30 Mouthwatering Sides to Serve with Stir Fry Chicken That’ll Make Your Dinner Epic

Are you staring at your delicious chicken stir fry wondering what else to add to your plate? I’ve been there too! Nothing’s worse than having an amazing main dish with nothing to complement it. After years of experimenting in my kitchen, I’ve compiled this ultimate guide of side dishes that’ll transform your stir fry chicken from a simple meal to an extraordinary feast.

Stir fry chicken is already fantastic on its own – tender chunks of chicken, crisp veggies and that flavorful sauce that brings everything together. But pairing it with the right sides can elevate your dining experience to restaurant-quality levels. Let’s dive into the best options that’ll make your taste buds dance!

Rice Options: The Classic Foundation

Rice is the most traditional pairing with stir fry chicken, providing the perfect canvas for soaking up those delicious sauces.

White Rice Varieties

• Jasmine Rice – This fragrant rice variety adds a lovely aroma that complements stir fry perfectly. Its fluffy texture provides the ideal base for your meal.
• Sticky Rice – With its slightly chewy texture, sticky rice is excellent for grabbing onto bits of chicken and sauce.
• Plain White Rice – Sometimes simplicity wins! Regular steamed white rice lets the flavors of your stir fry shine without competition.

Healthier Rice Alternatives

• Brown Rice – For a more nutritious option, brown rice adds a nutty flavor and extra fiber to your meal. It has a slightly chewier texture that works well with the tender chicken.
• Quinoa – Not technically rice, but this protein-packed grain provides a unique texture and subtle nutty flavor. It’s perfect if you’re looking for additional protein and nutrients!
• Cauliflower Rice – Want a low-carb option? Cauliflower rice is an excellent choice that still provides that rice-like texture while adding extra veggies to your meal.

Specialty Rice Dishes

• Coconut Rice – The mild sweetness of coconut rice pairs beautifully with spicy or salty stir fry sauces. It’s my personal favorite when I make a spicy Szechuan chicken!
• Fried Rice – Transform leftover rice into something special! Add eggs, veggies, and seasonings for a side that could almost be a main dish itself.
• House Special Fried Rice – Loaded with veggies, scrambled eggs, and sometimes edamame, this savory option complements rather than competes with your stir fry.

Noodle Options: Slurp-worthy Sides

If you’re not in the mood for rice, noodles offer another excellent foundation for your stir fry chicken.

Classic Noodle Sides

• Lo Mein – These wheat noodles tossed in sauce will soak up all the flavors from your stir fry perfectly. Add some extra veggies for more nutrition!
• Ramen – Fresh ramen noodles served alongside your chicken create a fun textural contrast.
• Egg Noodles – These rich, yellow noodles have a slightly chewy texture that stands up well to hearty stir fry sauces.

Asian-Inspired Specialty Noodles

• Garlic Noodles – With rich garlicky undertones, these aromatic noodles enhance the flavors in your stir fry chicken.
• Vietnamese Garlic Noodles (Mì Xào Tỏi) – Buttery, garlicky, and ready in 20 minutes, these noodles add incredible flavor.
• Miso Noodles – These quick, easy and addictive noodles are sure to be a crowd-pleaser with their unique umami flavor.
• Garlic Sesame Noodles – The creamy tahini sesame sauce creates a rich complement to your chicken stir fry.

Low-Carb Noodle Alternatives

• Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) – For a lighter option, spiralized zucchini provides the noodle experience with fewer calories.
• Butternut Squash Noodles – The buttery sweet flavor of these vegetable noodles creates a wonderful contrast to savory stir fry.

Fresh Vegetable Sides: Adding Color and Nutrition

While your stir fry probably already contains veggies, adding more on the side creates a well-rounded, nutritious meal

Green Vegetable Sides

• Broccoli – Whether steamed or roasted, these green florets add vitamin C and fiber to your meal.
• Asparagus – Fresh, tender roasted asparagus spears complement chicken stir fries beautifully.
• Green Beans – Sautéed green beans with garlic and toasted almonds make for a flavorful side.
• Garlic Bok Choy – Crisp and fresh with loads of flavor, bok choy is ready in 10 minutes and makes a perfect Asian-inspired side.

Colorful Vegetable Options

• Sweet Potato Fries – The natural sweetness balances salty or spicy stir fry sauces for an unexpected but delicious pairing.
• Blistered Shishito Peppers – With a sweet, spicy, and smoky bite, these air fryer shishito peppers have perfectly blistered skins.
• Roasted Cauliflower with Gochujang Mayo – A little sweet with a bit of heat, this side dish takes cauliflower to new heights.
• Korean Avocado (Mayak Avocado) – Big chunks of ripe avocado marinated in a sesame soy glaze make a luxurious side.
• Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts – Sweet and spicy with a crispy outside and soft inside, these brussels sprouts are addicting.
• Gochujang Butternut Squash – This 5-ingredient squash recipe bursts with flavor and makes a super easy vegetable side dish.

Refreshing Salads: The Perfect Contrast

A light, fresh salad provides wonderful contrast to hot, savory stir fry chicken.

• Cucumber Salad – This simple salad with sliced cucumbers and onions in a light vinegar dressing is a classic Chinese side.
• Japanese Cucumber Salad – Despite simple ingredients, this refreshing salad is packed with flavor.
• Asian Slaw – An invigorating mix of shredded vegetables and tangy dressing brings a delightful crunch.
• Avocado Tuna Salad – With a Japanese-inspired soy sauce dressing, this unusual pairing works surprisingly well.
• Ramen Noodle Salad – This easy salad is customizable with whatever extra vegetables you have on hand.
• Cabbage Slaw – For crunch, make an Asian-inspired coleslaw with cabbage, carrots, green onion, and a rice vinegar dressing.
• Edamame Salad – Fresh veggies, protein, fiber, and an Asian-inspired dressing make this a satisfying side.

Appetizers and Small Bites: Start Your Meal Right

Begin your stir fry chicken dinner with a tasty morsel to excite your taste buds.

• Egg Rolls – No Asian-inspired meal feels complete without crispy, savory egg rolls served with dipping sauce.
• Dumplings – Pan-fried or steamed dumplings are perfect before your main chicken stir fry.
• Wontons – These filled dumplings can be fried, steamed, or added to soup for a versatile starter.
• Potstickers – With crispy bottoms and tender tops, these are irresistible dipped in soy sauce and chili oil.
• Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls – These light rolls with pork, shrimp, lettuce and herbs wrapped in rice paper make a refreshing starter.
• Vietnamese Shrimp Toast – These light and savory bites packed with flavor are sure to please a crowd.
• Asian Lettuce Wraps – Ready in under 20 minutes and packed with flavor, these make a great appetizer.

Soup Options: Warming Additions

A small bowl of soup can round out your stir fry meal beautifully.

• Miso Soup – This traditional Japanese soup provides a savory, umami-rich complement to chicken stir fry.

Toppings and Garnishes: The Finishing Touch

Sometimes it’s the little extras that make the biggest difference!

• Green Onions – A sprinkle of sliced green onions adds color and a mild onion flavor.
• Sesame Seeds – These tiny seeds add a nutty crunch as a garnish.
• Toasted Nuts – Cashews, peanuts, or almonds can add wonderful texture.
• Crispy Roasted Chickpeas – For a protein-packed crunch, try these as a topping.
• Extra Stir Fry Sauce – Sometimes more of that delicious sauce is all you need!
• Sriracha or Hot Sauce – For heat lovers, a little spice on the side lets everyone adjust to their preference.

My Personal Favorites

I gotta say, when I make stir fry chicken at home, I almost always pair it with coconut rice. The subtle sweetness against a spicy stir fry sauce is absolute heaven! For a low-carb night, I’ll go with zucchini noodles, and when I’m feeling fancy, I’ll make some potstickers as an appetizer.

What I love most about stir fry is how versatile it is. Cleaning out the fridge? Toss those week-old bell peppers and snow peas into your stir fry! Need a main course? Add more chicken. Looking for a side dish? Make it veggie-heavy!

Quick Tips for a Complete Stir Fry Meal

1. Balance textures – If your stir fry is soft, add crunchy sides like fresh spring rolls or crispy egg rolls.
2. Consider flavors – Pair spicy stir fry with milder sides like plain rice or coconut rice.
3. Think about colors – Make your plate visually appealing with contrasting colors from fresh vegetables.
4. Prep ahead – Many sides like rice and noodles can be made in advance, making dinner assembly super quick.

Whenever I’m planning a stir fry dinner, I try to include at least one item from the rice/noodle category, one vegetable side, and maybe a small appetizer if I’m feeling ambitious. This creates a balanced meal with plenty of variety!

The Bottom Line

The beauty of stir fry chicken is its versatility – there’s virtually no wrong answer when deciding what to serve with it! Whether you stick with traditional pairings like jasmine rice and egg rolls or venture into fusion territory with sweet potato fries and Korean-inspired sides, the possibilities are endless.

Now excuse me while I go make some stir fry with garlic noodles for dinner – all this writing has made me hungry!

Serve chicken stir fry with a variety of starches like steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles (lo mein or spaghetti). For added vegetables, offer steamed vegetables or a simple Asian-style salad. You can also complement the meal with popular side dishes such as spring rolls, egg rolls, potstickers, or a cup of wonton or egg drop soup.

Serve stir fry with classic sides like steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles (like lo mein) to absorb the sauce. For appetizers, consider spring rolls, dumplings, or egg rolls. You can also add sides of steamed or pickled vegetables or a refreshing smashed cucumber salad to complement the main dish.