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What to Serve with Tandoori Chicken (24 Complementary Sides)

At a loss for what to serve with tandoori chicken? Here are 24 side dishes that go so well with it. They allow your star dish to remain centre-stage and do not steal the show. Choose from a wide variety of easy recipes featuring rice, vegetables, cottage cheese, potatoes and savory dips.

Side dishes for tandoori chicken. Clockwise: hariyali paneer tikka, stuffed capsicum, cilantro chutney, lemon rice.

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Tandoori Chicken

Ah, tandoori chicken! Fat, juicy chicken drumsticks with the rich fragrance and color of Indian spices. Fall-off-the-bone, tender meat. And a deep smoky flavor to die for. Tandoori chicken is the Indian answer to the best barbecued chicken, and while it is impressive enough on its own, sometimes you need a few sides to round off your meal.

All the sides mentioned below have been carefully selected so that they won't overpower your main dish. Most but one are vegetarian to balance out your menu. And they all taste scrumptious with tandoori chicken!

Tandoori chicken legs in a platter with cilantro chutney in a small bowl and lemon wedges.
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Rice dishes

Let's start with rice. There's just something about pairing chicken with rice that's so appealing. They go so well together and make for a complete and filling meal. Think forkfuls of a light but flavorful vegetarian pulao, for instance.

I've got LOTS of pulao recipes that look so good with tandoori chicken. Browse through them to find the one that catches your eye. They will all rock your game with tandoori chicken!

Lemon Rice
Lemon rice is a beautiful, sunshine-yellow dish with anti-inflammatory turmeric and the crunch of roasted peanuts and lentils. It is easy and light with citrus flavors.
This breezy, lemony rice is perfect as a side for your tandoori chicken.
Check out this recipe
lemon rice on a plate
Kabuli Chana Pulao (Chickpea Pilaf)
Chickpeas are extremely versatile and when added to rice in a pulao, they taste so good! I love the nutty, earthy taste of chickpeas and what better way to cook them than with good quality Basmati rice and a few spices and aromatics?
This chickpea pulao is my go-to recipe when I want a seriously quick and painless side for meat-based dishes.
Check out this recipe
chana pulao with raita in plate
Kashmiri Fruit Pulao
This Kashmiri pulao recipe is a superb rice dish from Northern India that you will love. Long grain Basmati rice is cooked in ghee, whole spices, saffron, and milk and mixed with fried onions, dried and fresh fruit.
The sweetness of the fruit laden rice makes for a pleasant, refreshing side that contrasts beautifully with the bold and spicy flavors of tandoori chicken.
Check out this recipe
Kashmiri Pulao in plate
Mushroom Pulao
I love the earthy flavor of mushrooms, and when you cook them with rice to make a moist and fragrant pulao? Mmm... Top with fried onions, cilantro, and sautéed mushrooms to make it even better.
So perfect when served as an accompaniment to tandoori chicken.
Check out this recipe
mushroom pulao in a plate
Peas Pulao
Peas pulao or matar pulao is white basmati rice cooked with sweet garden peas, ginger and whole spices. The beauty of this rice dish lies in its simplicity.
It's easy to make and goes so well with any chicken recipe. Totally works as a light side for tandoori chicken.
Check out this recipe
Matar pulao in a plate with a dollop of raita on top.
Vegetable Pulao
A fragrant and satisfying rice dish that is made for busy weeknights. Basmati rice, the mixed vegetables of your choice, and a few whole spices come together in this one-pot pulao that will be a sure hit at the dinner table!
Tandoori chicken tastes doubly good with forkfuls of this fluffy vegetable pulao!
Check out this recipe
vegetable pulao in a bowl
Saffron Rice
Saffron Rice makes a great side dish for tandoori chicken. The warmth and color of saffron is unbeatable and when this spice is added to rice, it makes for a beautiful and tasty pulao that is a perfect match for chicken.
Check out this recipe
saffron rice in a bowl

Vegetables

There's no limit when it comes to vegetable side dishes for tandoori chicken. Here are a few tried and tested favorites that you can serve alongside your hero.

Air Fryer Cauliflower Steaks
With its wonderful texture and naturally nutty flavor, cauliflower is hands down our most favorite vegetable.
Crispy air fryer cauliflower steaks with anti-inflammatory turmeric are a fun and effortless side for your chicken. With slightly charred outer edges and tender insides, these steaks are low-carb, gluten-free, and vegan. SO easy to make and ready in less than 20 minutes!
Check out this recipe
Cauliflower steaks in a plate with a fork and knife on the side.
Stuffed Green Bell Peppers
Small green bell peppers or capsicum are stuffed with a spicy potato filling and baked in the oven. These mini stuffed peppers make for a delicious side with most chicken recipes.
Potato stuffed peppers served alongside tandoori chicken legs will create quite a flavor explosion!
Check out this recipe
bharwa shimla mirch on a wooden block
Cauliflower Manchurian
A slightly spicy, restaurant style Indian appetizer with vibrant flavors. Cauliflower florets are steamed, battered and fried until perfectly crisp, and finally coated in a sweet and sour sauce. 
You can serve it solo or over a bed of rice or noodles. Tastes heavenly when paired with tandoori chicken.
Check out this recipe
cauliflower manchurian over a bed of spaghetti
Vegetable Spring Rolls
An easy Indian vegetable spring rolls recipe with a delicious filling of cabbage, carrot and spring onion greens. Crispy and golden on the outside and bursting with flavor at first bite!
Can be made ahead and frozen ahead of time.
Check out this recipe
Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Instant Pot Beets
Quartered beets make a great side for most grilled or barbecued foods. These beets are pressure cooked whole, peeled and quartered, and tossed in EVOO, Balsamic vinegar, dried tarragon, salt and pepper. The result? Perfectly done, super-delicious beets!
An easy, low carb side for tandoori chicken.
Check out this recipe
dressed beets in bowl

Potatoes

Potatoes are the safest side when it comes to a pairing with most mains, especially a dish like tandoori chicken. You just can't go wrong with them. And if you are a potato lover like me, watch out! These might just disappear before you are ready to serve them!

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
Crisp golden baby potatoes with olive oil, garlic and hints of rosemary. The skins are crisped-up and crunchy, and the insides are tender and fluffy. They are packed with a peppery, garlicky flavor. 
The perfect easy side for your tandoori chicken.
Check out this recipe
Smashed potatoes on a plate with fork.
Aloo Chaat
Aloo chaat is a serving of crispy baby potato halves shallow-fried in a pan and topped with chaat masala, lemon juice, and tamarind chutney. This is another simple potato side that will have you reaching for more!
Check out this recipe
Aloo Chaat (Piquant Potatoes)
Bombay Potatoes
Bombay potatoes are simple, quick and big on taste. Baby potatoes are steamed in the instant pot or stovetop, tossed in a few spices and dressed with lemon juice, green chillies and cilantro.
These crispy and slightly spicy potatoes with soft insides are a terrific side for chicken.
Check out this recipe
Bombay potatoes in a bowl.

Indian Cottage Cheese (Paneer)

Just like potatoes, paneer is a safe bet as a side. This firm cheese is made for frying and grilling. I chose these dry paneer recipes specifically for their unique flavors that go so well with tandoori chicken.

They will take your tandoori chicken to another level of deliciousness!

Hariyali Paneer Tikka
Hariyali paneer tikka made using a spicy dhania and pudina chutney (cilantro and mint leaves marinade) is a great vegetarian side for tandoori chicken.
The cheese just melts in your mouth and the onions and green peppers give that perfect crunch and bite. 
Check out this recipe
Hariyali paneer tikka on skewers in a plate.
Paneer Kabab
Soft cubes of Indian cottage cheese and vegetables are marinated, skewered and grilled to perfection in the oven or on the grill. Mmm!
It's a colourful and fun side, bursting with the deep, rich flavours of the special sauce that it's marinated in. Peppers and onions complement the cheese perfectly.
Check out this recipe
paneer kabab with capsicum and onion on a plate with green chutney and a tomato on the side
Paneer Fingers
There's something about paneer that makes for a perfect pairing with chicken. These paneer fingers are long strips of paneer dipped in a green chutney and coated with breadcrumbs for an extra-crispy side to go with your main dish.
Check out this recipe
paneer fingers on a plate with green chutney on the side

Salads and Dips

The lightest of all sides, salads and dips are almost essential with tandoori chicken. Choose from a fresh salad, a green chutney, and a couple of yogurt raita recipes that will add interest and variety to your star.

On second thoughts, why choose? Make all of them and put them in small bowls around your platter of tandoori chicken for a colorful and unique spread!

Green Coriander Chutney
Coriander chutney is a bright green dip that grilled or fried food cannot do without. Also known as cilantro chutney or dhaniya chutney, it is thick, spicy and a little zingy thanks to green chillies and a generous sprinkling of lemon juice.
Makes for an unbeatable combo with tandoori chicken!
Check out this recipe
coriander chutney in bowl
Onion Raita (Yogurt Dip with Chopped Onions)
Onion raita is a cooling yogurt side dish or dip that's almost essential with spicy Indian food like chicken, biryani and kebabs. This is an easy no-cook recipe that you can make in ten minutes flat with ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge and pantry.
Check out this recipe
onion raita in bowl
Dahi Baingan (Fried Eggplant in Yogurt)
Dahi baingan is an Indian side dish that's made with lightly fried eggplant, onions, garlic and cilantro mixed in with yogurt. A simple and soothing side, perfect for offsetting the heat of Indian food.
Have your tandoori chicken with spoonfuls of cold dahi baingan. It is the perfect complement to almost all chicken dishes.
Check out this recipe
Dahi baingan in a bowl.
Kachumber Salad
This is a fresh, easy chopped salad made with cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes. The vegetables are dressed with lemon juice, salt, and a little cumin and chili. If you want to add some fresh herbs, cilantro or mint would be great options. A crisp and colorful salad that everyone will love!
Check out this recipe
Kachumber Salad in a platter.

Bread

It's true that you can serve bread with almost anything, and these naan recipes below will be right at home with tandoori chicken. Savory and wholesome, they will definitely add interest and round off your meal.

Wholewheat Naan
Hello, naan! A healthy naan recipe made with whole wheat flour or Indian atta. It is soft and fluffy with a yeasty taste. In fact, you'll never want to buy the pre-packaged naan from the supermarket once you try this authentic naan recipe!
Serve your tandoori chicken with a stack of naan bread for a filling meal.
Check out this recipe
wholewheat naan bread on a grey napkin
Keema Naan
This keema naan recipe makes an easy, homemade stuffed bread with a filling of spicy ground lamb. The keema is cooked separately and filled into the naan dough which is then is rolled out and baked in an oven. The result is a wonderfully thick and fluffy stuffed naan that makes for such a great side with tandoori chicken!
Check out this recipe
keema naan halves in plate.

So, which of these sides are you going to choose for your tandoori chicken? Do let us know in the comments below!

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