What To Serve With Kung Pao Chicken: 10 BEST Sides!
When it comes to big and bold Chinese takeaway style flavours, you can’t beat kung pao chicken!
This slightly spicy stir fry dish is the perfect combination of sweet and salty, and perfect for making at home for a hungry family.
But what are the best side dishes for kung pao chicken?
We’re going to take a look at the most delicious choices…
What to serve with kung pao chicken
1. Pineapple fried rice
Kung pao is a fairly spicy dish, thanks to the liberal use of ingredients such as ginger, garlic, and peppercorns.
It also has brightness and vibrancy from the addition of rice wine vinegar.
A great way to balance out all these big and bold flavours it to serve your meal with pineapple fried rice.
It makes for an interesting upgrade from your usual boiled or steamed rice, and it’s also pretty easy to make.
It also looks fantastic on the table!
Earn some extra points for presentation by slicing your pineapple in half, hollowing out the flesh, and using it as a serving bowl for your rice.
2. Chinese homemade noodles
If you’re not a big rice fan, or you just fancy a change from your usual side dishes, you might want to try making some noodles instead! It only requires a small handful of ingredients, and there’s nothing quite like sitting down and slurping up a bowlful of delicious noodles that you’ve made yourself!
This recipe for Chinese homemade noodles is easy to follow, and you’ll need a mixer or a bit of good old fashioned elbow grease to pull everything together.
If you’re running short on time, you could alternatively pick up some ready made noodles from the supermarket.
Serve boiled, or pan fry in a wok with some extra veggies, if you like.
3. Spicy enoki mushrooms with garlic
This side dish for kung pao chicken is a great way to get in an extra portion of veggies, whilst ensuring that you’re keeping things interesting!
Enoki mushrooms are long, thin mushrooms with a mild flavour and crunchy texture, and they’re most commonly used in Japanese and Chinese cuisines.
If you’re a lover of ramen, you’ve probably come across these mushrooms before as they’re a popular topping.
These spicy enoki mushrooms with garlic require just 9 ingredients and a few simple and straightforward steps, and they’re unusual enough to be served as a talking point at a dinner party.
4. Salt and pepper chips
Salt and pepper chips may not be an authentic Chinese side dish, but they’re wildly popular in British Chinese restaurants and takeaways, and they’re absolutely delicious!
They make for a fantastic side dish for kung pao chicken.
Use this recipe for salt and pepper chips, which has added onion for extra crunch, chillis for a kick of heat, and the fragrant flavour of Chinese five spice.
Best of all, you’re going to use frozen oven chips, so you don’t even have to think about peeling and chopping your spuds.
I love kitchen hacks like this for making life easier, and your dinner guests will only know about them if you decide to share your secrets!
5. Asian greens
If you’re anything like me, you’ll always be looking for tasty ways to encourage your family to eat more green veggies.
Asian greens tick all the boxes when you’re wondering what to serve with kung pao greens, and they’re super simple to prepare.
I like to choose vegetables such as pak choi, spinach, and green beans, and toss them in a wok with plenty of garlic, chilli, and soy sauce.
Make sure that you don’t overcook them, so they retain a satisfying crunch.
6. Crispy crab rangoon
Crab rangoon are also known as crab puffs, and they’re popular in American Chinese restaurants and takeaways.
They may not be the most authentic of choices, but they are totally delicious, and they’re an ideal accompaniment when you’re trying to recreate the takeaway experience from the comfort of your own home.
They’re stuffed with cream cheese and crab meat, and they’re typically served with some sweet chilli dipping sauce on the side.
Don’t worry about making your own pastry, because you can pick up super handy ready made wonton wrappers at your local Asian supermarket!
Cooking takeaway style food doesn’t have to be daunting, and if you want to serve up a banquet style meal, it just makes sense to have a few shortcuts in your kitchen toolkit.
(Be sure to also take a look at what to serve with wonton soup).
7. Cantonese stuffed spring rolls
Spring rolls definitely deserve a mention when it comes to what to serve with kung pao chicken!
They’re crispy, moreish, and can be enjoyed either as a starter or as an accompaniment to your main courses.
This recipe for homemade spring rolls is the best one I’ve ever found, and it’ll help you to make them just like dim sum restaurants.
You’ll be seriously impressed at the results, and you’ll definitely want to make them time and time again!
They’re so much better than any ready prepared version that you’ll find in your local supermarket.
They’re authentic, and what I really love most about them is their texture.
The crunchy wrapper, the fresh beansprouts, and the soft mushrooms all come together to create a party in the mouth!
(By the way, if you love Chinese takeaway inspired meals, you’ll love side dishes for scallion pancakes too).
8. Sesame prawn toast
Prawn toast is a side dish with origins in Hong Kong, and it’s popular as a starter or accompaniment for Western Chinese cuisine. It’s made from bitesized triangles of bread, spread with a paste made from minced prawns, coated in sesame seeds, and deep fried until crunchy and golden brown.
Though prawn toast will rarely appear on the menu in more authentic Chinese restaurants, it’s a tasty side dish that’s always enjoyable when served alongside some dipping sauce.
For more ideas to add to the table, visit my guide to what to serve with prawn toast.
9. Prawn crackers
I always keep a packet of readymade prawn crackers in my kitchen cupboard, and they’re a super quick way to offer up an appetiser or side dish for any Asian meal that you might have on your meal plan!
Just add them to a serving bowl with your favourite dips – sweet chilli sauce is always a good idea – and you’ve got one of the easiest sides that you’ll ever make.
If you have a little more time available and fancy learning a new skill, you could try making your own prawn crackers from scratch.
10. Flakey scallion pancakes
Chinese scallion pancakes are a dim sum favourite, and they have a crispy, flaky exterior and a delicious, slightly chewy interior.
They might seem a little daunting to make at first glance, but they’re worth the effort and you can’t go too far wrong if you carefully follow the step by step process.
If you’re having friends or family over and you’re aiming for an authentic restaurant style dinner, these are just the ticket and they’re sure to impress your guests.
The best side dishes for kung pao chicken
Next time you’re cooking kung pao chicken, try these sides:
- Pineapple fried rice
- Homemade Chinese noodles
- Spicy enoki mushrooms with garlic
- Salt and pepper chips
- Asian greens
- Crab rangoon
- Cantonese spring rolls
- Sesame prawn toast
- Prawn crackers
- Flakey scallion pancakes
Which of these side dishes will you be trying?
If you love cooking chicken based dinners, dive over to some more inspiration for this week’s meals with sides for chicken parmesan.
