Ah, shrimp tacos. Food lovers, is there anything better than biting into a soft tortilla filled with tasty, crispy shrimp, fresh salsa, and maybe a squeeze of lime? I don’t think so! But shrimp tacos are great on their own, but they’re even better with the right side dishes. And thats what Im here to help with today.
If you want to serve shrimp tacos with sides, you should have salsa, tostilocos, corn on the cob, tortilla soup, pico de gallo, guacamole, Mexican coleslaw, cilantro lime rice, black beans, grilled pineapple, Mexican street corn salad, chiles rellenos, and tostadas.
Refried beans are a classic accompaniment to Mexican cuisine, and they pair beautifully with shrimp tacos. They taste great with the shrimp and compliment the fresh taco toppings perfectly with their creamy texture and savory flavor. When you make shrimp tacos, you can’t forget to serve refried beans. You can use canned beans or make them from scratch.
Another great side dish for shrimp tacos is Spanish rice, which has a strong tomato flavor with a hint of spice. Its hearty texture and savory flavor complement the lightness of the shrimp. Plus, it adds a pop of color to your plate, making for a visually appealing meal.
Tostilocos, a popular Mexican street food, are a fun and tasty side to serve with shrimp tacos. You put different things on top of Tostitos chips, like cucumber, jicama, lime juice, hot sauce, and chamoy. This makes a snack that is salty, spicy, sour, and slightly sweet—the perfect mix of flavors to go with your tacos.
Salsa, with its fresh and tangy flavor, is a classic side dish for tacos. There are many kinds of salsa, like chunky tomato salsa, tangy tomatillo salsa, and spicy salsa roja. The different salsa flavors make the rich shrimp tacos taste very fresh. Plus, its great for dipping, adding an interactive element to your meal.
Tabasco sauce, with its vinegar tang and spicy kick, is a great addition to shrimp tacos. A few drops can make your taco taste better by adding a little heat that goes well with the shrimp. And for people who like things with a little extra heat, you need to have Tabasco on hand.
Corn on the cob is a delicious and hearty side dish to serve with shrimp tacos. The sweetness of the corn balances the savory shrimp, and the kernels add a fun crunch. You can grill the corn for a smoky flavor or boil it for a softer texture. Either way, a buttered corn on the cob is a side dish thats sure to please.
Tortilla soup, with its rich broth and hearty ingredients, is a comforting side dish for shrimp tacos. The strong flavors of the soup, which come from tomatoes, chiles, and spices, go well with the lightness of the shrimp tacos. Plus, the crispy tortilla strips that top the soup add a delightful crunch.
Pico de Gallo is a fresh, chunky salsa thats a great accompaniment to shrimp tacos. Ripe tomatoes, sharp onion, fresh cilantro, and tangy lime give it a burst of freshness that balances out the richness of the shrimp.
Tostadas, crispy fried tortillas, make a great side dish or even an alternative base for your shrimp filling. Put some guacamole, refried beans, or salsa on top of them for a satisfying crunch that goes well with the shrimp tacos.
Guacamole, with its creamy texture and fresh flavor, is a fantastic side dish for shrimp tacos. The shrimp is crunchy and goes well with the creamy avocado. The lime, cilantro, and other ingredients in the guacamole give your plate a fresh taste.
Shrimp tacos are an amazing Mexican-inspired dish that has become popular worldwide. The combination of lightly breaded shrimp, cool cabbage, creamy sauce, and warm tortillas is simply delightful. But what sides really complete this meal? Here are my top recommendations for what sides go with shrimp tacos, based on flavor pairings, textures, colors, and ease of preparation.
The Classics: Rice, Beans, Chips, and Salsa
Some classic sides that pair beautifully with shrimp tacos are
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Spanish Rice This rice seasoned with tomato sauce and spices like garlic onion, and cumin provides a warm, hearty base for the tacos. The spices mirror those used in the taco seasoning. Spanish rice’s nutty flavor and fluffy texture balances out the tacos nicely.
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Refried Beans: Smooth, creamy refried beans offer great contrast to the crunchy tacos. Their earthy flavor complements the shrimp, and they add extra protein. Refried beans are easy to make from canned pinto beans or you can use store-bought.
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Tortilla Chips and Salsa No Mexican meal is complete without crispy tortilla chips and fresh salsa! The chips provide a satisfying crunch and the salsa offers a burst of tomato flavor and spice Great for scooping up any taco drippings.
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Guacamole: A bowl of fresh, chunky guacamole contributes creaminess and cooling avocado flavor. The green color brightens up the plate next to the warm reddish-brown tacos. Plus, who doesn’t love guac?
Salads and Slaws for Crunch
Crunchy, fresh salads and tangy slaws pair wonderfully with the soft shrimp tacos:
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Jicama Slaw: Jicama adds a sweet, crispy crunch to slaw. Toss julienned jicama and cabbage with a light lime vinaigrette for a refreshing salad.
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Mexican Coleslaw: With shredded cabbage, onions, cilantro, and lime juice, this slaw has delicious Mexican flair. The tanginess balances the tacos’ richness.
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Mexican Chopped Salad: This salad combines lettuce, corn, black beans, onions, tomatoes and crunchy fried tortilla strips. Hearty and fresh-tasting.
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Pineapple Salsa: Grilled pineapple makes for a sweet and smoky salsa. It offers fruity contrast to the shrimp.
Hot Sides to Turn Up the Heat
Spicy accents can complement the tacos for those who like some heat:
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Salsa Roja: A red salsa made from chili peppers, garlic, onion, and tomatoes. The smooth, fiery sauce enhances the tacos’ flavors.
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Chili con Queso: Known as cheese dip in the U.S., this blend of cheese and chilies served warm is addictive. Great for dunking the shrimp tacos.
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Elote (Mexican Grilled Corn): Grilled corn slathered in a spicy, creamy sauce and sprinkled with cotija cheese. Smoky and rich.
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Chiles Rellenos: Poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, battered and fried. Their rich creaminess offsets the tacos’ crunch.
Satisfying Soups and Stews
Warm, hearty soups pair nicely with shrimp tacos:
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Tortilla Soup: This Mexican soup features warm tomato broth loaded with veggies and tortilla strips. Comforting and flavorful.
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Charro Beans: Pinto beans cooked with bacon, chili peppers and tomatoes make a hearty, mildly spicy side stew.
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Pozole: A stew of hominy, pork and chilies. The hominy offers appealing texture against the tacos.
Crowd-Pleasing Potluck Sides
If serving shrimp tacos for a party, crowd-pleasing sides like:
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MexicanStreet Corn Salad: Grilled corn, cheese, chili powder, and creamy dressing. Colorful and fun.
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Corn and Black Bean Salad: Toss corn, black beans, red onion, cilantro and lime juice for a hearty salad.
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Chicken Tortilla Casserole: Layers of tortillas, chicken, enchilada sauce and cheese makes this a comforting, delicious side.
Easy Vegetable Sides
Quick vegetable dishes that complement shrimp tacos:
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Cumin-Lime Roasted Carrots: Roasting carrots concentrated their sweetness, and cumin-lime seasoning gives Mexican flair.
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Garlic Green Beans: Sautéed green beans gain richness from garlic. Crisp-tender and full of flavor.
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Zucchini and Corn Sauté: Sautéing cubed zucchini and corn creates a simple but tasty veggie medley.
Fun Extras: Margaritas, Sopapillas and Cake
And don’t forget drinks, desserts and snacks!
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Margaritas: What pairs better with Mexican food than a tangy, salty margarita? Quench your thirst with this quintessential Mexican cocktail.
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Sopapillas: These puffy fried doughs dusted in cinnamon-sugar make an irresistible dessert. Serve with honey for dipping.
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Mexican Spiced Snack Mix: Spicy, crunchy snack mix with peanuts, pumpkin seeds, and chile powder. Great for munching!
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Mexican Corn Cake: This sweet cornbread studded with corn kernels and baked in a cast-iron skillet has rustic appeal. Serve warm.
In Conclusion
Shrimp tacos are such a fun, flavorful entree. With so many possible tasty sides, from traditional rice and beans to salads, soups and snacks, you can create a fantastic Mexican-inspired meal.
Try mixing and matching different textures, temperatures, and flavors to find the perfect supporting sides for your shrimp tacos. Appetites will be satisfied and your dinner guests impressed with these winning combinations! ¡Buen provecho!
1 Grilled Pineapple
Grilled pineapple is a slightly unexpected but delicious side dish for shrimp tacos. The pineapples natural sweetness is enhanced by grilling, and it offers a lovely contrast to the savory shrimp. Plus, the charred bits from the grill add a touch of smokiness thats really delicious.
1 Mexican Coleslaw
Mexican coleslaw is a tasty and refreshing side dish that pairs well with shrimp tacos. Its a bit lighter and tangier than traditional coleslaw, made with lime juice and cilantro. The crunch of the cabbage and the brightness of the dressing complement the shrimp tacos perfectly.
Cilantro lime rice is a bright and flavorful side dish thats perfect for pairing with shrimp tacos. The citrusy lime and fresh cilantro flavors provide a lovely contrast to the savory shrimp. Its a simple yet satisfying side thats easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser.
Black beans, with their earthy flavor and soft texture, are a great side dish for shrimp tacos. Theyre a staple in Mexican cuisine and add a hearty element to your meal. Plus, theyre full of protein and fiber, making your taco meal even more satisfying.
Shrimp Tacos in Under 25 Minutes (Really!) | WEEKNIGHTING
What to serve with shrimp tacos?
Transform your shrimp tacos into a true fiesta by serving these 12 satisfying side dishes. From Mexican corn salad to margaritas, get ready to say, “ole!” With these 12 sides, your shrimp tacos will be the taco the town! 1. Tortilla Chips and Mango Salsa Let’s get the ball rolling with the most iconic Mexican snack there is.
What kind of salsa goes with shrimp tacos?
Fresh Pineapple Salsa This fruit salsa pairs perfectly with tortilla chips and shrimp tacos. It mixes pineapple, red bell pepper, red onion, and cilantro into a perfect summertime side dish. For the salsa to live up to its name, you should choose fresh, juicy, ripe pineapple.
What Rice goes with shrimp tacos?
One mouthful of this rice and you will enjoy a burst of bright and fresh flavors. This cilantro lime rice recipe is the perfect side pairing to go with shrimp tacos, and any tacos for that matter! It has a silky, smooth flavor with its combination of garlic, green onion, white rice, lime juice, and cilantro.
What to eat with shrimp tacos at Chipotle?
Basic white rice gets a major lift by adding the simple combination of onion, red bell peppers, garlic, jalapeno, tomato sauce, broth and spices. It pairs great with seafood and will help create the ultimate Mexican-inspired meal with fresh shrimp tacos. This copycat recipe is perfect for Chipotle lovers!