When it comes to inspiration for your next dinner party menu, it can be hard to come up with new and exciting ideas. Perhaps you’re thinking of making king ranch chicken, a dish which is bound to delight and impress your friends.
But how do you know what to serve with king ranch chicken? The traditional accompaniments to king ranch chicken are crisp potato salad and sweet corn. You can also serve the chicken with a green salad and a spicy vinaigrette dressing.
If you’re searching for some innovative and interesting ideas for your next dinner party menu, then look no further! We’ve got everything you need to know about different things to do with king ranch chicken right here.
What To Serve with King Ranch Chicken
Southern Fried Corn with Bacon
Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is so versatile and goes with everything. It is also gluten-free and packed with protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
So if you have any leftovers of king ranch chicken, then this rice pilaf recipe is for you.
You can make this with brown rice or with basmati rice. Brown rice is a little more nutritious than basmati rice.
Rice pilaf goes well with so many other foods, whether it’s just for dinner or as part of a buffet.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/36873290691495326/Mac & Cheese
You can serve this with a green salad, but I’ve found that this dish really stands out when paired with a large dollop of mac & cheese.
I like to make my own from scratch, so it’s quite simple to make. It requires the addition of cream cheese, however, you could easily replace it with Parmesan cheese if you wish.
I find that it goes really well with spicy dishes too. For example, if you’re cooking chicken wings, serve them alongside this, and then top them with chili garlic sauce.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/70228075428735280/Vegetable Fried Rice
For a quick and easy meal, there is nothing better than a fried rice recipe.
This is a classic Asian recipe with just the right amount of spice and texture. It’s a great way to serve up chicken for a quick family dinner.
This recipe makes enough to serve two. If you prefer to eat one portion, double the ingredients.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/749638300479982759/Spicy Cilantro Rice
The key to this recipe is to make sure you use your finest and freshest rice. This is one of the most important steps in making a good rice dish.
If you’re using a rice cooker, it can be tempting to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and just hit the ‘start’ button. However, if you’re aiming for a perfect rice dish, there are a couple of things you need to do first.
Start with rinsing the rice thoroughly. If you skip this step, the starch that holds the rice together will go hard and make the dish gluey.
Don’t use salt. Salt makes the water become more alkaline, which in turn leads to a cloudy or mushy rice.
Instead, add a generous amount of salt to the boiling water, which will help to dissolve the starch in the rice.
If you’re using a rice cooker, the rice will most likely be already cooked when you add the salt. But, if you’re using fresh rice, it will require about 2-3 minutes of cooking.
When the rice is almost ready, drain it.
After the rice has been drained, put it in a serving bowl, and stir in the cilantro and lime juice.
The lime juice will help to preserve the bright green color of the cilantro.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/41095415340039358/Sautéed broccoli with garlic and butter
It doesn’t get much simpler than this!
Cook the broccoli in boiling water for about four minutes, then drain and dry thoroughly. Add to a frying pan along with 1/4 cup of butter or vegetable oil.
Sprinkle over a teaspoon of garlic powder and a pinch of black pepper, and toss until everything is coated.
The fresh garlic adds an amazing flavor to the dish. When the broccoli is tender, stir in another tablespoon of butter or vegetable oil.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/39547302968332400/Coconut Rice
Coconut rice is a popular South American rice dish, made by soaking white rice in coconut water for 2-3 days until tender, before adding other ingredients.
This rice is packed with healthy fats and fiber. It’s also gluten-free and low in calories.
I’m a huge fan of the flavorsome seasoning in this recipe.
If you prefer a more savory flavor, you could use some extra black pepper and/or cayenne pepper, along with some salt. You might even want to add some chili flakes, depending on your personal preference.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/30328997480170207/Crunchy Potato Wedges
King Ranch Chicken is one of the most popular chicken dishes in America, so when you serve it with this side dish, you’re sure to be delighted by the combination!
You can make these using the oven, but an air fryer works perfectly well too. Just ensure that you preheat the air fryer on high and that you place the fries in a single layer so that they don’t overheat during cooking.
The secret to achieving the desired texture is to give the potato wedges a really good shake in a colander before cooking.
These are a great option for kids as well as adults. Kids tend to enjoy a crunchy snack and they can often get through a lot of these with a fair amount of effort and little complaint!
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/160370436719956826/Red beans and rice
These red beans and rice are great for warming up a cold winter’s day. They also work really well as a quick, easy side dish when you’re entertaining.
Red beans and rice is a dish from Louisiana and the Caribbean. It’s a meal in itself and a staple on many holiday tables.
The flavors of the dish come from the beans. The garlic, pepper, and onions give a subtle flavor.
You can use white beans for this recipe, or black beans. For the rice, you’ll need long-grain rice. You can use regular or jasmine.
If you’re looking to save time and effort, you might want to prepare the rice the day before and store it in the fridge.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/6473993206967894/Crunchy Roasted Cauliflower
The flavor of this crunchy roasted cauliflower is out of this world, but if you prefer your veggies in a salad or soup style, simply chop them up and add a little dressing to the mix.
This is a great side dish for a Sunday dinner, especially if you’re trying to stay healthy, and is also perfect for an evening meal.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/63120832265214543/Cornbread
There’s nothing more classic than a good old-fashioned cornbread.
To make this cornbread recipe even better, serve it with your favorite Southern-inspired chicken dish. This particular version uses the flavors of the King Ranch Chicken in the sauce.
The combination of flavors makes for a unique side dish.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/103442122682335636/Avocado, black beans, and corn (or romaine hearts)
What could be more American than a big pile of fresh veggies on a bed of leafy greens? This is a quick, easy side dish that goes down a treat when served with King Ranch chicken.
It’s important to select the freshest ingredients you can get your hands on. The fresher the ingredients, the more intense their flavor. When shopping for lettuce, make sure it looks clean, crisp, and vibrant, and that there are no browned or withered leaves.
If you can, buy unwashed lettuces as they tend to have fewer bugs. When shopping for other vegetables, look for those that are firm but not hard.
A little give goes a long way and helps ensure that your dish will stay crisp and fresh during cooking.
Arugula is delicious in this salad, but any peppery leafy green will do.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/374643262744227902/Fruit, cottage cheese, and sunflower seeds
A great side dish to serve with king ranch chicken is a mixed fruit salad.
Mixing different fruits is a great way to add interest and variety to your fruit salad.
You can use any kind of nuts that you have in your cupboard to add a delicious crunch to your fruit salad.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/502503270904757884/Green salad with mandarin oranges and toasted pecans
You can buy an already mixed green salad at your local supermarket, but if you’re making this dish for your family, you can easily customize it with your favorite ingredients.
I like to serve this with mandarin oranges and toasted pecans because they add a delicious crunch to the mellow, smooth taste of the green salad.
The citrus in the oranges cuts through the richness of the chicken. It also provides a refreshing, tangy contrast against the smokiness of the grilled chicken.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/169166529743570696/Arugula
Arugula is a peppery, spicy, peppery green, and it is a brilliant addition to any dish. It offers an interesting texture and flavor combination with the sweet, tender chicken.
You can find arugula at many supermarkets these days. If you are unable to find it, simply substitute another green that has similar characteristics.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/53832158037817662/Avocado and Tomato Salad
Tomatoes, avocados, onions, cilantro, and freshly squeezed lime juice: These are five ingredients that taste so good together, they need no other embellishment. This easy side dish is perfect for those nights when you want something quick but flavorful.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/486036984793590014/Green Beans with Lemon, Garlic, and Parmesan
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to classic baked beans, try this recipe!
You can make these beans using canned beans if you’d like, but they’re definitely worth the time and effort to make them from scratch.
The secret to making these beans taste as good as they look is to ensure that the beans are thoroughly drained.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/4574037112178373/Lemon Pepper Avocado
These salad greens are a little bit unexpected. They have a wonderful flavor combination that makes them perfect for this dish.
The tangy avocado and the lemon pepper bring a freshness to the rich chicken, and the sweet potato adds a depth of flavor.
When you’re looking to make a satisfying main dish that will be a hit with the whole family, try one of these four recipes. You’ll be sure to impress!
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/29554941283269959/Fresh fruit salad
When choosing what to serve with your king ranch chicken, there’s a lot to consider. For instance, you’ll be wanting to ensure that it has a flavor-rich, robust coating, but also that the salad that accompanies it isn’t too heavy or too unbalanced.
With this in mind, you might want to opt for a refreshing salad of fresh fruits. This will provide a light, airy, and vibrant contrast to the hearty flavor of the chicken.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/283375001546394874/Buttermilk Roasted Potatoes and Black-eyed Peas
If you’re planning to serve king ranch chicken, then you need to serve something equally as delicious. The addition of roasted potatoes and black-eyed peas gives a side dish that really stands out!
This side dish pairs really well with the chicken, so you might find that it becomes a regular in your repertoire.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/92746073548673892/Baked Potato Wedges
Baked potato wedges are a perfect accompaniment to any meal, but especially one featuring the flavors of king ranch chicken. The addition of blue cheese crumbles to this simple side dish adds a delightful tanginess.
The chicken is a lean protein that contains only 73 calories per 3 oz. serving. It also provides a good source of zinc and vitamin C.
Blue cheese is a rich and delicious food containing more calcium than milk. It’s high in protein and low in fat, making it an excellent choice to add some healthy fats to your diet.
A serving of baked potato will fill you up and provide you with plenty of carbohydrates to help your body and metabolism function at their peak.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/79235274685965759/Chopped celery, chopped onion, and shredded carrots
This is a great side dish to serve with king ranch chicken because the crunchy vegetables add a nice contrast to the rich, creamy salad.
You can dress this with a simple vinaigrette, but it is so good, you might want to get a little fancy and make your own dressing.
A simple combination of equal parts balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and extra virgin olive oil is perfect.
https://www.pinterest.dk/pin/3307399716297248/
Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.