemon chicken. Try making lemon pasta by mixing cooked pasta with freshly squeezed lemon juice and chopped parsley or basil leaves. You can also add grilled shrimp or chicken to your pasta dish for another layer of flavor!
3. Sauteed Asparagus
Asparagus is an excellent vegetable to pair with chicken because it’s mild enough that it won’t overpower the flavor of your main course but still adds some color and texture to your plate. Sauteing asparagus is very easy — just toss it in hot olive oil until tender but still crunchy.
4. Garlic Mushrooms
These mushrooms are seasoned with garlic and pepper, then baked until they’re tender and juicy. A side of rice pilaf goes well with lemon chicken, but this dish also makes a great alternative if you’re looking for something different than plain rice.
5. Rice pilaf
This classic rice dish is made with basmati rice and spices like cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. It’s perfect with lemon chicken because it’ll help balance out the sweetness of the chicken while also adding some texture to your plate.
6. Roasted Carrots
Carrots are always good on their own or as part of a stew or soup recipe, but when roasted they take on a whole new life! Roasted carrots are sweet without being too sweet, which makes them perfect for serving alongside the lemon chicken.
7. Mediterranean Rice Salad
This salad is a great way to use up leftover rice. If you don’t have any, cook some fresh and make this dish in no time. The dressing is made of olive oil, lemon juice and garlic that blends beautifully with the rice, tomatoes, feta cheese and olives. Serve it chilled or at room temperature.
8. Pesto Pasta Salad
This simple pasta salad recipe is perfect for summer barbeques and potlucks. It’s made with pesto sauce that gives it a slightly tangy flavor which blends beautifully with the vegetables and pasta. It’s a healthy side dish for chicken breast recipes such as Lemon Chicken Piccata or Lemon Herb Chicken Breasts. It keeps well in the fridge so make it ahead of time if you can!
9. Couscous Salad
This couscous salad is a delicious side dish for chicken breast recipes such as Lemon Chicken Piccata or Lemon Herb Chicken Breasts! The couscous has an amazing nutty flavor combined with fresh herbs and vegetables makes this dish really special! It’s easy to make too: all you need is cousc
10. Chickpea Salad
Chickpeas are a great way to get more fiber and protein into your diet. They’re also very versatile, and this salad is a good example of that. Add some tuna or chicken to make it more substantial.
11. Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella
This delicious combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and basil is another great way to use up summer’s bounty. This dish takes no time at all to prepare, so it’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
12. Green Salad with Feta and Pine Nuts
For something light and refreshing, try making this salad. The feta cheese provides plenty of protein for energy-boosting benefits, while the pine nuts add a nutty flavor that enhances the overall taste of this dish.
13. Greek Salad with Olives and Feta Cheese
This salad is quick and easy to make. It’s full of fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and feta cheese. You can add olives and oregano if desired. This salad goes well with Lemon Chicken because it has a nice tangy flavor that contrasts well with the lemon chicken.
14. Baked Sweet Potato Fries with Herbs
Sweet potatoes are very nutritious and they taste great baked or roasted in the oven. They’re not just for Thanksgiving anymore! Sweet potato fries go great with Lemon Chicken because they have a similar texture to fried potatoes without being greasy or unhealthy like French fries would be. Try baking sweet potato fries instead of frying them if you want something healthier but still tasty enough to complement your meal.
15. Zucchini Rice
This is an interesting dish that combines rice with zucchini so that it’s not only healthy but also delicious. It has a nice taste and texture that goes well with almost anything else on the menu!
16. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan Cheese
This recipe is so simple, yet so delicious! The crunchy texture of the brussels sprouts is complemented by the savory bacon and nutty parmesan cheese. This side dish pairs well with just about anything, but especially with lemon chicken!
17. Roasted Broccoli with Garlic Parmesan Sauce
This recipe takes roasted broccoli to a whole new level. The rich garlic parmesan sauce gives this vegetable a bit of added flavor while keeping it light and fresh tasting. This is another versatile side dish that can be paired with just about any main course!
18. Cauliflower with Parmesan Cheese and Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs
This side dish is a perfect accompaniment to any meal. The cauliflower is roasted in the oven with a garlic butter topping that’s full of parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. The result is tender cauliflower with a golden crust on top and a rich, buttery flavor throughout.
19. Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon Bits and Cheddar Cheese Croutons
Butternut squash is a great fall dish. It’s sweet and creamy, but low in calories and high in nutrients like vitamin A, B6 and C. Butternut squash also contains beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in the body. The recipe below makes a big batch of soup, but it freezes well so you can double it if you like!
20. Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Garlic, Sour Cream and Chives or Parsley (add bacon bits as an option)
This is a super-easy side dish that will go well with any meal. You can make it ahead of time and just reheat it in the microwave before serving. It is also a great dish to take to a friend who has just had a baby or someone who is sick in bed. They will appreciate the thoughtfulness of having food brought over to them.
Conclusion
The side dishes for lemon chicken can be a great enhancement to the already delicious main meal that you have prepared. You can try out any of these 20 different recipes from this list and I am certain that you will never be disappointed with the results.