Quick Answer: What Are the Best Mexican Side Dishes?
Some of the best Mexican side dishes are— Rice dishes include Cilantro Lime Rice, Fiesta Rice, Mexican Cauli Rice, and Spanish Rice; Bean dishes include Frijoles Refritos, Black Beans, Frijoles Borrachos, and Pinto Beans; Local favorites like Elote, Calabacitas, Quesadillas, and Mexican Pozole; Side Dips like Guacamole, Salsa Verde and Mango Salsa; and Salads like Mexican Corn Salad, Avocado Tomato Salad, and Mexican Coleslaw.
Here are 32 exquisite Mexican side dishes that will make your guests go ‘Gracias Dios’! Each of these dishes departs the feisty Mexican taste and will take your feast to a different height.
Mexican cuisine intrigues me.
Recently, I befriended a chef from one of the Mexican food joints that I visit on a regular basis.
After a deep discussion with him, I have curated this list of all the best side dishes that Mexican cuisine has to offer.
So let’s get to it!
Mexican Side Dishes – Quick Comparison
| Recipe | Total preparation time |
|---|---|
| 1. Cilantro Lime Rice | 30 minutes |
| 2. Frijoles Refritos | 140 minutes |
| 3. Elote | 20 minutes |
| 4. Black Beans | 20 minutes |
| 5. Guacamole | 10 minutes |
| 6. Salsa Verde | 20 minutes |
| 7. Chicken Tortilla Soup | 35 minutes |
| 8. Mexican Pozole | 85 minutes |
| 9. Street Corn Enchiladas | 50 minutes |
| 10. Mexican Loaded Sweet Potatoes | 40 minutes |
| 11. Calabacitas | 30 minutes |
| 12. Mexican Potato Salad | 30 minutes |
| 13. Mexican Cauli Rice | 25 minutes |
| 14. Mexican Coleslaw | 10 minutes |
| 15. Spanish Rice | 45 minutes |
| 16. Mexican Corn Salad | 20 minutes |
| 17. Chicken Taquitos | 35 minutes |
| 18. Guacamole Quinoa Salad | 30 minutes |
| 19. Mango Salsa | 15 minutes |
| 20. Pinto Beans | 55 minutes |
| 21. Avocado Tomato Salad | 30 minutes |
| 22. Burrito Egg Rolls | 30 minutes |
| 23. Cheesy Ground Beef Tacos | 25 minutes |
| 24. Frijoles Borrachos | 30 minutes |
| 25. Fiesta Rice | 40 minutes |
| 26. Mini Phyllo Tacos | 30 minutes |
| 27. Green Chile Creamed Corn | 15 minutes |
| 28. Chili Stuffed Poblano Peppers | 30 minutes |
| 29. Jalapeno Chicken Wrap | 35 minutes |
| 30. Quesadillas | 25 minutes |
| 31. Mexican Cornbread | 50 minutes |
| 32. Mexican Corn Pudding | 50 minutes |
1. Cilantro Lime Rice
Total calories (per 100g): 122.1
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
A perfect side dish for Mexican food, especially Burritos!
This is a bright and flavorful Mexican side dish with soft and fluffy rice.
The combination of cilantro and lime makes this chipotle famed dish quite irresistible.
When Cilantro Lime Rice is made well, one batch of it won’t suffice the gluttony of your guests.
Check out this yummy recipe by Inspired Taste-
2. Frijoles Refritos
Total calories (per 100g): 92
Total preparation time: 140 minutes
Frijoles Refritos, also known as refried beans, is a popular Mexican side dish.
Don’t be fooled by its name, you don’t have to fry the beans twice. Refried Beans in this Mexican cuisine means well-fried beans .
This side dish has a creamy texture and gets its flavors from onion, garlic, and at times Epazote leaves .
Here is a quick recipe by Food Wishes-
3. Elote
Total calories (per 100g): 118
Total preparation time: 20 minutes
Elote or grilled Mexican street corn is a staple side dish at summer get-togethers.
Simply put, it’s grilled corn on the cob with tangy, creamy sauce and sprinkled cheese.
Sweet, savory, tangy, and spicy— Elote is that side dish that keeps everyone happy!
It’s a great choice to serve at cookouts and BBQ weekends!
Check out this easy recipe by Mr. Make It Happen-
4. Black Beans
Total calories (per 100g): 132
Total preparation time: 20 minutes
It is a healthy and simple Mexican side dish.
Easy to prepare, Black Beans don’t consume a lot of time to get ready. While being cooked, they tend to soak up the flavors of onion, garlic, spices, and cilantro.
This flavorful side dish goes well with Mexican foods.
If you are planning a Mexican brunch, pair this side dish with Tacos or Enchiladas.
Here is a quick recipe by The Stay At Home Chef-
5. Guacamole
Total calories (per 100g): 157
Total preparation time: 10 minutes
A traditional Mexican side dish, Guacamole became so popular that it ended up getting incorporated into American cuisine as well.
Making Guacamole is easy; it usually consists of ripe avocados, salt, lime juice, onion, chilis, cilantro, and chopped tomatoes.
Serve this as a dip or add them to your tacos for an unbelievable and salivating experience.
Check out this tasty recipe by Inspired Taste-
6. Salsa Verde
Total calories (per 100g): 38
Total preparation time: 20 minutes
Perfect side dish for nachos, chips, enchiladas, and tacos— Salsa Verde is easy to make and delectable.
It has a tangy and spicy taste and is often served as a chip dip or used as a topping for other Mexican dishes.
Generally, this green salsa is made from roasted tomatillos, chile peppers, lime juice, cilantro, and onion.
When served with the main dish or appetizers, it elevates those dishes from delicious to drool-worthy.
Here is a tasty recipe by Views on the road-
7. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Total calories (per 100g): 50
Total preparation time: 35 minutes
Comforting, hearty, and filling— Chicken Tortilla Soup is a hug in form of food.
Fashioned out of chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and crunchy tortilla chips— this Mexican side dish is perfect, even for a weeknight.
Fresh and healthy, Chicken Tortilla Soup is an easy-to-make side dish and a crowd-pleaser.
Check out this recipe by Cooking Con Claudia –
8. Mexican Pozole
Total calories (per 100g): 96
Total preparation time: 85 minutes
A traditional side dish in Mexican cuisine.
Mexican Pozole is a rich and brothy soup made from pork, hominy, and red chiles.
It is flavorful and delicious and can be had all year round— but it is soul-soothing during winters.
It is often topped with shredded lettuce, onion, radish, avocado, or salsa and it is this addition that creates a balance of taste.
Mexican Pozole as a side dish serves your hunger and satisfaction.
Here is a recipe by Simply Mama Cooks-
9. Street Corn Enchiladas
Total preparation time: 50 minutes
This Mexican side dish is a spiced-up version of everyday enchiladas.
Made with street corn mix and shredded chicken, it is wrapped in the warm embrace of tortilla and topped with spicy salsa verde.
Street Corn Enchiladas are unique and bursting with Mexican Flavors.
Planning a Mexican-themed potluck? Take these as a side dish.
Check out this yummy recipe by Delish- Checkout!
10. Mexican Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Total preparation time: 40 minutes
It’s a delicious and healthy side dish for your Mexican feast.
Sweet potato skins are filled with black beans, corn, pepper and topped with cheese or creamy cilantro sauce.
Mexican Loaded Sweet Potatoes have a sweet and savory flavor combination—spicy bean salsa complements the slight sweetness of potatoes.
This heaven-sent side dish is bound to make your guests believe in God.
Here is an easy recipe by Bianca Zapatka- Checkout!
11. Calabacitas
Total calories (per 100g): 176
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
Even if you are a strict carnivore, this vegetable-based Mexican dish is going to change the way you see vegetarian cuisine.
Calabacitas is crafted from sautéed zucchini, squash, corn, onions, peppers, tomato, and cheese. It is such a satisfying side dish that you’ll lick your bowl clean.
DIY recipe—
12. Mexican Potato Salad
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
A thriving Mexican side dish— Mexican Potato Salad is evidence that the love for potato salad is constant across cultures.
It can be prepared in a number of ways; usually, it is made with potato, corn, black beans, and cherry tomatoes and topped with a spicy sauce or dressing.
DIY recipe—
13. Mexican Cauli Rice
Total preparation time: 25 minutes
Easy to make and flavor robust— Mexican Cauli Rice is Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Low Carb .
This side dish has all the Mexican flavors— it’s spicy, has garlic, cumin, jalapenos, tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, and coriander. Sounds mouthwatering, isn’t it?
DIY recipe—
14. Mexican Coleslaw
Total calories (per 100g): 127
Total preparation time: 10 minutes
Mexican Coleslaw is easy to make and pairs well with everything.
It has a crunchy texture and zesty flavor— a perfect union of taco salad and creamy coleslaw.
When this coleslaw is mixed with cilantro lime dressing, it turns into a yummilicious side dish.
DIY recipe— Checkout!
15. Spanish Rice
Total calories (per 100g): 87
Total preparation time: 45 minutes
An ideal side dish for tacos and enchiladas— Spanish rice, in its essence, is a rice pilaf with Mexican flavorings.
This rice has a nice nutty, toasty flavor and is cooked with onion and garlic. You can also add chicken broth and tomatoes to enhance its flavors.
DIY recipe—
16. Mexican Corn Salad
Total calories (per 100g): 210
Total preparation time: 20 minutes
Best side dish for BBQs and Mexican feasts!
Mexican Corn Salad is smoky, spicy, and tangy. The sweet corn kernels are mixed in flavorful dressing and then topped with cheese and salsa.
As a side dish, it is very flamboyant and satisfying.
DIY recipe—
17. Chicken Taquitos
Total calories (per 100g): 245
Total preparation time: 35 minutes
If you are looking for a festive and flavorful delight— Chicken Taquitos are it.
It is made with shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and creamy salsa rolled in a tortilla which is then fried or baked.
It goes great on the side of Mexican Rice, Refried Beans, or some spicy dip.
DIY recipe—
18. Guacamole Quinoa Salad
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
This veggie-packed, citrusy salad will make your tummy happy without expanding it.
Guacamole Quinoa Salad has a soft and fluffy texture and gets its flavors mainly from the nutty and creamy guacamole.
It can easily be made in multiple batches; therefore, it is a convenient Mexican side dish.
DIY recipe— Checkout!
19. Mango Salsa
Total calories (per 100g): 47
Total preparation time: 15 minutes
Incredibly sweet and spicy, Mango Salsa is that side dish that will make people believe in your food-choice-supremacy!
It is tongue-pleasing and visually appealing; on the bonus side, it is an easy-to-make side dish.
As a side dish, this Mexican delight will go well with fish tacos, guacamole, chips, or black bean taco.
DIY recipe—
20. Pinto Beans
Total calories (per 100g): 115
Total preparation time: 55 minutes
Pinto beans are a popular ingredient in Mexican cuisine.
It can be made in multiple ways but its flavors and tenderness are unmatched.
You can make it as a Crockpot Pinto Beans or as Charro beans; either way, these bad boys make for a zesty and flavor robust side dish.
DIY recipe—
21. Avocado Tomato Salad
Total calories (per 100g): 67
Total preparation time: 10 minutes
This Mexican recipe will make for an excellent potluck side dish.
Don’t confuse it with guacamole; Avocado Tomato Salad has a deeper flavor scheme.
As its name suggests, it mainly consists of avocado and tomato but you can make it more delicious by adding other veggies.
DIY recipe—
22. Burrito Egg Rolls
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
This Mexican side dish will bamboozle everyone’s mind with its flavors.
With crispy outer cover, Burrito Egg Rolls hold within them a delicious filling made from well-seasoned ground meat, black beans, corn, cheddar, and pepper.
You can serve this as a side dish without any hesitations, with some guacamole.
DIY recipe— Checkout!
23. Cheesy Ground Beef Tacos
Total calories (per 100g): 183
Total preparation time: 25 minutes
Taco cravings are real. No kidding.
If you wish to pair your main Mexican dish with something cheesy on the side, then go for Cheesy Ground Beef Tacos.
Not just cheesy, it has a zesty flavorful filling which will surely make you obsessed with having it.
DIY recipe—
24. Frijoles Borrachos
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
Famously known as the ‘Drunken Beans’, this Mexican side dish has earned its fame.
It comprises pinto beans, simmered in Mexican beer, bacon, onions, a few seasonings, and cilantro.
As its ingredients suggest, this side dish will make you a neighborhood food legend.
DIY recipe—
25. Fiesta Rice
Total preparation time: 40 minutes
Nutritious and delicious— Fiesta Rice is a fiesta of flavors.
Made with fluffy rice, black beans, and colorful vegetables, this delicacy is tossed with cilantro lime dressing.
Mexican flavors in a bowl, this side dish goes well with enchiladas and tacos or even chicken or steak.
DIY recipe— Checkout!
26. Mini Phyllo Tacos
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
A filling of ground beef with taco seasonings and cheddar in a crispy phyllo cup— this tasty combination is Mini Phyllo Tacos.
These are heavenly bites that will make people fight over them. You can add salsa to this recipe and take it to the next level.
DIY recipe— Checkout!
27. Green Chile Creamed Corn
Total preparation time: 15 minutes
A quick and easy side dish with a Mexican twist.
Green Chile Creamed Corn is just simple creamed corn with a lip-smacking hot flavor added by green chili.
With a perfect balance between sweet and spicy, this side dish is perfect for BBQ weekends.
DIY recipe— Checkout!
28. Chili Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Total preparation time: 30 minutes
Imagine— comforting and appetizing chili, inside poblano peppers, topped with cheese. Made your mouth water, right?
Packed with bold, savory flavors and humbled with cheese, Chili Stuffed Poblano Peppers are not just a delicious Mexican side dish. They are a blissful experience!
DIY recipe— Checkout!
29. Jalapeno Chicken Wrap
Total preparation time: 35 minutes
Flavorsome chicken strips with onion bits are filled in the halves of the jalapenos which are wrapped in bacon and grilled.
Spicy jalapenos, crispy bacon and tender chicken— Jalapeno Chicken Wrap is a unique Mexican side dish that comes with the disclaimer that ‘they are addictive’.
DIY recipe— Checkout!
30. Quesadillas
Total calories (per 100g): 293
Total preparation time: 25 minutes
Quesadillas are a Mexican side dish made of crispy tortillas filled with molten juicy delights.
These are golden brown tortillas with molten cheese and seasoned filling which can be made with chicken, beef or vegetables are per your choice.
As this recipe can be prepared in big batches, it makes an exemplary side dish.
DIY recipe—
31. Mexican Cornbread
Total calories (per 100g): 210
Total preparation time: 50 minutes
Cornbread with a spicy twist— Mexican Cornbread is rich and flavorful.
Fluffy, buttery cornbread is stuffed with fresh jalapenos and cheddar to create a heaven on a plate.
Delicious and easy to make, the stuffing of this side dish is customizable.
DIY recipe—
32. Mexican Corn Pudding
Total calories (per 100g): 131
Total preparation time: 50 minutes
A creamy and inviting side dish.
Mexican Corn Pudding derives its existence from the iconic Mexican street corn.
Its savory flavor comes from Cotija cheese which can be substituted with queso fresco or feta cheese.
DIY recipe—
The Bottom Line
We hope this wholesome guide gave you a glimpse of the Mexican side dish world.
If you have any tips or suggestions, please let us know below.
Do share this guide with your familia and amigos!