What Goes With Tacos: Savory Sides You'll Taco Bout for Days

What goes with tacos? After weeks of the obvious chips, queso, salsa, and guacamole, your taco spread can become a bit trite. No need to fall apart, though! For the folks looking to spice things up this taco Tuesday, we have a supreme list of what to serve with tacos that will guac your world.

Forget the basic salsa roja or guacamole mix. If you want to know what to serve with fish tacos, tomato and avocado salsa is the perfect pairing! This chunky salsa recipe from EatingWell features fresh avocado and tomatoes, jalapeños and red onion for a bit of a bite, cilantro, and lime juice. Best of all, this dish can serve as a dip or a refreshing topper for your tacos.

Cowboy caviar is a Texas staple that is a light, yet hearty side that's filled with vegetables. It's also another dish that can stand on its own or garnish your taco dishes. All Recipes has a terrifically tasty recipe that takes minutes to make.

If you are wondering what goes with fish tacos, another favorite side of mine is a chucky combination of strawberries, pineapples, red onion, de-seeded jalapeños, and cilantro. Once coarsely chopped and tossed together, mix in some fresh lime juice and sprinkle on a light layer of kosher salt. This adds texture, sweetness, and a bit of tang that complements white fish quite nicely!

If bacon is involved, can it really get any better? This dip is the magical mix of sweet, savory, salt, and spice, all mixed into one spectacular spread! This can be a fantas-taco topper to chicken tacos or you can pair it with corn chips. Either way, your taste buds will sing with the Host the Toast recipe!

Fried avocados, need I say more? This recipe from California Avocados can add a bit of crunch to your meal. It's also another surprisingly satisfying side that can serve as a terrific taco topper! Either way, this is clearly an improvement on the classic potato fry that you will quickly become addicted to after one bite!

Mexican salads are a crispy, crunchy, sweet, and flavorful combination of fresh ingredients! Best of all, you just combine your absolute favorites — I love black beans, red onions, sweet corn, tomatoes, avocadoes, cotija cheese, tortilla strips, and cilantro lime sauce on a bed of romaine lettuce. 

If you're like me, taco Tuesday isn't just reserved for the summer months — it happens 52 weeks a year. For the colder months, sometimes a warm soup can be a welcome change to your Mexican menu. LoveToKnow's creamy chicken and corn soup recipe can pair nicely with beef or chicken tacos.

RELATED: Chicken Taco Recipe to Spice Up Taco Tuesday

Chicken tortilla soup is another heartwarming choice to consider when deciding what to serve with tacos during the chilly winter months. Natasha's Kitchen creates a zesty cousin of classic chicken noodle soup that uses a tomato-style chicken broth, a myriad of spices, and fresh and hearty ingredients like black beans and corn to give you a more substantial soup side. 

If tacos and tortilla soup are on the menu, then you mustn't forget some Mexican cornbread to pair with the combo! Mexican cornbread is the culmination of cornmeal, green chiles, and flavorful cheeses that makes for a spectacular starch to partner with your taco spread. 

Spanish rice is a classic Mexican dish that can add a burst of flavor and a different texture to your meal. The All Recipes picate rice dish is easy to make, but for those in a pinch, I adore the Old El Paso box mix, and everyone I serve it to seems to think it is made from scratch!

For those looking for a little more zest in their meal, the Simply Recipes cilantro lime rice dish is another easy and light option that is always a crowd-pleaser! It also complements any kind of taco, no matter if you prefer chicken, fish, or beef.

Olives, chiles, corn, beans, and chesse, along with some classic Mexican spices, can make for a vibrant vegetable dish that can fill out your menu nicely! My favorite part of this LoveToKnow casserole is the olives — they add a briny and bitter flavor component that can really enhance a taco spread.

Another dish to ditch — basic beans! Frijoles charros by Lemon Blossoms is a spectacular side that is the perfect mix of beans, bacon, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and peppers. This can add richness to your meal without stealing the focus from the tacos. 

Red potatoes, cheese, and peppers. There's a reason that everyone wants to recreate Abuelo's potato side! The Mommy Travels recipe offers a spectacularly satisfying starch that you can serve with tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, or chimichangas.

This is one of my favorite Mexican dessert recipes to make with tacos!

Ingredients

• 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons sugar + 1 cup sugar, divided
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 4x4-inch squares of prepared puff pastry
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the vanilla.
3. Whip with a mixer to combine.
4. Place a dollop of the mixture in the center of each puff pastry square.
5. Fold the squares over and seal by pressing the edges with a fork.
6. Brush the outside of the pastry with the butter.
7. In a bowl, mix the remaining 1 cup of sugar with the cinnamon.
8. Dip the pastries in the cinnamon and toss to coat.
9. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until golden brown. 

If you want to know what to serve with tacos for dessert, another flan-tastic decision is classic Spanish flan! The creamy, custard dish from All Recipes is the perfect end to any taco Tuesday night. 

Don't be afraid to change things up every Tuesday night to ensure that taco Tuesday is always a thrilling experience for your tastebuds. What goes with tacos will highly depend on the ingredients of your main dish, so consider sides with similar or complementary ingredients and varying textures.

After you prepare your signature spread for the week, make sure to snap some shots of your culinary creations and share them on social with some special taco captions!