What to Serve with Walleye: 21 BEST Side Dishes for the Perfect Fish Dinner
What to serve with walleye! Here are the best side dishes for grilled or fried walleye to make a totally delicious fish dinner!
How do you like to prepare this freshwater fish?
One delicious way to prepare pan fried walleye is to coat with egg, and dredge in flour, then bread crumbs.
Place fillets in a large skillet over medium heat into hot canola oil or a tablespoon of butter.
If you prefer a healthier, non-fried method you can serve baked walleye, cooked on a sheet pan in the oven.
Or you can get it crispy in the air fryer instead of in oil or butter or make grilled walleye on the BBQ grill.
Another great way to serve it is to make fish tacos, or even a walleye sandwich!
What are good sides for walleye?
Now that you’re ready to cook up your favorite walleye recipe, you need side dish ideas so you know what to serve withit.
I’ve put together a list of the best side dishes for walleye, so you’ll be armed with tons of ideas!
1. Lemon mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes with lemon and garlic is a delicious twist on traditional mashed potatoes.
They have that gourmet, rustic look that makes them perfect for serving company, but they’re easy enough for a weeknight meal.
We could all use some more potato recipes in our arsenal!
2. Baked beans
It doesn’t get much easier than doctoring up a can of baked beans.
A little BBQ sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar will do the trick.
Or make it super hearty by adding bacon.
You can even prep them ahead of time and let them simmer in your slow cooker until dinnertime.
3. French fries
French fries are one of those classic potato side dishes for fish, and fried fish especially.
You can get a bag of frozen fries crispy in the oven or air fryer, or make a batch homemade out of Russet potatoes.
4. Green beans
Simple skillet green beans are one of the easiest vegetable side dishes for seafood and many other meals.
Fresh string beans, garlic, and olive oil is all you need.
The bright green color will add some much needed vibrancy to the dinner table!
5. Caesar salad
Traditional caesar salad dressing actually contains anchovy paste, which makes it an excellent pairing for any fish entree.
Romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, and dressing somehow becomes extra special when combined in this delicious salad.
Almost everyone likes it, so you really can’t go wrong!
6. Sweet potatoes
Baked sweet potatoes can take on a savory, spicy, or sweet flavor, depending on which toppings you choose.
And if you want to change it up, you can opt for sweet potato fries, mashed sweet potatoes, or diced roasted sweet potatoes.
7. Brussels sprouts
Roasted brussel sprouts with garlic and balsamic are one of those healthy sides for fish that are just plain better than you’d expect.
If you have nightmares about chewy, cabbage-y brussel sprouts from childhood, these aren’t those!
Because they’re roasted, the edges get crispy while the insides stay tender. They’re really well seasoned, and will surprise even the biggest meat eaters at the table.
8. Bean salads
Fresh corn and bean salads are very light, colorful, and flavorful.
This black bean and corn salad has a zesty cilantro lime dressing that is downright addicting.
It’s an inexpensive and easy make-ahead side dish for all kinds of summer meals.
9. Rosemary roasted potatoes
Rosemary roasted potatoes are buttery and a little bit crispy, and chock full of comfort food flavor.
Once you have them prepped, they cook themselves in the oven, leaving you plenty of time to cook the walleye.
This versatile side dish might just become a regular in your rotation.
10. Angel hair pasta
Angel hair pasta with garlic and parmesan only takes about 10 minutes to make, but has that restaurant feel that will make people think you cooked all afternoon.
Even though it’s pasta, it’s surprisingly light and silky.
Be sure to make extra, because everyone will be wanting seconds!
Read Next: 15 Refreshingly Easy Seafood Pasta Salad Recipes
11. Potato salad
This potato salad recipe has all the usual characters that make it a classic.
Mustard, pickle, and hard boiled eggs (plus a few secret ingredients) make this the best potato salad out there.
If you think of potato salad only in the summertime, keep in mind that everyone loves it, and will be happy to see it any time of year.
And if you don’t want to make it from scratch, pick up a container from your grocery store’s deli!
12. Cheesy cauliflower rice
Easy cheesy cauliflower rice is a great choice for both low carb keto dieters and carb lovers.
It’s so creamy and decadent that no one will even realize that they’re eating cauliflower.
It eats more like macaroni and cheese than rice, so watch even the pickiest eaters gobble it up.
13. Greek potatoes
Greek lemon potatoes cook in a lemon garlic broth that infuses them with flavor.
Then they get crispy in the oven, but the insides stay super tender.
The lemon flavor makes them the ideal side dish for walleye and other fish recipes.
They’re probably unlike any roasted potato you’ve ever had!
14. Grilled or roasted vegetables
Roasted red peppers, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and onions somehow become very special when baked on a sheet pan in the oven.
These easy oven roasted vegetables are a quick and easy side dish that cooks in about 20 minutes.
Don’t be fooled by their healthy appearance though, grilling or roasting the veggies caramelizes them and makes them taste so, so good.
15. Quinoa
Garlic mushroom quinoa is so easy and delicious that you’ll seriously want to make it all the time.
Not only does it make ‘clean eating’ taste good, but it uses just a few simple and budget-friendly ingredients.
16. Corn on the cob
Food in its simplest form, corn on the cob is one of nature’s many gifts to us.
It’s somehow so juicy, sweet, and tender, and at the most requires a little butter and salt.
Prepare to hear “Oooh, is that corn on the cob?” when people see what you have in that big, boiling pot.
17. Onion rings
Once you try these homemade, extra crispy onion rings, you’ll never look for another recipe again.
You probably have all the ingredients on hand already, so why not surprise everyone with this special treat!
18. Coleslaw
Fried fish and coleslaw is a classic pairing that never gets old.
Make life easier by picking up a bag of pre-shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix at the store.
The simple homemade dressing makes all the difference.
Just be sure to make it earlier in the day, so all the flavors have a chance to meld together into perfection.
19. Garlic parmesan asparagus
Garlic parmesan roasted asparagus is a surprisingly addictive side dish, so you might just start making it all the time.
Roasting the asparagus brings out the natural sweetness, and cuts out the bitterness. The garlic and parm makes it all super flavorful.
20. Hush puppies
Hush puppies are a fun Southern side dish with crispy edges, and sweet, tender centers.
These golden brown delicacies are made from a simple, seasoned cornmeal batter.
Be sure to make plenty, because everyone will be gobbling them up!
21. Fried okra
If you’ve never had fried okra, boy are you in for a treat.
Okra on its own isn’t high on anyone’s favorite foods list, but fry them into delicious golden nuggets, and they’re life changing.
Add it to your walleye dinner menu and your guests will be going for seconds and thirds.
Ready to make these side dishes for walleye fish?
I hope this list of walleye side dishes has given you lots of inspiration for what to serve.
In addition to these side ideas, don’t forget to serve tartar sauce as a dipping sauce, and lemon wedges for anyone who wants a squeeze of lemon juice on their white fish filets.
Topping them with fresh herbs (such as fresh dill) or green onion can add even more flavor.
Cheers to a fabulous walleye dinner!
What to serve with walleye! Here are the best side dishes for grilled or fried walleye to make a totally delicious fish dinner! 1. Decide which side dishes you'd like to serve with your walleye dinner
Best Side Dishes for Walleye
Ingredients
Instructions
2. Gather the ingredients and prepare the meal
3. Enjoy your fish dinner!
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