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What to Serve with Chicken Tenders: 55 Ideas

Mostly everyone loves chicken tenders. So what do you serve with chicken tenders to add some variety and flavor to your plate? Here are some of my favorite healthy sides for chicken tenders that will make your meal tasty and nutritious.

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As a mom (and former McDonald’s kid), my love for chicken tenders runs deep. I could list a bunch of my favorite dips and ways I serve them to my kids.

For example, with lemon pepper baked chicken tenders, we’ve done ketchup, ranch, honey yogurt and BBQ sauce. All are good in their own right!

But, you’re here for the healthy side dishes for chicken tenders, right?

You probably want an alternative to the typical frozen fries from the frozen aisle in the grocery store, or even from the mac and cheese – even if you can sneak some veggies in there!

white plate with raw chicken tenders

I get it – as a mom of 3, I also worry about nutrition and my kids’ diets, and want them to have a varied palate.

These chicken tender sides are fun, flavorful AND nutritious. Try one, or try them all!

Why You’ll Love These Chicken Tenders Side Dishes

There’s nothing wrong with relying on a boxed or frozen side in a pinch, but the ease of these recipes will surprise you and may motivate you to try something different.

  • Delicious: First, these chicken tender side dis recipes offer a wide variety of flavors, sure to suit any palate. There include fresh salads, creamy pastas, crispy sweetpotatoes, crunchy green beans, and more.
  • Quick: The majority of these recipes can be made in 20 minutes or less. A healthy meal in the same time it takes to grab takeout—major bonus! You can make them while the chicken tenders are cooking. This is especially helpful on those weeknights when you come home from work or sports practice and need to get dinner on the table fast.
  • Personalized: The good thing about making your own side dish is that you can pick and choose the ingredients you want—tailoring it to your family’s needs or dietary preferences.
  • Nourishing: These dietitian-curated recipes add a nutritious spin to your typical side dish. Most of these recipes are rich in fiber, healthy fats, and antioxidants.
  • Great for picky eaters: Need a way to introduce new foods in a familiar way? Some of these recipes are a modified version of a classic—with a nutrient-dense twist. Plus, by offering new sides (like whole grain croutons) with an old classic and comfort food like chicken tenders, your child may be more likely to be adventurous.
air fried sweet potato wedges on cutting board with dipping sauce

Plus if you need any more ideas for lunches that aren’t sandwiches, any of these side options with your chicken tenders will do.

So whether you’re whipping up a quick lunch for the kids or a weeknight dinner for your family, these side dishes will not disappoint.

What to Serve with Chicken Tenders

Firstly, can we take a minute to appreciate how great chicken tenders and/or chicken nuggets can be? Almost a definite way to get protein into our kiddos, and they are ready quickly!

You can eat them grilled or fried, breaded or marinated – so many options!

fried chicken tenders with side of green beans

Chicken is also a great source of B vitamins like B12 and riboflavin, iron, choline, and selenium – important for our growing kids, and even us as adults too.

I absolutely love chicken tenders paired with a high carbohydrate side for a post-workout meal.

Or, when you need a quick lunch or easy Wednesday night dinner idea, chicken tenders fit the bill.

What to serve with chicken tenders can be an opportunity to offer colorful, nutrient-dense foods that will nourish bodies of all ages.

chicken tenders with carrots, celery and vegetable mix

Fortunately, chicken is versatile and goes with just about everything. Like my post on what to eat with sweet potatoes, chicken tender sides can be as easy and versatile as you’d like.

These simple sides are the perfect complement for chicken tenders. Packing in both flavor and nutrients, everyone will be satisfied.

Vegetables

Vegetables can be enjoyed in several ways as a side dish with chicken tenders. Take just broccoli – here are more than 15 ideas for recipes for broccoli recipes for baby-led weaning that the entire family will love.

Veggies make the perfect chicken tenders side dish, adding both flavor and nutrition. Plus, you can dress them up, make them heartier and more filling, or keep them light.

Need some ideas? Broccoli, carrots, parsnips, peas, green beans, spinach, cauliflower, beets, onion, and mushrooms – All are loaded with antioxidants and health-giving nutrients.

Vegetables may also include salads.

Your whole family needs a variety of vegetables for optimal immune function, digestion, growth and development, and disease prevention.

bowl of raw broccoli

These veggie side dishes can be enjoyed plain, air fried, or roasted for a delicious spin. Plus, serving veggies with chicken tenders, which are already a safe food, can help get toddlers to eat veggies, or at least try them.

One of my favorite ways is to use the steamable frozen bags – because they are ready in minutes. I’ll serve them up with chicken tenders and rice, and it’s a quick, easy meal!

Starchy sides

You may also want to include a starch, or carbohydrate, along with your chicken tenders. Starches provide the energy our bodies need, as well as fiber, B-Vitamins and more.

Starches include pasta, breads, rice, oats, potatoes, sweetpotatoes, quinoa, corn, beans, and cereals – and an opportunity to provide whole grains.

Adding starchy foods can be an easy side dish for chicken tenders, ready in minutes.

Smashed sweet potatoes on baking sheet

Pasta

Pasta can be a super easy side dish for chicken tenders, and one that usually is well-loved by kids.

Whether you want a plain cheesy pasta, a creamy pasta bake, or just noodles with butter, pasta can be a great vehicle to serve along with chicken tenders.

You can find a gluten free pasta, or even mix in other nutrient-dense additions, like beans, legumes, vegetables or healthy fats.

pot of cooked pasta

Plus, pasta is ready in under 10 minutes!

Fruit

Most kids love the sweetness of fruit, so it can be a great side dish for chicken tenders. You can even serve fruit and veggies together, like in this toddler mac and cheese!

While fruits do have more natural sweetness compared to vegetables, rest assured that they are still very nutritious and provide similar amounts of fiber and nutrition.

Plus, they are generally easy without much preparation needed and can be taken on the go if needed.

Snack Foods

If you’re slowly trying to incorporate more variety into your picky eaters, serving chicken tenders with a variety of snack foods may work well!

This could include veggie sticks or pea crisps, grapes, pepperoni, sweetpotato apple muffins or a fun baked good, string cheese, ants on a log, etc.

muffin tin with snack ideas

The idea here is to pair the familiar chicken tenders with some new foods, to urge your children to at least try them. And sometimes a “snacky” meal is more enticing than a normal balanced meal.

Miscellaneous

Just to drive the point home that side dishes for chicken tenders can pretty much entail anything, here are some other easy ideas from your pantry or pre-made from the store.

  • Coleslaw
  • Cornbread
  • Minute rice
  • Charcuterie board
  • Chips or crackers
  • Garlic bread or breadsticks
  • Salsa or guacamole
  • Quickbread

55 Ideas For Easy Chicken Tender Sides

Whether you want side dishes for fried chicken tenders or chicken tenderloin side dishes, these nutritious and easy ideas can help bring a spark to your table!

Let us know what you think.

Easy Chicken Tender Sides

Here are 50+ ideas for chicken tender sides that can appeal to kids and adults alike. You no longer need to worry about what to serve with chicken tenders for dinner!

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