Wondering what to serve with breaded fish fillets? These 28 easy recipes will complete your meal. Here in Key Largo, Florida, we specialize in cooking fresh, wild-caught fish from the waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Whether you're frying your catch, the right sides can take your meal to the next level.
These sides are quick to prepare and complement crispy breaded fish perfectly.
Our sides can all be made a day before your fishing expedition or trip to the fish store, so all you have to do is cook the fish (15 minutes) and dinner is on the table. That's my kind of cooking!
Mango Pico de Gallo
This fruit side dish is made with vine-ripened Florida mangos, juicy key limes, warm tomatoes, and fresh veggies. It's a refreshing salsa that adds a burst of sweetness to any dish.
Lemon Asparagus Rice
In this recipe, white rice is infused with lemon and fresh asparagus, making it the perfect side for fish and shrimp. This combination is light, refreshing, and easy to prepare.
Caesar Salad
This is our family's Caesar salad. We've omitted the croutons to make it a perfect low-carb side. It's made with romaine lettuce, lots of Parmesan cheese, creamy Caesar dressing, and a hint of garlic. You can top the Caesar with a piece of roasted mahi or pan fried snapper for the best seafood lunch!
Mixed Garden Salad
A mixed garden salad is a fresh starter or main for every day meals. Fresh greens, garden vegetables, and lemon dijon vinaigrette are all you need for a crisp side for all your meals.
Little Red Roasted Potatoes
Roasted red potatoes are an excellent side for fish and a healthier alternative to French fries. Their crispy, salty exterior and tender interior pair perfectly with breaded fish.
Stovetop Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Cheddar macaroni and cheese is a quick dish, perfect for satisfying cravings for creamy pasta goodness. Made with a rich cheese sauce and elbow macaroni, the one-pot side is a classic favorite that's easy to fix.
Roasted Baby Gold Potatoes
How about trying these crispy roasted baby gold potatoes instead of French Fries? Seasoned with a little olive oil and a blend of spices, they make a delicious pairing with any fish dinner.
Creamy Macaroni Salad
Every fish dinner needs a little macaroni salad! Toss elbow macaroni with chopped carrots, celery, red pepper, and parsley, then mix it with a tangy dressing sweetened with a hint of sugar for an authentic New York deli-style side dish.
Potato Salad with Pickles and Eggs
Creamy pickle potato salad is a Southern classic made with white russet potatoes, chopped eggs, and a simple mayo-mustard dressing with a little pickle juice.
Chickpea Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad
Try this colorful chickpea salad as a healthy side. Mix juicy cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, parsley, olives, and salty feta cheese. Then dress it with a tangy vinaigrette to create this wholesome Mediterranean salad.
Cajun Dirty Rice
Dirty Rice is a dish from Louisiana's Cajun country. Made with ground beef, pork, chicken livers, onions, bell peppers, celery, and spices, this is real Southern comfort food.
Steamed Broccoli and Carrots
Steamed broccoli and carrots make a healthy dish for your crispy fish dinner. It's lightly cooked to retain its bright colors and crisp texture.
Spanish Rice
Spanish rice is a classic savory side dish made with white rice, tomato sauce, onions, bell peppers, and peas. Its rich, savory flavors make it a perfect pairing for many meals.
Tostones with Mayo Ketchup
Tostones are twice-fried plantains and make a perfect crispy side dish for fish dinners. These golden chips served with pink sauce add a fun and flavorful touch to the meal.
3 Bean Salad
This deli-style 3 bean salad combines canned beans with fresh vegetables and a lemon vinaigrette. It's a simple, make-ahead side that tastes even better after marinating for a day.
Black Bean Salad with Key Lime Vinaigrette
Mexican Black bean salad is seasoned with a tangy key lime vinaigrette. Serve with fish over a bed of steamed white rice.
Peach Mango Salsa
Peaches, mangoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime juice, make this salsa a perfect topping for baked or grilled fish. You can also serve it as an appetizer with chips.
Mango Coleslaw
Mango coleslaw is crisp, sweet, and fresh. Tossed with lime, cilantro, and mango, it's an easy side for breaded and fried fish.
Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
Sautéed Garlic Parmesan Green Beans are an amazing side dish for baked or roasted fish. This recipe is quick to pull together, making it a great choice for busy weeknight dinners.
Poached Garlic Mashed Potatoes
These russet mashed potatoes are made with garlic poached in olive oil. This twist on classic garlic mashed potatoes adds a mellow sweetness that complements their creamy, buttery texture. Paired with baked fish, they create the ultimate comfort food. Add steamed broccoli and carrots on the side for a complete delicious meal!
Cilantro Lime Crema
Cilantro Lime Crema is a refreshing sauce that works wonders on baked fish fillets, especially Cajun fish like blackened swordfish. Its cool, tangy flavor helps balance out the heat.
Homemade Tartar Sauce
Homemade tartar sauce, made with mayonnaise, diced pickles, dill, capers, and a squeeze of lemon juice, is a creamy and tangy condiment. Adding fresh herbs enhances its flavor, making it a delicious accompaniment to fish, shrimp, and crab cakes.
Seafood Sauce
Red cocktail sauce isn't just for boiled shrimp-it's the perfect sidekick for all breaded seafood! The tangy kick of horseradish and the blend of tomato and lemon balance the crispy, golden crust of fried fish, shrimp, calamari, and even oysters. Keep a bottle handy for your next seafood platter!
Mayo Ketchup Sauce
This mayo ketchup sauce is creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. It's a classic dipping sauce served with tostones, crispy chicken, and other fried foods.
Honey Mustard Sauce
This honey mustard dipping sauce pairs perfectly with breaded fish, fish sticks, and crispy seafood recipes. The sweet and tangy flavor works especially well with crunchy pan-fried fish fillets.
Mexican Slaw
Here is a recipe for a perfect slaw for blackened snapper fish tacos that adds a delicious crunch to every bite. This Mexican recipe combines fresh cabbage, onions, carrots, and cilantro-lime dressing for the perfect taco topping.
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Adding some roasted sweet potatoes makes any meal better. Roasted sweet potatoes, with their sweet flavor and caramelized edges, pair beautifully with the flavors of the fish.
Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes (Cubed and Whole)
Air fryer sweet potatoes cook fast and turn out soft inside with lightly roasted edges. Make them cubed or whole for a simple, reliable side dish.
Sautéed Tomatoes and Shallots
When you have lots of tomatoes, sauté them with shallots and fresh thyme for a simple side that's ready in 5 minutes! It's a light and easy one-pan side for breaded fish.
On the table, you can put out sliced pickles, deli cole slaw and potato salad, lemon wedges for the fish.
For dessert, a fresh fruit platter loaded with fresh mango, pineapple, strawberries, and watermelon is always a treat And if you're in Keys, a Key Lime Pie is the perfect ending to any meal.
More Seafood Recipes You'll Love
Check out our easy Key West-style fish recipes you'll make over and over again.
- Crispy Pan Fried Mahi Mahi (with almond flour)
- Fried Yellowtail Snapper with Panko
- Air Fryer Snapper with Old Bay and Veggies
- Baked Whole Red Snapper
- Pan Seared Mangrove Snapper with Mango Slaw
- Peel and Eat Shrimp
- Seared Tripletail with Garlic Butter Sauce
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FAQ
Roasted red potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, and roasted sweet potatoes are all fantastic sides for baked fish. Their flavors complement the crunchy texture of the fish and make for a filling meal. You can also serve crispy roasted russet potatoes or even tater tots for a more playful option.
Tartar sauce, cilantro lime crema, and pico de Gallo are all fantastic choices to serve with fish. If you prefer a little heat, a spicy remoulade or a habanero tomato salsa can add a little more heat to your dish.
For a healthy side dish, consider sautéed spinach, cooked broccoli or cauliflower rice. These low-carb options pair well with the light and delicate flavor of baked fish and are packed with nutrients. You could also opt for a chickpea salad or a cucumber and tomato salad for a refreshing and nutritious side.
That's a tough one! There are so many baked fish recipes that it's hard to pick just one. It really depends on what you're craving and the type of fish you have. But don't worry, you can easily find the perfect recipe on Cooking in the Keys. Whether you're in the mood for baked snapper, grouper, or mahi mahi, just head to our fish recipes and explore all the delicious ways to bake your catch!
