When I bring home Publix fried chicken, I want sides that make the meal feel complete without creating more work. These six deli slaws and salads are my picks for rounding out the plate.
1. Publix Deli Sweet Coleslaw
A hot box of fried chicken practically calls for this sweet coleslaw, especially at a picnic or backyard supper. The cabbage-and-carrot mix brings a cool, bright break between rich, crispy bites.
Taste: The dressing is noticeably sweet but still balanced, with enough brightness to keep it from feeling heavy. Fresh cabbage provides a firm crunch beneath the light creaminess.
Make It Better: Keep it cold until serving, then spoon it onto the plate at the last minute so the chicken crust stays crisp.
Parting Thoughts: Sweet-slaw loyalists will find this an easy, dependable match for classic fried chicken.
2. Publix Deli Southern-Style Potato Salad
When I want fried chicken dinner to feel complete with almost no effort, this is the tub I reach for. Mayonnaise, hard-cooked eggs, celery, and pickle relish give it the familiar Southern cookout profile.
Taste: Tender potatoes and pieces of egg make every spoonful creamy and substantial. Pickle relish adds sweetness and tang, while the seasoning keeps the mayonnaise-rich base from tasting flat.
Make It Better: Serve a modest scoop beside the chicken and add coleslaw or another crisp vegetable for contrast.
Parting Thoughts: For a traditional Sunday-supper plate, this one earns its spot.
3. Publix Deli Macaroni Salad
Elbow macaroni dressed with celery, pickle relish, and carrots turns a bucket of chicken into an easy family meal. The 16-ounce package is particularly handy for potlucks and casual backyard spreads.
Taste: The pasta is tender and coated in a rich dressing with mild sweetness and tang. Crisp vegetable pieces interrupt the creaminess with a little welcome crunch.
Make It Better: Give it a quick stir before serving to redistribute the dressing, then pair it with spicy fried chicken for a cooling counterpoint.
Parting Thoughts: Picnic-food traditionalists should be very happy with this familiar, filling choice.
4. Publix Deli Carrot & Raisin Salad
For anyone craving a sweeter, fruitier side, this carrot-and-raisin salad brightens an otherwise savory fried chicken plate. Pineapple and creamy dressing make it especially useful in a mixed deli spread where the other sides lean rich.
Taste: Crunchy shredded carrots meet chewy raisins in a sweet, creamy dressing. Pineapple contributes a juicy tropical note that stands apart from the usual mayo-based deli salads.
Make It Better: Serve a small, well-chilled scoop as a palate refresher rather than treating it like the main side.
Parting Thoughts: It is worth choosing when a little sweetness sounds good, but savory-side purists may prefer the slaw.
5. Publix Deli Egg Salad
My trick for stretching a small fried chicken dinner is adding this hard-cooked egg salad as a second cold dish. Made with mayonnaise and pickle relish, it also gives guests something to spread on bread or crackers.
Taste: Chunky pieces of egg give the salad more substance than a completely smooth filling. The creamy mayonnaise base is savory and mellow, with pickle relish supplying a sweet-tangy lift.
Make It Better: Set out crackers or sliced bread and let this double as a side and a spread.
Parting Thoughts: A creamy, protein-rich extra makes sense for a crowd, though it can feel heavy beside several other mayonnaise-based sides.
6. Publix Deli Chicken Breast Salad, Classic
Double chicken sounds excessive, but a small scoop of this cold chicken breast salad can help feed extra guests when the fried chicken box is running low. Celery, pickle relish, and red peppers give it more interest than simply adding another piece of meat.
Taste: The flavor is creamy, savory, and recognizably classic deli-style. Chunky chicken provides substance, while crisp celery adds contrast and pickle relish brings a little tang.
Make It Better: Treat it as an accompaniment rather than a full side: offer a small portion with bread so guests can turn it into a mini sandwich.
Parting Thoughts: Choose this for stretching a gathering meal; skip it when you already have plenty of fried chicken.
