Enchiladas are a classic Mexican dish, but deciding on the perfect side dishes can be tough! In this post, I’ll cover the BEST sides for enchiladas. From rice and beans, to tortilla chips and salsa, and more!
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Whether you’re looking for something light or something more substantial, there are plenty of side dish options to choose from in order to build a perfect meal around your enchiladas. For a rich, Mexican-style dinner, opt for Mexican rice, refried beans and roasted vegetables. Alternatively, try keeping it simple with a side of tortilla chips and salsa.
What Should be on the Menu for Enchilada Night?
When serving enchiladas for dinner, there are 3 essentials in my book:
- An amazing homemade sauce – like chipotle crema or cilantro lime sauce. Here are even MORE tasty Mexican sauces!
- Margaritas. Keep reading below to find some great options!
- And, of course, some really delicious side dishes.
Be sure to check out these 25+ Mexican Desserts too!
But, what else goes with enchiladas for a side?
Here are 30+ AMAZING sides for enchiladas!
Healthy Sides for Enchiladas
I’m serving up these Oven Roasted Mexican Carrots elote style. Similar to how you’d dress grilled street corn, these delicious tender carrots are topped with lime, crumbled cheese, jalapenos and cilantro. So crazy good!
Oven Roasted Mexican Carrots
This easy Arroz Verde (Green Rice) recipe is inspired by the classic Mexican side dish. Fluffy white rice is mixed with green veggies and lime juice, lending a vibrant green hue and delicious, zesty flavors! Pair it with chicken, beef, or seafood, or use it as the tasty base for a grain bowl.
Arroz Verde
This Couscous Corn Salad puts a salad twist on Mexican Street Corn. Smoky grilled corn, a creamy cumin-lime dressing, and pearl couscous combine to create this delicious salad.
Couscous Corn Salad
This Mexican Corn Soup recipe has all the flavors of Mexican street corn in soup form. This creamy corn soup is flavored with chile powder, poblano peppers and cotija cheese.
Mexican Corn Soup
Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Green Tahini Sauce are perfect for summer barbeques and so simple to prepare.
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
These Blistered Shishito Peppers are the perfect finger food. They’re so easy to make too. Lightly seasoned and slightly smoky, you’ll find that most are mild… one out of every ten might surprise you.
Blistered Shishito Peppers
Elote Salad with Shrimp is the ultimate summer side dish! Smoky shrimp, grilled corn, fresh veggies, and tangy cotija cheese are tossed in a rich and zesty dressing, making it a must-try side for grilling season.
Elote Salad with Shrimp
Hawaiian Coleslaw with pineapple, cabbage, carrots, sesame seeds and a ginger-soy lime vinaigrette brings a tropical taste to traditional slaw.
Hawaiian Coleslaw
Red Cabbage Slaw is a super simple side dish recipe made without mayo. It’s tangy, delicious and crunchy.
Red Cabbage Slaw
This Southwest Chicken Salad is topped with a chipotle seasoned chicken breast, black beans, avocado, fresh pico de gallo & a zesty lime vinaigrette.
Southwest Chicken Salad
Octopus Ceviche (aka ceviche de pulpo) combines tender octopus with tangy lime juice, red onions, cilantro and chiles for a light and refreshing appetizer. Serve it with tortillas or chips and enjoy!
Octopus Ceviche
Beans // 4 Ways!
Instant Pot pinto beans are easy to make and taste so much better than the canned version! Perfect for meal prep or as a side dish to your favorite tacos, salads, or protein bowls, these beans can be ready in under an hour with no soaking required.
Instant Pot pinto beans
Jazz up the cans of black beans in your cupboard with this easy Mexican Black Beans recipe. It’s a low-fuss skillet recipe that’s quick and easy, and made with warm and smoky Mexican-inspired flavors. Serve them with tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, and more!
Mexican Black Beans
Instant Pot Refried Beans require no presoaking. Plus, they're virtually fat free and can be made vegetarian or vegan with some simple swaps.
Instant Pot Refried Beans
These no soak Instant Pot Black Beans are easy to make and taste so much better than the canned version! Perfect for meal prep or as a side dish to your favorite tacos, salads, or protein bowls, these black beans can be ready in under an hour.
Instant Pot Black Beans
Rice – An Essential Mexican Side Dish
Inspired by the flavors of the classic Mexican restaurant side dish, this Instant Pot Mexican Rice is perfect with enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, and more. It’s a foolproof recipe made entirely in your pressure cooker!
Instant Pot Mexican Rice
I am a huge fan of the rice at Chipotle’s. Here is a copycat version for their cilantro lime rice, it tastes just like the real thing!
Get the RECIPE from Skinnytaste
Inspired by the flavors of the classic Mexican restaurant side dish, this Rice Cooker Mexican Rice is perfect with enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, and more. It’s a foolproof recipe made entirely in your automatic rice cooker!
Rice Cooker Mexican Rice
These EASY Cheesy Southwestern Instant Pot Lentils & Rice are the perfect quick vegetarian weeknight dinner recipe that's perfect for Meatless Monday! Hearty lentils and brown rice combine with southwestern spices, tomatoes, peppers & plenty of melty cheese!
Cheesy Southwestern Instant Pot Lentils & Rice
With an electric rice cooker and this easy-to-follow guide, you’ll make tender and fluffy rice every time. This Rice Cooker Rice is as simple as measuring, pushing a button, and returning to a batch of perfectly cooked rice!
Instant Pot Rice
Salsas, Sauces & Condiments
Quick Pickled Onions are so easy to make at home. With just 5-minutes you can have your red onions pickling. Let them cool to room temperature before using and then you can store them in the fridge for up to two weeks!
Pickled Red Onions
Learn how to make Mexican Pickled Carrots at home! Tender-crisp carrots are pickled with spicy jalapeños and aromatics to create the perfect tangy-hot, crunchy condiment to add to any meal. They stay fresh and crisp for up to 2 weeks, and there’s no canning needed!
Mexican Pickled Carrots
This fresh and vibrant Guacamole recipe is so easy! Mix it up in minutes for a creamy dip, a delicious topping for nachos, or to serve on Taco Tuesday.
Guacamole
Skip the jar of store bought salsa and make Salsa Taquera instead! It’s a smoky and vibrant condiment that’s perfect for tacos, carnitas, grilled meats, and more. The ingredients are simple, but the flavor is extravagant!
Salsa Taquera
This quick and tangy Cilantro Lime Crema is ready in just 5 minutes. Better than sour cream, this Mexican condiment is flavored with fresh cilantro and lime juice to create a creamy and vibrant dressing, taco topping, or dipping sauce.
Cilantro Lime Crema
This fresh, easy Pico de Gallo recipe is a classic Mexican salsa made from tomatoes, onions, lime, chiles, and cilantro. It’s a delicious snack to enjoy with chips or as a topping on tacos, eggs, and burrito bowls!
Pico de Gallo
This 5-Minute Chipotle Salsa comes together easily with the help of your blender. It's a great sauce for tacos or dip for tortilla chips!
Chipotle Salsa
Add some smoke and spice to your favorite recipes with this Chipotle Crema. A Mexican-inspired sauce, this creamy mix is made with chipotles in adobo to give a boost to tacos, salads, and more!
Chipotle Crema
Chips + Tortilla Strips
These 3-ingredient Air Fryer Tortilla Chips are quick and easy to make, super crunchy, and light. They’re perfect for dunking in salsa, guacamole, hummus, and more! Made with flour or corn tortillas.
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
These Baked Tortilla Chips are made using store-bought corn tortillas. Just cut them into wedges, season them with Mexican spices, spray with oil and bake for a perfectly crispy, dippable chip!
Baked Tortilla Chips
Learn how to make tortilla strips at home with just 3-ingredients! They’re the perfect crunchy topping for chili, soups and salads.
Tortilla Strips
What Drink Goes with Enchiladas?
Margaritas, of course! Here are some amazing ones to try!
This Hibiscus Margarita recipe is a fun twist on a traditional margarita. Made with an easy homemade hibiscus tea concentrate, grapefruit juice and tequila. The ingredients are simple, but the taste is amazing!
Hibiscus Margarita
This Grapefruit Habanero Margarita is the perfect spicy cocktail for sipping on summer days!
Grapefruit Habanero Margarita
Elderflower Margaritas can be made with just three ingredients – tequila, elderflower liqueur and lime juice. They're a delicious St. Germain cocktail that you'll love having in your arsenal.
St. Germain Margaritas
This Italian Margarita recipe is easy to make with just four ingredients! Orange juice, tequila, amaretto and lime juice combine in this delicious cocktail recipe.
Italian Margarita
This Grilled Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita is the perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and smoky. Caramelized grilled pineapple & a splash of vanilla make it extra delicious.
Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita
What to Serve with Enchiladas Besides Rice and Beans?
How to Make Ahead and Store
Many of these enchilada sides can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer. Simply check the individual recipes for full storing instructions and details on how to make ahead.
More Mexican Recipes
- Fish Taco Bowls
- Taco Zucchini Boats
- Migas
- Mexican Breakfast Tostadas
- Cauliflower Tacos
- Instant Pot Carnitas
More Side Dish Recipes
- Sides for Tacos
- Sides for Shrimp Tacos
- Sides for Quesadillas
- Potato Side Dishes
- Sides for Pizza
- Sides for BBQ
- Sides for Burgers
- Sides for Ribs
- Side Dishes for Steak
Did you Make Any of These Enchilada Side Dishes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, if you loved this round up of what to serve with enchiladas. Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
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What to Serve with Enchiladas: 30+ Mexican Sides
Wondering what to serve with enchiladas? In this post, I'll cover the BEST sides. From rice and beans, to tortilla chips and salsa, and more! Try this Instant Pot Mexican Rice. It’s a foolproof recipe made entirely in your pressure cooker!
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Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ medium onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 cups bone broth (chicken broth, or water)
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup frozen peas
- 1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro (minced)
Instructions
- Rinse rice under cold running water until the water runs clear.
- Turn instant pot to SAUTE and add oil. Once hot, add onion and cook until softened, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic and rice and cook until the rice is lightly golden, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, tomato sauce and salt, and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Turn instant pot OFF. Place lid on pot and turn valve to sealed position.
- Cook on manual HIGH pressure, and cook for 4 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes and then release any remaining pressure.
- Sprinkle in the peas and cilantro and fluff the rice with a fork. Enjoy.
Notes
- Leftovers are best reheated and enjoyed within 2 days but will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Reheat it in the microwave until warmed through.
- To freeze, let the rice cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable bag. Freeze for up to 1 month.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Equipment
Nutrition
Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 220mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 155IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
