25 Sides for Tacos (What to Serve on Taco Tuesday)

Wondering what to serve with tacos? Upgrade taco night with these 25 tasty side dishes!

From chips and salsa to Mexican corn on the cob, these sides for tacos are sure to delight.

Call me crazy, but to me, tacos are Mexico’s greatest gift to mankind.

I am in no way undermining Mexico’s contributions to the world, tacos are just that good.

With tacos, you get melt-in-your-mouth flavors. The deliciously seasoned ground beef and sweet tomatoes are tough to top.

Then there’s the spicy peppers, crispy lettuce, sweet onions, and herby cilantro.

Let’s not forget the delectable sour cream, creamy guacamole, hot salsa, and crumbly cheese!

Then imagine all those flavors and textures wrapped in tender tortilla bread.

It’s definitely a party in my mouth! Seriously, whoever invented tacos deserves an award.

What to Serve with Tacos for a Mexican Fiesta!

But while tacos are undeniably awesome, they are hardly a complete meal. You’ll need a few sides for a true fiesta!

The taco sides (and the drinks!) are what make for an unforgettable meal.

So if you’re wondering what to serve with tacos, don’t worry. I’m here to help.

And I’ve rounded up the best! Here are 25 of my all-time favorite sides for tacos.

Whether you prefer the classic Mexican soft taco or the crunchy American hard shell taco, these sides will not disappoint. 

Best Sides for Tacos

1. Chips and Salsa

Let’s start with the classics, shall we? If you will serve tacos at your next feast, chances are you’re going for a Mexican theme, right?

And apart from tacos, what screams more Mexican than a big bowl of chips with a side of salsa? 

You most likely already have some salsa prepared for your tacos, so there’s very little effort required to prepare this.

Not required, but you can also have a bowl of cheese dip and guacamole on the side for plus points. 

Another thing I like about chips is that they’re filling, so they’ll help keep your friends full. Happy tummies mean a happy party!

2. Corn Pudding

If you want to partner your savory dish with something sweet, I highly recommend Mexican corn pudding.

It contains almost all nutritional requirements – sweet corn kernels (veggie), milk, cheese (dairy), and egg (protein).

All that’s missing is carbs, and that’s what makes it perfect with tacos.

Together, tacos and corn pudding make a complete meal, not to mention, taste great together!

3. Mexican Coleslaw

What makes Mexican coleslaw different from regular coleslaw?

It has mostly the same ingredients: cabbage and red onion, but it uses vinaigrette instead of mayo. This is why I love serving this dish with tacos.

First, it’s in keeping with our theme. Second, it gives a healthy contrast to the rich tacos.

But if you prefer the mayo dressing, it’ll taste good with tacos just the same.

Apart from the ingredients I’ve mentioned, Mexican coleslaw also has corn, black beans, chopped peppers, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, and finally, cumin two ways.

That’s double the flavor and double the goodness!

4. Jicama with Mango Slaw 

Jicama is a Mexican yam. Many people are unfamiliar with the crop and its flavor profiles, so they try to stay away from it.

But I highly suggest you give it a chance because it can really make a difference to your dinner.

Jicama tastes like a cross between a pear and a potato and is best paired with sweet mangoes.

Add some honey, red onion, and lime juice, and you get a slaw that’s perfect for your next taco party. 

5. Spanish Rice

Rice is the staple carb in Mexico, so don’t be surprised to see it in many classic Mexican dishes. Tacos being one of them.

While you can serve steamed rice as is, where is the fun in that?

Spice things up a little by adding black beans and green bell peppers to your rice.

Then, flavor it with some cilantro, cumin, and lime. So easy but so delicious!

Want something more fiery and cheesy? Here’s a suggestion: rice casserole with chili and cheese.

To make, mix your choice of rice, sour cream, cheese, cream cheese, and your choice of chiles (I use Ortega chiles in mine). 

Then, spread the rice mixture into a baking dish and pop it in the oven. Cook until the cheese is melted. That’s it!

Want a healthy alternative to rice? Use quinoa instead!

Mix quinoa, black beans, corn, zucchini, tomatoes, and flavor it with fajita seasoning. Delicious and nutritious.

6. Mexican Black Beans

Beans are another staple of Mexican cuisine. And you know what complements well with beans? Corn!

Apart from being a superb tandem taste-wise, together they also make a colorful side. 

Serve a bean and corn salad with your tacos and your friends will love you even more. 

Another tried and tested side dish for tacos is refried beans.

It makes for a great dip for tacos and chips because it’s sweet, earthy, and creamy.

You can also top your tacos with refried beans and get an extra special main.

Plus, these plant-based protein dish is also very filling, so your guests are surely going home with full bellies.

To be clear, refried beans aren’t fried twice, so if you’re worried about it being too fatty, not to worry!

Refried beans, in Spanish, is “frijoles refritos.” The term “refritos” means “fried well,” not “fried twice.”

So, the name might be misleading, but refried beans are only fried (or baked) once after boiling.

7. Mexican Sweet Potatoes

While Mexican sweet potatoes make a lovely side dish to tacos, they could also be deemed as a main.

They’re brimming with so much flavor coming from the sweet potato, corn, a black bean salsa, and a creamy cilantro dressing.

Another way you can prepare sweet potatoes is by roasting them.

Roast with avocado oil and flavor with salt and garlic powder and they’re golden.

While you’re at it, throw in some broccoli onto the grill as well!

Serve with a hot and creamy sriracha sauce to complete the course. To make the sauce, mix mayo, sriracha, honey, and it’s done.

Potato salad is always a hit at parties, but here’s a fun twist: use sweet potatoes instead.

I think this version tastes better than the original because it’s sweeter and has an interesting texture.

To make, mix roasted sweet potatoes, corn, red peppers, black beans, lime juice, and your preferred dressing.

And then, top each serving with Cotija cheese. Perfect!

8. Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

Another must-try side dish to add a Mexican flair to your feast is elote.

It may sound complicated because of its foreign name, but it’s simple to make.

Just grill some corn on the cob and slather it with mayo and sour cream.

Sprinkle it with chili powder and top it with Cojita, feta, or queso fresco cheese.

9. Pepper Salad

Mexicans like pepper a lot, so much so that they use it to make a salad!

This dish is loaded with vitamins and minerals, so if you want a healthier side dish, look no further. 

To make the pepper salad, combine red, yellow, and green peppers and red onion.

In a separate bowl, combine red wine or champagne with minced garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Pour the dressing over the veggies and add some Cotija or feta cheese. Top with cilantro and they’re done.

10. Drinks to Serve with Tacos

Now, enough with the food! Let’s move on to beverages, shall we?

Because apart from thinking of side dishes for tacos, your party will not be complete without a nice beverage to round out the meal.

So, what drinks go well with tacos? I’ve got three suggestions.

Let’s start with a classic lemon iced tea. It’s a cold drink that will make you feel refreshed after that heavy dinner.

It’s imple yet very effective in putting a smile on your friends’ faces.

Next, let’s spice things up with some alcohol!

The best flavors to go with your Mexican dinner are lemon and mint, and a lemon mint mojito is the best cocktail to embody them.

Finally, here’s a healthier option for the fitness nuts out there: red wine.

Make it more exciting by adding a bit of brandy and orange slices and you and your friends will be in for a treat.

11. Chipotle Guacamole

When it comes to the king of guacamole recipes, you really can’t go wrong with this Chipotle copycat version.

It’s made with fresh avocados plus all of the standard fixings like cilantro, lime juice, red onion, and jalapeno.

Served with crunchy tortilla chips, it’s the perfect accompaniment to any Taco Tuesday fiesta!

12. Cilantro Lime Rice

To go along with the Chipotle guacamole recipe above, you should also try this copycat version of their cilantro lime rice.

Not only does it make a perfect side dish for tacos, but you can also add a little bit to your filling to give your meal some extra oomph.

This recipe might be simple, but the combination of flavors from the lime juice and cilantro can’t be topped.

13. Easy Mexican Rice (Restaurant-Style)

Is there a more perfect side dish for tacos than restaurant-style Mexican rice?

With this recipe, you can totally recreate your favorite dinner experience right at home.

This simple dish is flavored with chicken broth, tomato sauce, garlic, and cumin.

It really does a great job at rounding out the kick from spicier taco toppings!

14. Grilled Corn on the Cob

If your next taco night happens to fall during grilling season, you’ll want to serve up this incredible grilled corn!

The charred flavor really brings out the natural sweetness of the corn.

You’ll love having this on taco nights. But it’s a wonderful side dish for burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, and more!

15. Easy Refried Beans

Have you ever ordered an entree at a Mexican restaurant that didn’t come with refried beans?

They’re practically a staple side dish, and they pair wonderfully with any type of tacos.

Made with onions, pinto beans, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and chili powder, they bring a great mix of flavors to complete your meal.

16. Authentic Pico de Gallo

Pico de Gallo is yet another taco topping that belongs on every Taco Tuesday menu!

The combination of tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice bursts with flavor and is so refreshing.

I like to make a batch once a week to keep in the fridge.

I put it on everything from tacos to chicken to salads, and it’s just so delicious!

17. Pineapple Salsa

If you want to add a touch of sweetness to your tacos, whip up a batch of this pineapple salsa.

While it does have a bit of a spicy kick, the sweet flavor of the pineapple works wonders at cutting the heat.

This recipe is also perfect to serve with fajitas, grilled meats, or even just as a snack with crunchy tortilla chips.

18. Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Anyone following a keto diet and counting carbs will flip for this Mexican cauliflower rice.

It gives practically the same sensation of eating traditional Mexican-style rice.

But since it’s made with cauliflower, it’s lighter, leaner, and, of course, has way fewer carbs.

This recipe is also Whole30 and paleo compliant, making it a perfect side for just about anyone.

19. Cowboy Caviar

Serve up this tasty mixture of black beans, corn, black-eyed peas, tomatoes, and jalapenos with your favorite tortilla trips.

While cowboy caviar makes a great side dish or appetizer, you can also feel free to throw some right on top of your tacos.

This recipe is fresh, delicious, and sure to please!

20. Mexican Crispy Roasted Potatoes

If you’re a potato lover like me, then you know that no meal is complete without some sort of spuds thrown in.

These crispy Mexican potatoes are seasoned with parmesan cheese, chili powder, salt, garlic, and other spices.

This oven-baked recipe comes together in under an hour, and the prep time is only 10 minutes!

You can let your potatoes roast away in the oven while you’re prepping the other fixings for your taco bar.

21. Roasted Vegetables

Keep things healthy and simple with some delicious oven-roasted vegetables.

This recipe calls for broccoli, squash, mushrooms, onions, and peppers, but feel free to change it up with whatever veggies you have on hand.

Zucchini and tomatoes also pair well with tacos. You can feel good about serving this nutritious side dish to your family.

22. BBQ Baked Beans

This is yet another recipe that will round out the heat from your tacos with some welcome sweetness.

While baked beans are typically served with dishes like burgers and smoked meats, they really do pair exceptionally well with tacos.

I’ve even been known to throw a spoonful or two on top for an extra kick of flavor!

23. Roasted Mexican Sweet Potatoes

To keep your starches on the healthier side, try these delicious Mexican sweet potatoes!

The sweetness from the spuds balances out the fire of any jalapeno or hot pepper toppings.

Made with a tempting blend of spices like cumin, oregano, and garlic powder, these potatoes will make your home smell so heavenly.

Pop them in the oven and let the magic take over!

24. Homemade Salsa Verde

At my house, I like to serve different varieties of salsa to go along with chips on Taco Tuesday.

This incredible recipe for salsa verde always makes an appearance!

You can make this salsa as mild or as hot as you like, based on how many jalapenos you add in.

And the cilantro and lime juice give it the tartest, refreshing flavor!

25. Easy Tex-Mex Salad

I don’t know about you, but I feel like no meal is truly complete without a salad.

And this Tex-Mex salad goes so well with any type of tacos, from chicken to shrimp to veggies.

You can serve it vegetarian style on top of lettuce. Or, for a heartier meal, add in your protein of choice.

This simple recipe is easy as can be but so full of flavor.