Chicken wings are a great budget meal with so many different variations, but a few great side dishes make them into a delicacy. Find the perfect sides for chicken wings so you can dine style!
Nothing gets people excited to eat like a plate piled high with chicken wings. This classic meaty dish is an economical cut of chicken that tastes great with practically everything. This is great because chicken wings need a little something extra to make them into a true main dish. Find the right dish for your plate with this tasty guide to sides for chicken wings.
What are Chicken Wings?
Chicken wings are the cut of meat that comes from the chicken’s wing. Technically the wing is made up of 3 different cuts, the drumette, the flat, and the tip. There is not a lot of meat in this cut, so you need sides to make chicken wings into a true meal.
What Sides Go with Chicken Wings?
Crudités
Crudité is a fancy way to say sliced raw veggies, and this simple side is perfect for chicken wings. Just like wings, raw veggies are great for dipping; plus, they add a fresh bite to a plate of rich chicken wings.
Roasted Cauliflower
Cauliflower has a wonderful flavor for pairing with chicken. This special vegetable can take on bold seasonings, and it tastes delicious with a whole world of sauces. That is what makes roasted cauliflower a great side for chicken wings.
Three-Bean Salad
Three-bean salad is a classic party side dish, and its earthy and smooth flavor is just right for serving with delicious chicken wings. It is made with a mixture of cooked beans, tangy dressing, and seasonings. It has a nice texture and vegetable flavor for pairing with bold and sometimes saucy wings.
Fries
Fries and chicken wings are a classic combination for a reason. The crunchy, starchy flavor of fried potatoes brings out the best in chicken wings.
Onion Rings
Crunchy and full of flavor, onion rings are the perfect side dish to pair with a plate of wings. They have a delectable sweet and spicy onion flavor with plenty of crispy breading to deliver a satisfying texture. Onion rings are great for dipping and perfect with practically any wing sauce.
Elotes
Elotes is sometimes called Mexican street corn, but by any name, this dish is delish! This tasty vegetable side dish has tons of fresh and exciting flavors to bring out the best in your favorite chicken wings. Elotes can be made with full ears of corn or just the kernels; either way, the corn is combined with sour cream, spices, and cotija cheese to make a sweet and tangy flavor you won’t want to resist! Serve this with barbecued wings or simply seasoned black pepper wings.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is a wonderfully saucy and fresh side dish, and it is just delicious with wings! It is a creamy medley of cabbage, carrots, and mayonnaise-based dressing. There are many versions of this tangy veggie side, but no matter the recipe, coleslaw always pairs perfectly with chicken wings!
Salad
Chicken wings are so rich that a bite of freshness is all they need. A fresh green salad can bring brightness and green veggie crunch to your plate. The best part of pairing chicken wings with salad is the lack of guilt! You will always feel good about choosing a salad over more fatty sides.
Warm Noodles
While chicken wings and noodles might not be the first combo to come to mind, it’s still delicious! Pair crispy wings with saucy pasta for a delicious fusion of textures and flavors. Warm spaghetti with alfredo is great with garlic parmesan wings, or try rice noodles with sweet chili wings. With endless combinations, you cannot go wrong with putting wings and noodles together!
Rice and Beans
Rice and beans are as classic as it is versatile. Combining grains and legumes makes for a filling side dish that goes great with chicken wings. The earthy flavors of rice and beans go well with barbecued wings and wings with fruity hot sauces.
Cold Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a must-have for any party because its layers of flavor cannot be beaten, and matching this dish with chicken wings will turn your plate into a party! It combines cold pasta with an oil-based dressing, veggies, cheese, and meat to make a fresh bite that can’t be missed. Chicken wings need this fresh salad to bring out their true culinary potential!
Succotash
Succotash is a fancy name for a freshly cooked corn salad, and it is exceptional with chicken wings. Since the wings are so greasy and meaty, they need something fresh like corn to brighten them up, so succotash is the perfect thing!
Vegetable Mash
From mashed potatoes to peas, you cannot go wrong with pairing chicken wings with mashed veggies. Traditional mashed potatoes are a clear choice, but mashed cauliflower, sweet potatoes, turnips, or peas are all great veggie side dishes for chicken wings.
Fried Pickles
Fried pickles are a tavern favorite that is just tantalizing on its own, but when paired with chicken wings, this snack is next level! They have just the right crunchiness from their breading and zing from the pickle to complement your favorite wings.
How to Reheat Wings in an Air Fryer
To preheat the air fryer, follow these simple steps:
- Plug in the air fryer and turn it on.
- Set the temperature to 350°F.
- Allow the air fryer to preheat for about 3-5 minutes.
While waiting for the air fryer to preheat, take a moment to prepare the wings. Make sure they are evenly spaced out on a plate or tray so that they will reheat consistently. Pat them dry, if needed, to remove any excess moisture that may have accumulated during storage.
Once the air fryer is preheated, it’s time to place the wings inside the basket. Make sure to leave some space between each wing to allow air to circulate properly. This will ensure that the wings reheat evenly and attain that desired crispiness.
Now that the wings are in the air fryer set the timer according to your desired level of crispiness. (5-8 minutes should work) Occasionally check on the wings during the reheating process to ensure that they don’t overcook or burn.
Additional Kitchen Resources
Make delicious and affordable meals easy with these great kitchen resource articles.