12 Best Side Dishes for Fajitas

Fajitas tend to steal the show. You can hear them coming a mile away with their sizzling melody, signaling to your hungry guests that dinner is ready. So how could any side dish possibly live up to these attention-grabbing platters of caramelized veggies and searing meat? We've rounded up 12 of the best side dishes for fajitas that will easily hold their own, even when paired with sizzling fajitas.

1. Avocado Salad

"This recipe is a keeper! It is halfway between a salad and a fresh salsa and is a delicious side dish for grilled meat. This is the type of recipe where you can make endless variations and it will still taste great," says reviewer BUCKYS. Tip: For best results, use large, ripe avocados in this recipe. Pair it with some Spicy Beef Fajitas.

2. Quick and Easy Refried Beans

"When you don't have all day to make refried beans but you can't stand the canned ones, these are easy and delicious," says recipe creator MarasFlourpower. These refried beans are ready in 20 minutes! When paired with these Quick and Easy Shrimp Fajitas, you have the perfect weeknight dinner.

3. Easy Spicy Roasted Potatoes

Chili powder, cheese, and garlic powder give these roasted red potatoes a burst of spicy flavor. Try adding taco seasoning, sour cream, or avocado for a unique Mexican twist on this classic potato side dish. Give it a try with some Chicken and Bacon Fajitas!

4. Jeff's Chili Con Queso

"This is a great queso. I made this for the Super Bowl and we really enjoyed it. The next day I used the remaining sauce to make chicken enchiladas and they were awesome," says reviewer ACE2774. While your guests are waiting on those fajitas, serve up some of the chili con queso with tortilla chips as an appetizer or just on the side! Pair it with these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas for a serious crowd-pleaser of a meal.

5. Cilantro Tomato Corn Salad

This summery salad is a nice light side to pair with heavy fajitas. "This is a fantastic recipe for using up leftover grilled corn. I also love it because it uses ingredients I always have on hand. Quick, easy and inexpensive, not to mention really tasty," says reviewer Caroline C. Prepare it along with Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas to make Mexican night a breeze.

6. Fresco Salsa

Recipe creator ROXYDABINSKI says, "No cooking, no cans. All fresh ingredients and flavor no one will be able to walk away from! Sweet onion and fresh lime juice make all the difference in this recipe. My husband and I will eat this at one sitting!" This bright and colorful salsa recipe is the perfect side or appetizer for any fajita dish (like these Chicken Fajita Melts).

7. Instant Pot® Chicken Posole Verde

"You can have posole without having to stand over the stove for hours. Let your multi-functional pressure cooker do the work for you. Garnish with avocado slices, lime wedges, sliced radish, jalapeno slices, and/or tortilla strips," says recipe creator Soup Loving Nicole. Pair this dish with lighter fajitas like these Colorful Vegetable Fajitas.

8. Spanish Rice II

"Best Spanish rice ever! Always a staple when I make Mexican," says Christina Angulo. You really can't go wrong with Spanish rice as a side dish for fajitas. Onions, green bell pepper, tomatoes, green chiles, and chili powder make this rice just the right amount of spicy. Try serving it with Swanny's Killer Fajitas.

9. Avocado and Black Bean Dip

"Awesome & versatile! I made this last night & served it with homemade chicken tacos. They were devoured! I had extra leftover, so I had it with my breakfast tacos this morning," says reviewer Chef_VaVaVoom_Pink. Whether you're serving this up as a side or an appetizer for your fajitas (like these Pollo Fajitas), this is a great high fiber dish that no one can resist!

10. Sweet Corn Tomalito

Recipe creator THEKIRKLANDS says, "Steamed corn pudding made on the stovetop. This is a traditional Tex-Mex side dish that is a great side to any meal. Well worth the wait." For a delicious meat-free meal try it with these Vegan Fajitas!

11. Traditional Mexican Guacamole

Guacamole is always the first to go on Mexican night, and this authentic recipe is no exception. The jalapeño can be left out for a more mild version that will balance out zesty dishes like these Spicy Chicken Fajitas.

12. Mayan Couscous

This recipe brings to together the flavors of Mexico and the Middle East for a unique side dish that is great to serve with fajitas. "Many visitors to Merida and Yucatan are surprised to discover excellent Middle Eastern restaurants and such things as kibis offered by local vendors. The cooks of the area happily adopted some of the recipes and ingredients of the Lebanese immigrants who arrived more than a century ago," says recipe creator YucatanToday. This light side dish is great to serve with Beef Fajitas.