What to Serve with Peri Peri Chicken? 7 BEST Side Dishes

It’s called by different names, but its flavors never disappoint those who taste it.

Yes, we’re talking about peri peri, piri piri or peli peli chicken, a traditional Portuguese dish.

Grilled, charred and dipped in peri peri sauce (made of African Bird’s Eye Chili), the chicken dish is juicy with a smoky flavor.

It’s a wholesome dish that provides a great taste, and you can eat it alone.

However, you can eat the food along with other items too.

Hence, a thought immediately comes to mind; what to serve with peri peri chicken.

Don’t worry; we have it covered; carry on reading to find out what you serve with the chicken dish.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Peri Peri Chicken?

While meat dishes are yummy, they tend to be heavy and make you feel overloaded.

But with side dishes, your meal can become lighter and not overwhelm you.

It can also provide you with new and different flavors.

Your guests will also enjoy the meal with some extra dishes around.

You also get to cook new dishes which you may not have had the chance to make before.

What to Serve with Peri Peri Chicken? 7 BEST Side Dishes

1 – Mixed Veggie Salad with Lemon Juice

A bowl of salad can change the feel of a meal all of a sudden.

So why not add a vegetable salad as a side with peri peri chicken.

A veggie salad is pretty versatile, and it clicks with the chicken.

It brings about a fresh and crunchy texture and balances the flavors.

There are plenty of vegetables to choose from.

You can make the salad with two-three veggies or if you have, add as many as you like.

You need to keep two vital aspects in mind, though.

Firstly, use contrasting flavors and textures and secondly, use the freshest ingredients possible.

2 – Spicy Fried Rice

Rice is another item that you can serve with peri peri chicken.

It’s versatile, filling but not overwhelming, and it works nicely with the chicken.

Spicy fried rice is also pretty simple to make, and you can also get ready-made stuff quickly.

Long-grain white rice is the first choice to make spicy fried rice, but other varieties like brown rice also work.

If you’re going to make the dish at home, cook the rice one day ahead.

Make a large batch if you are going to serve the food to many people.

3 – Creamy Coleslaw

A veggie dish can never go wrong with meat, and so you can serve creamy coleslaw with peri peri chicken.

A fresh item like creamy coleslaw pairs well with peri peri chicken and blends the flavors nicely.

Coleslaw is also pretty simple to make at home, and you can also buy a readymade version.

But lighter versions as they will be lower in calories.

If you decide to make it at home, use natural yogurt, sour cream or crème fraîche instead of mayonnaise for a healthier version.

4 – Homemade Fries

Potato dishes often work great as sides with most items.

Hence, you can add homemade fries as a side with the chicken.

Fries are pretty simple to make, and potatoes are available all year round and relatively cheap.

Potato fries also taste amazing with peri peri chicken.

Even though the fries are so yummy, you don’t require too many items to make them.

What’s more, everyone loves fries so they will be a good side dish to serve during a party.

Make them just with some oil, pepper and salt, or you can also add some herbs and chili flakes to make the potatoes spicier.

Add some dip, and they’re good to go with the chicken.

5 – Baked Sweet Potatoes

Yes, it’s another potato option but the sweet variety.

You can add it as a side with peri peri chicken if you have the sweet spuds.

Sweet potatoes are incredibly delicious, and they complement the chicken dish too.

You get sweetness, and the flavors blend so well with the richness of the chicken.

You can also make baked potatoes using various ingredients, including meat.

You can stuff leftover salad, a thick beef stew, mac and cheese, BBQ chicken, spicy garlic and chickpeas and much more.

No matter whichever version you use, it will taste wonderful.

If you’re not in the mood for filling, simply bake the potatoes, and they will taste equally delicious.

6 – Copycat Macho Peas

Since the main dish is meat, you can have any number of veggie side dishes and the meal will still be fantastic.

Add a plate of copycat macho peas as a side with peri peri chicken and enjoy the various flavors.

It’s yummy but easy to make, and you can do it with only some items too.

Cook the peas, add butter, fresh mint and chopped green or red peppers.

Mix them well and behold, you have a nice side to go with the chicken.

Peas are also pretty healthy as they are a good source of vitamins C and E, minerals and antioxidants.

So, you get the goodness and wonderful flavors at the same time.

7 – Corn on the Cob

It’s the last item on the list and also one of our favorites.

Corn on the cob is pretty tasty, and it teams up nicely with peri peri chicken.

It’s also one of the easiest dishes to make but yummy all the same.

It’s also readily available and a healthy option as it’s gluten-free and rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants.

Just add butter, salt, garlic and your favorite herbs and bake at 180 degrees Fahrenheit for about thirty-five minutes.

Next, put the corn on the grill till turn it from side to side till it gets some char.

Conclusion

If you’re planning to make peri-peri chicken soon, you also have several side dishes to choose from.

Whether you want to cook it for your family or guests at a party, you won’t have to panic.

Make one or several items and watch everyone have a great time eating the dishes.

You can also create your versions by adding some ingredients and omitting others.

Besides these, you will also find several items to serve with the yummy chicken.