What to Serve with Hawaiian Chicken? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Hawaiian chicken’s got that fab mix of sweet and savory that pops.

Now, picturing the perfect sidekick for such a dish might seem like a bit of a head-scratcher at first.

No sweat! The goal here is to round out your meal, make every bite scream “aloha,” and have everyone at the table asking for seconds.

Each of these seven sides brings something special to the party – think textures, flavors, and colors that complement without overpowering.

Grab your fork; it’s time to dig into combinations that’ll turn your Hawaiian chicken dinner into a mini tropical getaway.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Hawaiian Chicken?

There are two general reasons, wherefore you need to find a side dish for Hawaiian chicken.

Trying to impress someone? You need more than just meat.

Your guests will wait for something else that goes with the chicken.

It can be anything – from salads to classic potatoes, you just need something to go on the side.

Even if you only cook for yourself, eating meat alone will not give you the best experience – unsavory whatsoever.

You could feel nauseous after a few bites, hence the necessity of something next to it.

What to Serve with Hawaiian Chicken? 7 BEST Side Dishes

Here are a few side dishes to consider for your Hawaiian chicken.

1. Hawaiian Fried Rice

If you go to Hawaii, you will notice that Hawaiian chicken is most commonly served with rice.

This recipe follows the same trend, but it is slightly enhanced with different veggies.

Fried rice annihilates some of the nauseous profile of plain chicken.

It will allow you to eat more, without feeling bad.

The recipe is savory, and the veggies add a bit of crunch, which works great with the tender chicken.

Come up with a big bowl of rice in the middle, so your guests can serve themselves.

2. Hawaiian Baked Beans

This is a fulfilling side dish that brings in a mix of flavors and tastes.

The combo is excellent because your guests will feel full after one meal only.

Then, it does not even take too long to prepare.

In terms of texture, it is soft and will blend around the chicken in your mouth.

When it comes to the actual taste, the hearty aromas of baked beans will match the chicken.

At the same time, both dishes will have a slightly sweet flavor.

Keep in mind that baked beans can be enhanced with extras for a more enjoyable experience – pineapple, ham steak, onions, and so on.

3. Cauliflower Fried Rice

This is another common recipe in Hawaii and will work well with your Hawaiian chicken.

In fact, pretty much any type of rice will work with chicken, yet different recipes bring in different taste combos.

The cauliflower will surprise your taste buds with its mild, yet consistent taste.

It works with both salty and sweet dishes.

The cauliflower complements the chicken without overcoming it in flavor, but it will also offer great support.

After all, Hawaiian chicken is quite heavy, while the cauliflower fried rice will feel light.

All in all, the dish is simple to prepare and likely to impress.

4. Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

There are more varieties for this recipe, but one of them stands out in the crowd – the Hawaiian one.

First of all, you get to retain the sweet profile of the dish – while meaty and savory, the combo will still have a sweet aroma.

The stuffing can be a mix of salty and sweet stuff – for instance, you can use bacon, cheese, and pineapple.

Spices make the difference though.

Pineapple is crunchy, while cheese will go over the combo a creamy profile that works wonders with the tender sweet chicken.

It may seem an unusual combo, but it will impress your guests.

5. Creamy Spaghetti Squash

This side dish is also unusual and will definitely add to your guests’ experience, especially if they are not used to Hawaiian cuisine.

It is quite common in Hawaii, though, and just like other side dishes for the Hawaiian chicken, it mixes salty and sweet flavors in a unique way.

Your taste buds will take a few bites to get used to this feature, but they will love it.

The dish is hearty and has a meaty profile due to the small bits of bacon.

But on the same note, the texture is similar to what you get from the chicken.

6. Soft Hawaiian Asparagus

Meat and veggies work great together. You have the heavy meat, as well as light veggies that also add a bit of color.

Asparagus is a top choice – this recipe takes less than half an hour to prepare and it will easily complement the chicken.

While it may have a strong flavor, it will not overcome the chicken.

The asparagus is soft, but the bacon bits will make the side dish feel crispy – great for some contrast.

Plus, it adds a bit of color to your meal.

7. Garlic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

You just cannot go wrong with this dish if you are trying to impress.

However, it is a bit heavy – just like the chicken.

The recipe is quite simple – it will probably take about an hour.

You have to focus on garlicky scalloped potatoes, as well as lots of cheese on top.

The cheese will make the whole side dish feel soft, so there will be no texture contrasts.

Flavors mix in perfectly, though, while garlic will feel great with the sweet Hawaiian chicken.

The final result is hearty and savory, but also fulfilling.

Conclusion

Bottom line, you do have options when not sure what to serve with Hawaiian chicken.

Most of the above-mentioned dishes are common in Hawaiian cuisine – after all, two dishes from the same cuisine just cannot go wrong.

On the same note, you can also bring in side dishes from other cuisines – just make sure they can work with the sweet Hawaiian chicken.

No matter what you are after, the Hawaiian chicken must have the main role on the table.