What To Serve With Tacos (7 Ultimate Pairings)

In this article we’re going to discuss something a little different than the many recipes on recipefairy.com. We’re going to be looking at the perfect pairing and sides for tacos. Nothing hits the spot like a plate of homemade tacos. But what to serve with tacos? There are many great Mexican side dishes and here is a look at just five classics that will work great with any taco main dish. Lets dig into great side dishes to serve with tacos.

Best Taco Sides Dishes

If you’re wondering what goes with tacos, then this list is going to provide you with the ultimate taco side dishes to accompany your meal.

1. Chips and Salsa

Chips and salsa is a general go-to side dish for all Mexican dishes. Nothing accentuates the flavors and texture of the main dish like the satisfying crunch of a perfectly fried tortilla chip dipped in some spicy, sweet, or tangy salsa.

It’s something that many people crave immediately when they think of Mexican food, and some people feel that no Mexican food meal is complete without at least a small amount of chips and salsa. The greatest thing about chips and salsa is that you can have it as a side dish or snack every single day and not run out of different salsa options for years.

There are so many different salsas that you can make homemade or buy pre-purchased at the store, you will never get tired of it!

Salsas can be sweet, spicy, tangy, or a little bit of all three. We recommend making your own for the ultimate authentic salsa experience. You can make your own based on a recipe or just experiment with whatever veggies you have in your fridge. Just chop your ingredients up and puree them and you will have a great and unique salsa to share with your meal.

While most salsas traditionally have a tomato base, there are also plenty of other great salsas that don’t, such as mushroom salsas, mango salsas, and pico de gallo. There is so much to experiment with when it comes to pairing different salsas and chips with all varieties of tacos, you will never get bored!

2. Chips & Guacamole

Of course, besides salsa, you can also pair tortilla chips with a hearty portion of guacamole. Just like with salsa, guacamole can be pre-purchased, sometimes even freshly made, but it is once again the best experience to make your own.

The laws of making guacamole are a little more strict than the laws of making salsa, as guacamole is always made from an avocado base. Besides that, you are free to experiment. Guacamole can be as spicy or as mild as you prefer, depending on the types of peppers you choose and how many you use. Besides guacamole and peppers, traditional guacamole ingredients include onion and cilantro.

Also, did we mention how easy it is to make your own tortilla chips? Even if you aren’t making your own tortillas (which you can), you can buy ready-made tortillas at the store, cut them into triangles, and fry them up in your favorite cooking oil to make the tastiest tortilla chips possible. Impress friends and family with these unique homemade tortilla chips that can’t be bought at any store!

3. Beans and Fried Rice

Besides chips and salsa, the other Mexican staple side dish most people picture when they picture Mexican food is beans and fried rice. And for good reason! Beans and fried rice are not only delicious but are a slightly healthier alternative to fried tortilla chips and salsa. And just like with salsa, there is plenty of room to experiment with different types of beans and different types of rice. Most commonly, refried beans you will find at Mexican restaurants are going to be made from pinto beans but black beans are also fairly common.

You can buy beans already refried in the canned goods section of your local grocery store, but making refried beans at home is incredibly easy and most people feel that the homemade taste and texture are worth the small effort. Simply cook your beans like normal, mash them up, and fry them in a pan with your favorite cooking oil. Some people lightly spice them while others will even add some salsa to accentuate their flavor. You can also top your beans off with a little bit of melted cheese!

For the Mexican fried rice, you can buy packets in the store that come with all the ingredients you will need, including rice and pre-packed spice packets, but most people feel that it is easier and more fun to simply buy the rice and spices separately.

This allows you to make the rice taste anyway you choose, personalizing the flavor. To make fried rice, simply coat a pan with your favorite cooking oil, heat it to medium-high heat, and stir in the rice. Fried rice is traditionally made with a tomato sauce base and from there you can add any spices you desire. Some other traditional ingredients for fried rice are corn, chopped peppers, garlic, and onion.

4. Baked Sweet Potatoes

For those looking for a more subdued and health-conscious side dish for their tacos, baked sweet potatoes with a little bit of salsa are a perfect match. Simply bake the sweet potatoes like normal with a little bit of olive oil, take them out, cut them in half, and adorn them with either homemade or store-bought salsa. Some sweet and tangy salsas would be especially good here.

The taste and texture are the perfect accompaniment to any kind of tacos, and the extra fiber and nutrients the sweet potatoes bring to the table make this one of the best side dishes out there.

5. Roasted Zucchini with Corn

Another great vegetable to pair with your tacos is zucchini. Zucchini can be prepared in all different ways (and even used in salsas) but for this article, we are going to focus on roasted zucchini. Just like with sweet potatoes, the taste and texture of zucchini work perfectly with the flavors of any taco dish. Simply dice the zucchini up, coat in a baking dish with a little bit of olive oil, add a little bit of corn and salsa, then throw in in the oven while you’re frying up your meat and tortillas for your tacos. This is an easy dish that is also very healthy and will make a great substitute for beans and rice or chips and salsa for those who have tacos often.

6. Texas Roadhouse Seasoned Rice

The texas roadhouse rice recipe that we’ve whipped up is something special and should accompany any dish, whether it’s tacos, boiled chicken or any other meal. The seasoned flavors will make you question why you haven’t added this to your taco Tuesday dish. One thing for certain is this will become a regular addition to your tacos once you try the recipe out for yourself. Quick to prepare and delicious in nature, you should definitely consider adding this the next time tacos need a pairing on your home menu.

7. Coleslaw

Another amazing side dish for tacos has to be coleslaw, not just any but specifically our copycat kfc coleslaw. This creamy mixture is so flavorsome and compliments any taco dish around to give you the best possible add on to a meal. Have it inside the tacos or accompanying on the plate, it doesn’t matter, it will bring an extra oomph to your dish. Although the last addition in our segment but certainly reigns above many of the other options in my opinion.