11 Best Side Dishes to Serve with Taco Casserole

Taco Casserole, oh my. So creamy, cheesy, and delectable!

You don’t even need to inform anybody about the dish; they’ll all be aware of it!

Taco Casserole is a quick and simple recipe that combines well with a range of different sides.

What, though, goes best with taco casserole? It should be something robust, full, and a little more substantial than a salad or side dish.

So, if you’re searching for some new side dishes to go with your taco casserole, here are a few of my favorites.

But first

See Also: 22 Best Mexican Vegetable Sides

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Taco Casserole?

Taco casseroles are tasty and ideal for times you want something warm and cozy.

Also see: What Should You Serve With Mexican Chicken Casserole? The Top 10 Side Dishes

However, they are often boring and uninspiring.

Side dishes are thus vital for making taco casseroles more thrilling and memorable.

While tacos may seem to come first, they may frequently be coupled with a range of various tastes and textures.

If you’re creating a taco casserole, it’s a good idea to serve it with a side dish that compliments the dinner.

A side dish to go with your taco casserole may help add flavor and texture.

Consider it a technique to make your taco casserole stand out and be unique.

7 Tips for Serving Side Dishes for Taco Casserole

Taco casserole is one of those foods that is both simple to prepare and delightful to consume. This is an excellent meal to serve to guests or family. If you’re serving it at a party, think about the side dishes you’ll be serving with it.

Here are 7 easy recommendations for pairing taco casserole with the appropriate side dishes.

1. Choose Wisely

When planning your side dishes, consider which ones will compliment your main course. It is critical to choose side dishes that complement the main course.

If you’re presenting a heavy dinner like taco casserole, you should avoid items that are too light or delicate. This ensures that the meal is nutritionally balanced.

To put it another way, you don’t want to have to eat a lot of one sort of food just to get through the meal. By carefully combining the items, you can guarantee that they compliment each other and create a well-balanced lunch.

2. Think Outside the Box

If you’re making a taco casserole, you should think outside the box when it comes to providing your side dishes. If you’re presenting a conventional taco casserole, you may serve any of your favorite Mexican side dishes.

Instead, stick to what you know will complement the dish. If you’re presenting a buffet-style taco casserole, though, you should be a bit more daring with your side dishes.

This is because you want your visitors to have a choice of alternatives from which to pick. You may offer everything you know works good with tacos, but try not to overload your visitors.

3. Keep It Simple

Keep your side dishes basic if you’re making a taco casserole. You don’t want to serve anything that is excessively difficult or time consuming to prepare. Instead, stick to the fundamentals.

This means adhering to tried-and-true tastes and ingredients. This also implies that you should avoid offering anything overly spicy or hot. Your visitors will not enjoy the lunch if they do not like spicy cuisine. So keep your side dishes basic and eliminate anything that may turn them off.

4. Make Sure It Tastes Good

The most crucial aspect of every side dish is its flavor. This does not need you to spend hours in the kitchen. However, it does imply that you must choose a dish that you are certain will be great.

Choose a side dish that you love creating so that you don’t wind up with anything dull or unpleasant. It’s a good idea to prepare many variations of your favorite dishes.

This will save you from wasting time in the kitchen. If you can’t find a recipe you enjoy, you can always rely on a tried-and-true one. Just make sure there aren’t too many components in it that you don’t want to utilize.

5. Choose a Complementary Dish

When selecting a side dish to accompany your taco casserole, look for something that compliments the main course. A fresh salad would be an excellent accompaniment to a cheesy, meaty entrée.

If you are offering a lighter meal, such as chicken salad, a substantial potato salad might be ideal. Always think of your side dishes as a method to complement the meal you’re presenting.

After all, the side dish should compliment the main meal while simultaneously standing out from it. So, don’t be concerned about what goes into the main meal if it lacks a side dish to complement it. It can function quite well without one!

6. Use Flavorful Ingredients

A decent side dish should be more than simply that. It should also go well with the main course. So, think about what tastes you want in your side dish. This entails selecting flavorful foods.

Choose something that will complement the main course you’re serving. For example, if you’re serving a spicy taco casserole, choose a side dish with comparable characteristics.

You might, for example, offer a Mexican rice salad. This is a typical side dish that is simple to prepare and goes well with almost any main course.

7. Use Just Enough of Each Ingredient

Leftovers are ideal for using up in a casserole dish. You don’t want to squander any of the components.

So, simply use as much of each ingredient as is required to bring out its greatest taste. You may also try adding some herbs and spices to give the meal some more flavor.

What to Serve with Taco Casserole – 11 Best Side Dishes

Here are eleven of the most popular side dishes to serve with taco casserole, whether you want to add a little additional zing to your taco casserole or simply need something new to offer.

These side dishes are very simple to make, and some may even be prepared ahead of time.

1. Healthy Taco Salad

Taco salad is a Mexican-inspired cuisine that often consists of shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and a dab of cheese. If you don’t have time to create your own salad, a fast and simple choice is to purchase some from local grocery.

They’re bursting with flavor, nutrition, and deliciousness and will make a nutritious and filling side dish for your dinner guests.

2. Grilled Vegetables

Grilled veggies are an excellent accompaniment to taco casserole. Corn, mushrooms, and peppers all work very well here and are a terrific way to add some more color and complexity.

You may grill them separately or in a large mound in the center of the table.

3. Grilled Avocados

If you want to go above and above with what to offer with taco casserole, grilled avocado is the way to go! Taco casserole has a creamy, cheesy flavor that pairs well with a crisp fruit salad.

You may purchase one ready-made at the shop or create your own by simply slicing fresh avocados into thin wedges on a grill pan.

4. Cucumber Gazpacho

You could also offer a bowl of this delicious gazpacho instead of avocado! It goes well with a hot, spicy Mexican cuisine. It’s simple to prepare and a fantastic way to use up leftover cucumber.

I cut mine into little pieces and season with garlic, lime juice, and a big amount of cayenne pepper. If you use more than that, you risk overwhelming the delicate flavors of the cucumber, so start with a tiny quantity and add more as required.

5. Cilantro Lime Rice

A Mexican casserole dish is fantastic, and this is one of my favorite side dish alternatives to offer with it! It’s also very healthful, making it an excellent choice for any time of day.

The use of black beans, rather than cream cheese, is the key to this dish. Black beans are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and important vitamins and minerals, and the addition of lime juice enhances the flavor significantly.

Cilantro Lime rice is an absolute staple for any taco casserole, but feel free to add any herbs you choose, or even a little of fresh basil if you’re feeling adventurous.

6. Mexican Street Corn Salad

This is a terrific alternative for taco casserole for your next party since it is incredibly quick to make and includes a lot of fresh ingredients that offer diversity and nutrition.

The important thing to remember here is that corn on the cob is best eaten raw, so remove the kernels after boiling and avoid purchasing frozen corn.

7. Elote-Style Grilled Corn on the Cob

You can’t go wrong with grilled corn on the cob when it comes to Mexican cuisine. It’s simple to prepare, and the flavor is out of this world. Simply open a bag of pre salted sweet corn and grill for a few minutes, or until just cooked through.

Slice the taco casserole into rounds and serve with a dish of your favorite salsa.

8. Mexican Coleslaw

You can purchase pre-made coleslaw at the store, but I feel that the flavor isn’t quite right! Instead, build your own using fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Combine the carrots, cabbage, and onions with the dressing. The recipe below is for my homemade coleslaw, which is usually a success!

9. Black Bean Salsa

This is one of my favorite side dishes to make when I’m alone at home for supper since it allows me to consume a lot of Mexican cuisine without feeling bogged down by all the carbohydrates!

This dish incorporates beans, which are high in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This is the kind of meal where you want to go for real flavors, so go with a high-quality salsa. You could even prepare a batch of the salsa to freeze and have a little anytime you like.

10. Mexican Sweet Potatoes

These are a wonderfully nutritious choice to offer with your taco casserole if you want to create a more substantial option.

Sweet potatoes are high in potassium and vitamin A and are one of the most nutritious vegetables available at the shop. If you’re feeling daring, try cooking your own sweet potato fries as well!

11. Chips and Salsa

If you make your own taco casserole, I recommend serving it with a crunchy, healthful side dish like chips and salsa.

The corn tortillas work well with a fresh salad and homemade guacamole, or you could prepare your own and store it in a Tupperware box for simple on-the-go eating.

You might also experiment with the salsa by adding a few chopped tomatoes, finely diced cucumber, and perhaps a few slices of onion.

Related:

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