Are you meeting up with friends, and you were told to bring a dish, but all you know is that someone you know has brought a chicken salad with them? What do you bring with you that can complement that salad?
To help you, we’ve compiled a selection of our favorite dishes to include with a chicken salad when you’re cooking for a large group.
Whether you want side dishes, appetizers, or even desserts, we have something for everyone with our helpful guide.
1. Bread
Bread is one of the best options to complement a chicken salad. If you plan to combine your sourdough bread with your friend’s chicken salad, you’ll be able to offer a hearty lunch.
There are so many chicken salad and bread options, and you’ll know that everyone is looking for something filling.
2. Croissants
While you could stick to traditional bread, we would also recommend croissants. Although they’re better suited to breakfast, you can always combine a chicken salad with croissants.
They also work well with other ingredients, so you can allow everyone to customize your croissants in a way they all enjoy.
3. Potato Salad
If you don’t want to make a chicken salad like your friend and utilize it, consider making a potato salad. Potato salads are just as popular as chicken salad, and neither should detract from the flavors of each dish.
Both are equally as easy to make, and everyone can easily help themselves with each dish.
4. Coleslaw
If you have to bring a dish, we recommend you bring some coleslaw to any gathering. Coleslaw can go with any other food, and many people enjoy it.
All it consists of is shredded cabbage, carrots, and dressing. Coleslaw also pairs especially well with chicken salad. It offers little additional vegetables and flavors that tie in with one another.
5. Ambrosia Salad
As a contrasting dish to chicken salad, we recommend you bring ambrosia salad when you meet with others. Ambrosia salad is a combination of salad and dessert.
Combining a mixture of mini marshmallows, whipped cream, coconut, and, most importantly, fruit, you’ll find many people will adore this recipe and offer a fresh dessert.
6. Caprese Salad
A Caprese salad is a classic Italian-inspired dish that will take you less than ten minutes to prepare and only half an hour to make. Made from a combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, it has a topping of balsamic vinegar.
It’s perfect for the summer months and will contrast with the flavors of your chicken salad.
7. Caesar Salad
If you love chicken salad, then you’ll love Caesar salad. You can use it as a side dish for any meal, and it’s not difficult to make either. You can make Caesar salad with a mixture of lettuce, parmesan-garlic dressing, and some croutons thrown in.
Many fans of chicken salad also love Caesar salad, and they’ll appreciate having the option to pick and choose between them.
8. Charcuterie Board
Have you considered making your own charcuterie board for when you meet up with friends and family? You can do so much with a charcuterie board, but you shouldn’t overwhelm it with different flavors.
If you know what your friends like, making a charcuterie board is so much easier, but you shouldn’t bother with pre-packaged ones. After all, you know what you and your loved ones like.
9. Pita Chips And Hummus
If you want to combine different flavors, you should bake pita chips and hummus to eat during your next gathering. Pita chips can be dipped in the sauce for your chicken salad or with your hummus; you could even combine it with both.
Next time you think of bringing a dish to use with chicken salad, consider combining it with a simple yet tasty dish such as pita chips and hummus.
10. Pinwheels
Appetizers are the best combination to include when you want to combine them with a chicken salad. You can always add pinwheels to your selection of foods as they are made with a mixture of tortillas, cheese, jalapeños, and bacon.
Filled with cream cheese and your other ingredients, everyone will love the kick to this appetizer.
11. Fruit Charcuterie Board
If you don’t want a charcuterie board filled with meats and cheeses, consider making a fruit one instead. Using a combination of different berries, sliced apples, grapes, and cherries, you can also serve them with different sweet dips.
It’s a great way to enjoy chocolate-dipped fruits and has a bright and colorful dish.
12. Deviled Eggs
One of the best combinations to have with a chicken salad is deviled eggs. You want to have the best deviled eggs with your chicken salad. After all, you need to ensure you get soft yolks to get the best results with these eggs.
13. Bruschetta
You need recipes that are easy to make, and there’s nothing better than a delicious bruschetta. These are perfect for any summer event; you can bring them to any dinner party.
Tomatoes are perfect for hot weather, and it offers a sweet and zesty taste that combines well with a slice of crunchy, toasted bread.
14. Fruit Skewers
Do you want to enjoy colorful and sweet dishes? Then consider making a selection of fruit skewers. Not everyone wants to eat on a paper plate, and everyone adores finger foods.
You want fruits that combine well with savory dishes. All you need are strawberries, oranges, pineapple, grapes, blueberries, and blackberries.
15. Stuffed Celery Sticks
Stuffed celery sticks are a great combination to add to any gathering you know will have chicken salad. Instead of focusing on chicken, include a combination of cream cheese, bacon, herbs, and cheddar cheese. These can be served on all sorts of different occasions, making them perfect for any time of year.
16. Stuffed Tomatoes
Stuffed tomatoes aren’t only a great choice for main meals but a perfect dish to bring to parties. Fill your tomatoes with sausage, rice, and plenty of cheese, and you’ll find that they will offer plenty of flavors to accompany a chicken salad.
Even people who aren’t fans of tomatoes will enjoy this delicious recipe.
17. Cucumber Bites
Cucumber bites are a perfect addition to any chicken salad. On top, you can add cream cheese or Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is a healthier addition, and of course, you can then add your own seasoning to give it a little extra flavor.
Cucumber bites are a great combination of chicken salad and one that will hit it off with your guests.
18. Vegetable Tray
Vegetable trays are an inexpensive option to please your guests. Chicken salad and vegetable trays offer a fresh combination that everyone can enjoy. You can use various vegetables, including broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and many more different veg. You can even support the local community and pick up some fresh vegetables from your local farmer’s market.
19. Corn Chips
Everyone loves to add chips to their meals, and you can use corn chips for everything. Along with a selection of different dips, you can also dip them in chicken salad.
They’re easy to make, and you can make plenty for your loved ones to help themselves. For this recipe, we also recommend making them with Parmesan cheese for a little additional flavor.
20. Guacamole
If you know there’s going to be a chance for someone to serve chips, we recommend bringing some homemade guacamole with you.
Guacamole is made using a combination of avocados, tomatoes, onions, chilis, salt, cilantro, and a hint of lime juice. If you know there will be chicken salad and chips, you need to bring guacamole with you.
21. 7-Layer Dip
Fans of dip will love a 7-layer dip to combine with different ingredients. Using a combination of beans, avocados, sour cream, cheddar, Monterey Jack, black olives, tomatoes, and green onions, you can combine all of these with a selection of herbs and spices.
There’s no way that anyone will say no to such a delicious dip. It has a wide selection of flavors and pairs well as a side to chicken salad.
22. Pesto Pasta Salad
If you know there will be chicken salad, bringing some pasta salad with you doesn’t hurt. After all, pasta salads are just as popular as chicken salads. Pesto pasta salad has plenty of flavors and will only take you a little under half an hour to cook.
You can also adjust this recipe to be suitable for vegans, gluten-free, and nut-free, and it also has plenty of greens.
23. Mac And Cheese
Mac and cheese is comfort food for all occasions, and it’s also why it’s one of the most popular dishes. Top it with a panko-parmesan topping with your own homemade sauce, and your loved ones will love this dish.
Best of all, it doesn’t detract from the flavors of a chicken salad and even adds to it.
24. Mac And Cheese Balls
If you don’t want to make a full mac and cheese dish for your arsenal, consider mac and cheese balls instead. Using panko breadcrumbs to fry on your cheese balls, many of your guests can enjoy this dish as a side to your chicken salad.
25. Pumpkin Soup
Not everyone will be looking for chicken salad, especially if you go to an outdoor gathering during the fall. To offer some variety to your guests, we recommend you bring some pumpkin soup with you.
Pumpkin soup is a surprisingly sweet dish, and fans of your food may enjoy a choice between something more savory, like chicken salad, and your soup.
26. Strawberry Banana Pudding
When there’s a gathering, you want a dessert that’s easy to eat, and everyone can enjoy. One popular fruit-flavored dessert is strawberry banana pudding.
Using a mixture of sliced bananas and strawberries, you can add more to this dish with the help of instant vanilla pudding, milk, and vanilla wafers (For the best strawberry banana pudding recipes, read here). Top it with some whipped cream, and you have a popular dessert.
27. Brownies
Do you and your loved ones love brownies? We recommend bringing a tray of brownies into your world. You should bake a selection of brownies to bring to any occasion, as everyone can help themselves to this traditional recipe.
Plus, one batch of brownies will still serve sixteen people.
28. Banana Bread
Another popular choice for dessert is banana bread, which is a great way to use up any bananas which are about to spoil and bake something everyone will enjoy.
Banana bread is sweet, but it also doesn’t distract others from the delicious flavors of chicken salad. You can make this for group gatherings no matter the season, and everyone will love it.
29. Snickerdoodle Cookies
If you want a dessert for your loved ones to snack on whenever they want, we recommend baking a batch of snickerdoodle cookies. Snickerdoodle cookies are a little bit tangy and coated in cinnamon sugar.
They’re perfect for all ages and can offer a reprieve from savory treats. Everyone can help themselves to this delicious baked treat.
30. Cherry Fluff Salad
A cherry fluff salad is an interesting dish to bring to any gathering, with a combo of flavors including cherry, marshmallow, and cool whip. It’s a fluffy dessert that will contrast well with chicken salad flavors and is easy to make too.
Desserts are always a great option to bring to a party when you know that someone already has the savory dishes covered.
31. Mandarin Orange Jello With Sherbet
You only need four ingredients to make this dessert, making it ideal for any occasion where you may need to bring a dessert with you. The best thing about it is that it tastes like a creamsicle.
Suppose you’re planning a summer barbecue with friends. In that case, this Mandarin orange jello is the best dish. You only need Mandarin oranges, orange-flavored jello, cool whip, and orange sherbet.
Final Thoughts
We hope this selection has helped you if you’re thinking of going to a gathering where you know there’s chicken salad. These are all dishes that are great accompaniments for any situation. If you’d like more inspiration, feel free to check out some of our other articles.
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