Healthy Sides for a Complete Rotisserie Chicken Dinner

Though it’s occasionally overlooked, rotisserie chicken offers a range of benefits in the kitchen. It makes for a quick and easy dinner for when you don’t feel like getting out all the pots and pans, and it’s universally enjoyed.

It’s also quite healthy! These little birds contains an impressive amount of protein per serving – packing in 23g of protein per 100 grams.

We’re talking lean protein as well when you consider most of the meat is white meat. 

 

The recommended daily protein intake varies from person to person, but a serving of rotisserie chicken is definitely going to up your intake.

That means, you can look for side dishes that help round out your meal’s nutrition: thinking moderate starches such as whole grains, lots of veggies and even some fresh fruit.

Like all meals, “plain ol'” chicken can get bland if you have the same meal for many nights in a row. That’s why we recommend experimenting with adding different healthy Rotisserie Chicken sides.

Healthy Sides For Rotisserie Chicken: Keep It Interesting

Not only do these sides pack in more nutrition, but they also help keep the meal exciting and enjoyable. These following healthy sides will add variety to your dinner and complete a well-balanced meal.

1. Avocados

Known to have great health benefits, avocados have become a staple in many people’s diets. As they’re a unique and versatile fruit, they’re also easy to incorporate into your diet.

Avocados make an excellent side dish as they’re nutritious, tasty, and pack in a heap of health advantages even at a low quantity. A single serving of avocado is high in Vitamin K, Vitamin C, fiber, and also contains more potassium than one banana.

On top of that, avocado is also a food that’s high in monounsaturated fats, and the majority of that fat is oleic acid. Oleic acid is often linked to reducing inflammation and has even been shown to have effects on cancer genes.

Various accredited studies have shown that avocados can also reduce cholesterol levels.

2. Steamed Asparagus and Broccoli

Despite being low in calories, asparagus and broccoli make for a great side dish as they’re nutritious and add some extra flavor to your meal. This side dish also allows you to add more green vegetables to your diet.

Looking at broccoli alone, one cup of the vegetable provides a heaping amount of Vitamin K and Vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential for repairing damaged muscle tissue and it’s also important for the production of specific neurotransmitters.

Both broccoli and asparagus are excellent sources of antioxidants which work to protect cells from oxidative stress. This oxidative stress can contribute to aging but it can also increase the risk of suffering from various diseases.

3. A Super Greens Smoothie

Are you looking for an easy way to pack in more nutrition, but don’t feel like adding any more food to your plate?

Having a smoothie alongside your dinner is a great way to provide your body with more sustenance and it’s a different way of keeping the meal interesting.

But you need to make sure that you’re having a smoothie that is healthy and nutritious, rather than one packed full of sugar.

A scoop of Naked Nutrition’s greens powder will allow you to meet your daily recommended amount of green vegetables. It will also provide additional health benefits, such as immune system support, stress reduction, better gut health and potentially a lower risk of diseases.

4. Roasted Sweet Potato

Compared to other vegetables, sweet potatoes are sometimes overlooked. Sweet potatoes offer quite a few health benefits and they also make for a great side dish to a variety of meals – rotisserie chicken dinner included.

One cup of baked sweet potato offers an impressive amount of nutrition, as well as being rich in antioxidants. Sweet potatoes also promote gut health, as they contain both soluble and insoluble fiber which work to improve the health of the digestive tract.

The sweet potato also offers two more major benefits, which are that it may improve brain function and also may improve the immune system.

One study has shown that purple sweet potatoes can protect the brain by reducing inflammation. Likewise, the high levels of Vitamin A in the vegetable can support the immune system.

5. Vegetables Stir-Fried in Avocado Oil

Feel like adding a stir-fry side dish to your meal? Try switching from typical vegetable oil to avocado oil when you fry the vegetables. Avocado oil is an ideal option for stir-fry as it has a high smoking point so it can withstand temperatures above 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

The majority of avocado oil is made up of oleic acid, which is a healthy fat. These types of healthy fats have numerous health benefits, including reduced cholesterol and lowered blood pressure.

Avocado oil can also help your body absorb certain nutrients, including carotenoid antioxidants which are found in foods such as spinach and carrots. The oil itself is high in lutein, which is an antioxidant that can improve eye health.

6. Salad with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

For a lot of people, their go-to side dish is a serving of salad with some salad dressing. While salad does make for a good addition to most meals, there are some extras that you can add to make it even healthier.

Certain salad dressings are promoted as healthy, but they’re really the opposite as they are then found to be packed full of sugar and saturated fat. Instead of buying a special bottled salad dressing, try adding some olive oil and balsamic vinegar to your salad.

Olive oil is full of healthy fats, antioxidants, and it can also reduce the risk of heart disease as it improves the lining of blood vessels and protects cholesterol from oxidation. Balsamic vinegar can help to improve your skin, aid with blood circulation, and can also lower cholesterol.

7. Roasted Carrots with Sea Salt, Olive Oil, and Oregano

Carrots have quite a known reputation of being one of the most nutritious vegetables available. They’re versatile, easy to incorporate into a variety of meals and have also been linked to several health benefits.

Despite being low in calories, carrots are a source of multiple vitamins, including Vitamin A which supports development and immune system function. It also contains Vitamin K1 which can promote both blood and bone health.

As carrots contain carotenoids, they also may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Roast a few carrots for a side dish and add some sea salt, olive oil, and oregano for some added health advantages.

8. Brussel Sprouts Sauteed with Balsamic Vinegar

Another good vegetable to have as a side dish can be Brussel sprouts, which, like carrots, are also high in Vitamin K. They also contain a high level of Vitamin C which helps with immune function.

Along with being high in antioxidants, Brussel sprouts could also potentially protect the body against certain cancers, as they can prevent damage from cancer-causing agents. Another benefit of these vegetables is that they can keep blood sugar levels in a healthy range. The fiber works to slow the rate at which sugar is absorbed into the blood.

Add some balsamic vinegar to a serving of Brussel sprouts to gain further health benefits, including digestion and hypertension support.

9. Quinoa Salad

If you don’t feel like adding vegetables to your plate, try adding a side dish of quinoa salad instead. Quinoa is fairly high in protein and it also contains all nine essential amino acids that your body cannot naturally produce, making it a complete protein.

Along with vitamins and minerals, quinoa also contains two important flavonoids. These flavonoids are shown to have anti-cancer and anti-depressant effects, and they can protect against viral infections.

There are studies that state that quinoa may have metabolic health benefits, like reducing blood sugar better than other gluten-free alternatives.

10. Berry Salad

Another alternative yet refreshing rotisserie chicken side dish option is a berry salad. Berries alone are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, so adding them to your meal is only going to provide even more nutrition.

Blueberries and raspberries are two fruits that have some of the highest levels of antioxidants, which are going to work to protect cells and reduce risk of diseases. Strawberries are especially high in Vitamin C and they’ve also been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

Grab some strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries to make an easy and quick berry salad, which will add even more flavor to your meal.

11. Whole Grain Brown Rice

Finally, if you want to stick with a traditional and easy side dish, you can always add a helping of whole grain brown rice to your dinner. Brown rich is generally healthier than white rice as it’s less processed and it provides more nutrition.

One of the notable benefits of whole grain brown rice is that it’s very high in manganese, which is vital for various body functions. Not consuming enough manganese heightens the risk of suffering from bone demineralization and impaired growth.

It’s also a heart healthy food as it contains compounds known as lignans, which have been linked with improving the artery health and maintaining blood pressure levels.

Final Thoughts

All in all, rotisserie chicken and its sides make for a great dinner option as it’s easy, quick, and healthy.

To keep the meal interesting, try experimenting with flavor by trying out the side dish options that we’ve recommended in this article to discover your favorites.

Remember, leftover rotisserie chicken tastes great in a hearty chicken salad, giving you more healthy miles on this meal.