What To Serve With Enchiladas

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Enchiladas are a staple in Mexican cuisine; their versatility in regards to ingredients is a critical component of their popularity. There are so many different things you can put in an enchilada, from different meats to cheeses to vegetables.

Considering this crazy amount of variety and all of the possible enchilada combinations you could come up with, you might be having a hard time figuring out what to serve with your meal.

Don’t fret- we’re here to help. We’ve taken into consideration enchiladas’ Mexican origins and the bold ingredient combinations that you can come up with, and out of that, we’ve produced a list of out-of-this-world side dishes we think you’ll love.

Contents

17 Side Dishes to Serve With Enchiladas

Get ready to dive headfirst into our list of seventeen out of this world’s side dishes to serve the next time you whip up some delicious enchiladas!

1. Mexican Slaw

Since enchiladas are a big part of Mexican cuisine, we’ll be including a lot of Mexican-inspired side dishes on this list. This is the first one- a flavorful Mexican slaw.

This dish combines cabbage, carrots, and red onion with apple cider vinegar and spices to create a tangy, strongly-flavored dish that will make your meal feel straight out of Mexico City.

2. Black Beans and Rice

This is a fairly simple side dish, perfect for those of you who want to put most of your energy into the main course. When thrown together with some spices, this dish can really pack a flavorful punch!

Plus, black beans are an incredibly healthy food; this means that you can rest easy knowing that you’re creating a balanced meal!

3. Guacamole

Guacamole is incredibly popular among Americans, and for good reason. It’s simple, it’s healthy, and it’s generally pretty affordable.

Throwing a bowl of guacamole and some tortilla chips alongside your enchilada dish will offer a great combination of creamy and crunchy textures that are sure to liven up your dish in so many incredible ways!

4. Chips and Salsa

There’s more than one use for that bag of tortilla chips you just bought from the supermarket! If guacamole isn’t really your thing, then salsa might just be right up your alley!

Having salsa alongside your enchiladas will offer a great depth of spiciness and feistiness to your meal. Bonus points if you venture out of your comfort zone and make your own!

5. Spanish Rice

Not everyone always wants to serve plain white rice all the time. It definitely gets boring- that’s something we all can likely agree on.

That’s where a good serving of Spanish rice can come in handy! Spanish rice is packed with just the right amount of spice to existing alongside enchiladas- it’ll complement the dish nicely.

6. Refried Beans

Refried beans are another staple in Mexican cuisine. It’s a very versatile dish that works wonderfully alongside a lot of other food items- enchiladas being no exception.

You can either eat the refried beans separately or dip your enchiladas in them for extra flavor; either way, refried beans will work wonderfully with your best enchilada recipe!

7. Prickly Pear Salad

For anyone looking for a fresh take on fruit salad that will work great when served along with enchiladas, look no further! Using this spiky fruit in a salad will offer great new experiences.

Enchiladas are generally strong in flavor and spicy, so balancing that out with a sweeter side dish might just be the right option for you. Pair the prickly pears with different fruits to see what kinds of amazing flavor combos you can get!

8. Corn Salad

Corn is another very common ingredient seen in Mexican cuisine; you might even already have some in your favorite enchilada recipe!

If you really want to keep with the Mexican theme, then corn salad is right up your alley. Corn salad is healthy while still offering an awesome blend of spices to pair alongside your enchiladas.

9. Salad with Avocado Dressing

When making this list, we tried to come up with the best way to change up a typical salad recipe to make it fit with the flavors and ideas behind typical enchiladas.

What we came up with was simple- a standard tossed salad with an avocado dressing. You can think up this avocado dressing however you like; whatever combination you come up with, it’s going to take your salad to all new heights.

10. Mexican Street Corn

Many people enjoy grilling corn, but did you know that there’s actually a way to do it that fits in really well with the theme of Mexican cuisine? It’s Mexican street corn!

In order to do this, you’ll simply grill corn and then add sour cream, mayo, chili powder, and cheese. This will turn your grilled corn from basic to spicy, bold, and powerful really easily; these three characteristics are critical when considering any side dish to pair along with enchiladas.

11. Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

If you happen to not want to use avocado in a salad dressing but still like the idea of serving it alongside enchiladas, then this cucumber, tomato, and avocado salad will be perfect for you.

The three main ingredients blend together in an out-of-this-world kind of way to create a highly varied array of flavors that still fit together perfectly. When using this side dish, you’ll be offering a meal with tons of different flavors that all complement each other in a great way.

12. Mexican Sweet Potato Salad

Sweet potatoes are often a healthy alternative that’s chosen in place of standard potatoes; in this twist, we’re going to be sticking with the general theme of enchiladas while also packing in some nutrition.

By combining sweet potatoes with a cilantro dressing and black bean salsa, you’ll still maintain the classic sweetness of sweet potatoes while also giving them a kick that will match the fire of any enchilada recipe for sure.

13. Pepper Stir-Fry

Stir-fry is a very popular food item, like enchiladas, and perhaps for similar reasons. They’re both very versatile types of dishes, with lots of room for imagination.

Here, we’re suggesting you use a variety of peppers in your stir fry to help give your side dish the kick it needs to stand up to the bold, powerful flavors of enchiladas. It’s very important that your side dish’s flavors don’t get lost in comparison to the rest of the meal!

14. Cheese

If you’ve read through this entire list up until now, you’ve probably noticed a common theme in a lot of our side dishes: cheese. Cheese is commonly added to many Mexican dishes, so it makes sense to see it coming up so often.

But it can stand on its own, too. Serve up a block of cheese alongside your enchiladas, and watch as the savory flavors come out to partner up with the tastes of your enchiladas to make a brilliant meal.

15. Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeno poppers are a pretty simple side dish to make, yet brilliant in execution. Since your enchiladas are already pretty powerful in taste, it makes sense to serve up a type of pepper that’s renowned for its intense spice.

If you’re looking for great finger food to serve alongside your enchiladas, then look no further. These are exactly what you’re looking for, both in taste and in execution.

16. Chorizo

Chorizo is a type of spicy sausage that is often served as part of Mexican cuisine. As you might have already figured out, spice is one of the key things to consider when thinking about a side dish for your enchiladas.

Chorizo fills that role excellently. If you really want to fully take advantage of all this side dish has to offer, we recommend serving it with bean enchiladas for a truly out-of-this-world experience.

17. Grilled Avocado

If the other two options for using avocados we included in this list don’t appeal to you, then maybe it’s best to serve just avocados! By grilling them, you’ll add a nice, smoky flavor that will bring new life and energy into your meal.

Avocados are also super healthy and packed with awesome nutrients, so you can serve them up with enchiladas knowing that you’re providing a balanced meal.

Wrap-Up

And now we’ve finished with our list! We hope you’ve found something useful here, or perhaps some great inspiration. Remember that spices are key when considering side dishes for enchiladas and that you should always consider what ingredients you’re already using. Happy cooking!

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