It’s easy to think of all the delicious entrees if you’re craving a Mexican-inspired dinner… burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and so much more! But these Mexican side dishes are the perfect way to round out a wholesome, nutritious meal your family will love.
Mexican sides are so much more than the classic rice and beans! They can be fresh, vibrant and full of wholesome ingredients.
Choose the best options for your crew with 20 of the BEST Mexican side dishes in this complete recipe guide!
The craving for Tex Mex dishes is real in our house! We love them all – from my favorite tacos to homemade enchiladas and even breakfast casseroles, we really enjoy a little fiesta flavor around here.
The struggle is always about what to serve with those Mexican entrees. I can always think of a main dish, but I don’t always come full circle with a side dish plan!
That’s what this round-up is all about! It’s a great post for you to pin, and come back to when you’re craving a little fiesta flavor for dinner. These Mexican side dishes are full of everything you crave!
Use the drop down Table of Contents menu to navigate this post. Click through for each individual recipe card and enjoy!
Mexican Side Dishes
Whether you’re planning an incredible Cinco de Mayo menu or just working on a game plan for taco Tuesday, you’ll be thrilled with the options here!
First, a few of my favorite tips and answers to your burning questions.
Tips
- A salad makes a perfect side dish! It’s such a fresh, nutritious way to start a meal or serve as a side.
- Serving a few vegetarian side dishes will help cover a variety of lifestyles, no matter what type of entrée you serve!
- Need more Tex Mex inspiration? Learn how to set up a taco bar, the best cheeses for tacos, the best salsa recipes and even our family favorite walking tacos!
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, many Mexican restaurants (in the US) tend to serve various versions of rice and beans. You’ll also find side salads, soup, fideo, elote, cornbread and so much more!
If you’re serving up a Mexican themed fiesta, consider serving churros or tres leches cake. Flan is also a very popular and well-loved dessert!
Mexican Side Dishes
Click through for all the details, and find the printable recipe card at the end of each post.
Corn Side Dishes
Salads
Veggies
Guacamole Recipes
Cheesy Side Dishes
Chips and Toppings
Fiesta Cocktails
Mexican Side Dishes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic minced
- ⅛ cup queso fresco finely grated
- 4 ears of corn shucked and washed
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk mayo, lime juice and garlic. Stir in queso fresco.
- Grill corn (indoors in a skillet with a touch of olive oil flipping every 3 minutes for 9 minutes or outdoors on the grill)
- Remove from cob OR place on platter and cover with mixture.
Julie’s Tips
Mexican Street Corn Tips and Variations
You can make Mexican Street Corn with fresh corn on the cob, frozen corn or canned corn. Of course fresh is always best for maximum flavor.- I prefer to eat it directly off the cob for ease, but you can also remove corn kernels from the cob using a knife and toss Mexican Street Corn with all ingredients for the ultimate side dish!
- You can make Mexican Corn on the Cob with cotija cheese, but I prefer queso fresco because it’s easily accessible.
- If you prefer, you can substitute mayonnaise with Mexican crema or sour cream. Try this savory cilantro crema for another delicious option!
- If you don’t like cilantro, you can garnish with used lime wedges. They add a little color to your platter. Another option is to sprinkle a little chili powder over the Mexican Street Corn.
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
