What to Serve with Butter Chicken: 25+ BEST Sides

Wondering what goes with Butter Chicken besides rice? This handy guide covers all of the best butter chicken sides – from veggies, samosas, raita, and more!

I’m sharing 25+ of the most popular and best sides for butter chicken. Creamy raita sauce, coconut lime rice, and the most delicious veggies.

These side dishes pair with all your favorite butter chicken recipes, from simple Slow Cooker Butter Chicken, Instant Pot Butter Chicken, and even these Indian Butter Chickpeas!

Side Dishes for Butter Chicken

Shirazi salad centered in frame with serving spoon.
This simple Shirazi Salad recipe features fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. Dressed with plenty of fresh herbs and tossed with a tangy dressing made with lime juice and olive oil. Every bite is bursting with refreshing flavors!
Shirazi Salad
Overhead shot of prepared raita sauce in bowl next to pita pieces.
This Raita Recipe is a popular Indian dip that’s creamy, crunchy and a perfect pair for warming and spicy foods.
Raita
Overhead close up of bowl of lime coconut rice with chopsticks.
This Coconut Lime Rice is fragrant, fluffy, and easy to make. The mild coconut flavor is delectable, making this simple side dish perfect for curries, stir fry, stew, and more. Rice cooker, Instant Pot, and stovetop directions included.
Coconut Lime Rice
Overhead shot of four pieces of naan stacked on wooden cutting board next to bowl of green chutney.
This Easy Homemade Naan & Chutney Recipe means that you can enjoy naan at home anytime with all your favorite dishes.
Naan
These copycat Din Tai Fung Green Beans are deliciously crispy and coated with lots of savory garlic and a spicy chili crisp. It’s the best umami-forward side dish to pair with all of your takeout-inspired favorites!
Garlic Green Beans
Sauteed spinach in white bowl.
Add a healthy boost of nutrients to your dinner with this easy Sauteed Spinach. Baby spinach is added to a skillet along with garlic and olive oil, then sauteed gently to create a simple side dish that pairs with any meal!
Sauteed Spinach
Overhead shot of instant pot quinoa in white bowl with spoon.
With these easy tips, you’ll see it’s simple to cook perfect quinoa in the Instant Pot with minimal measuring. The result is fluffy and flavorful quinoa that’s super simple to prepare.
Instant Pot Quinoa
Indian tomato soup in grey bowl topped with naan croutons.
This Indian Tomato Soup is not your average tomato soup recipe! Made with warm and vibrant Indian spices and topped with homemade naan croutons and a Greek yogurt sauce, it’s a silky smooth vegetarian meal that comfort food fanatics will love.
Indian Tomato Soup
Overhead closeup view of split pea dal with pickled red onions
This Instant Pot Dal comes together with minimal effort with the help of your electric pressure cooker. These delicious bowls of dal are topped with quick-pickled red onion and tangy yogurt for an unforgettable, vegetarian meal that’s perfect for Meatless Monday or any day of the week. 
Instant Pot Dal
Overhead shot of aloo vindaloo in bowl with rice.
This Potato Vindaloo Curry recipe is a spicy Indian vegetarian dish that makes a quick and healthy lunch or dinner.
Potato Vindaloo Curry
Serving spoon in bowl of tomato cucumber salad.
This Tomato Cucumber Salad features fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and crisp red onion. Dressed in a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette, every bite is bursting with refreshing Mediterranean flavors!
Tomato Cucumber Salad
Bowl of butternut curry with rice and spoon.
This Indian Butternut Squash Curry is a delicious vegetarian squash curry simmered with fragrant spices and rich coconut milk.
Butternut Squash Curry
Overhead shot of bowl of lamb curry served over rice with dollop of yogurt and charred lemon slices.
Slow Cooker Lamb Curry is a hearty meal that’s easy to prepare & delicious. This easy lamb curry recipe results in fall apart tender meat that’s perfectly spiced. 
Slow Cooker Lamb Curry
Overhead shot of prawn biryani in serving bowl topped with raita.
This Prawn Biryani is infused with warm, spicy flavors in layers of rice, prawns, gravy and raita. Make this dish on a special occasion or anytime a craving strikes!
Prawn Biryani
Coconut rice in dome shape in bowl with chopsticks next to rice cooker.
This Rice Cooker Coconut Rice is fragrant, fluffy, and easy to make with a touch of a button. The mild coconut flavor is delectable, making this simple side dish perfect for curries, stir fry, stew, and more. Rice cooker, Instant Pot, and stovetop directions included.
Rice Cooker Coconut Rice
Golden milk latte in mug next to spices.
This Golden Milk Latte recipe is easy to make ahead. When you want to enjoy a Golden Milk Latte simply combine this healthy vanilla-scented turmeric blend with your favorite milk and enjoy warm or cold. 
Golden Milk Latte
Saag paneer is a spinach-based vegetarian dish combined which combines fragrant spices with paneer, a rubbery Indian cheese.
Get the RECIPE from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Samosa, an indian spicy potato and pea mixture wrapped in a flaky pastry and fried until crispy and delicious!
Get the RECIPE from Milk and Cardamom
Perfectly crisp, brilliantly seasoned papadum are easy to make at home! Shiitake powder adds umami for a new level of snacking satisfaction.
Get the RECIPE from BitterSweet Blog
The BEST South Indian coconut chutney recipe 3 ways!
Get the RECIPE from Cubes N Juliennes
A delicately spiced aloo gobi recipe that gets its flavors from an onion and tomato base with just a sprinkling of the big three spices of Indian cooking – turmeric, coriander and red chili powders.
Get the RECIPE from Indian Ambrosia
Onion Bhaji – Finely sliced onion smothered in a simple, fragrantly spiced batter and fried to crispy perfection.
They’re also naturally gluten free!
Get the RECIPE from Kitchen Sanctuary
Bowl of rice and small bowl of soy sauce next to instant pot.
With these tips you’ll see it’s simple to learn how to cook perfect rice in the Instant Pot . The result is fluffy & flavorful rice that’s easy to prepare with minimal measuring.
Instant Pot Rice

🕕 How to Make Ahead and Store

Many of these butter chicken side dishes can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead. 

🍷 Wine Pairings for Butter Chicken

  • Indian dishes are heavily spiced and rich with complex flavors and aromas. The key is pairing the complexity with a fruity, cold wine like a sweet Riesling or a floral Rosé. 
  • A crisp Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc also pair well with the spicy, savory flavors.

✔️ Favorite Butter Chicken Recipes

🍽 More Side Dish Recipes

Did you Make Any of These Butter Chicken Side Dishes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of what to serve with butter chicken. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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Overhead shot of butter chicken in bowl topped with lime wedges and cilantro.

What to Serve with Butter Chicken: 25+ Sides

Wondering what goes with Butter Chicken besides rice? This handy guide covers all of the best sides for butter chicken – from veggies, samosas, raita, and more! Try one of these sides with this Slow Cooker Butter Chicken. It's a deliciously spiced Indian dish that's easy to make with the help of your crockpot.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, and sauté until onions become translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  • Stir in coconut milk, tomato paste, flour, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, chili powder, and salt & pepper until well combined and slightly thickened, about 1-2 minute. 
  • Place chicken into a slow cooker. Cover with sauce mixture. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours, or high heat for 3 hours. 
  • Serve garnished with cilantro and greek yogurt. 
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 271mg | Potassium: 891mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 5.7mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1.3mg

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