If you’re wondering what to serve with your carne asada, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 39 of the most popular side dishes for carne asada.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes to serve carne asada are classic Mexican dishes like Mexican rice, esquites, and guacamole. For less tradition options, try grilled kabobs, pineapple salsa, potato salad, or a chopped wedge salad. For something unique, try queso funido or Cuban black beans.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Mexican rice
Mexican rice is a must-have carb whenever you’re having Mexican cuisine.
The rice is loaded with tomato and spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic.
Plus it’s easy to make in bulk, so you can pop a massive bowl of it in the middle of the table and let the guests serve themselves.
Or you can use it to make burrito bowls (yum!).
Why we love this recipe: you can’t go wrong with the classics.
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Mexican rice
Add beans
Black beans and rice
Make it refreshing
Cilantro lime rice
Guacamole
If you have avocados lying around at home, it’s time to make some good old guacamole!
You can serve the guacamole as a dip to accompany your steak, or you can use it as a refreshing topping for some carne asada tacos.
Psst… serve some tortilla chips on the side to add crunch to the meal.
Why we love this recipe: the jalapenos added in the guac add a spicy kick to your meal.
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Guacamole
Go tropical
Pineapple guacamole
Make it different
Corn salsa
Cactus salad
Cactus salad is something most of you probably haven’t tried – but it’s a staple in Mexican households.
Cactus has a crisp-tender texture and a sharp, citrusy flavor. You should be able to find a jar of chopped nopales in your local Mexican grocery store.
If you can’t get hold of any cactus, swap it for green beans. It won’t be the same, but will still be super tasty.
Why we love this recipe: it’s unusual, low carb, and easy to make.
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Cactus salad
Add corn
Grilled cactus and corn salad
Make it simple
Simple tossed green salad
Mexican cornbread
Cornbread is a well-loved Southern delicacy that you can give a Mexican twist by adding (you guessed it) jalapenos.
And to counteract the spiciness of the jalapenos, this recipe uses a little honey.
The result is a scrumptious treat that has just the right blend of sweet and savory notes.
Why we love this recipe: you can use it to mop up any sauce from your meal.
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Mexican cornbread
Go traditional
Mexican cornbread muffins
Make it simple
Garlic bread
Pineapple mango salsa
Brighten up your carne asada with a tropical chunky salsa.
It’s got subtle tanginess from the pineapple, sweetness from the mango, and a spicy citrus pop from the jalapenos and lime.
Psst… it’s a great topping for steak tacos!
Why we love this recipe: it screams of summer.
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Pineapple mango salsa
Go traditional
Pico de gallo
Make it unique
Strawberry salsa
Cuban black beans
These black beans may not look like much, but they’re jam-packed with flavor.
I like serving them with my steak and some rice, so the grains can soak up all the juices.
And the best thing about this dish is that it gets better overnight – so you can save time and make it a day ahead.
Why we love this recipe: it’s freezer-friendly so you can make a big batch and keep the leftovers.
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Cuban black beans
Make it hearty
Cowboy beans
Keep it simple
Refried beans
Queso fundido
Make your carne asada meal stand out with a Spanish-inspired dip by its side.
Queso fundido is a gooey melty cheese dip that’s dotted with chunks of Mexican chorizo and then topped with juicy tomatoes and fresh cilantro.
Dunking your carne asada in for a bite to remember.
Why we love this recipe: it’s super indulgent and unique.
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Queso fundido
Keep it simple
Mojo Picante dip
Keep it fresh
Chimichurri sauce
Grilled vegetable kabobs
Grilling your carne asada?
Stick some fun vegetable kabobs on the side.
You can pick whatever vegetables you want, but don’t skip the addictive fajita butter used in this recipe. It will have your guests licking their fingers clean!
Psst… add some shrimp to the kabobs for a twist on surf-and-turf.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a versatile dish that you can alter to make sure everyone has a version they love.
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Grilled vegetable kabobs
Make it a salad
Chopped grilled vegetable salad
Keep it simple
Blistered tomatoes
Red potato salad
Red potato salad is a creamy side option that’s great for summer cookouts.
It’s easy to make a lot of it, and it will provide a cooling contrast to your savory meat.
Pro tip: it’s best to make this at least 30 minutes before serving so all the flavors can fully develop.
Why we love this recipe: it includes three different herbs for a zesty flavor combination.
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Creamy red potato salad
Make it loaded
Loaded baked potato salad
Make it mayo-free
Greek potato salad
Chopped wedge salad
A chopped wedge salad is the perfect light accompaniment to your carne asada meal.
The blue cheese dressing will bring a sophisticated touch to your steak, and it will only take you 5 minutes to put together.
Why we love this recipe: it looks as good as it tastes.
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Chopped wedge salad
Make it fancy
Walnut and blue cheese salad
Keep it simple
Green goddess iceberg salad
Corn tortillas
This isn’t technically a side, but I couldn’t leave it out.
One of my favorite things to do with carne asada is turn it into tacos.
And did you know how easy it is to make your own tortillas?
You just need three simple ingredients and a bit of patience.
Once you have the tortillas, all you need is your meat and some salsas… and you’re ready to go.
Why we love this recipe: it’s a lot of fun to make.
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Homemade corn tortillas
Make it crunchy
Baked tortilla chips (nachos)
Make it different
Carne asada enchiladas
Esquites
If you’ve never tried esquites, you’re in for a treat.
The creamy cheese, tangy cilantro, and spicy jalapenos all work together to highlight the sweetness of the fresh corn.
You can serve it as a dip with some corn tortillas, as a side salad, or you can even use it as a steak topper.
Why we love this recipe: you can’t go wrong with a traditional recipe.
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Esquites
Keep it simple
Grilled corn on the cob
Make it cozy
Honey butter skillet corn
Fried plantains
Another traditional side that will add some sweetness to your meal is this quick and light fried plantains.
Pro-tip: cut the plantain at an angle so there’s more surface area to get all caramelized and yummy.
Why we love this recipe: it includes a super tasty hot-pepper dipping sauce.
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Fried plantains with hot pepper sauce
Keep it simple
Sweet potato chips
Make it hearty
Spicy plantain burrito bowls
What sauce goes well with carne asada?
The best sauce to go with carne asada is a traditional salsa like a tomatillo salsa. A zesty sauce like chimichurri sauce would work well too. If you want something on the creamier side, a classic guacamole or lime creama should do the trick.
The best sauce to serve with carne asada:
What To Serve With Carne Asada
Ingredients
- 1 portion carne asada
Instructions
- Prepare your carne asada according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: Mexican rice, guacamole, cactus salad, Mexican cornbread, pineapple mango salsa, cuban black beans, queso fundido, grilled vegetable kabobs, red potato salad, chopped wedge salad, corn tortillas, esquites, and fried plantains.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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