Are you wondering what to serve with tacos? If you are looking to serve them for lunch or dinner, you are in the right place. Here you’ll find over 25 of our most popular and best side dishes including vegetable side dishes, pasta and potato sides, the perfect rice, salads, and more!

A collage of photos with side dishes for tacos.

It always feels like a treat when tacos are in my dinner lineup. Tacos make a versatile and delicious meal that can be enjoyed in many different ways. While the fillings, the salsas and either flour or corn tortillas are undoubtedly the stars of the show, serving the right accompaniments can elevate your taco experience to new heights.

Best Sides For Tacos

Whether you’re hosting a taco party or preparing a family dinner, choosing the perfect side dishes, toppings, and beverages can take your taco meal from good, to a feast!

So, what goes with tacos?

Bean Recipes

In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with serving beans as a side dish for tacos. Here are a few of the best bean side dishes to try.

1. Frijoles Puercos (Party Beans)

Frijoles Puercos
They're refried beans mixed with cooked chorizo, melted cheese and smoky chipotle pepper. These are called "Party Beans" since they're served at most parties in Mexico, making them a great option for your feast!
See Recipe
A white bowl with Frijoles Puercos topped with queso fresco

2. Healthy Frijoles Charros Recipe

A brown bowl with beans and a spoon.
Healthy Frijoles Charros Recipe
Hands down, the best Frijoles Charros Recipe! It’s rich, hearty and so flavorful! The beans are perfectly tender, served as a side or as a main dish. It’s a comforting meal in a bowl, that’s bound to please!
Get the recipe!

3. Frijoles Refritos (Refried Beans)

Frijoles Refritos (Refried Beans) Recipe
These Three-Ingredients Refried Beans are all you need to complete your Mexican meals! Nothing fancy, nothing fake, just great beans from an easy recipe. 
Get the recipe!
Frijoles refritos in a white bowl topped with crumbled queso fresco

4. Mexican Bean Salad

A bowl with bean salad with a spoon in it.
Mexican Bean Salad
This Mexican Bean Salad is quick, easy, and the perfect make-ahead side to serve at dinner parties and potlucks. We also love it for breezy lunches! A fresh cilantro lime vinaigrette makes this protein-rich bean salad a perennial hit.
Get the recipe!

5. Refried Black Beans

Easy Refried Black Beans
An easy Refried Black Beans recipe loaded with flavor and ready in less than 25 minutes! It’s incredibly simple, so you don’t need a lot of time or energy to do it, and the flavor is just so good. 
Get the recipe!
A bowl of black beans with chips on the side

Rice Recipes

Tasty, inexpensive, and very versatile, these rice side dishes are the perfect way to use up your pantry staples. Grab a bag of rice and prepare to be amazed at what you can do with the humble grain and how well it goes with all kinds of tacos!.

6. Mexican Red Rice

A white plate with red rice garnished with cilantro.
Mexican Red Rice (Arroz Rojo)
The rice gets its vibrant red color from the addition of tomato sauce during the cooking process, giving it a delicious flavor. Let me show you how to make it so it’s fluffy each and every time.
See Recipe

7. Arroz Primavera (Mexican White Rice)

Arroz Primavera (Mexican White Rice)
This Arroz Primavera (Mexican White Rice) pairs deliciously with all your Mexican food favorites. It’s full of flavor and I’ll show you how to make it perfectly fluffy each and every time! 
Get the recipe!
A white bowl with Arroz Primavera with a white spoon in it.

8. Arroz Verde (Mexican Green Rice)

A white bowl with arroz verde garnished with cilantro and sliced peppers.
Arroz Verde (Mexican Green Rice)
Arroz Verde is a delicious and healthy rice recipe, perfect for any meal! You’ll love the flavor combo of the poblano pepper with cilantro and spinach. Yum! This beautiful green rice goes with anything, from enchiladas, tacos and even stews. 
Get the recipe!

9. Cilantro Lime Rice (Rice Cooker)

Cilantro Lime Rice (Rice Cooker)
This easy Cilantro Lime Rice is made in a rice cooker for a foolproof recipe. The lime juice and fresh cilantro, gives it a refreshing flavor.
Get the recipe!
A white bowl with cilantro lime rice garnished with slices of lime and cilantro sprigs.

10. Mexican Rice Salad

a close up image of Mexican rice salad
Mexican Rice Salad
This Rice Salad is filled with fresh Mexican flavors and good for you veggies. Have it as a side dish or add some protein to serve it as a main dish!
Get the recipe!

Salads & Vegetables

Whether you’re a veggie lover or just looking to add some healthy goodness to your plate, these vibrant sides will brighten up your meal and leave you feeling satisfied. Some can even act as the main taco filler for delicious vegetarian or vegan tacos.

11. Fish Taco Slaw With Mango

Fish Taco Slaw With Mango
This Fish Taco Slaw With Mango is made with shredded cabbage, mango and a creamy dressing, making it perfect for fish or any seafood taco.
Get the recipe!
Close up image of a white bowl with cabbage slaw and a wood spoon.

12. Rajas Con Crema

A large oval serving plate with chiles poblanos in a creamy white sauce.
Rajas Con Crema (Roasted Poblanos in a creamy sauce)
There’s nothing easier than these Rajas Con Crema. It’s the type of side dish you can make any night of the year, or even special occasions like holidays or get togethers. The cream sauce is silky and delicious plus it goes perfect with the roasted poblano peppers. So good!
Get the recipe!

13. Chiles Toreados

Chiles Toreados (Mexican Blistered Peppers)
Chiles Toreados have an amazing flavor! From the toasting on the comal, to the natural flavors of the chile, to the touch of sauce, DELICIOUS! These are a great addition to any Mexican meal. 
Get the recipe!
Chiles toreados on a silver vintage skillet. side view.

14. Champiñones A La Mexicana

A plate with beans and sauteed champiñones.
Champiñones A La Mexicana Recipe
A warming dish for busy evenings, Champiñones A La Mexicana is easy to pull together. Serve with rice or beans and corn tortillas on the side! This recipe is vegetarian or vegan and gluten free.
Get the recipe!

15. Calabacitas 

Calabacitas (Mexican Style Zucchini)
Calabacitas is a delicious and healthy side dish recipe, perfect for any meal! It just might be the Best Healthy Calabacitas Recipe I’ve ever had. This side dish is good enough to eat on its own, but it pairs well with other Mexican recipes.
Get the recipe!
Calabacitas in a white bowl

16. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chipotle Crema

An oval plate with roasted brussel sprouts.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Chipotle Crema
These delicious Roasted Brussel Sprouts have a crispy outer layer and a tender, juicy center. Season them with a chimichurri sauce to enhance their flavor and you won't be able to stop eating them!
Get the recipe!

17. Cebollitas

Cebollitas Cambray Asadas
Cebollitas Cambray Asadas are the perfect touch to any dish like carne asada, tacos, pollo asado and more. They're very easy to make and are delicious!
Get the recipe!
Green onions on a grill with carne asada on the side.

18. Ensalada De Nopales

A bowl with cactus salad and a cactus paddle on the side.
Ensalada De Nopales (Cactus Salad)
Make this super delicious Ensalada De Nopales drizzled with an easy lime vinaigrette. This nutritious cactus salad is perfect for lunch or as side.
Get the recipe!

19. Roasted Vegetables

These roasted vegetables can be served in tacos but also make a perfect side dish.

Roasted Vegetables
These Veggies Tacos are so fresh and delicious with just the right amount of spices. The veggies are super healthy and can be enjoyed in many ways! You can grill them, roast them or even sautéd in a skillet.
Get the recipe!
close up image of two tacos with veggies inside

Elote (Corn) Recipes

If you’re anything like me, you can’t resist the sweet and juicy goodness of corn. Whether it’s on the cob or off, corn is a versatile veggie that can bring lots of flavor and texture to any meal. Here are just a few that I’m sure you’ll enjoy:

20. Elote Asado

Three corn on the cob with the husk pulled back and crema on top of the corn.
Elote Asado
Elote Asado is the perfect summer treat in everyone's cookout. You can't beat the delicious combination of sweet corn infused with smoky flavors from the grill. Learn how to grill it to perfection!
Get the recipe!

21. Esquite

Esquite – Elote In A Cup Recipe
Esquite (Elote In a Cup) is a delicious and different way to enjoy the famous Mexican Street Corn. Fresh corn kernels are cooked to a buttery, tender and flavorful treat served in a cup.
Get the recipe!
3 glasses filled with con and topped with mayonnaise and crumbled cheese with a slice of lime.

22. Vegan Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad (Dairy, Gluten and Allergy-Free)
Fresh, grilled corn on the cob (elotes), sliced off the cob (esquites), and paired with a cool, creamy, and tangy gluten-free, allergy-free mayo-based sauce with cilantro, lime, and a dash of spice! An easy summer side dish recipe!
Get the recipe!

23. Smoked Elote

Smoked Elote
Smoked elote, or Mexican street corn, is corn on the cob served south of the border style. It makes a perfect side dish with any grilled protein and the smoke flavour really brings out that sweet corn on the cob taste.
Get the recipe!

Pastas

If you’re looking to jazz up your tacos and take it to the next level, I’ve got just the thing for you: pasta side dishes. Even in Mexico, pasta is very popular in many dishes. These delicious additions complement your tacos perfectly, making for a well-rounded and satisfying meal. Let’s dive into some fantastic options:

24. Sopa De Fideo 

A bowl of soup with a spoon on the side.
Sopa De Fideo (Step by step)
Sopa De Fideo is a comforting soup that's easy to become nostalgic for. Like many of our familial recipes, it's a dish whose exact combination of pasta and broth makes us think of our parents or grandparents who lovingly prepared it for us as children.
Get the recipe!

25. Espagueti Verde 

Espagueti Verde (Spaghetti in Poblano Sauce)
Incredible Espagueti Verde packed with flavor and made with super simple ingredients. This Green Spaghetti recipe comes together in less than 40 minutes for a delicious dish that the whole family will love!
Get the recipe!
A bowl with espagueti verde garnished with fresh cilantro.

26. Ensalada De Coditos 

Ensalada De Coditos in a white bowl and a wood spoon. A small jar with bacon on the background.
Ensalada De Coditos (Mexican Macaroni Salad)
This Ensalada De Coditos is undoubtedly a classic Mexican recipe. Elbow pasta is tossed with creamy textures and dotted with crisp celery, carrots, corn kernels and flavorful peppers.
Get the recipe!

27. Mexican Sopa

Traditional Mexican Sopa (Sopita Recipe)
Warming and delicious, this Mexican Sopa (soup) recipe is loaded with comforting goodness and basic ingredients. It’s so flavorful and so easy to make!
Get the recipe!
A bowl of noodle soup in a red broth with a couple of lime slices.

Drinks

From coffee and cocktails to Agua Frescas. Here you’ll find the best drinks and beverages for every occasion. Whether you’re looking for a licuado de platano (banana smoothie) to go with breakfast tacos or refreshing agua fresca, I’ve got you covered!

Salsas

When you think of what to serve with tacos, this also means Salsas! Tacos are built on layers and a good Mexican salsa is a must. Be sure to explore my Salsas collection since they all pair differently depending on the taco.

Mexican street corn, elote with cotija cheese, fresh cilantro and chili.

What To Serve With Tacos (Best Side Dishes & More)

Servings 2 people
Ana Frias
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Mexican Street Corn in a Bowl recipe plus over 25 of our most popular and best side dishes including vegetable side dishes, pasta and potato sides, the perfect rice, and salads.
2 people

Ingredients  

  • 2 large ears corn husked
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle crema
  • 6 scallions, white and light green parts thinly sliced
  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
  • ½ serrano chile (use the whole pepper if you like it spicy) thinly sliced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 large lime, juiced
  • 1 cup freshly popped popcorn optional
  • ¼ cup crumbled cotija cheese

Instructions 

  • Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium heat. Grill the husked corn, turning the ears every few minutes, until the kernels are blistered and the color has gone from pale to bright yellow. Let the corn cool, and then slice the kernels off the cobs.
  • In a medium serving bowl, combine the grilled corn, Chipotle Crema, scallions, cilantro, serrano, garlic, and lime juice and mix well.
  • Sprinkle with the popcorn, Cotija, and more cilantro.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 398mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g

The nutritional information and US conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data. If this is important to you, please verify with your favourite nutrition calculator and/or unit conversion tool.

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Recipe Rating




One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    We eat tacos weekly at our house and I was running out of ideas what I could serve them with. I can’t wait to try to make some of these delicious side dishes! Specially the street corn in a bowl. yum!