Wondering what to serve with chicken nuggets for adults? Here are a TON of recipe ideas including salads, veggies, and homemade dipping sauces!
Chicken nuggets are a childhood favorite food. They are also an essential staple in our house!
Frozen nuggets are one of my go to easy dinners. We do them at least once a week!
Usually my kids do nuggets + fruit + some kind of crunchy side.
Personally, I love putting chopped nuggets on top of a simple salad. Itโs delicious and filling for lunch or dinner!
Chicken nuggets are a super versatile food and can be can be enjoyed by adults as well as kids.
Here are a few ideas for pairing chicken nuggets with more sophisticated and flavorful sides for an adult palate.
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Free printable side dish planner!
Make sure to download our free printable side dish planner! This checklist gives you ideas for side dishes for your kids every day of the week!
The nutritional content of chicken nuggets
While chicken nuggets arenโt exactly a health food, they do have a high protein content and can be a great part of a balanced diet.
But, chicken nuggets can be high in fat and calories, depending on how they are prepared.
Thatโs why it is important to balance out the nutritional content of chicken nuggets with healthy and flavorful sides, when you can. Nugs + fries for life, just not every day ๐
Flavorful and healthy side dishes to serve with chicken nuggets
There are plenty of healthier side dishes that pair well with chicken nuggets, including:
- roasted vegetables
- salads
- quinoa bowls
Sauces to accompany chicken nuggets
Sauce can also make or break your nuggets. While my kids are on Team Ketchup, I like to mix it up with some โfancierโ or more interesting dipping sauces.
Sauces that pair well with chicken nuggets include:
- BBQ sauce
- honey mustard
- hot sauce
- ranch
- buffalo sauce
- sweet and sour
- garlic parmesan sauce
- teriyaki sauce
- sriracha mayo
- ketchup
Recipes to serve with Chicken Nuggets for adults
Here are some specific recipes to serve with chicken nuggets for adults!
What to serve with chicken nuggets for adults
Here are a ton of recipe ideas for what to serve with chicken nuggets for adults!
Salads
Salads to serve with chicken nuggets
This 5-ingredient carrot salad with chickpeas, raisins, cilantro and almonds, tossed in a citrus ginger vinaigrette is perfect for any time of the year and for any meal.
Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts is a quick and easy salad that is peppery, sweet and satisfying. Arugula is tossed with cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese and finished off with a lemony, olive oil dressing.
This spiralized cucumber salad features a simple soy-sesame vinaigrette. It's an easy and versatile side salad.
Make these easy Romaine wedge salads topped with healthy and delicious toppings and a delicious homemade blue cheese dressing that is also great for dipping!
A simple tomato, mozzarella and basil salad is the perfect side for so many meals!
this is the perfect easy make ahead salad! Packed with vegetables and tossed in an easy sesame ginger dressing, add some chicken nuggets for the perfect balanced lunch!
Craving a Panera Greek Salad? Make it at home using romaine, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta, red onion, and pepperociniโs! This salad takes less then 10 minutes together and can feed 1-4 people.
The Best Avocado Salad with cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, green onion and a delicious cilantro lime dressing. This simple and refreshing salad recipe makes for the perfect side dish to any meal.
This apple coleslaw is crispy and fresh with a hint of sweetness - the perfect compliment to chicken nuggets!
Veggies
Non-salad veggies to serve with chicken nuggets
air fryer green beans with everything but the bagel seasoning makes the perfect crisp but tender vegetable. And itโs done in 5 minutes!
Rapini is broccoli's more sophisticated cousin, so to speak. You may find you love it, even if you dislike normal broccoli!
Sautรฉed broccolini with almonds makes for a healthy side dish that will brighten up any meal. Plus, it only takes few minutes to make!!
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables are bursting with the sweet flavors that happen when you roast vegetables. The rainbow of vegetables are seasoned with oregano, thyme and a squeeze of lemon juice. These are the perfect vegan side dish to pair with grilled meats, add to a rice bowl or a healthy side dish.
These Glazed Rainbow Carrots are super easy and use just 3 ingredients!
This recipe for oven roasting frozen green beans with a sprinkling of parmesan is the perfect side for chicken nuggets for grown ups
these easy frozen sweet potatoes fries in air fryer takes this side dish to the next level. A crispy outside and soft center with half the fat!
Elevate your dinner game with air fryer corn on the cob! This delicious and easy side dish pairs perfectly with chicken nuggets for an adult-friendly meal that's sure to impress.
Learn how to cook carrots on the stove with these sweet and simple glazed carrots! They're sauteed in a mixture of brown sugar and maple syrup to create a sweet and delicious coating.
Summer in a bowl! This Keto Cucumber Salad is light, refreshing, and so EASY to make. It's perfect for meal prep, picnics, cookouts, and potlucks.
Baked Zucchini Fries are a fun, delicious, and much healthier alternative to fried potatoes and a perfect side dish or snack recipe. Super easy to make, thinly sliced zucchini is coated in flour, dipped in egg, and covered in a crunchy panko breadcrumb and parmesan mixture before being baked in the oven until tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
Fries and nuggets go perfectly together, right? Add some nutrition to your dinner with these baked parsnip fries!
Full of flavor, these roasted asparagus and Brussels sprouts are so simple to make as a healthy side dish and have a deliciously zingy maple ginger dressing.
Grains
Grains and grain salads to serve with chicken nuggets
This apple quinoa salad combines fresh fruit and vegetables for a tasty side for your chicken nuggets! Easy to make, it's healthy, full of flavor and comes together in less than 30 minutes.
This quick and easy herb salad is full of flavor and only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Use pre-cooked lentils for a quick and easy shortcut.
This Quinoa Salad with Greens is packed with healthy goodness like zucchini, cucumbers, greens, and almonds. You will love how easy it is to make!
This Mediterranean rice salad with cannellini beans, fresh herbs and feta cheese is a delicious and healthy accompaniment to any dish.
These buckwheat bowls are loaded with nutritious buckwheat and healthy veggies to balance out the chicken nuggets for a complete meal!
Quinoa chickpea salad is a great side dish for any meal. It also makes a great salad topper as a protein on its own.
Brown rice and quinoa is a healthy, delicious, and versatile side dish! It's easy to make with a fluffy texture and nutty flavor. Quinoa is a rich source of plant-based protein and fiber.
Homemade dips
Homemade dips + sauces to pair with chicken nuggets
The perfect dip to spice up chicken nuggets, this creamy curry dressing blends warm spices in a sweet and savory dip or dressing!
Take your salad and veggie dip game up a notch with this Creamy Feta Dressing. With just a few simple ingredients, this tangy homemade dressing is healthier and tastier than anything you can buy in a bottle.
This Homemade Thai Sweet Chili Sauce has so much flavor with red chilis, garlic and ginger. An exotic sauce that's sweet and spicy, a perfect dipping sauce for chicken nuggets!
Bang bang sauce takes about one minute to whip up, and is perfect to use as a shrimp sauce, for chicken tenders, and even on vegetables!
Dip your chicken nuggets into this savory, delicious homemade BBQ sauce. It is made completely from scratch and ready in less than 20 minutes!
This avocado lime ranch dressing made with buttermilk, avocado, fresh cilantro, spices, and lime is a zesty salad dressing or dip for chicken nuggets.
Once you try this sauce, you might be spooning it over grilled chicken, pork, and beef. Drizzle it over cooked vegetables. My daughter loves using this as a dipping sauce for French fries.
Pesto mayo is a condiment game changer. All you need is 7 common ingredients and a few minutes of time to make this super creamy flavor bomb.
Russian Sauce is a classic sauce that is made up of condiments and spices youโll find in your refrigerator and pantry. You can make this homemade sauce in minutes using a food processor or blender.
Honey Garlic Butter Sauce is so easy to make and delicious with chicken. Amp up the flavor.
What do you like to serve with chicken nuggets?
Thanks for reading!
Hey there, Iโm Morgan, the creative mind behind CelebratingWithKids.com! As a parent of two lively little ones, Iโve made it my mission to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures, sharing playful activities, thoughtful toy reviews, and delightful printables to help families celebrate every moment together. ๐๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ๐