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What to Serve With Orange Chicken Besides Rice: 15 Best Side Dishes

Looking to pair your orange chicken with something other than rice? Here are 15 delightful side dishes. Stir-fried vegetable rice offers a vibrant, crunchy twist. Egg noodles absorb the tangy flavors brilliantly. Steamed broccoli adds visual appeal and nutrients. Soy-marinated eggs provide a savory depth. Refresh with a crisp cucumber salad. Explore pickled cabbage for a tangy kick. French fries bring a comforting element, while cauliflower rice is a low-carb option. Spring rolls add a delightful crunch. These sides will transform your meal into a feast. To discover more exciting options, let's uncover the complete list!

Stir-Fried Vegetable Rice

delicious and healthy meal

Stir-Fried Vegetable Rice is a vibrant and nutritious side dish that pairs perfectly with the flavors of orange chicken.

This customizable rice dish features crunchy vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and peas, quickly stir-fried to retain their crispness and nutrients.

It offers a delightful balance of carbs, fiber, and vitamins, making it a healthy and versatile addition to your meal.

Egg Noodles

delicious homemade chicken soup

Egg noodles serve as a popular accompaniment to orange chicken, offering a soft texture and excellent flavor absorption.

Common in Asian cuisine, these noodles can be stir-fried with vegetables and seasonings to create a flavorful, hearty, and comforting side dish.

Their ability to absorb flavors enhances the overall dining experience, making them a versatile and convenient choice for any meal.

Steamed Broccoli

healthy green vegetable choice

Steamed broccoli provides a nutritious and fiber-rich side dish that pairs excellently with the bold flavors of orange chicken. This vibrant green vegetable not only adds visual appeal but also complements the tangy, sweet notes of this classic Chinese cuisine.

Easy to prepare and packed with vitamins C and K, steamed broccoli is a wholesome choice to serve alongside your favorite orange chicken recipes.

Soy-Marinated Eggs

delicious pickled eggs recipe

Enhancing the dining experience with their savory and umami flavors, soy-marinated eggs serve as an exquisite side dish for orange chicken. These hard-boiled eggs are soaked in a rich mixture of soy sauce and mirin through a careful marinating process, bringing an Asian touch to the meal.

Their protein-rich content adds depth, making them a perfect companion to the sweet and tangy orange chicken.

Cucumber Salad

refreshing summer cucumber dish

Complementing the savory soy-marinated eggs, cucumber salad offers an invigorating and crunchy side dish that pairs beautifully with orange chicken.

This revitalizing side brings a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, making it perfect for balancing the boldness of the main dish.

Quick and easy to prepare, cucumber salad is ideal for busy weeknight meals, adding a burst of freshness to your dinner table.

Baby Bok Choy

stir fried with garlic

Baby bok choy, a nutrient-rich Chinese vegetable, offers a delightful and healthy side dish option for pairing with orange chicken. Packed with vitamins A and C, this vegetable provides essential nutrients. Its unique texture adds a satisfying crunch.

When paired with a vegan garlic sauce, baby bok choy enhances the meal's flavor, making it a wholesome and delicious choice.

Hot and Sour Soup

spicy broth with tangy flavors

Hot and Sour Soup is a comforting Chinese staple that offers a perfect blend of tangy and spicy flavors. It enhances any meal, including orange chicken.

This flavorful soup is highly customizable, allowing you to adjust the heat and sourness to your liking. It can be made vegan by using vegetable broth, making it a versatile and hearty option for everyone to enjoy, especially on cold days.

Cooked Lettuce

grilled romaine hearts recipe

Following a bowl of Hot and Sour Soup, another delightful accompaniment to orange chicken is cooked lettuce, a traditional Chinese dish often stir-fried with garlic and oyster sauce.

Adding mushrooms enhances its savory flavor. This unique side dish offers a delicate texture and mild taste, providing a invigorating twist that pairs wonderfully with the bold flavors of orange chicken.

Chinese Coleslaw

flavorful fusion of cultures

Chinese Coleslaw, with its invigorating crunch and tangy dressing, serves as an excellent contrast to the rich and bold flavors of orange chicken. Made with crunchy cabbage and carrots, this side dish is customizable with ingredients like sesame seeds and peanuts.

Its convenience and vibrant colors make it an easy, visually appealing addition to any meal, perfect for enhancing your dining experience.

Stir-Fried Mushrooms

saut ed mushroom medley recipe

Complementing the crisp and tangy Chinese coleslaw, stir-fried mushrooms offer a savory and umami-rich side dish that pairs seamlessly with the bold flavors of orange chicken.

This chicken recipe benefits from the meaty texture and earthy taste of mushrooms, enhanced by garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil.

This easy stir fry adds depth, making it one of the best side dishes for orange chicken.

Milk Bread Rolls

squishy warm freshly baked

Adding a comforting touch to the meal, Milk Bread Rolls are soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet buns that perfectly complement the bold flavors of orange chicken.

A staple in Asian bakery, these rolls are made with the tangzhong method, resulting in a tender texture and longer shelf life.

Ideal for soaking up the savory sauces, they add a delightful, carb-filled element to the dish.

Pickled Cabbage

four word phrase captured accurately

While Milk Bread Rolls offer a soft and sweet counterpart to orange chicken, pickled cabbage introduces a tangy and crunchy element that enhances the overall flavor profile of the meal.

This traditional Chinese side dish is made by fermenting cabbage in vinegar, sugar, and spices. The invigorating, slightly sour kick of pickled cabbage perfectly contrasts the sweetness of orange chicken, creating a balanced and delightful dining experience.

French Fries

fast food side dish

Crispy French fries offer a salty and satisfying contrast to the sweet and savory flavors of orange chicken, making them a popular and versatile side dish.

The crispy texture complements the tender chicken, adding a familiar and comforting element to the meal.

Enjoyed by both kids and adults, French fries can also be baked for a healthier option without sacrificing their delightful crunch.

Cauliflower Rice

healthy rice alternative option

For a lighter and more nutritious alternative to French fries, cauliflower rice pairs wonderfully with the vibrant flavors of orange chicken. This low-carb, keto-friendly side dish is easily prepared by sautéing with oil and seasoning with herbs or spices.

Cauliflower rice not only complements the dish but also adds fiber and vitamins, making it a versatile and nutritious way to include more vegetables.

Is the Same Side Dish Suitable to Serve with Orange Chicken and Pozole Verde?

When deciding on the best side dishes for pozole verde, it’s important to consider the flavors and textures of the main dish. While orange chicken and pozole verde have different flavor profiles, they can both be complemented by the same side dish, such as Mexican street corn or cilantro lime rice.

Spring Rolls

delicious vietnamese appetizer option

Spring rolls provide a delightful contrast to the sweet and tangy flavors of orange chicken, offering a crispy exterior and a fresh, veggie-packed interior. Their satisfying texture complements the meal perfectly.

Enjoy the fresh and crunchy bite of these light and flavorful rolls. Paired with sweet chili sauce, they offer a delicious dipping experience that adds a rejuvenating touch to your dish.