What to Serve with Tacos for the table

Tacos can make for a great lunch or busy weeknight meal. And choosing the right taco side dish can make all the difference. Here are 20+ tasty ideas for what to serve with tacos that will take your meal to the next level.

We love tacos in the family because they're so versatile. From traditional beef tacos and taco bowls to Shrimp tacos and even Big Mac smash tacos, there's a kind that will please most any palate.

But it can sometimes be challenging to find the right dish to serve alongside tacos, especially ones you don't want to spend too much time making. That's why We compiled this list of more than 20 sides for tacos.

🌟 About these recipes

From crunchy to creamy and salsas to slaws, there's something for everyone. And most take simply a few minutes to put together. Examples for what to eat with tacos include:

🍽 Serving ideas

What makes these dishes so fun are that you can serve them in so many different ways. Use a hollowed-out pineapple for Pineapple Mango Salsa. Or serve Filipino Macaroni Salad with pork belly tacos to truly accentuate the sweet, rich flavors.

And for backyard get-togethers with friends, add some refreshing cocktails like Cantaloupe Margaritas or Tequila Mojitos.

side view of two glasses of cantaloupe margaritas with lime slice garnish on a green and white patterned napkin.

What to Serve With Tacos

Tacos are incredibly versatile, so they can go great with a wide variety of dishes. Here are some tasty side dish recipes for your next taco night.

Pressure-cooker Garlic Rice

Served alongside your tacos or inside them, Pressure-cooker Garlic rice is flavorful and aromatic. And perfect for tacos of any kind.

Summer Slaw with Corn, Peaches, Tomatoes

The colorful veggies and fruits in this Summer Slaw with Corn, Peaches, and Tomatoes are the ideal refreshing complement to meat or fish tacos.

Simple Pico de Gallo

Salsa lovers unite! This Pico de Gallo recipe is packed with fresh tasty ingredients and done in simply 5 minutes! Great for dipping with chips or as a topping for your tacos.

Mango Pico de Gallo

Both sweet and savory, crisp Mango Pico de Gallo will transport you to the tropics and have you longing for sunny weather. Great for tacos as well as seafood and chicken.

Pineapple Mango Salsa

Fresh and fruity, Pineapple Mango Salsa will add some tropical tanginess to your tacos. Make a statement by serving it in a hollowed-out pineapple.

Restaurant-Style Salsa (Whole30)

This rich, mild Restaurant-Style Salsa is packed flavor and ideal for salsa lovers who don't like foods that are too spicy. Tasty with tacos, nachos, chips, and more!

Creamy Dairy Free Queso Dip

If you like a creamy queso but without the dairy, this Dairy-Free Queso Dip is for you. Packed with bacon and peppers and ready in under 30 minutes.

Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad

So fresh and bright, this Asian Carrot Cucumber Salad is satisfyingly crunchy and refreshing. Simply the side taco dish for a backyard summer get-together.

Filipino Macaroni Salad

Filipino Macaroni Salad is crunchy and slightly sweet. The ideal side for dishes with richer meats like pork belly tacos.

Black Bean Corn Dip

Bright, bold, and full of flavor, each bite in this dip bursts with sweet corn, hearty beans, crisp peppers, and a zesty lime kick.

Pressure-cooker Green Beans

Serve some healthy, crunchy vegetables alongside tacos with these Pressure-cooker Green Beans. A simple, tasty dish made with garlic and olive oil.

Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad

Using simply 4 ingredients, Cucumber Tomato Salad is flavorful and vibrant. And the addition of fresh dill gives it a nice tasty, herbiness.

Air Fryer Corn Ribs

These Air Fryer Corn Ribs are finished with a creamy drizzle of mayonnaise for some extra tanginess. A tasty veggie side dish for any type of taco.

Charred Corn Salad

The charred bits of corn add simply the right amount of smokiness to the dish. Meanwhile, the fresh ingredients keep every bite crisp and refreshing.

Air Fryer Pineapple

Level up your fruit side dish with Air Fryer Pineapple. Bursting with fresh, tropical flavor, they'll pair well with shrimp tacos and pork tacos.

Grilled Asparagus in Foil

What's better than asparagus? Grilled asparagus! Seasoned with garlic and grilled with butter, these grilled asparagus spears will elevate your next taco night.

Marinated Feta Cheese

Made with garlic, lemon, olive oil, and red pepper flakes, this Marinated Feta Cheese will add some flavor and kick to your tacos.

Creamy Confetti Corn

Colorful Creamy Confetti Corn is fresh, crunchy, and topped with bacon. Need we say more?

Corn with Basil Lime Butter

Silky and citrusy, Corn with Basil Lime Butter is ideal for backyard BBQs and parties. Plus, it pairs seamlessly with most any kind of taco.

bright green avocado pesto in a mason jar with a small knife placed in the pesto.

Creamy Avocado Pesto

Try some Mediterranean flavors with your tacos with Creamy Avocado Pesto. Works great as a taco topping or even as a dip for tortilla chips.

Taco Dip with Ground Beef

Sort of like a deconstructed taco, this Taco Dip with Ground Beef is great for dipping chips into. And add it to taco shells for a quick and tasty appetizer!

👩🏻‍🍳 FAQs

What types of foods go well with tacos?

Classic dishes like black beans or refried beans, along with cilantro lime rice, and salsas are all great taco side dishes. Corn, cucumber salad, guacamole, and queso are also good options.

What are good veggies to serve with tacos?

Corn, bell peppers, black beans, and slaws all go great with tacos. The sweetness of the corn and bell peppers can cut through richer meat tacos made with pulled pork and beef, while beans will complement them. And tangy slaws add some nice acidity to seafood tacos. Jalano and habanero peppers are also great ways to add flavor and heat. If you want the flavor without the heat, try poblano peppers. If you don't use them often, you can freeze poblano peppers and dice them up as needed for side dishes.

What's the best way to store taco meat?

You can store leftover taco meat in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you need to save it for longer periods, it will keep for up to four months in the freezer. Before storing, allow the meat to cool completely, then place it in an airtight container or freezer bag to help prevent freezer burn.

🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

Ready to make these recipes? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

Pressure-cooker

Some of the recipes call for an Pressure-cooker, but you can use a Pressure-cooker or other electric pressure cooker if you prefer.

Air Fryer

Any standard-size air fryer will work for the air fryer recipes. We use a Pressure-cooker 10-quart Dual Zone Air Fryer, which We LOVE because it's so simple to clean and it air fries quickly. Any 6-quart or 8-quart basket-style air fryer or tray-style air fryer will work, too.

Other kitchen tools

We also use a variety of smaller tools to help with a lot of these recipes. They include:

Spoon or spatula – wooden spoon or heatproof silicone spatula to stir ingredients together.
Cutting board and sharp knife – A sturdy cutting board and a sharp kitchen knife are essential as many of the recipes call for chopped veggies and fruits.
Tongs – We use stainless steel tongs to flip most foods in the air fryer. They're heatproof and sturdy.

More Mexican-inspired recipes

Did you make any of these recipes? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and comment below letting us know which one you made and how it turned out. Thank you!