Considering what to eat chicken breast and need a bit of help deciding what to serve other than a salad? Chicken breast typically has very minimal flavor and tends to easily dry out, therefore marinades, sauces, and sides serve an integral part of the meal.
Cooked chicken breast can be boring and bland to eat on its own, which is why spices and flavorful sides can be helpful to eliminate the tasteless nature.
What to eat with chicken breast? Chicken breasts are plain and tend to dry out quickly, so adding delicious sides, sauce or herb marinades can improve the taste.
Stuffed, casserole, roasted veggies, pasta, baked potato, creamed spinach, mac n’ cheese and salads are among the countless ways to complete a meal with chicken breast. A well cooked chicken breast can be paired with almost anything.
Whether chicken breast is cooked in the oven, stove top or on a grill, it can be difficult to keep them moist and juicy like chicken thighs. The heat starts to break down the muscle cells quickly and the moisture releases causing it to dry out.
Marinades, sauces and sides help to balance out the dryness and add flavor to the chicken. Fried in a pan, baked in the oven, stir fry, or grilled, whichever cooking method is chosen, chicken breasts are pretty versatile and easy to pair with other ingredients.
This article discusses what to serve with chicken breast. From vegetables to sauces and side dishes, answered below are frequently asked questions about things to eat with chicken breast for a delicious and wholesome meal.
What is the healthiest way to eat chicken breast?
The healthiest way to eat chicken breast is baked, steamed or pressure cooked. Serve with a salad or vegetables on the side, and squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top of the meat before serving.
These methods ensure that the nutrients are retained and the chicken breasts remain tender.
Be sure to rub some olive oil and surround the chicken with some carrots, plenty of garlic, lemon, and coat it with other spices to spice it up a little. Cook the chicken breast to an internal temperatures of 74 degrees Celsius or 165 degrees to avoid eating uncooked chicken.
Avoid barbecuing, braising, charring, deep-frying, smoking, roasting, and grilling the chicken breast. These methods activate compounds renowned for cancer development, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes ailments.
What goes well with chicken breast?
Depending on the recipe, chicken breast can be transformed to sweet, salty, spicy, or savory. Incorporate nuts, spices, herbs, wine, and fruits, there are endless list of ingredients that go well with cooked chicken breast.
- Nuts: almonds, cashews, hazelnuts
- Fruits: apples, grapes, guava, lemon, lime, mangoes
- Cheese: asiago, blue, comté, emmental, fontina, parmesan
- Spices: allspice, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, cumin
- Herbs: bay leaf, cilantro, chervil, chives, parsley, tarragon, mint, rosemary, thyme
- Wine: dry to off-dry white Riesling, dry red, rice or sweet wine, vermouth
What vegetables are good with chicken breast?
Vegetables pair well with chicken breast, but since there are multiple options available in the market, choosing the ideal combos can be a daunting process.
Here are a list of favorite vegetables to serve with chicken breast:
- broccoli
- carrots
- spinach
- asparagus
- cauliflower
- mushrooms
- corn
- sweet potatoes
- jicama
- zucchini
- summer squash
- winter squash
- brussels sprouts
- beets
- turnips
- cucumbers
- swiss chard
- kale
- lettuce
Side dishes to serve with chicken breast
Simple plain cooked chicken breast seasoned with salt and pepper is a great protein source that can complement well with many side dishes.
If you are looking for something to serve other than salad, here are delicious classic side dishes to pair with a chicken breast.
- fried rice
- steamed cauliflower
- potato salad
- mashed potatoes
- baked sweet potato
- green bean casserole
- creamed spinach
- roasted carrots
- mac n’ cheese
- pesto pasta
- eggplant parmesan
Eat With Chicken Breast: Conclusion
Chicken breasts are the healthiest part of chicken because it has less fat, which often lends itself to having less flavor and taste dry. Chicken breast is often served with a salad, but there are other options to consider when preparing a meal.
Chicken breast is a great protein source to serve stuffed, chicken parmesan, with a casserole, or coating with sauce to marinate with. Simply baking or adding stir fried vegetables are nutritional and healthy ways to consume chicken breast.
Depend on the cuisine, chicken breast goes well with ingredients like nuts, fruits, cheese, spices, herbs, and wine. Generally, it can served with steamed rice, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, green bean casserole or pasta.
Whether you are adding chicken breast to a recipe or needing help to add tasty side dish, use these flavor combination. Serve up a perfectly cooked chicken breast with flavorful accompaniments that are properly paired together.