Name: What To Serve With Chimichangas
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 portion chimichangas

Table of Contents

If you’re wondering what to serve with your chimichangas, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 15 of the most popular side dishes for chimichangas.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with chimichangas are esquites, Mexican rice, mango salsa, and ensalada de nopales. Try cilantro slaw, calabacitas, and cilantro lime cauliflower rice for healthier options. You can also serve cowboy beans, Tex-Mex pasta salad, nachos, and green chile cheese cornbread.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Esquites

It’s a no-brainer to serve chimichangas with elotes.

But, if you don’t love that you have to fire up your grill to make them, make esquites instead.

It’s precisely like elotes, except it’s served in cups.

You still get all the delicious flavors from elote, with the convenience of just scooping the kernels from your cup.

Win-win.

You only need 15 minutes to put together these flavor-packed esquites.

Mexican rice

Make your chimichangas meal heartier with a heaping serving of Mexican rice on the side.

This rice dish is a step above your typical steamed rice.

Still, this recipe calls for simple ingredients that are most likely already in your pantry.

You can make this restaurant-worthy Mexican rice in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Mango salsa

Add a fresh pop of vibrant colors to your chimichangas with a serving of this mango salsa.

Aside from colors, this dish adds a fresh and bright bite to your fried chimichangas.

The sweetness from the mangoes and grape tomatoes is balanced by the zesty lime juice and fresh cilantro – giving you the perfect mix of flavors.

Brighten any dish with a generous helping of this fresh mango salsa.

Ensalada de nopales

Because chimichangas are fried, I like to serve them with this cactus salad on the side.

Nopales have a tart, slightly citrusy taste that undercuts the richness of the chimichangas.

This salad is even made more refreshing with the addition of lime juice and cilantro.

Check out The Boss Kitchen’s detailed recipe for making ensalada de nopales.

It’ll also show how to ensure your nopales don’t come out slimy.

Sheet pan nachos

Hosting a game day party?

You can’t go wrong serving chimichangas and nachos.

It’s even easier to make nachos for a whole crowd with the help of your trusty sheet pan.

Sure, nacho towers look fancy, but with these loaded sheet pan nachos, you’re guaranteed every chip is covered with delicious toppings.

Refried beans

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/7459155625101833/

If you have an instant pot, making refried beans is a breeze.

It eliminates the need to pre-soak your beans – the instant pot does all the work.

You just need to prep the ingredients, and once your beans are cooked, you mash them to your desired consistency.

Prop your chimichangas over a bed of easy instant pot refried beans, and you’ve got one satisfying Tex-Mex meal.

Spicy cilantro slaw

Do you find traditional coleslaw predictable?

Swap out your usual dressing for something spicy and tangy to shake things up.

This recipe features a Greek yogurt and mayo combo seasoned with cilantro, spices, and chili peppers.

This dressing and the crisp vegetables add a welcomed fresh bite to your chimichangas.

One taste of this spicy cilantro lime slaw will make you forget about the classic version.

Cowboy beans

Beef up your chimichangas by serving them alongside a generous helping of these cowboy beans.

These aren’t your ordinary baked beans.

This recipe features beans, ground beef, bacon, and peppers packed with a ton of delicious spices and seasonings.

You might need to nap after a meal of chimichangas and these cowboy beans.

Creamy Mexican corn chowder

Feeling blue?

A piping hot bowl of this corn chowder can help lift your mood.

This dish features everything we love about elotes, except in the form of warm, comforting soup.

Imagine your sweet corn kernels in a thick, creamy broth with a spicy kick?

Heaven in a bowl.

Serve your crispy chimichangas alongside a bowl of creamy Mexican corn chowder for the ultimate Tex-Mex comfort meal.

Calabacitas con queso

Whip up this calabacitas con queso to make your chimichangas pop.

Reminiscent of classic succotash, this dish features a medley of zucchini, corn, tomatoes, and peppers, with an added sprinkling of Monterey jack cheese.

The result?

A vegetable dish covered in oozy, melted cheese that everyone’s sure to love.

Here’s the full recipe: Calabacitas Con Queso.

Sweet potato fries

A plate of sweet potato fries and chimichangas sounds is my ideal dinner.

Get second helpings of these crispy baked sweet potato fries guilt-free.

Pro-Tip: Toss your sweet potato fries in corn flour before baking to make them extra crispy.

Green chile cheese cornbread

Getting bored of your usual cornbread?

Spice it up by adding green chiles and cheddar cheese.

If you’re not a fan of spicy food, don’t worry.

The sweetness of your cornbread offsets the heat nicely, giving you an irresistible sweet-savory flavor with a mild kick.

Enjoy your chimichangas with a slice of green chile and cheese cornbread for a filling meal.

Pssst… Smother your cornbread and chimichangas with this restaurant-style salsa.

Candied jalapenos

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Add a bright, zippy bite to your chimichangas with these candied jalapenos.

Also known as cowboy candy, these morsels have a lip-smacking sweet and spicy flavor to them.

Making them is a straightforward canning process.

If you’ve never tried canning, don’t worry! It’s actually pretty easy.

Fountain Avenue Kitchen’s recipe will guide you through the process of making these tasty morsels.

Cilantro lime cauliflower rice

Want something light to serve alongside your chimichangas?

Serve them alongside this cilantro lime cauliflower rice.

Cauliflower soaks up flavor exceptionally well, giving this dish a delightful lime and cilantro flavor combo.

The best part? It has far fewer calories than its rice counterpart.

Make your Mexican feast healthier with this low-carb cilantro lime cauliflower rice.

Tex-Mex pasta salad

This creamy pasta salad is chock-full of classic Tex-Mex ingredients and flavors, perfect for a summer party.

But what really takes this pasta salad up a notch is the zesty cilantro dressing.

It’s made of low-fat sour cream, so it’s lighter and healthier than your traditional mayo dressing.

Enjoy every bite of this tasty and refreshing creamy Tex-Mex pasta salad.

The best side dishes for chimichangas

Esquites
Mexican rice
Mango salsa
Ensalada de nopales
Sheet pan nachos
Refried beans
Spicy cilantro slaw
Cowboy beans
Creamy Mexican corn chowder
Calabacitas con queso
Sweet potato fries
Green chile cheese cornbread
Candied jalapenos
Cilantro lime cauliflower rice
Tex-Mex pasta salad