Home Side Dishes That Save Chicken From Feeling Too Greasy
Updated 8/19/2026
When pickled radish alone isn't enough, cabbage, cucumber, perilla leaves, pickles, and kimchi from the fridge cut the grease and keep the meal balanced
Chicken is great for the first few pieces, but as the grease and sauce build up, it's easy to get tired of it by the end. This list gathers sides and vegetables you can pull straight from the fridge when pickled radish alone isn't cutting it โ nothing here requires a special grocery run.
Which side works best depends on the chicken. Strongly sauced styles like yangnyeom or charcoal-grilled pair well with sharp perilla leaves or shredded onion, while plain fried chicken suits something lighter like cucumber or cherry tomatoes. Think about how heavy today's sauce is, then pick from the list below.
01
Cabbage Salad
The first side that comes to mind for chicken. Thinly shredded cabbage tossed with ketchup mayo tastes like a classic chicken-shop side, while a sesame dressing leans nuttier. Go light on dressing for saucy chicken like yangnyeom, and a bit more generous for plain fried chicken โ matching the amount to what's on the plate keeps it balanced.
02
Cucumber Sticks
Less sweet than pickled radish, so it clears the palate more cleanly. Its water content cools down spicy chicken, and it pairs well with salty soy-sauce chicken too. Cut into sticks with a ssamjang or mayo dip, they're easy to reach for again and again โ slice them ahead of time so they're ready the moment delivery arrives.
03
Perilla Leaves
These turn chicken into something closer to a Korean wrap. Their strong aroma cuts through the oiliness, and wrapping a piece of boneless fried chicken with onion and scallion shreds inside a leaf makes for an unexpectedly good bite. With sweeter sauces like yangnyeom, the perilla's sharpness keeps things from feeling cloying by the last piece.
04
Shredded Onion
Especially good with saucy chicken like soy-garlic or charcoal-grilled styles. Its sharp bite cuts through grease and sweetness โ if raw onion feels too strong, soak it in cold water for 5โ10 minutes and drain well before serving. Mixed lightly with soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar into a quick pickle, it's a particularly good match for garlic chicken.
05
Pickled Cucumbers
A solid stand-in when you're out of pickled radish. The sweet-tart flavor and crunch cut through grease and sauce, pairing well with plain fried or boneless chicken. For already-sweet sauces like yangnyeom, pick a tangier pickle so the sweetness doesn't stack up โ a splash of the leftover brine also works nicely stirred into shredded onion.
06
Kimchi
An unexpectedly good match for chicken. Its tang and spice cut the oiliness, and eating it alongside rice makes the chicken feel like a proper side dish itself. It pairs especially well with plain fried or grilled chicken that isn't heavily sauced; with already-salty yangnyeom chicken, a smaller portion works better.
07
Spicy Radish Salad (Muchae)
A more distinctly Korean pairing than pickled radish cubes. The radish's crunch and tangy-spicy seasoning cut the grease, and it fits naturally into a rice-and-side-dish spread. Keep the seasoning light on sugar โ leaning on vinegar and chili flakes instead โ so it doesn't compete with the sweetness already in the chicken sauce.
08
Cherry Tomatoes
The simplest option to prepare, and it adds color and freshness to the table. Their juiciness and tang cut through the greasiness, and kids tend to eat them without complaint. Served salad-style alongside plain or boneless fried chicken, they lighten the whole meal โ and they work just as well tossed into a next-day salad made from leftover chicken.
Frequently asked questions
What's the closest substitute when there's no pickled radish?
Pickled cucumbers come closest โ the sweet-tart flavor and crunch play a similar role in cutting through grease and sauce. For already-sweet styles like yangnyeom, though, choose a tangier pickle rather than a very sweet one.
What pairs best with spicy chicken?
Juicy options like cucumber sticks or cherry tomatoes help cool the palate. Adding another spicy side like kimchi on top of spicy chicken can pile the heat up, so lean toward fresh, water-rich vegetables when the chicken itself is already hot.
How many sides should I prepare for a group?
There's no fixed number, but one or two fresh sides alongside a heavily sauced chicken is usually enough. Starting with something quick to prepare, like cabbage salad or cucumber sticks, is an easy way to begin.
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