What to serve with enchiladas? We’ve got you covered with this collection of side dish recipes for enchiladas. This roundup of tasty ideas is broken into beans & rice; salad, slaw and other veggies; and of course, we have chips, salsa and guacamole. We also link you to some good enchilada recipes and tips for wine pairing for enchiladas.
We love enchiladas, so since Cinco de Mayo is coming up, we wanted to help you make a tasty Mexican meal with homemade enchiladas. The best sides to go with your enchiladas will bring great flavor to the table and make the meal complete.
I’m guessing you might already have an enchilada recipe in mind. But just in case, here are a few quick links to some good enchilada recipes before we get to our list of enchilada side dishes. [feast_advanced_jump_to].
Here are some tasty enchilada recipes from Cooking Chat and around the web. You can generally go with corn tortillas or wheat tortillas for these recipes.
OK, now that you have some basic recipes for the main course, it’s time to get into answering the question, What to serve with enchiladas?.
Chicken enchilada casserole is a hearty, comforting, and flavorful dish that is perfect for feeding a crowd or making easy dinners during the busy week. It is typically made with corn or flour tortillas, shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, beans, vegetables, and plenty of cheese. While the casserole itself makes a satisfying main course, it’s always nice to round out the meal with some fresh, tasty side dishes. Here are 25 delicious options for what to serve alongside chicken enchilada casserole.
Salads and Vegetables
A crisp, cool salad is a great way to contrast the richness of the enchilada casserole. Try a Mexican-style salad with flavors like lime, cilantro, corn, black beans, avocado and cotija cheese. The acidity from vinaigrettes helps cut through the heaviness of the cheese and sauce in the casserole.
Some easy salad options include:
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Cilantro lime slaw – Shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a bright dressing
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Mexican chopped salad – Romaine, corn, black beans, tomatoes, avocado, queso fresco.
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Jicama mango salad – Tangy, crunchy and sweet.
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Tomato avocado salad – Simple and refreshing
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Mexican Caesar salad – Romaine, croutons, avocado, cotija.
Grilled vegetables like corn, peppers, onions, and zucchini also go well with it. They taste smoky and go well with the spices in the enchiladas because of the char. With chili powder, cumin, garlic, and lime, roast vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower in the oven to make them taste even better.
Grains and Starches
Hearty grains help soak up the enchilada sauce and fill out the meal. Spanish rice, cilantro lime rice and Mexican rice are all excellent choices. Cook the rice with tomato sauce or bone broth for extra moisture and flavor.
Other options include:
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Refried or black beans – Smooth and creamy, great protein.
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Cornbread – Especially with jalapenos or kernels of corn baked in.
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Flour or corn tortillas – Warm them up and use for dipping in sauce.
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Nachos – Pile high with shredded chicken, sauce and toppings from casserole.
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Quinoa – Toss with lime juice, cilantro and green onion for a fresh taste.
Salsas and Dips
Put together a variety of salsas, guacamole, and queso dip for an easy starter or side dish. Spicy, cool, creamy and chunky textures all complement the casserole. Try:
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Pico de gallo – Dice tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, garlic, cilantro.
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Guacamole – Mash avocado with lime, cumin, cayenne and cilantro.
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Queso dip – Melted cheese with green chiles and spices.
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Roasted corn salsa – Char corn in oven or grill for smoky flavor.
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Tomatillo salsa verde – Blend tomatillos, garlic, jalapeno and cilantro.
Soups and Stews
Warm up with a comforting soup alongside the enchiladas. Chicken tortilla soup and pozole are especially fitting, and chile verde with pork is another excellent option. Garnish soups with any enchilada toppings like avocado, queso fresco, cilantro and lime wedges.
Simple Additions
Round out the meal without much extra work by incorporating:
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Dairy – Sour cream, shredded cheese, crumbled queso fresco.
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Alliums – Sliced green onions, pickled red onions.
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Herbs – Chopped cilantro, parsley.
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Fruit – Lime or lemon wedges, sliced radish.
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Nuts – Toasted pepitas.
With an array of easy sides incorporating Mexican flavors, you can turn chicken enchilada casserole night into a whole fiesta meal. Mix and match different salads, salsas, grains and veggies depending on what you have on hand. The possibilities are endless!
Chips, salsa & guacamole
When I eat any kind of Mexican food, I have to have chips on the side. And where there are chips, there had to be salsa and guacamole.
Chips and salsa are a must when you are serving enchiladas! Oh yes, dont forget the guac! We also include some other good dips to serve up for your Mexcian meal. A tasty collection of recipes.
An easy to make chipotle salsa.
This easy pineapple salsa recipe is fresh, super delicious, sweet, savory and spicy at the same time. Its also vegan and gluten free.
Sharing our own go-to recipe for guac! In addition to the tasty recipe, we cover some suggestions for good wine pairings to go with guacamole.
A super simple salsa recipe with tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro, and lime juice.
If you want something a little heftier to go with your chips than just the salsa, give our Baked Fiesta Dip a try!.
Simple and refreshing mango salsa is a perfect complement to enchiladas: can be made with fresh or frozen mangoes and has been paired with jalapeños and lime juice to give it a bit of a kick!.
The first part of this chorizo dip recipe is cream cheese. The next part is a tasty mixture of chorizo and tomato. When these layers are baked, a layer of melting cheese is added on top. This makes a savory and spicy snack that’s great for game day or your next get-together.
I love beans and rice on the side with enchiladas! Of course, beans and rice can be a meal on their own, but today we focus on how they can round out an enchiladas dinner.
When I get enchiladas at a restaurant, I always enjoy that side of refried beans on the side! Here we give you several options for making beans at home, including authentic Mexican refried beans recipe. And of course, beans and rice go together, so in this section we also give you several ideas for rice dishes to serve on the side.
The Easiest Refried Beans are not only simple to make, they are SO much better than store-bought. Use a food processor to combine a nice veggie sauté with pinto beans, a touch of hot sauce, and some butter. Some cilantro sprinkled on top at the end makes a nice presentation!
Instant Pot Ranchero Charro Beans are the perfect side dish to accompany enchiladas or any Mexican entree. This flavorful side dish is budget friendly and easy to make with a few pantry ingredients.
Fiesta Saffron Rice Recipe is an easy side dish that starts with a rice package that includes seasonings. Add fresh vegetables for a fiesta of flavors and colors!
Forget about Chipotle’s Cilantro Lime Rice and make your own! This recipe is bursting with fresh lime and cilantro flavor, and is perfect in burrito bowls or as a side dish for tacos, enchiladas and more!
Authentic and creamy Black Beans get loads of flavor from a few simple ingredients. Great as a side dish for enchiladas.
Costa Rican Style Gallo Pinto is a rice and beans dish with its origins in Central America.
Healthy sides for enchiladas
Of course, the salads and veggie recipes above are healthy. But as we circled back for an update to this collection, we saw there was interest in healthy sides for enchiladas. So we are covering that topic here!
Here we put a focus on healthy side dishes for enchiladas!
This Black Bean Avocado Salad is a quick and easy recipe that tastes amazing! Using easy-to-find ingredients and ripe avocados, this is a sure winner in any crowd!
This broccolini slaw recipe is light and fresh, with crisp vegetables and a flavorful mint dressing. Perfect as a healthy side for enchiladas!
Sautéed Arugula with Red Bell Peppers and plenty of garlic is a tasty and easy vegetable side dish. A healthy side dish for enchiladas!
Calabacitas are a delicious, healthy & easy zucchini side dish that’s typical in Mexican kitchens.
This Mexican coleslaw is a combination of shredded cabbage, black beans, corn, red peppers, jalapeño and avocado, all tossed in a creamy dressing.
A crisp & fresh Mexican Watermelon & Cucumber salad is a delicious side dish. The Tajin dressing adds a ton of flavor to juicy watermelon, fresh cucumbers, & crunchy pepitas.
These spicy Mexican Pickled Carrots are so delicious and addicting. They are the perfect side to any Mexican meal!
CHICKEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE: Quick, Easy and Absolutely Delicious!!!!
FAQ
What is a good side dish for enchiladas?
A great side dish for enchiladas is rice and beans. Classic Mexican sides like Spanish rice, black beans, or refried beans pair well with the flavors of enchiladas.
What side dishes to serve with chicken casserole?
16 Delicious Side Dishes for Your Chicken DinnerCrispy Parmesan Potatoes. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm. Creamy Polenta. Elise Bauer. Stir-Fried Mushrooms with Garlic and Chile Oil. Coconut Lime Rice. Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar. 5-Minute Yamitsuki Cabbage. Garlic Fried Rice. Lyonnaise Potatoes.
What are chicken enchiladas served with?
10 Delicious Side Dishes for Enchiladas01 of 11. Grilled Corn Salad. View Recipe. 02 of 11. Green Rice with Green Chiles. 03 of 11. Jicama Mango Salad with Cilantro and Lime. 04 of 11. Chef John’s Gazpacho. 05 of 11. Best Spanish Rice. 06 of 11. Lemony Cabbage-Avocado Slaw. 07 of 11. Mexican Style Cornbread. 08 of 11. Simply Guacamole.
What to serve with a Mexican casserole?
A Mexican casserole pairs well with a variety of sides. Consider a crisp green salad with a cilantro-lime dressing, refried or black beans, and Mexican street corn for a classic Mexican meal. You could also add a dollop of sour cream, diced tomatoes, and avocado for extra flavor.