Satay chicken is rich, creamy and packed with flavour, so it pairs perfectly with fresh salads, crunchy sides, noodles, rice dishes and quick veggie plates. Whether you’re making satay skewers, satay curry, grilled chicken or a quick stir-fry, these are my favourite sides to throw on the table.
1. Steamed Jasmine Rice
This is the most obvious one, but sometimes the simple stuff is simply the best. A bowl of fluffy jasmine rice soaks up that satay sauce perfectly. Honestly, sometimes this is all you need.
2. Satay Sauce
If you want a quick homemade satay sauce for skewers, rice bowls or grilled chicken, this one is honestly hard to beat. The satay sauce recipe is tucked inside my grilled satay chicken recipe. It’s creamy, nutty, packed with flavour and comes together in about 10 minutes. So much better than the bottled stuff.
3. Coconut Rice
Coconut rice and satay chicken is one of those combinations that just work. The creamy rice soaks up all that sauce and balances out the salty, nutty flavours perfectly. Perfect for when your feel like something a little more special.
4. Quick Pickled Cucumber Salad
Something fresh on the side balances satay chicken perfectly, and these quick pickled cucumbers do exactly that. They’re crunchy, tangy, lightly spicy and cut through the rich peanut sauce beautifully.
5. Spring Rolls
These crispy Vietnamese spring rolls make a great side dish if you want to add something crunchy alongside a satay chicken stir-fry or satay curry. But honestly, store-bought spring rolls chucked in the air fryer work just as well.
6. Steamed Asian Greens
Steamed Asian greens are one of the easiest sides to throw together with satay chicken, especially when you want something fresh to balance out the rich sauce. I usually steam whatever greens are in the fridge, then toss them with a little soy sauce, sesame oil and crispy garlic from a jar. Simple, quick and honestly better than takeaway veggies.
7. Garlic Butter Rice
Garlic butter rice goes ridiculously well with satay chicken. It’s buttery, fluffy and soaks up every last bit of sauce on the plate. If you’re feeding kids or picky eaters, this one is usually a guaranteed win.
8. Prawn Crackers
Prawn crackers always disappear fast in our house. Grab a box of uncooked prawn crackers from the supermarket, then quickly deep fry or shallow fry them in a little oil until they puff up and go crunchy. Perfect for scooping up satay curry, extra sauce and rice. The kids go absolutely feral for them, as do the adults.
9. Vietnamese Salad
This Vietnamese style salad is fresh, crunchy and loaded with herbs, which makes it perfect alongside rich satay chicken. When I’m serving it with satay though, I simply leave the shredded chicken out of the salad and serve it as a fresh, crunchy side instead. It’s bloody delicious!
10. Garlic Green Beans
Garlic green beans are quick, simple and go with pretty much every type of satay chicken. I usually fry off a heap of garlic first, toss the beans through until they’re still a little crunchy, then finish everything with a splash of soy. So good with all that rich satay sauce on the plate.
11. Crispy Rice Salad
This is my take on the viral Crispy Rice Salad and honestly, it’s ridiculously good with satay skewers or grilled satay chicken. The crispy golden rice, fresh herbs and punchy dressing work perfectly with rich satay flavours. Perfect for chucking in the middle of the table.
12. Smashed Cucumber Salad
Smashed cucumber salad is cold, crunchy and dangerously addictive with satay chicken. I usually smash Lebanese cucumbers with the side of a knife, toss them with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and a little chilli crisp oil, then throw them straight on the table topped with sesame seeds. It looks messy in the best possible way.
13. Soy Sauce Noodles
These 15 Minute Soy Sauce Noodles are quick, cheap and so delicious with satay chicken. The salty noodles with all those rich satay flavours just work. I love serving them with satay skewers or satay chicken wings when I want something other than rice. Great for sharing!
14. Edamame
Edamame is quick, easy and such a great side with satay chicken. You can boil the pods for a few minutes and sprinkle them with sea salt or a splash of soy sauce, or throw peeled edamame straight into satay chicken rice bowls with extra veggies. Healthy, filling and barely any effort. Win Win!
15. Dumplings
Dumplings always make satay chicken feel like a full fakeaway feast at home. My homemade chicken dumplings are perfect with satay stir fries, while the pork and prawn wontons work so well alongside grilled satay chicken or satay rice bowls. Honestly, dumplings on the table never disappoint.
16. Charred Broccolini
Charred broccolini is one of my favourite easy sides. I usually fry or grill it until the edges go a little smoky and crispy, then finish it with a splash of soy sauce and sesame seeds. So simple but makes the whole plate feel a bit fancy. Great with grilled satay or satay curry.
17. Classic Satay Salad
Sometimes the best side is the simplest one. I love serving satay chicken with sliced cucumber, chunky diced red onion, fresh coriander and red chilli scattered over the top. It’s fresh, it’s crunchy and it’s perfect for balancing out all those rich satay flavours.
18. Easy Fried Rice
This budget veggie fried rice is such a good one for the kids. It’s quick, cheap, easy to throw together and made with simple ingredients like frozen vegetables, rice and egg. Perfect alongside satay chicken when you need an easy dinner everyone will actually eat!
19. Lettuce Cups with Vermicelli Noodles
Lettuce cups with vermicelli noodles are fresh, crunchy and so good with satay chicken skewers. I usually fill crisp lettuce leaves with vermicelli noodles, cucumber, herbs and satay skewers or any leftover satay chicken, whether it’s curry, stir-fry or grilled chicken, for an easy DIY dinner situation. Messy hands guaranteed.
20. Flatbreads
These easy 4 ingredient flatbreads are so handy to have with satay chicken. Use them to scoop up satay curry, stuff them with leftover satay chicken for lunch wraps or turn everything into cheesy satay quesadillas the next day. Soft, warm and dangerously easy to keep eating.
From rice and noodles to crunchy salads and easy veggie sides, these are the satay chicken combos I keep coming back to. If you’ve got a favourite side I missed, let me know in the comments. I’m always looking for new satay dinner ideas.
Kate x
Leave a Reply