The Top 12 Seafood Side Dishes

Seafood has such a unique taste that is rarely found elsewhere. As a result, many people love eating seafood in lots of different forms, whether that be fresh fish, lobsters, or octopus.

The downside of serving seafood is that the distinctive flavor makes it hard to find suitable side dishes. 

But the good news is that we’ve found 12 sensational side dishes that pair beautifully with seafood. We’ve also detailed what types of seafood go with these dishes so that you can make some sensational combinations.

So the next time that you are making seafood, why not pair it with one of these flavorsome side dishes?!

1. Fries

Fish and chips is an iconic British dish that consists of battered fish and fries. So if you are serving breaded fish, fries are a superb side dish. Yet, they also work wonderfully with fresh fish.

Achieving the perfect homemade fries can be tough work, but this recipe should help you to achieve this goal. They have a crispy texture on the outside but remain slightly soft on the inside. This will add a nice textural contrast to the meal.

What’s great about this recipe is that there are lots of different seasoning options available, such as salt and rosemary salt. 

2. Ratatouille

Ratatouille is one of our favorite side dishes and it’s surprisingly versatile. This French dish will add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your meal. 

We adore this recipe because it’s packed with vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant. This not only makes this a flavorsome dish, but it adds to its nutritional value.

Carefully flavored with thyme, oregano, coriander, and fennel seeds, this dish has been seasoned to perfection. 

This dish works well with a range of different seafood, making it a flexible option. It goes best with fresh fish, such as bass.

3. Garden Salad

Garden salad is a healthy choice. So if you desire a light and nutritious meal, why not serve your seafood with a simple garden salad? It will complement a broad spectrum of seafood dishes.

Not to mention, garden salad is incredibly simple to make, so you won’t have to spend ages in the kitchen. For instance, this recipe is ready in less than 10 minutes. 

It’s also incredibly colorful thanks to the diverse range of vegetables that have been used, such as cucumber and lettuce. There is also an amazing range of additional ingredients, including cheese, eggs, or strawberries.

These additions are great for enhancing the taste of the salad.

4. Bread Rolls

Bread rolls may seem like a bit of a boring side dish, but trust us, they work brilliantly. They are particularly effective if you crave a substantial meal, as they are guaranteed to fill you up!

Homemade bread rolls are particularly effective, as highlighted by this fantastic recipe. They have a fluffy texture and a mild taste that makes them incredibly versatile.

Bread rolls work particularly well as a side dish for chowder. This is because the fantastically fluffy rolls will absorb the delicious juices of the chowder. 

Just bear in mind that this side dish will result in a rather carb-heavy meal, as chowder tends to be loaded with potatoes. But if you want a comforting side dish, you can’t go wrong with butter bread rolls!

5. Roasted Carrots

Up next, roasted carrots have a soft texture and a crispy outside, just like roasted potatoes. Seasoned with honey garlic butter, these carrots taste incredible. This butter is a brilliant way of enhancing the mild taste of carrots.

Roasted carrots are a superb side dish for seafood. It’s a particularly good combination for whitefish.

In fact, most roasted vegetables pair phenomenally with whitefish. So give this side dish recipe a try the next time that you cook whitefish.

The addition of honey is amazing, as it gives the carrots a sweet flavor. This contrasts nicely with the garlic, which provides the carrots with a tangy taste.

6. Pilau Rice

Serving rice with fish is always a good meal. You can try pretty much any type of seafood with whatever rice you fancy. 

Pilau rice is perhaps our favorite rice dish. This is because it’s much more flavorsome than the average rice recipe. This is thanks to the addition of spices, such as cumin, turmeric, and cardamom. 

These spices enhance the flavor and give it a slightly spicy taste. The result is a rice recipe with a vibrant yellow hue.

Rice is a little lighter than other side dishes. Yet, this staple food is guaranteed to fill you up, especially if you serve it alongside fish and vegetables.

7. Macaroni Salad

Many people believe that pasta doesn’t go with seafood. But as this magnificent macaroni salad highlights, these two foods can harmonize with each other. We especially like eating macaroni salad with shrimp, as it offers a rich taste.

This magnificent macaroni salad has a luxuriously creamy texture. The colorful dish is made with loads of lovely vegetables, such as onions, radishes, peppers, and celery. This combination of vegetables enhances the flavors of the dish massively.

The creamy dressing is incredibly simple, yet it gives the dish a terrific taste. We particularly adore the use of honey, as it provides the macaroni with a slightly sweet flavor. Additionally, sour cream gives the salad a unique tanginess.

8. Tartar Sauce

When it comes to seafood, tartar dish is perhaps the most popular and widely-used option. It’s known for its tangy flavor and extremely creamy texture.

Though you can combine it with whatever fish you crave, tartar sauce is delicious with fresh fish or oysters.

You can even dip fish sticks into your homemade tartar sauce. So if you are serving either of these foods, we advise adding a dollop of tartar sauce.

This recipe is so simple that even inexperienced chefs can make it. This is partly because it takes just 2 steps to make. Seasoned with dill and parsley, this tartar sauce recipe has a pungent taste. 

This side dish is cheap to make but is always a hit. So what’s stopping you from giving it a try?!

9. Roasted Broccoli

Broccoli is known for its mild flavor, so you might assume that this side dish is a little bland. Fortunately, roasting broccoli is a brilliant way of bringing out its delicious flavor. 

Lemon is a widely-used method of enhancing the taste of seafood, so it makes sense to roast this broccoli in this fruit juice. Other optional toppings include a balsamic glaze and parmesan, the latter of which will give your broccoli a cheesy taste.

The idea of adding red pepper flakes is also fantastic, as it gives the broccoli a slightly spicy taste that isn’t too overpowering.

An additional benefit of serving your seafood with roasted broccoli is that it’s quite light and healthy.

10. Vegetable Kebabs

If you want a healthy yet irresistible side dish for your seafood, we suggest serving these vegetable kebabs. Seasoned with balsamic vinegar, they are brimming with fantastic flavors.

Feel free to experiment with different vegetables. For instance, this gorgeous recipe advises using bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and eggplant.

Some will work better than others, but the best way of finding out your favorite combination is to try lots of different vegetables.

These vegetable kebabs are especially superb for shrimp. If you are making grilled shrimp, you can even grill these kebabs at the same time!

11. Green Beans

Like broccoli, green beans have a reputation for being quite boring. But the good news is that it’s extremely easy to make these vegetables more inviting. 

This is highlighted by this superb recipe, in which the beans have been delicately cooked in butter and herbs. 

These herbs, such as tarragon and thyme, offer a sharp and tangy taste which ensures that these beans are far from bland. Though fresh herbs are ideal, feel free to use dried herbs if that is more convenient.

Green beans are a healthy addition to any seafood dish. They complement fresh fish, though other types of seafood will also pair pleasantly with them.

12. Boiled Potatoes

Last but not least, another potato-based dish that can accompany your seafood is boiled potatoes. They are much lighter than fries but are equally filling.

Without any seasoning, boiled potatoes can seem a little dull. Thankfully, this recipe has seasoned them with chives and butter for a succulent and sharp taste. The result is a creamy consistency and a herbal taste. 

Another reason why we chose this recipe is that it’s super straightforward. In fact, you will only need 4 ingredients to make these potatoes. Plus, they will be ready in just 20 minutes.

If you fancy a starchy side dish, these boiled potatoes are an outstanding choice!

Are any of the 15 Best Cajun Side Dishes also seafood dishes?

The 15 best cajun side dishes include several seafood options. From succulent crawfish étouffée to flavorful shrimp gumbo, these dishes showcase the richness of Cajun flavors with a seafood twist. Whether you prefer spicy jambalaya or creamy seafood au gratin, the best Cajun side dishes offer a tantalizing blend of seafood and Cajun spices that will leave you craving for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Though it can be hard to find the perfect side dish for seafood, there are tons of different options out there for you to try. 

Just remember to carefully consider what side dish will best complement the seafood. This is because different types of seafood offer different delectable flavors. 

Therefore, by carefully considering the best combination, you can end up with a magnificent seafood meal!