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What to Serve with Butter Chicken: 20+ BEST Sides

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Posted by:

Erin Lynch

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Updated:

February 18, 2025

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5 from 1 vote

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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!

Collage of sides for butter chicken with text overlay.

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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!

Overhead shot of slow cooker butter chicken in black bowl with rice.
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Overhead shot of butter chickpeas served on bed of brown rice in grey bowl with pita bread.
Indian Butter Chickpeas
Overhead shot of butter chicken in bowl topped with lime wedges and cilantro.
Instant Pot Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken Sides

Overhead close up of bowl of lime coconut rice with chopsticks.
Coconut Lime Rice
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
Shirazi salad centered in frame with serving spoon.
Shirazi Salad
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.
Easy Cucumber Raita
This Raita Recipe is a popular Indian dip that’s creamy, crunchy and a perfect pair for warming and spicy foods.
Raita
Overhead shot of four pieces of naan stacked on wooden cutting board next to bowl of green chutney.
Homemade Naan with Chutney
This Easy Homemade Naan & Chutney Recipe means that you can enjoy naan at home anytime with all your favorite dishes.
Naan
Din Tai Fung Green Beans
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.
Sauteed Spinach with Garlic Recipe
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.
Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe
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.
Indian Tomato Soup
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
Instant Pot Dal
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.
Potato Vindaloo
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.
Mediterranean 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.
Butternut Squash Curry
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
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.
Shrimp Biryani
This Shrimp Biryani (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.
Rice Cooker Coconut Rice
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
Close up of garlic rice in serving bowl.
Garlic Rice
Ordinary white rice is transformed into the best savory side dish in this Garlic Rice recipe! Super fluffy and loaded with garlic and butter, one taste and you’ll never settle for blah rice again.
Garlic Rice
Golden milk latte in mug next to spices.
Golden Milk Latte
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
Overhead shot of bowl of sauteed snap peas in grey bowl.
Sauteed Snap Peas
Make your meals pop with a side of Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas! In this easy recipe, you’ll learn how to cook fresh snap peas to crisp-tender perfection in a sizzling hot skillet with just olive oil, butter, salt, and pepper.
Sauteed Snap Peas
Bowl of rice and small bowl of soy sauce next to instant pot.
Instant Pot Rice
With these tips you’ll see it's simple to learn how to cook perfect rice using the Instant Pot rice setting. 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

  • Instant Pot Butter Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
  • Indian Butter Chickpeas

More Side Dish Recipes

  • Sides for Burgers
  • Sides for Pork Chops
  • Sides for BBQ
  • Sides for Salmon
  • Sides for Steak
  • Sides for Ribs
  • Sides for Chicken

Did you Make Any of These Butter Chicken Side Dishes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of sides for 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.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

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Collage of sides for butter chicken with text overlay.

Full Recipe

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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Serves 4 servings
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 5 hours hrs
Total Time: 5 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced )
  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 1 14-ounce can coconut milk
  • 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh ginger (minced )
  • 1 Tablespoon curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (or more, to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 pounds boneless (skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces)
  • 4 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)
  • Greek yogurt (for topping)

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. 

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
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
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Hi, I’m Erin!

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