Need some sides for your Mexican fiesta? Don’t fret! We have all the sides you need to complete your meal – appetizers, soups, salads, dips, salsas – you name it!
For more collections: Mexican Dinner Ideas, Mexican Desserts, Mexican Soups, Mexican Beef Recipes, Mexican Appetizers
Our Favorite Mexican Sides
Whether you’re making a weeknight dinner for your family, or hosting a Mexican themed fiesta with friends you can find the perfect side dishes to go along with the rest of your meal. We have so many favorites on the site and have rounded up the best ones to go with your meal.
If you are planning a party I’ve gathered some helpful tips:
Once you have selected your main dishes you can start choosing the side dishes.
- Sometimes side dishes can also be used as appetizers or even a main dish when making a simple meal. If you’re creating a large menu be sure that the courses don’t overlap.
- Use seasonal ingredients if you can. They’re often fresh and cost effective.
- Find side dishes that can be prepped and/or made ahead of time.
- Be sure to test out new recipes before serving so you can work out any kinks.
- For 6 or fewer guests have 3-4 different sides, then add one more side for every 5 guests.
Keeping Food Hot
Many Mexican Dishes are warm and it can be tricky to figure out how to keep all your different dishes warm while prepping the food and throughout the evening.
- A cooler is not just for keeping food cold. Its insulation will help retain heat.
- Use the grill. A gas grill, with a thermometer, will work to keep foods warm. Keep the internal temp around 200°F.
- A crock pot set to low or warm.
- Use an insulated food carrier
- Chafing Dishes
Our Go-To Sides
Really, we have so many favorites, but these are the ones we use most often when we are serving Mexican food.
Bread
Mexican Cornbread Recipe
This Mexican Cornbread (AKA jalapeño cornbread) is light and fluffy and is filled with cheddar cheese and jalapeño. It has a bit of a nip and a lot of flavor.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
Mexican Street Corn Recipe
Delicious Mexican Street Corn - a copycat version from Torchy's Tacos filled with butter, cheese, chili powder and cilantro.
Total Time: 13 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
Sour Cream Rice Recipe
Mexican Sour Cream Rice filled with cheese, corn, green chiles, sour cream and cilantro. This delicious side dish is simple and great with any meal!
Total Time: 55 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
Spanish Rice Recipe
Restaurant-Style Spanish Rice (aka Mexican Rice), that is easy to make and tastes like it came straight from the restaurant, and is the best side dish to any Mexican entree.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Refried Beans Recipe
Get perfectly creamy restaurant style refried beans by adding just THREE extra ingredients to your canned beans! These refried beans are perfect served as a dip, side, or filling for burritos and tacos!
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Main Course
Homemade Flour Tortilla Recipe
Homemade Flour Tortillas made from 5 Ingredients - butter, warm water, flour, baking powder, and salt! They're so soft, easy to make, and can be used for burritos, tacos, quesadillas, however you like!!
Total Time: 31 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side Dish
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
This recipe tastes just like Cafe Rio and Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice! If you've ever been to either of these restaurants, you know how delicious cilantro rice is inside a salad, burrito, or taco. Now you can make this delicious lime rice from home!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Loaded Nachos Recipe
Piled high Loaded Nachos are the perfect game day food and appetizer. They're easy to make and customize with your favorite nacho toppings!
Total Time: 27 minutes
Check out this recipe
Mexican Salads + Soups
We love any dish full of Mexican spices. Some of our favorites are soups and salads. We have a whole post dedicated to Mexican Soups, but when we we are looking to add one of these to the menu, we have a few that we love most. Here they are:
Salad
Southwest Salad Recipe
Simple and delicious Southwestern Chopped Salad filled with chicken, peppers, beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado and topped with a homemade cilantro ranch dressing.
Total Time: 15 minutes
Check out this recipe
Salad
Southwest Quinoa Salad Recipe
Southwest Quinoa Salad is bursting with freshness. It's got a ton of texture going on and a whole lot of flavor!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Check out this recipe
Salad
Chicken Taco Salad Recipe
Crunchy and fresh chicken taco salad is a weeknight dinner dream! Easy, flavorful, and a recipe that everyone will enjoy.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Check out this recipe
Soup
Mexican Soup Recipe
Filling and Flavorful Mexican soup is packed with chicken, beans, and veggies with just a little bit of heat!!
Total Time: 50 minutes
Check out this recipe
Soup
Albondigas Soup Recipe
Albondigas soup is a delicious Mexican recipe filled with meatballs, vegetables and spices! Packed full of flavor, this simple Albondigas soup is sure to become a favorite.
Total Time: 50 minutes
Check out this recipe
Main Course, Soup
Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
The BEST slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is filled with chunks of chicken, beans & corn. It is easy to make and full of flavor!
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Check out this recipe
Soup
Sopa de Fideo Recipe
This quick, simple and delicious Sopa (soup) de fideo is a family favorite. It's also cheesy and flavorful! Just 5 Ingredients and you'll have dinner in no time.
Check out this recipe
Dip Anyone?
What’s a Mexican meal without tortilla chips and dip?!
We always have them (and our favorite are Juanita’s – if you haven’t try them, you must!) Along with the chips we love to serve some dips and salsas. We have a post with ALL our Mexican appetizers, but if we only had to pick a few to complete the meal, here are our favorites…
Appetizer
Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
Just four ingredients make for the BEST and yummiest chili cheese dip! Melty cheese and hearty chili are so tasty together! It's the perfect appetizer for any party.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Avocado Lime Ranch Dip Recipe
It only takes a small handful of ingredients and a few minutes to whip up some creamy and delicious Avocado Lime Ranch Dip! Filled with cilantro, lime juice, and avocado, this ranch dip is perfect for dipping chips or topping Mexican dishes!
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Guacamole Recipe
Spicy, chunky simple guacamole is so easy and addicting, it's sure to be a crowd pleaser! You won't be able to stop eating it.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Dressing
Cafe Rio Dressing Recipe
Copycat recipe for Cafe Rio's Ranch Dressing - we LOVE this stuff! It's made with cilantro, mayo, ranch seasoning, sour cream, & jalapenos!
Total Time: 5 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Cream Cheese Bean Dip Recipe
This Cream Cheese Bean Dip recipe is our new favorite Mexican dip! With sour cream, cream cheese, Mexican cheese, refried beans, and salsa, it is the perfect dip to eat with chips, tacos, or any other Mexican dish! SOO good!!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe
Jalapeño Popper Dip is packed with 4 kinds of cheese, just enough spicy Jalapeños to give it a kick, and a golden crispy topping. This dip is sure to be a hit at your next party!
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Appetizer
Queso Blanco Recipe
The best and easiest queso blanco recipe out there. This delicious dip is made in no time, and will be the perfect addition at your next get together, especially served with tortilla chips and veggies.
Total Time: 15 minutes
Check out this recipe
Don’t Forget the Salsa!
Can’t forget the best part – the salsa!! These are some of our go-to’s for any fiesta we have.
Appetizer
Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe
Black Bean and Corn Salsa - one of our favorite dips and appetizers. Everyone loves this salsa filled with tomatoes, avocados, corn and black beans!
Total Time: 10 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Tomatillo Salsa Recipe
Easy tomatillo salsa is spicy and delicious! It's great with tortilla chips or as a sauce on top of your favorite Mexican dishes!
Total Time: 20 minutes
Check out this recipe
Appetizer
Homemade Salsa Recipe
This is such an EASY homemade salsa recipe! All you have to do is throw diced tomatoes, rotel, cilantro, lime juice, onion powder, jalapeños, and cumin into your blender, and blend! It goes perfectly with tortilla chips, tacos, enchiladas, or any other Mexican food!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Appetizer
Strawberry Salsa Recipe
You can't go a summer without eating this sweet and spicy strawberry salsa! The flavors are so unique. Grab some cinnamon and sugar chips or your favorite tortilla chips and dig in!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Appetizer
Mango Salsa Recipe
This sweet and savory Mango Salsa is perfect with chips or any Mexican meal. It's filled with sweet pineapple, cilantro, mangoes, onion, cilantro and jalapenos making it full of flavor and simple to make.
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Appetizer
Salsa Verde Recipe
Sweet Salsa Verde - a delicious salsa recipe that is sweet and takes just minutes to make. Ingredients include tomatillos, jalapenos, sugar, & cilantro.
Total Time: 6 minutes
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Appetizer
Chili's Salsa Recipe
The restaurant salsa you know and love, made at home anytime you like! This Chili's Salsa copycat recipe is literally made in minutes with the help of a blender.
Total Time: 3 minutes
Check out this recipe
Side dishes are usually simple, and we think you’ll find these side recipes just that – easy and delicious for your next Mexican dinner!
