What To Serve With Chicken and Rice Soup? 17 Best Sides

Have you been wondering what to serve with chicken and rice soup?

If so, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I cover 17 of the best side dishes to serve with chicken and rice soup.

In a rush?

Here’s the short answer:

The best sides to serve with chicken and rice soup are grilled cheese sandwiches, croutons, cornbread, green salads, and quesadillas. For more hearty sides, try roasted Brussels sprouts or roasted sweet potatoes. And for something a little different, try serving your soup with dumplings.

Ready for even more ideas?

Let’s jump right in.

What To Serve With Chicken and Rice Soup? 17 Best Sides

Imagine a meal that’s hearty, filling, and comforting all at the same time.

That’s exactly what chicken and rice soup is.

And what’s even better is that there are a number of great side dishes that can take the dish from good to great.

Here are 17 of the best side dishes for chicken and rice soup:

1. Roasted Veggies

Tossed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (or your favorite herbs and spices), roasted veggies make the perfect side dish.

I like to use a mix of whatever seasonal vegetables I can find, but some of my favorites are Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets.

For an extra boost of flavor, try roasting your veggies with garlic cloves.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to line your baking sheet with parchment paper – this will help prevent your veggies from sticking, and make cleanup a breeze!

2. Garlic Butter Grilled Corn on the Cob

Garlicky, buttery, and slightly charred from the grill, this corn on the cob is my idea of summer perfection.

I like to keep things simple by using just garlic, butter, and salt, but you could add in any number of herbs or spices to customize it to your liking.

Chili powder, cumin, and paprika would all be great additions if you’re looking for a little bit of heat.

Pro Tip: For perfectly cooked corn, preheat your grill to medium-high heat and cook the corn for 10-15 minutes, turning every few minutes.

3. Baked Beans

With just a few ingredients (like canned beans, molasses, and bacon), you can whip up a batch of these sweet and savory baked beans.

I like to bake mine in the oven until they’re nice and thick – about an hour or so.

You could also add some chopped onions, green peppers, or even ground beef to change things up.

Pro Tip: For a shortcut, you can use pre-cooked bacon or bacon bits.

4. Mac N Cheese

Comfort food just talks to me, and this dish is no exception.

I love a good mac n cheese, and there are just so many ways to make it.

My personal favorite way is with some extra sharp cheddar, a little bit of cream cheese, and a touch of dijon mustard for some added flavor.

But, you can really add whatever you like to this dish – bacon, different types of cheese, hot sauce… the list goes on.

Pro Tip: If you want a truly indulgent mac n cheese, top it with some buttered bread crumbs before baking. It’ll take it over the top in the best way possible.

5. Sweet Potato Fries

Who can say no to sweet potato fries?

They’re the perfect blend of sweet and savory, and they go with just about anything.

I like to keep things simple by just seasoning them with salt, pepper, and a little bit of paprika.

But if you want to get fancy, you can add cinnamon or cumin for a different flavor profile.

Pro Tip: The key to getting crispy sweet potato fries is to soak them in cold water for at least 30 minutes before cooking. This will help remove some of the starchiness so that they can get nice and crispy in the oven.

6. Roasted Garlic Parmesan Carrots

This is one of my favorite sides for chicken and rice soup – it just adds that extra bit of flavor and texture.

I like to roast my garlic cloves ahead of time, so they’re nice and soft when it comes time to add them to the dish.

I also love using fresh Parmesan cheese, but you could use any type of shredded cheese that you have on hand.

Pro Tip: If you want an even more flavorful dish, try roasting your carrots with a bit of olive oil and thyme before adding the garlic and cheese.

7. Caesar Salad

This salad isn’t as boring as it seems (seriously, give it a chance).

I like to mix things up by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or even steak.

And for the dressing, I always go for a homemade Caesar. It’s so much better than the store-bought kind and it’s really easy to make.

Just whisk together some olive oil, lemon juice, anchovies, garlic, salt and pepper.

Pro Tip: One of the keys to a good Caesar salad is using fresh ingredients. So definitely use fresh lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

8. Garlic Bread

Garlic bread goes great with chicken and rice soup (like, REALLY great), but I also like to serve it up as a side with pasta dishes, or even just by itself as a snack.

If you want to get really fancy, you can add some herbs to the butter mixture – I love thyme and rosemary.

Pro Tip: If you’re using pre-made garlic bread, reheat it in the oven so that the garlic flavor really comes through.

9. Potato Salad

I love a traditional potato salad (buuut, I put hard-boiled eggs in mine), but there are so many delicious ways to switch it up.

You can add bacon, or swap out the mayo for a vinaigrette.

One of my personal favorites is a dill potato salad – I just add some chopped dill and a little bit of lemon juice to my potato salad dressing.

So good!

Pro Tip: The key to a good potato salad is to make sure that your potatoes are properly cooked – you don’t want them to be too mushy or too firm. I like to boil my potatoes with the skins on, then peel and chop them once they’re cooled down.

10. Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers make for a healthy (though admittedly sometimes boring) side dish.

See Also: The 6 Best Peppers for Stuffed Peppers

I like to mix things up by using different kinds of peppers – bell peppers, jalapeños, poblanos, etc. – and fillings.

Some of my favorites include quinoa and black bean stuffed peppers, Italian sausage and mozzarella stuffed peppers, and sweet potato, kale and goat cheese stuffed peppers.

Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, you can make stuffed peppers in the Instant Pot! Just cook on high pressure for 3 minutes per pepper.

11. Dinner Rolls

These are great for the holiday’s, weeknights (with soup or chili) or really any day you want a little something special.

I like to keep things simple with just butter, garlic and salt but you could get creative and add in some herbs, cheese, honey, etc.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have time to let the dough rise, you can put them in the fridge overnight or freeze for later. Just be sure to let them thaw and rise before baking.

12. Roasted Garlic Butter Parmesan Potatoes

These epic roasted garlic potatoes with parmesan are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

They are tossed in a garlic butter sauce and then roasted to perfection.

I like to top mine with some extra parmesan cheese and parsley for garnish, but you could also add some chopped green onions.

Pro Tip: For extra crispy potatoes, soak them in cold water for at least 30 minutes before roasting.

13. Zucchini Fritters

Made with zucchini, Parmesan cheese, and a some Mozzarella cheese (for good measure), these fritters are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

They make for a great side to any meal, but my personal favorite is to serve them with a big bowl of pasta.

There are endless ways to mix up this recipe – you could add in some chopped up bacon, or swap out the Parmesan cheese for another type of cheese.

You could even make them into mini fritters and serve them as an appetizer!

Pro Tip: If you want your fritters to be extra crispy, add a tablespoon or two of bread crumbs to the batter.

14. Garlic Knots

Want the easiest and best side dish for your chicken and rice soup?

Well, how about some garlic knots?

These are so good, and they’re really easy to make.

I like to add a little Parmesan cheese on top, but you can leave that out if you want.

Pro Tip: If you’re short on time, you can use pre-made pizza dough to make these garlic knots. Just follow the instructions on the recipe linked above.

15. Creamy Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Ready in 30-minutes and ALWAYS a crowd pleaser, this casserole is perfect for those hectic weeknights.

I love that it’s packed with veggies, but the kids never seem to mind because there’s cheese involved.

And, did I mention that it only dirties one dish? Win-win in my book!

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a little bit of extra crunch, top your casserole with some chopped up bacon or bread crumbs before baking.

16. Crispy Smashed Potatoes

These oven baked crispy smashed potatoes are my go-to side dish.

They are so easy to make and can be customized to fit any meal.

I like to add garlic and Parmesan cheese to mine, but you could also add rosemary or thyme. If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding a little bit of cayenne pepper for some extra spice.

Pro Tip: For extra crispy potatoes, preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit.

17. Garlic Parmesan Orzo

This tasty twist on mac and cheese will have you feeling like you’re eating something a little more special than your average weeknight side dish.

The orzo pasta is cooked in chicken broth and garlic until it’s nice and tender.

Then, it’s mixed with some parmesan cheese and a little bit of milk to create a creamy sauce.

You can mix in some frozen peas or broccoli for some extra green goodness.

Pro Tip: If you want a really cheesy flavor, use sharp cheddar cheese instead of parmesan.

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