10 Best Sides to Go with Tacos

These refried beans are one of the simplest recipes there is. Why we love them as a side to go with tacos? They bring in a hit of plant-based protein, which makes the meal more filling. These are seriously simple: you need just a handful of ingredients and 20 minutes.

Want them with black beans? Try Refried Black Beans. See also: Instant Pot Pinto Beans.

This Mexican salad is full of delicious Latin-style flavors: colorful veggies, cilantro lime salad dressing, and crispy tortilla strips. It all combines into a super-flavorful dish that's absolutely perfect with tacos! Even better, it's quick and easy to make. This one is a big winner in our house.

Add cilantro, lime juice and lime zest to your rice, it catapults it to an entirely different level! The ways to serve it are endless: use it as a side to go with tacos, burrito bowls, enchiladas, grilled shrimp skewers, and more. It’s incredibly versatile, and we find ourselves making it often. Really, any meal is better with a little cilantro lime rice!

Next up in the best sides to go with tacos: Mexican coleslaw! What we love about it? It's fresh and flavor-filled, a healthy contrast to the richness of tacos. It has no mayo: instead there's tangy vinaigrette to compliment the crunchy cabbage, red onion, cilantro, and cumin. It’s got both cumin seed and ground cumin for a double hit of flavor. Bonus: it doubles as a taco topping.

This black beans and rice recipe is the perfect side to go with tacos! You've got black beans, jumbled with rice and green bell pepper, and seasoned with cumin, lime and cilantro. It’s a tasty, zesty side dish, and leftovers save well for lunch throughout the week. So good!

This guacamole is one of the best homemade versions out there! The ingredients are simple, but the meld of flavors is balanced and smooth. The recipe is easy to whip up; chop the veggies then mash everything in a bowl (or a molcajete like the one shown, if you have it!). Add tortilla chips as a classic side to serve with enchiladas or fajitas.

If sweet corn is in season, you absolutely must try this Mexican street corn recipe. (We're not joking.) Elote is a traditional street food in Mexico: sweet corn is charred to smoky perfection on the grill. Then it's slathered in creamy mayo and sour cream, seasoned with chili powder, and topped with feta or queso fresco cheese. The sweet burst of the corn against the creamy sauce is perfection.

Why eat salsa when you could eat the BEST salsa? This salsa is to be made only when fresh, ripe juicy tomatoes are in season. (If it's the winter, use this Roasted Tomato Salsa recipe instead: it's for canned tomatoes.) This one is a salsa fresca recipe, featuring tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime: it's the perfect way to enjoy great tomatoes. Serve with purchased or Homemade Tortilla Chips.

Here’s our new favorite easy side to go with tacos: Spanish rice! It’s actually not Spanish at all, but Mexican-style red rice. This recipe is a quick and easy spin: it uses salsa to get big flavor quickly, and adobo sauce for a smoky undertone. It will become a go-to in no time! If you've got a pressure cooker, try Instant Pot Spanish Rice.

This refried bean dip is one of our favorite sides to go with tacos that we make for entertaining! You can make it with either Instant Pot refried beans, stovetop refried beans, or canned refried beans: it tastes great either way! It's a healthy spin on bean dip, which is usually loaded with cheese. Instead, this one is loaded with flavor: and 100% plant based.

This cucumber tomato avocado salad is all about fresh simplicity: ripe and juicy tomatoes, cool cucumbers, and creamy avocado. They’re mixed with lime juice and cilantro for a tangy pop that perfectly accentuates their flavors. This one is great as a side dish for tacos or any Mexican-style meal.

Here's a tasty and healthy side to go with tacos: Mexican quinoa! It's a mix of colorful vegetables and quinoa, and pretty simple to put together. Featuring black beans, tomatoes, corn, and zucchini, it's spiced up with fajita seasoning. Bonus: leftovers save well and make a great lunch!

Here's a great side that can be a main dish in itself, or a side to go with tacos when entertaining! Start with a baked sweet potato. Then add black bean salsa, corn, and drizzle with creamy cilantro sauce! You can use up leftover cilantro sauce on the tacos, too,

Last but certainly not least in our sides to go with tacos: this Mexican cheese dip! Check out that gooey, melty cheese! This one is s a play on white chili, using white beans, mild green chiles, corn, and a gooey mess of Mexican cheeses (sans the typical chicken so it’s vegetarian!). It's a rich side for dipping with chips while noshing on tacos. And maybe clinking some margaritas?