Whether it’s fried, grilled or baked, there’s just something about afish tacothat gets us every time—it must be the magical combo of flaky fish, creamy sauce and a warmtortilla. But our beloved fish tacos can easily get overwhelmed by heavy flavors—not any accompaniment will do. Wondering what to serve with fish tacos? Here, 26 side dishes you should try next, from watermelon salad and mango salsa to cheesy queso fundido.
What to Serve with Fish Tacos? 26 Quick and Easy Sides
Published Jul 19, 2022
1.Watermelon Cucumber Salad With Feta And Honey-lime Dressing
It’s refreshing, no-cook and ready in all of five minutes—the ideal side for grilled fish tacos, if you ask us. Feel free to swap thefetafor another cheese, like crumbled queso fresco or cotija.
2.Avocado Rice
It’s creamy and rich but somehow still light and fresh. That’s the magic ofavocadosfor you. (It’s also only seven ingredients, NBD.)
3.Light And Tangy Coleslaw
No offense, mayonnaise, but now is not the time for gloppy slaw. This side dish features avinegar-based dressing with just a touch ofGreek yogurtfor creaminess.
4.Honeydew, Feta, Jalapeño And Lime Salad
Behold, watermelon and feta’s hip Gen-Z cousin. This gorgeous, 15-minute side is making us rethinkfruit saladsentirely. It’s spicy enough to be exciting, but not enough to overwhelm those fish tacos you made.
5.Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
Usingyellow tomatoesin place of the usual red makes for achilled soupthat’s milder and less acidic. The secret ingredient though, ispeaches—they lend a subtle sweetness to balance the peppery dish.
6.Heirloom Tomato Salad With Cacao And Agave Dressing
This side dish sounds exotic, but it’s surprisingly simple. The dressing is a mixture of balsamic vinegar, agave syrup and cocoa nibs, which infuse the salad with complex, rich flavor.
7.Mexican Street Corn Dip
Some nights, you want to fall face-first into a giant bowl of deliciousdip. This is one of those nights. Make this recipe work extra for you and put itonthe tacos, too.
8.Smoky Barbecued Corn
This elote-inspired barbecuedcorn on the cobis cheesy, peppery and a match made in heaven for any type of spicy fish taco.
9.Mango Guacamole
Keep the beach vibes going with a scoop of mango guacamole alongside your fish tacos. (Added bonus: It takes only ten minutes to make.)
10.Watermelon And Tomato Gazpacho With Chimichurri Sauce
The sweet juiciness of the watermelon pairs fabulously with flaky white fish. Serve it as anappetizeror alongside the tacos in a small cup.
11.Restaurant-style Mexican Rice
The method is easy: Simmerbasmati ricewith onions, jalapeños and tomatoes for added flavor (and gorgeous color).
12.Crockpot Pinto Beans
Spend your time perfecting your mahi-mahi tacos, not your beans. Throw the pintos in aslow cookerand ta-da, you have a tasty side dish.
13.Chip-crusted Jalapeño Poppers
Add a kick to the table with these jalapeño poppers—they’re covered in a tortilla chip crust for a fun twist.
14.Mexican Caesar Salad
According to legend (OK, theinternet), the Caesar salad was actually invented in Tijuana, Mexico, initially as a finger food than a traditional salad. Surprising, right? The city is also famed for fish tacos, so naturally, we’re pairing the two. (It turns out it’s delicious.)
15.California Roll Nachos
Hear us out: Serve thesesushi-inspired nachos with fish tacos and prepare to be wowed.
16.Mango Salsa
The special ingredient in this sweet and tangy salsa?Strawberries. We’re sold. For the best results,make sure your mangos are ripebefore making it.
17.Sun-dried Tomato Guacamole
Elevate the traditional avocadoguacwith a sprinkle of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil.
18.Roasted Summer Vegetable Sopa Azteca
The new soup and a sandwich? This Mexican tortilla soup and a fish taco.
19.Queso Fundido
Um, we’re gonna need more chips. (And did we mention this deliciousness requires only four ingredients?)
20.Charred Corn And Zucchini Enchilada Pasta Salad
Your barbecue’s buffet table just got a spicy new addition. Thisenchilada-inspired charred corn pasta salad makes a hearty side for any grilled fish taco.
21.Citrus Slaw
Fun fact: This side dish doubles as a condiment—add a dollop to your fish taco.
22.Mexican Corn And Quinoa Salad
Make an extra batch and save the leftovers for your busy week ahead. Voilà, you justmeal-preppedwithout really trying.
23.Spicy Pear And Cilantro Salsa
Switch up your traditional salsa for a sweet-and-spicypear-based pico. Choose a crisp variety, like Bosc, for the best texture.
24.Refried Beans
Forget the canned stuff. You can whip up these refried beans in just 20 minutes. (And they can be madeveganorgluten free, too.)
25.Loaded Vegetable Nachos
Transform taco Tuesday into a full fiesta with these colorful sheet pannachos. (Warning: They’ll disappear in about five minutes.)
26.Cilantro Lime Rice
Sometimes, it’s best to stick to the basics. Keep it simple with this flavorful rice you can cook on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.
Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City restaurants. She used to sling sugary desserts in a pastry kitchen, but now she's an avid home cook and fanatic baker.
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