Looking for side dishes to serve with jambalaya? The classic Southern recipe can transform into a whole new experience when accompanied by the right side.
Whatever variation is your favorite, all jambalaya recipes contain sausages or smoked meat, chicken or pork, or seafood. Onion, celery, and bell peppers are the foundational veggies for this dish. Depending on the recipe, others are used, such as tomatoes, carrots, okra, corn, and chillies.
Jambalaya is a reunion of French, Spanish, and African cuisines and the result is a fabulous recipe!
🍲 Why You’ll Love These Recipes
You get carbs, protein, and vegetables in a single dish, which means you can definitely eat it as is. Adding a side next to jambalaya is a different story.
Full Hearty Meal | If you’re not counting calories, going with a heavier side will add a magical touch to your dinner and is a wonderful way to celebrate a special occasion or holiday.
Nutritious Options | Choosing a less dense companion for your jambalaya is a simple way to make your meal more nutritious while reducing the total number of calories you eat.
Mix of Options | Our favorite side dishes for jambalaya include both options. And there are plenty of healthy recipes on the list too, amazing flavors included!
Store jambalaya in the refrigerator safely for 3-4 days, according to USDA. Freeze in freezer safe containers, defrost in the refrigerator overnight or in the microwave.
🍞 Bread Side Dishes
The number one staple side comes in so many shapes and sizes. It would be impossible to get bored with it.
There’s nothing like homemade fresh bread, and any of the recipes below you decide to make won’t last too long.
Classic Skillet Cornbread
No one likes dry cornbread, and this recipe is the opposite. With slightly crispy edges and a moist center, this easy skillet cornbread makes a lovely snack or side.
The secret is not just in the recipe. It’s also the cast iron pan. Cast iron is an excellent heat conductor and ensures even cooking.
That’s exactly what we all want when making cornbread!
Cheddar Cheese Buttermilk Biscuits
Warm flaky biscuits are difficult to resist! The dough requires very little kneading, and it’s quick to make.
Even if you’re a beginner, I promise these will turn out perfectly golden and tasty.
Get ready to make this recipe in the future as well. You will surely get requests from your family!
Southern Hushpuppies
These decadent fried bits of cornbread are also a traditional Southern dish and as good as they are with jambalaya, you can enjoy them with chicken, fish, pork, beef, and many other dishes.
Traditionally served with tartar sauce, hushpuppies make a fine snack as well. Using a different sauce or dip is totally ok. I can’t think of one that wouldn’t pair nicely with these golden pellets.
Pampushky Recipe (Ukrainian Garlic Bread)
Garlic bread comes in many forms and pampushky is the Ukrainian interpretation.
Fluffy pull-apart buns smothered with garlic oil while hot is definitely one of the successful versions of garlic bread.
I’m keeping this one on the list of festive-looking recipes my guests won’t be able to resist!
For those busy days when I need a meal on the table fast, I make some air fryer frozen garlic bread. It’s warm, crunchy, and no one will know it came from the freezer unless you tell them.
🥒 Vegetable Side Dishes
Jambalaya is a hearty meal. Adding a veggie-based side will ease your digestion and there’s an endless diversity of healthy recipes you can try.
I love easy recipes, so the suggestions below are perfect even if your meal prepping skills are still entry level.
Grilled Corn
Cornbread is a real treat, although fresh grilled corn on the cob is just as enjoyable. It also has a much lower calorie count.
Follow this recipe to make the best grilled corn and feel free to explore some of the recommended seasonings!
Baked Zucchini With Pecorino And Basil
As simple as the name of this recipe seems, it’s such a flavorful dish, you won’t believe it!
Swap the usual grated parmesan with pecorino cheese. I’m sure you will love the change.
Add some fresh torn basil leaves and you have the perfect healthy side for jambalaya!
Oven Baked Okra
The slightly spicy and crunchy baked okra is a lovely low-carb recipe you will enjoy with jambalaya.
Okra is very popular in Southern cuisine, and you can try it in various recipes.
Baking it in the oven is one of the easiest methods to cook okra. It can also be air fried with excellent results.
20 Minute Black Beans
A can of beans makes a wonderful foundation for a quick and healthy side or even a meat-free meal!
Simplicity aside, this recipe is also budget-friendly since it has a low number of ingredients and all of them are affordable.
It’s also perfect for scaling up when you need to feed a crowd.
Creamed Swiss Chard
Vitamin-packed greens in a creamy garlic sauce will please even those who usually shy away from plant foods.
Basic recipes like this can save your sanity on days with a chaotic schedule. Quick, delicious, and healthy!
Chipotle Collard Greens
The chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add a magical smoky flavor to this recipe.
Collard greens are another classic Southern dish, so if you serve it next to jambalaya, you will experience a genuine local feast!
🥗 Salad Side Dishes
Does jambalaya always leave you feeling heavy? Pairing it with a salad might just do the trick.
Most salads have an acidic dressing based on lemon juice or vinegar, and that’s just what our digestive system needs to break down a meal easier.
Here’s some salad inspo to get you started!
Green Jacket Salad
This salad is a recipe from the Green Jacket restaurant in Augusta, Georgia and they were famous for it!
I know it sounds fancy, but this is not a complicated recipe.
Fresh lettuce, green onions, tomatoes, chopped parsley, toasted pita chips, and the restaurant’s signature dressing all mixed into a scrumptious salad everyone will appreciate.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
There are never leftovers when I serve this salad. It’s just that good!
Thinly sliced cucumbers and a light dressing made from yogurt, garlic, and dill create this refreshing salad.
Just remember to make it one hour before serving. It’s so much better after it chills in the fridge and all the flavors blend.
Massaged Kale Salad
Kale doesn’t suffer from chronic stress, but it can still use a massage. This not only softens the leaves, it also reduces the bitterness.
You can massage the kale before or after you add the dressing. It will taste delicious even in a basic recipe like this one.
Garlic-flavored olive oil, lemon juice, and parmesan are all you need to make a savory kale salad.
🥘 Other Sides
Some foods that pair well with jambalaya are intuitive. Others are not!
They still work, though. Take oysters, for example. They are included in some jambalaya recipes along with other seafood.
If your version doesn’t have oysters, you can use them as a side dish. Baked oysters are so yummy and easy to make. Baking at a low temperature will ensure they don’t overcook and dry out.
While we’re in the seafood aisle, crab cakes are another side you can eat with your favorite kind of jambalaya. I recommend you try them as waffled crab cakes.
They get a phenomenal crust and those square pockets will hold any sauce!
Savory crepes are an absolute delight as a companion for jambalaya. Yes, it takes some elbow work to make them and no, you won’t regret it.
Try these savory cheese crepes with jambalaya when your soul needs a comforting meal or you want to impress your guests with a gorgeous appetizer.
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