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What to Serve with Coconut Rice - 29 Easy Side Dishes

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Coconut rice is one of my favorite rice dishes. My coconut rice recipe features fragrant Thai Jasmine rice, toasted coconut, and canned coconut milk for a rice dish that's flavorful on its own but still pairs well with a variety of other dishes.

A 4-image collage of recipe photos with the words what to serve with coconut rice.

Coconut rice is a wonderful creation all on it's own, where creamy coconut milk lends flavor to fragrant Jasmine rice and helps achieve tender yet fluffy rice.

But its true super power is being a versatile (deliciously addicting!) canvas for other dishes.

Coconut rice is the calm in the storm of spicy curry dishes, and the sweet partner to crispy, breaded bites like popcorn shrimp or chicken katsu.

Whether you're looking for chicken or seafood, or prefer vegan and vegetarian options, this list has got you covered with delicious pairing ideas.

Browse the recipes below for some of my favorite, easy, and tasty ideas.

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​Chicken Recipes

One of the most popular things to serve with rice is chicken. With its ease of preparation and endless ways to flavor it, chicken is the common protein of choice on the side of rice.

From takeout fakeout recipes like cashew chicken and chicken korma, to simple sheet pan lemon chicken, these recipes are reliable and sure to satisfy.

1
Air Fryer Chicken Katsu
Crispy breaded chicken cutlets with 4 ingredients and only 12 minutes of cooking time.
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Sliced breaded chicken on a plate with rice and a small bowl of green onions.
2
Cashew Chicken
Cashew chicken offers a delicious balance of sweet and salty, sticky and crunchy, a pairing for coconut rice. This takeout at home inspired recipe takes just 30 minutes.
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A bowl with rice, cashew chicken and chopsticks.
3
Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
A sweet and spicy dish, this Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken is a quick weeknight meal, made in a pressure cooker.
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Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
4
Pineapple Chicken
This chicken stir-fry pairs the sweetness of the pineapple chunks and juice with sauteed chicken and a savory sauce with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and brown sugar. Pineapple chicken is a great sweet and savory dish that brings a tropical feel when paired with fluffy coconut rice.
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Pineapple stir fry in a skillet.
5
Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken & Asparagus
This sheet pan chicken recipe requires only 5 simple ingredients and delivers a bright and flavorful dish. The best is that the prep couldn't be easier. Simply combine the ingredients on a sheet pan and let the oven do the work.
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A sheet pan with chicken, lemon, and asparagus.
6
Thai Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce
If you've had chicken satay in Thai restaurants, you'll love this at-home version inspired by Thai cuisine. Skewered and grilled chicken is served with a creamy peanut butter sauce.
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A green dish with skewered grilled chicken.
7
Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken
Basic ingredients combined with a can of coconut milk create a delicious cream sauce with a bold lime finish. 
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A cast iron skillet with chicken in a creamy sauce garnished with cilantro leaves.
8
Chicken Tikka Masala
Ladle up chicken tikka masala, a delicious take on an Indian-inspired curry with a rich and creamy sauce and tender chunks of chicken. The best thing is, it only takes 40 minutes and most of that is hands-off time while your pressure cooker does the work.
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A bowl with rice on the right side, and chicken curry on the left side.
9
Chicken Korma
This mild and creamy curry gets the takeout at home treatment in this inspired recipe. This chicken curry is a one-pot wonder and comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect weeknights!
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A bowl with rice and an orange curry sauce.
10
Butter Chicken
Tender chicken is a rich, spiced sauce, this Indian-inspired dish cuts cooking time down to 20 minutes by using a pressure cooker. Delicious and hands-off!
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A bowl with rice on the right and red curry on the left.
11
Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken Stir-Fry (Ga Xao Sa Ot)
This Vietnamese dish is a tasty combination of chicken, fragrant lemongrass, chili, and fish sauce in a quick stir fry.
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A serving dish with stir fried chicken and red bell pepper slices.
12
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
This air fryer recipe delivers chicken with a crispy spiced outside and tender juicy inside, a great weeknight meal in about half an hour.
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A plate with baked chicken thighs and a few lemon wedges.

Seafood Recipes

Seafood fans, this section is for you. Pairing seafood with coconut rice offers a fun mix of texture and flavors.

If you're leaning toward tropical flavors, then pan-seared mahi mahi with a mango salsa has got you covered.

Whether you're here for the shrimp or the salmon, this category is full of great recipes with flavors you'll enjoy on repeat.

13
Pan Seared Salmon
This pan-seared salmon delivers a crispy outside, tender flaky inside with a refreshing lemon finish - all in just 15 minutes!
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A plate with a salmon fillet, rice, and salad.
14
Haddock Florentine
A creamy sauce flavored with sundried tomatoes and Italian seasoning with seared haddock and loads of baby spinach. Perfect with coconut rice.
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A bowl with a cream sauce, 4 fish fillets, and 2 lemon slices.
15
Cajun Grilled Shrimp
This 30-minute recipe turns plump shrimp into a sweet and spicy delight. The shrimp is grilled with onions and bell peppers and offers smoky, sweet, and spicy flavors, the perfect accompaniment to coconut rice.
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Grilled shrimp.
16
Sweet Chili Shrimp Stir Fry
Strike the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with this easy shrimp stir-fry with onion, bell peppers, and asparagus.
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A plate of rice topped with shrimp and vegetables.
17
Creamy Coconut Shrimp Dinner
This creamy coconut shrimp is a 30-minute dinner featuring coconut milk and red curry paste, with a bit of spice and a lot of flavor.
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A bowl with rice on the right and shrimp on the left.
18
Pan Seared Mahi Mahi
A sure favorite to pair with coconut rice for a truly tropical vibe, this pan-seared Mahi Mahi with a mango salsa is quick and tasty.
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A closeup of fish on a fork.
19
Garlic Lime Honey Shrimp
Spicy, tart, and sweet, this garlic lime honey shrimp is done in just 20 minutes - yay for easy weeknight dinner ideas!
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A close up of shrimp and lime wedges covered in sauce.
20
Air Fry Popcorn Shrimp
What happens when you take shrimp, Panko breadcrumbs, and old bay seasoning and air fryer? Crispy, flavorful popcorn shrimp! 
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Breaded shrimp on a baking tray.

​Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes

Whether it's meatless Monday or you regularly follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, these plant-based recipes have something for everyone.

From crispy coconut tofu to chickpea curries to sweet and spicy sweet chili tofu the variety here is plentiful.

These plant-based recipes feature ingredients and flavors that compliment the creamy richness of coconut rice. Get ready to save these recipes for your weekly meal plan.

21
Thai-Inspired Red Curry with Chickpeas
A rich coconut milk curry sauce with chickpeas, made easy in the Instant Pot.
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Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with Chickpeas
22
Chickpea Stir Fry
This quick chickpea stir fry offers a vegetarian twist on your typical recipe and is loaded with fresh vegetables in a savory Chinese-inspired sauce.
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Chickpea and vegetable stir fry on a platter.
23
Instant Pot Vegetarian Chickpea Curry
Using a pressure cooker makes this vegetarian, Indian spiced chickpea curry so easy, perfect for any day of the week.
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Instant Pot Vegetarian Chickpea Curry
24
Sweet Chili Tofu
Sweet chili sauce is an absolute favorite and this delicious recipe pairs tofu with a sticky, sweet and spicy sauce, ready in just 20 minutes.
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A bowl with rice on the left and sauced tofu on the right.
25
Vegan Panang Curry with Tofu & Vegetables
For a vegan option, firm tofu and colorful vegetables are served in a rich coconut curry sauce. Done in 30 minutes.
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A bowl with chopsticks, rice, and a vegetable curry.
26
Creamy Red Lentil Curry
This lentil curry is full of flavor from coconut milk to curry paste, and loaded with protein-packed lentils and colorful vegetables.
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A bowl with rice, lentils, and sliced green onions.
27
Crispy Coconut Tofu
Adding a coating of crispy coconut is a great way to level up your tofu. With its short ingredient list and quick prep time, this crispy tofu brings a satisfying crunch and light coconut flavor, complimenting your creamy coconut rice.
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A plate with dip and coconut breaded tofu bites
28
Black Bean Curry
A fun twist of typical curries, this recipe gives black beans star treatment in a rich and flavorful spiced tomato-based sauce.
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A bowl with rice and vegetable curry.
29
Creamy Vegan Dal
This lentil curry is vegan, protein-packed, and loaded with flavor from creamy coconut milk and a robust blend of spices like curry powder, turmeric, chili powder, and ginger.
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Two bowls with rice and curry on a counter surround by ginger, garlic, and bread.

I'm sure you discovered a lot of new recipes to try in this collection. If you like this type of post, read my What to Serve with Ravioli blog post for more easy family dinner ideas.

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