Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken quesadillas make for a tasty and easy weeknight meal. Who doesn’t love a warm tortilla filled with melted cheese, chicken and assorted veggies? While quesadillas on their own can be quite satisfying pairing them with some complementary side dishes really takes the meal to the next level.

If you’re looking for the best side dish for quesadillas, choose something with different tastes and textures. Some great words to describe quesadilla sides are crispy, creamy, crunchy, and fresh. You should also use a range of colors on your plate. Also, sides that can be made quickly help keep weeknight dinners easy.

Here are some of my favorite quick and easy side dishes to serve with chicken quesadillas:

Fresh Salad

One of the best things to eat with quesadillas is a fresh salad. The greens give the warm, gooey quesadilla a contrast in color and a cool, crisp texture. I like to put a simple vinaigrette on top of my salad, along with tomatoes, avocado, shredded carrots, sliced almonds or pepitas, and cotija or queso fresco cheese breaks. You could also put some of the same things that are in your quesadilla on top of your salad, like black beans or corn.

Rice and Beans

What’s a Mexican meal without rice and beans? Quesadillas go great with Spanish rice and black or pinto beans. This side dish is easy to make on busy nights because the beans come in a can. Add grated cheddar, diced onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime to your beans to make them taste even better.

Guacamole

Creamy, green guacamole provides the perfect dip for your quesadillas. Mash up some ripe avocados with lime juice, cilantro, diced tomato, onion, jalapeno, and salt to taste Homemade is best, but you can also use store-bought guacamole in a pinch Guacamole also pairs well with the salad and rice and bean sides.

Chips and Salsa

Crunchy tortilla chips and zesty tomato salsa are an anytime favorite. The salsa’s bright color looks beautiful next to the quesadillas. Use your favorite store-bought salsa or whip up a quick pico de gallo with tomatoes, onions, cilantro and lime. Serve with tortilla chips, of course, but raw veggies like bell peppers and jicama work great for dipping too.

Fiesta Corn Salad

If you want to get fancy with your sides, try this easy fiesta corn salad. Simply combine corn (frozen works fine), black beans, bell pepper, cilantro, lime juice and Mexican seasonings like cumin, chili powder and oregano. The sweet corn, crunchy peppers and tart lime juice offset the quesadillas nicely.

Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are a quick and healthy way to bake a side dish. Cut up sweet potatoes, sprinkle them with olive oil, and bake them until they’re crispy. For a tasty match with the Tex-Mex quesadillas, add chili powder and pepper.

Fruit Salad

Fresh fruit makes for a sweet, juicy side. I like to toss together a mix of diced pineapple, mango, strawberries, and kiwi. The vitamin C-packed fruits give a healthy boost alongside the hearty quesadillas. Creamy vanilla yogurt is also delicious paired with the fruit salad.

Roasted Vegetables

Roasting vegetables like zucchini, peppers, onions and tomatoes adds a delicious caramelized flavor. Toss veggies with olive oil, salt, pepper and your favorite herbs and roast at 400°F until tender. Roasted veggies pair wonderfully with the quesadillas, rice and beans, salad or guacamole.

Refried Beans

Warm, creamy refried beans served alongside quesadillas are comfort food at its finest. While you can certainly use canned refried beans, starting with dried pinto beans and mashing them with olive oil and seasonings tastes incredible. Garnish with shredded cheddar, diced onions and cilantro.

Those are just a few of my favorite sides to complement chicken quesadillas. Use these ideas as a guide and get creative with ingredients you have on hand. Quesadillas are endlessly adaptable, so you can create a simple yet satisfying meal using almost any combination of sides. Liven up your dinner routine with these tasty quesadilla pairings!