If you are like most people in Branson MO, having a great meal of fried chicken is something you anticipate as a well-deserved treat. While the chicken is always center stage, choosing fried chicken restaurants that also offer a good selection of sides is just as essential for many diners.
There is a long history of specific types of sides that go well with fried chicken. In fact, there is a long history of the consumption of fried chicken throughout the USA. While the exact date and location where this amazing dish was developed is not known, in the United States it was in the South. Recipes were available in American cookbooks as early 1860, showing just how popular fried chicken was even then.
Today’s fried chicken restaurants typically offer their own version of the classic dish, often with a unique combination of spices and breading options. They also tend to offer both classic as well as modern sides and allow customers to create their own meal combination.
Classic Sides
In the best fried chicken restaurants cornbread, another southern classic, is often served as a side or an extra on a platter or a basket. Other traditional sides include macaroni and cheese, which adds a rich, creaminess that compliments the crispy chicken. Other traditional types of sides include creamed spinach, another southern favorite, along with beans, rice or corn.
Healthy Options
For those looking for healthier or lighter options in sides for their fried chicken, check for restaurants offering steamed vegetables and string beans. Sweet potatoes substituted for fries or traditional mashed potatoes are also a modern twist on a classic side dish.
A number of restaurants featuring fried, grilled or roast chicken also offer the option of a side salad, cucumber salad or some coleslaw as a lighter option for a lunch or dinner meal.