15 Healthy Sides for Chicken Wings – From Slaw to Smoked Veggies

There are few things more delicious than wings drenched in your favorite buffalo or barbecue sauce. However, the only thing that could make your meal of chicken wings better is the perfect side to go along with them.

While chicken wings can be a good source of protein, you can have a more balanced meal if you pair them with a healthy side salad or vegetable. Here are 15 healthy sides for chicken wings you can enjoy any night of the week.

1. Cajun Coleslaw

• 96 calories
• 3.3 grams of carbs
• 8.1 grams of fat

There are few sides that go well with chicken wings as coleslaw does. However, if you need something with a bit more of a kick than your classic coleslaw recipe, try this Cajun Coleslaw. The addition of Louisiana hot sauce gives it the perfect amount of spice, but you can substitute a different type of hot sauce if you have something else on hand.

2. Caesar Salad

• 156 calories
• 7 grams of carbs
• 12 grams of fat

When it comes to the best types of salads to pair with your meal, the Caesar salad is a classic choice. You can make this delicious salad with just a handful of ingredients and you don’t even need to buy Caesar dressing. The homemade croutons are hard to beat, but you can also add store-bought ones if necessary.

3. Crunchy Coleslaw

• 174 calories
• 14 grams of carbs
• 13 grams of fat

For those who love the classic coleslaw recipe, this one’s for you. This crunchy coleslaw recipe is the perfect side to pair with chicken wings and the dressing is so simple to make. Cabbage, like most other cruciferous vegetables, is loaded with vitamins and minerals. When you make this classic coleslaw recipe, you get a tasty side with a ton of health benefits.

4. Cobb Salad

• 379 calories
• 15 grams of carbs
• 25 grams of fat

If you’re craving a side salad to pair with your wings, a Cobb salad is another excellent choice. Topped with hard-boiled eggs, avocado, and tangy Roquefort cheese, this salad recipe is one the whole family will love. Even though this recipe calls for chicken breast, you can leave it off when pairing it with chicken wings.

5. Garden Potato Salad

• 145 calories
• 29 grams of carbs
• 1 gram of fat

Potato salad is one of the most common sides for barbecues and cookouts, but this healthy version is still packed with flavor without any heavy ingredients. The cottage cheese gives the potato salad a healthy dose of protein while the dill weed and celery seed add a unique flavor to this recipe.

6. Roasted Broccoli

• 88 calories
• 5 grams of carbs
• 7.1 grams of fat

Broccoli is incredibly beneficial for your health and it pairs well with nearly any meal. One of the best ways to cook broccoli is by roasting it in the oven. When you roast the broccoli on high heat, it caramelizes the broccoli, leading to a crispy texture and slightly sweet flavor. Broccoli is also a great side because it’s simple and quick to cook and it tastes great with only a little preparation.

7. Pasta Salad

• 405 calories
• 34 grams of carbs
• 13 grams of fat

Not all pasta salad recipes are created equal but this healthy pasta salad recipe will be a hit with your family or guests. It pairs well with chicken wings and many other dishes with its simple list of ingredients. Packed with vegetables such as zucchini and carrots, it has a nice crunch and plenty of nutritional benefits. If you’re pairing the pasta salad with chicken wings, you can leave out the tuna and add just the vegetables.

8. Garlic Butter Zucchini and Mushrooms

• 161 calories
• 9 grams of carbs
• 13 grams of fat

Both zucchini and mushrooms have numerous health benefits. While they can be delicious on their own, cooking them together with olive oil, butter, and garlic makes for a tasty and healthy side dish. This simple skillet recipe can come together in about 20 minutes and it’s packed full of vitamin A, potassium, and other nutrients.

9. Cabbage and Tomato Salad

• 43 calories
• 7 grams of carbs
• 1 gram of fat

As simple as it sounds, this cabbage and tomato salad can add a lot of flavor to your meal, especially as a side for chicken wings. This recipe is perfect when you don’t have a lot of time to cook up an elaborate side or you want something simple that won’t overpower the flavor of your chicken wings. 

10. Smothered Greens

• 80 calories
• 9 grams of carbs
• 2 grams of fat

If you’re looking for an alternative to some of the standard healthy side dishes, try this unique recipe for smothered greens. Complete with spices such as ginger, thyme, and cayenne pepper, there’s plenty of flavor in this healthy dish. You can use a variety of greens for this recipe and the mix of greens adds flavor and plenty of nutrients to your overall meal.

11. Summer Green Beans and Potatoes

• 114 calories
• 18.96 grams of carbs
• 3.96 grams of fat

This summer green beans and potatoes recipe is perfect for your summer barbecues, picnics, or cookouts. Green beans add plenty of nutrients such as vitamin C, folate, and potassium. This summer recipe also calls for red potatoes, which are low in fat and packed full of fiber. Even with just the addition of salt and pepper, this is an incredibly tasty and flavorful side dish.

12. Smoked Cauliflower

• 222 calories
• 2.7 grams of carbs
• 12.6 grams of fat

If you’re tossing chicken wings on the grill, you’ve got to pair them with this healthy smoked cauliflower recipe. When you smoke the cauliflower, it captures all the barbecue flavors you love but you also get all the benefits of eating cauliflower. You can use any kind of smoker to make this recipe and you can mix up any of the seasonings to make it your own.

13. Steamed Spaghetti Squash

• 42 calories
• 10 grams of carbs
• 0.4 grams of fat

When you’re looking for a healthy alternative to pasta, spaghetti squash can be a great substitute. Spaghetti squash is a favorite vegetable, especially among picky eaters, and steaming it is one of the simplest and healthiest ways to cook it. Even if you don’t have a steamer basket, you can easily steam spaghetti squash in your favorite skillet.

14. Healthy Stuffed Potatoes

• 113 calories
• 17 grams of carbs
• 3 grams of fat

There are truly no limits to the ways you can use potatoes to make a tasty side dish. While regular potatoes often get a bad rap, there are actually many benefits to eating them. With this recipe, the addition of cottage cheese and low-fat milk keeps the fat and calories down while still adding some extra protein.

15. Ranch Roasted Carrots

• 89 calories
• 11.4 grams of carbs
• 5 grams of fat

Carrots are another crowd-pleaser when it comes to finding vegetables your kids will eat. This simple and healthy carrot recipe brings together the sweet flavor of carrots with the savory flavor of ranch. The recipe only calls for 3 ingredients and you can make this side dish in less than 30 minutes. This one is bound to be a favorite dish to pair with chicken wings and numerous other meals.

Final Thoughts

No matter what style of chicken wings you prefer, you need a healthy side to go along with them. Cooking any of these tasty sides is a great way to add some extra nutritional benefits to your meal. Looking for the best ways to cook chicken wings? Check out our article on How to Cook Chicken Wings Perfectly 3 Ways!

Chinese Chicken Wings

---

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading…

• Author: MomsWhoThink.com
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 lbs. chicken wings
• 3/4 cup soy sauce
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add wings and marinate overnight.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Lapina Maria/Shutterstock.com.