How to Elevate Wings with 7 Creative Side Dishes

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Are you tired of serving the same old celery sticks and ranch dressing with your wings? What if there were side dishes so tasty they might steal the spotlight from your main dish?

Why These Side Dishes for Wings Are Special

Wings are amazing, but the right side dishes can take your meal from good to unforgettable! This collection of seven side dishes for wings offers something for everyone – from creamy to crunchy, healthy to indulgent.

Time Required: Most sides take 15-30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy to medium – perfect for beginners!

Essential Ingredients for Great Wing Side Dishes

The best side dishes for wings need to balance the spicy, savory flavors of the wings. Here are the key ingredients that make these sides work:

• Cooling ingredients: Yogurt, sour cream, and avocado help cool down spicy wings
• Crunchy vegetables: For texture contrast with tender wings
• Starches: Potatoes, corn, or bread to make the meal filling
• Fresh herbs: To add brightness and color
• Cheese: For richness and flavor

Don’t have everything? No problem! Most recipes include easy swaps if you’re missing something.

7 Delicious Side Dishes for Wings

1. Crispy Loaded Potato Wedges

Ingredients:

• 4 large russet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
• 3 green onions, chopped
• Sour cream for serving

Steps:

1. Wash potatoes and cut into thick wedges
2. Toss with oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper
3. Bake at 425°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway
4. Sprinkle with cheese and return to oven until melted
5. Top with bacon bits and green onions
6. Serve with sour cream for dipping

Assembly Tip: Arrange wedges on a platter with small bowls of extra toppings so everyone can customize their portion.

2. Creamy Avocado Slaw

Ingredients:

• 1/2 head cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Steps:

1. Mix cabbage and carrot in a large bowl
2. Mash avocado with lime juice and yogurt until smooth
3. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss well
4. Sprinkle with cilantro before serving

Assembly Tip: Make this slaw just before serving to keep the bright green color. The lime juice helps prevent browning.

3. Sweet Corn and Bacon Fritters

Ingredients:

• 2 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 4 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1 cup flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• Oil for frying

Steps:

1. Mix corn, bacon, flour, eggs, milk, and green onions
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat
3. Drop spoonfuls of batter into hot oil
4. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden
5. Drain on paper towels

Assembly Tip: Stack fritters in a pyramid shape and sprinkle with extra green onions for a fancy presentation.

4. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 4 cups broccoli florets
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Lemon wedges for serving

Steps:

1. Toss broccoli with oil and garlic
2. Spread on baking sheet
3. Roast at 400°F for 15-20 minutes
4. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese
5. Return to oven for 5 more minutes
6. Serve with lemon wedges

Assembly Tip: The bright green broccoli with golden cheese looks beautiful on a white serving dish.

5. Honey Butter Cornbread Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 egg
• Honey butter: 1/4 cup softened butter mixed with 2 tablespoons honey

Steps:

1. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl
2. Mix wet ingredients in another bowl
3. Combine wet and dry ingredients
4. Pour into muffin tin
5. Bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes
6. Serve warm with honey butter

Assembly Tip: Line a basket with a colorful napkin and pile the muffins high for a homey presentation.

6. Cucumber Yogurt Dip

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Vegetable sticks for dipping

Steps:

1. Mix cucumber, yogurt, garlic, dill, and lemon juice
2. Chill for at least 30 minutes
3. Serve with carrot sticks, celery, and bell peppers

Assembly Tip: Serve in a hollowed-out bread bowl for an impressive presentation.

7. Cheesy Bacon Mac and Cheese Bites

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Steps:

1. Mix pasta, cheeses, butter, and milk in a saucepan until melted
2. Stir in bacon
3. Pour into greased mini muffin tin
4. Top with breadcrumbs
5. Bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes until golden

Assembly Tip: Serve these in paper cupcake liners for easy handling at parties.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Most of these side dishes can be prepared ahead of time:

• Potato wedges: Prepare up to baking, then refrigerate. Bake just before serving.
• Slaw: Make dressing ahead but combine with cabbage just before serving.
• Fritters: Make batter up to 4 hours ahead and keep refrigerated.
• Roasted broccoli: Can be reheated in the oven for 5 minutes.
• Cornbread muffins: Bake up to 2 days ahead and warm before serving.
• Cucumber dip: Gets better after 24 hours in the fridge!
• Mac and cheese bites: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes.

Creative Variations

Want to mix things up? Try these twists:

• Add buffalo sauce to the mac and cheese bites
• Make sweet potato wedges instead of regular potatoes
• Try a pineapple slaw for a tropical twist
• Add jalapeños to the cornbread for spicy muffins
• Make the cucumber dip with tzatziki spices
• Add blue cheese to the broccoli instead of parmesan
• Mix corn fritters with crab meat for a seafood version

Time to Enjoy Your Wings Feast!

With these seven amazing side dishes for wings, your next game day, party, or family dinner will be a huge hit! The best part is that these sides are easy to make but look and taste like you spent hours in the kitchen.

Remember, the perfect wings meal is all about balance – something creamy, something crunchy, something starchy, and something fresh. Mix and match these sides based on what your family loves most.

Don’t be afraid to make these recipes your own! Add your favorite spices, swap ingredients based on what’s in your fridge, or adjust the heat level to suit your taste buds. The best recipes are the ones that make you and your family happy.

Next time someone asks “what goes with wings besides celery?”, you’ll have seven delicious answers! From crispy potato wedges to cooling cucumber dip, these side dishes for wings will transform your meal from ordinary to extraordinary.

So fire up that oven, chop those veggies, and get ready to amaze your friends and family with side dishes so good, they might just forget about the wings!

What side dish will you try first?