Chicken tacos are a staple in many households, offering a delightful combination of tender chicken, vibrant toppings, and warm tortillas. However, the real magic of a taco meal often lies in the side dishes that accompany the main course. Whether you’re preparing for a simple family dinner or a large gathering, knowing what to serve with chicken tacos can elevate your meal from ordinary to extraordinary. In this guide, we’ll explore a variety of side dishes, beverages, and desserts that perfectly complement chicken tacos.
Before we dive into what to serve with chicken tacos, make sure your chicken is cooked to perfection by using our best chicken tacos recipe
Why Side Dishes Matter for Chicken Tacos
Side dishes are more than just extras on your plate; they play a crucial role in balancing the flavors and textures of your meal. When paired correctly, they can enhance the taste of your chicken tacos and create a more satisfying dining experience. Imagine biting into a juicy chicken taco and following it up with a creamy guacamole or crispy sweet potato fries—the contrast in flavors and textures is what makes a meal truly memorable.
Moreover, side dishes allow you to cater to different preferences and dietary needs. Whether you’re hosting a taco night with friends or preparing a quick weeknight dinner, offering a variety of sides ensures that there’s something for everyone. So, let’s dive into what to serve with chicken tacos to make your meal complete.
Classic Mexican Sides to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Refried Beans: A Perfect Pairing with Chicken Tacos
Refried beans are a classic Mexican side dish that pairs perfectly with chicken tacos. They offer a rich, creamy texture and a deep, savory flavor that complements the spices in the chicken. You can easily make refried beans at home using pinto beans, garlic, onion, and a bit of lard or oil. For a healthier version, you can use olive oil or even go oil-free by simply mashing the beans and seasoning them.
Spanish Rice: A Flavorful Side to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Another staple in Mexican cuisine, Spanish rice (or Mexican rice) is a flavorful side dish that adds a bit of color and spice to your taco meal. The rice is typically cooked with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and a blend of spices to create a dish that’s both savory and slightly tangy. It’s an excellent accompaniment to chicken tacos, providing a starch component that helps balance the meal.
Elote: A Tasty Mexican Street Corn to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Elote, or Mexican street corn, is a popular side dish that’s as delicious as it is visually appealing. The corn is typically grilled and then slathered with a mixture of mayonnaise, sour cream, cheese, and chili powder. The result is a creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy dish that pairs wonderfully with chicken tacos. You can also serve the corn on the cob or cut it off the cob to create an Elote salad.
Guacamole and Chips: A Must-Serve Side with Chicken Tacos
No taco meal is complete without a generous serving of guacamole and chips. The creamy texture of avocados combined with lime juice, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro creates a refreshing dip that complements the flavors of chicken tacos. Plus, guacamole is incredibly easy to prepare and can be customized to suit your taste—add more lime for a tangier flavor or more jalapeños for extra heat.
For a perfect guacamole recipe, visit How to Make Guacamole.
Pico de Gallo: Fresh and Zesty Side for Chicken Tacos
Pico de gallo is a fresh salsa made with diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice. It’s light, zesty, and adds a burst of freshness to your chicken tacos. This side dish is also incredibly versatile—you can use it as a topping for tacos, a dip for chips, or even mix it into a salad.
Healthy Sides to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Grilled Vegetables: Healthy and Flavorful Sides
If you’re looking to add more vegetables to your meal, grilled vegetables are a fantastic choice. Grilling brings out the natural sweetness of vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms, making them a flavorful and healthy addition to your taco meal. You can serve them on the side or even stuff them into your tacos for an extra layer of flavor.
Avocado Salad: A Fresh and Nutritious Side
An avocado salad is another healthy side that pairs well with chicken tacos. This salad typically includes diced avocados, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and a light dressing made from lime juice and olive oil. The result is a refreshing, creamy salad that provides a nice contrast to the spices in the chicken.
Cucumber Salad: Light and Crunchy Sides
A cucumber salad is light, crunchy, and incredibly refreshing, making it an ideal side dish for chicken tacos. This salad usually includes thinly sliced cucumbers, red onions, and a tangy vinegar-based dressing. It’s a great way to add some crunch and acidity to your meal, balancing out the richness of the tacos.
Quinoa Salad: A Protein-Packed Side
For a more filling and nutritious side, consider serving a quinoa salad. Quinoa is a high-protein grain that’s packed with nutrients, making it a great addition to any meal. You can mix cooked quinoa with ingredients like black beans, corn, bell peppers, and cilantro to create a hearty salad that’s both delicious and healthy.
Unique and Creative Sides to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Mango Salsa: A Sweet and Spicy Side
Mango salsa is a unique side dish that adds a sweet and spicy twist to your chicken tacos. Made with ripe mangoes, red onions, cilantro, and jalapeños, this salsa is a burst of tropical flavors that pairs surprisingly well with the savory notes of the chicken. It’s especially great for summer taco nights when fresh mangoes are in season.
Jicama Slaw: Crisp and Tangy
If you’re looking for something crisp and tangy, jicama slaw is the way to go. Jicama is a root vegetable that’s crunchy and slightly sweet, making it perfect for a refreshing slaw. Mix it with cabbage, carrots, and a light lime dressing for a side dish that’s both healthy and flavorful.
Black Bean Salad: A Filling and Flavorful Side
A black bean salad is a protein-packed side dish that’s both filling and flavorful. This salad typically includes black beans, corn, red bell peppers, avocado, and a zesty lime dressing. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a side that’s substantial enough to stand on its own but still complements the flavors of chicken tacos.
Sweet Potato Fries: A Delicious Twist
Sweet potato fries are a delicious twist on the classic French fry. The natural sweetness of sweet potatoes pairs well with the spices in chicken tacos, creating a delightful contrast of flavors. Plus, sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients, making this side dish as healthy as it is tasty.
What to Serve with Chicken Tacos for a Crowd
Seven Layer Dip: A Crowd-Pleasing Option
If you’re hosting a party or serving a large group, a seven-layer dip is a crowd-pleaser that won’t disappoint. This dip includes layers of refried beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese, lettuce, and olives. It’s a great way to offer a variety of flavors and textures in one dish, and it pairs perfectly with chicken tacos.
Queso Fundido: A Warm and Melty Side
Queso fundido is a warm, melty cheese dip that’s perfect for dipping or drizzling over your chicken tacos. It’s typically made with chorizo or other spicy sausages, adding a bit of heat to the creamy cheese. This side dish is rich and indulgent, making it a great option for special occasions or when you want to impress your guests.
Mexican Street Corn Salad: Easy and Flavorful
For a side dish that’s easy to serve to a large group, consider making a Mexican street corn salad. This salad includes all the flavors of elote but in a more convenient form. Corn kernels are mixed with mayonnaise, cheese, lime juice, and chili powder, creating a dish that’s creamy, tangy, and full of flavor.
Beverage Pairings to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Margaritas: Classic and Refreshing
No taco night is complete without a refreshing margarita. This classic Mexican cocktail is made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec, creating a drink that’s both tangy and sweet. You can also try different variations, such as a strawberry margarita or a spicy jalapeño margarita, to suit your taste.
Explore some Margarita Variations to find your perfect match.
Horchata: Creamy and Sweet
Horchata is a creamy, rice-based drink that’s flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. It’s a great non-alcoholic option that pairs well with the spicy flavors of chicken tacos. Horchata is sweet and refreshing, making it a perfect choice for cooling down your palate between bites.
Agua Fresca: Light and Fruity
Agua fresca is a light, fruity beverage that’s popular in Mexico. It’s typically made by blending water with fresh fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, or strawberries, and then sweetening it with a bit of sugar. Agua fresca is a refreshing, hydrating drink that pairs well with any Mexican meal, including chicken tacos.
Mexican Beer: Crisp and Refreshing
For beer lovers, a cold Mexican beer is the perfect companion to chicken tacos. Brands like Corona, Modelo, and Pacifico offer light, crisp beers that don’t overpower the flavors of the food. You can also add a slice of lime to your beer for an extra burst of citrus.
Desserts to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Churros: A Sweet Treat
Churros are a classic Mexican dessert that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They’re typically coated in cinnamon sugar and served with a side of chocolate or caramel sauce for dipping. Churros are the perfect sweet treat to end your taco meal on a high note.
Tres Leches Cake: Decadent and Moist
Tres leches cake is a rich, moist cake that’s soaked in three types of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. This cake is incredibly decadent and flavorful, making it a great dessert option for a special taco night. The light, airy texture of the cake pairs beautifully with the creaminess of the milk, creating a dessert that’s both satisfying and indulgent.
Flan: Creamy Caramel Custard
Flan is a creamy, caramel-topped custard that’s a favorite dessert in many Latin American countries. Its smooth, silky texture and rich flavor make it a perfect complement to a spicy chicken taco meal. Flan is also surprisingly easy to make, so you can prepare it ahead of time and serve it chilled for a refreshing end to your meal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About What to Serve with Chicken Tacos
What Are the Best Side Dishes for Chicken Tacos?
The best side dishes for chicken tacos include classic options like refried beans and Spanish rice, as well as healthier choices like grilled vegetables and avocado salad. Creative sides like mango salsa and sweet potato fries can also add a unique twist to your meal.
Can I Serve Vegetarian Sides with Chicken Tacos?
Absolutely! Vegetarian sides like grilled vegetables, quinoa salad, and black bean salad are excellent choices that complement the flavors of chicken tacos while catering to vegetarian guests.
What Drinks Go Well with Chicken Tacos?
Beverage pairings for chicken tacos can range from traditional margaritas and Mexican beer to non-alcoholic options like horchata and agua fresca. The key is to choose drinks that balance the flavors of the tacos without overpowering them.
Can I Prepare the Sides in Advance?
Yes, many side dishes like refried beans, Spanish rice, and guacamole can be prepared in advance. This allows you to focus on cooking the chicken tacos when it’s time to eat. Just be sure to store your sides properly and reheat them before serving.
Additional Tips for What to Serve with Chicken Tacos
Setting Up a Taco Bar
For a fun and interactive dining experience, consider setting up a taco bar where guests can assemble their own tacos. Offer a variety of toppings like lettuce, cheese, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole, along with different types of tortillas such as flour, corn, and whole wheat. This allows everyone to customize their tacos to their liking.
Customizing Sides for Different Preferences
When planning your sides, think about the preferences and dietary needs of your guests. For example, you can offer low-carb options like cucumber salad or grilled vegetables for those who are watching their carb intake. You can also provide vegan and gluten-free sides to accommodate different dietary restrictions.
Serving Suggestions for Various Occasions
Whether you’re hosting a casual family dinner or a festive party, the sides you choose can set the tone for the meal. For a casual dinner, stick with simple sides like Spanish rice and refried beans. For a more festive occasion, go all out with a seven-layer dip, queso fundido, and margaritas.
Conclusion: Enhancing Your Chicken Tacos
Pairing the right side dishes with chicken tacos can take your meal to the next level. Whether you prefer classic Mexican sides like refried beans and Spanish rice, healthy options like grilled vegetables and avocado salad, or creative sides like mango salsa and sweet potato fries, there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget to include refreshing beverages like margaritas or horchata, and finish the meal with a sweet treat like churros or tres leches cake.
By thoughtfully selecting your sides, you can create a well-rounded meal that satisfies and delights everyone at the table. So the next time you’re planning a chicken taco night, remember these delicious side dish ideas and enjoy a meal that’s both flavorful and memorable.