32 Sides That Will Jazz Up Jambalaya

Round out all the Cajun favorite with something fun.

By

Published on July 21, 2024

Southern Living Tennessee Onions in the dish ready to serve — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Jambalaya is a party all by itself, but this Cajun favorite is even better when you pair it with your favorite side dish. There are no rules when it comes to picking a side dish for jambalaya—your house, your choice. Whether you decide to pick some light and fresh or double down on the starchy goodness, these 32 recipes will jazz up that delicious jambalaya.

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Garlic Bread

Southern Living Garlic Bread sliced on serving board — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Garlic bread goes with almost everything, but it's especially great with jambalaya.

02 of 32

Cajun-Style Potato Salad

Cajun-Style Potato Salad in a white bowl — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

When the potato salad starts to melt into jambalaya, that's when culinary magic happens.

03 of 32

New-Fashioned Green Bean Salad

Southern Living New-Fashioned Two-Bean Salad in a bowl to serve with a glass of sparkling water — Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Tender-crisp green beans and peppery radishes make a great side for jambalaya, especially with a flavor boost from the tangy buttermilk dressing.

04 of 32

Tennessee Onions

Southern Living Tennessee Onions in the dish ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

These crispy, cheesy onions may hail from Tennessee, but they play well with jambalaya.

05 of 32

Double Potlikker Greens

Southern Living Double Potlikker Greens in a dutch oven ready to serve — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Rich and smoky, these greens and their rich broth are the ultimate comfort food side.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Southern Living Roasted Brussels Sprouts on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If you think you're not a fan of Brussels sprouts, give the crispy roasted guys a try.

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Cajun Mac And Cheese

Cajun Mac And Cheese — Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Creamy and spicy, this indulgent dish goes great with jambalaya.

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Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs

Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

A hearty green like kale is a great partner for the starch party that is jambalaya.

09 of 32

No-Knead Buttermilk Bread

No-Knead Buttermilk Bread — Greg DuPree

This no-knead buttermilk bread is perfect for sopping up any jambalaya juices.

10 of 32

Mom’s Mac and Cheese

Southern Living Mom's Mac and Cheese in a dish to serve with a spoon out — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

The crispy breadcrumbs on top of this extra-creamy mac is just what your jambalaya needs.

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Make-Ahead Yeast Rolls

Southern Living Make Ahead Freezer Friendly Yeast Rolls in a basket to serve — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

First published in almost 30 years ago, these fluffy rolls are one of our most popular bread recipes of all time.

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Cornbread Muffins

Southern Living Cornbread Muffins ready to serve with butter and honey — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

You can butter these perfect cornbread muffins up, or crumble them over your jambalaya—we won't judge.

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Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Southern Living Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes in a bowl to serve, topped with butter and thyme leaves — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Mashed cauliflower gives these mashed potatoes a fluffier texture, which actually makes them perfect for serving with jambalaya.

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Parker House Rolls

Parker House Rolls in a teal dish — Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Soft and pillowy with buttery, salty tops, these rolls remind us of home.

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Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread

Southern Living Jalapeno Cornbread with a slice cut out of the skillet to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Since you're going to Cajun flavor town already, lean into the heat with this chile-flecked cornbread.

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Apple-Cranberry Salad

apple cranberry salad — Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

A green salad is a great foil for jambalaya, especially when it's packed with crisp apples like this one.

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Maque Choux

Maque Choux with Sausage — Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Similar to succotash, this creamy side dish gets a flavor boost from sausage.

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Classic Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

In the South, deviled eggs go with literally everything.

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Smashed Oven-Fried Okra

Southern Living Smashed Oven-Fried Okra on a platter to serve with dipping sauce — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

With all the soft textures in jambalaya, this crispy okra provides a nice contrast.

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Fried Potatoes and Onions

Southern Living Fried Potatoes and Onions in a bowl to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If you don't have any hang-ups with double-loading on starches, these crispy potatoes can be great pals with jambalaya.

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Creamed Spinach

Creamed Spinach — Antonis Achilleos

This rich and nutritious side dish comes together quickly, making it great to serve with jambalaya.

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Roasted Broccolini

roasted broccolini - Southern Living — Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

The stalky crunch of broccolini contrasts nicely with the tender rice and meat in jambalaya.

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Skillet-Roasted Cabbage Wedges With Hot Bacon Dressing

Roasted cabbage wedges topped with bacon dressing in a cast iron skillet on a green table with two glasses of beer and a napkin. — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Lydia Pursell

Humble cabbage get the five-star treatment in this tangy, bacon-topped rendition.

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Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Easy Cauliflower Casserole — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Sneak an extra vegetable into the mix with this deceptively cheesy casserole.

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Roasted Broccoli

Roasted Broccoli — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Blissfully simple this classic side dish is a great back-pocket recipe to keep on hand for almost any dinner menu.

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Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Southern Living Roasted Sweet Potatoes on a plate to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

The subtle sweetness of the simple roasted potato sides offsets the Cajun spices in jambalaya perfectly.

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Romaine Salad With Oranges and Radishes

Southern Living Romaine Salad With Oranges and Radishes on serving platter — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Jambalaya's bold, spicy flavors are in need of a lift; this bright and fresh salad provides it.

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Southern Skillet Cornbread

Southern Living Skillet Cornbread cut into wedges to serve — Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Park a wedge of cornbread into your jambalaya and get ready for a real good meal.

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Cloverleaf Rolls

Southern Living Cloverleaf Rolls in a basket to serve — Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Rolls go with everything...and these cloverleaf versions are so fun to pull apart!

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Lemony Salad with Broccoli and White Beans

Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

The sunny flavor of lemon gives this salad this brightness it needs to shine with a bowl of warm jambalaya.

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Heirloom Tomato And Cracker Salad

Heirloom Tomato-Cracker Salad — ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: ALI RAMEE; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY

With an elaborate dish like jambalaya, sometimes a simple side is best. The crackers on top of this salad provide the perfect amount of crunch.

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Frenched Green Bean Salad

Frenched Green Bean Salad - Southern Living — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christine Daley

Bright and vinegary, this side dish cuts through all the spicy richness of Cajun cooking.

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