This article was updated on the 2nd of September 2023 for clarity and freshness.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your menudo, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 11 of the most popular side dishes for menudo.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best side dishes for menudo include Mexican rice, bolillo, and avocado egg rolls. You can also serve dishes such as tortilla chips with guacamole and jalapeño cornbread. For a healthy accompaniment to menudo, try serving it with bean salad, chopped green salad, or fresh oregano salad.
For each side dish, I’ve provided alternative options to cater to various diets and lifestyles, including vegan, quick and easy, and health-conscious options.
Starchy Sides
Menudo is hearty enough on its own, but it’s even better with a side of something starchy if you want a complete meal that’ll fill you up. Plus, these are excellent for mopping up any leftover broth.
Bolillo
4.3 ⭐️ (52 ratings) | 4 hrs 19 mins
You can’t have a list of sides for menudo without including some bread, and traditional Bolillo is my go-to.
This Mexican-style baguette hits just the right balance — crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, perfect for soaking up the broth of menudo.
It looks intimidating, but don’t stress. This recipe from Mama Latina’s Tips requires a handful of pantry staples and only six minutes of kneading time. In fact, the less you touch the dough, the better it turns out!
What readers are saying…
“Great and easy recipe! Bolillos turned out perfectly.”
“I made these last night and my family loved them so much they want me to make a double batch today! Thanks! This was my first time baking bread and it was a success!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Jalapeño Cornbread
4.9 ⭐️ (9 ratings) | 50 mins
Think baking Bolillo is a tad too intimidating? Try making this jalapeño cornbread instead!
It’s classified as a quickbread, so there’s no yeast included. This means there’s no proofing or kneading involved. Once you have the ingredients mixed, everything goes into the oven to bake.
About 35 minutes later, you’ll have moist, fluffy cornbread studded with jalapeño bits that bring an added subtle kick to your menudo.
What readers are saying…
“Currently eating our cornbread piping hot out of the oven. Absolutely delicious! I’ll definitely return to this recipe.”
“By far the best and easiest cornbread I’ve ever made!! It was moist, delicate, slightly spicy, and we couldn’t stop eating it!”
“Turned out wonderful! Very fluffy with a beautiful crisp top…”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Mexican Rice
4.9 ⭐️ (27 ratings) | 30 mins
Mexican rice is tomatoey, sweet, and nutty. And the flavors meld really nicely with the warm broth of menudo.
You can spoon the rice into the stew and serve it that way, or simply enjoy the rice on the side. Whichever way you choose, it’s guaranteed to be delicious!
Got leftovers? This rice dish can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. I love using them for other Tex-Mex dishes like burritos or even with regular proteins like seared salmon or flank steak.
What readers are saying…
“As close as I’ve come across to my late mom’s recipe! Thank you. Very easy to make, taste was phenomenal.”
“I just snuck my first little bite — oh wow this is incredible. I’m going to put it into butter lettuce leaves and top it with avocado, cilantro, and fresh lime…“
“Love this recipe and idea!! I threw extra veg in it like corn and some cabbage and cannot stop eating it.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
🌿 Cilantro Lime Rice
🤩 Mexican Quinoa Salad
🧘♀️ Mexican Cauliflower Rice
Mexican Tostadas
4.9 ⭐️ (27 ratings) | 30 mins
When I first tried a tostada, it was love at first bite! They’re great little appetizers to serve before the main course of menudo.
They’re small, but the toppings make sure they’re super flavorsome. I like to top mine with some refried beans, avocado, and a fresh slaw, especially when pairing with a bowl of menudo.
These crunchy tostadas will prep your taste buds and appetite but still leave room for the main event.
What readers are saying…
“My family and I loved this recipe! The variety of textures and the bright flavors are a perfect mix.”
“Loved this recipe! The slaw and pickled onions were my favorite part! Will definitely make again!”
“These tostadas were wonderful! The colors and flavors of this dish made it appetizing and fun to eat.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
🦐 Chipotle Shrimp Tostadas
🌱 Vegan Tostadas with Smoky Tempeh and Mango Slaw
Fresh and Light Sides
With all the spices and chiles, menudo can get pretty overwhelming, so you can’t go wrong with serving it alongside something light and fresh.
Easy Bean Salad
4.8 ⭐️ (11 ratings) | 25 mins
This bean salad is the perfect side dish for menudo when you want something light but with a bit more substance.
This recipe uses canned beans for convenience and to ensure they’re perfectly tender but still retain their shape and texture. And the combination of the zesty dressing plus the cilantro brings a burst of freshness that helps cut through the richness of your broth.
You can serve this salad immediately, but I prefer making it ahead of time for the flavors to meld and develop.
What readers are saying…
“Excellent instructions and tips! The recipe turned out perfect.”
“This is my new favorite bean salad recipe. It’s too easy and soooo delicious!”
“This bean salad is so easy to whip up as a side dish for everything from burritos to tacos.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Guacamole
5.0 ⭐️ (52 ratings) | 15 mins
With a steaming bowl of menudo in front of you, you need something to cool it down, especially on a hot summer’s day. And that’s where guacamole comes in!
A mouthful of creamy avocado with cilantro and lime juice cleanses the palate and keeps things from getting too hot (temperature and spice-wise).
You can add a dollop of your fresh homemade guac over your menudo, but I prefer serving it on the side, with a handful of crispy tortilla chips for some crunch.
What readers are saying…
“This guac was perfect, I love a good chunky style guac and this was the perfect addition for our taco night.”
“This is such an amazing guacamole recipe! Everyone at my house loved it!”
“This Guac is unbelievably good! We’re so obsessed!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Fresh Oregano Salad
4.5 ⭐️ (10 ratings) | 20 mins
With a hearty soup like menudo, it’s always nice to have a fresh salad on the side. And this salad utilizes one of the most popular garnishes for menudo — oregano.
The tangy bite of lemon juice, the earthy taste of oregano, and the crispness of onions are all perfect for this hot soup. And the best part? This salad is a breeze to make!
Pro-tip: Serve this salad with toast or even tortilla chips to keep the Mexican theme going.
What readers are saying…
“This is AMAZING. Tried it with pita. Yum!!!”
“Healthy!!!”
“We ate this salad growing up. But never had it on toast or thought about doing that. That’s a great idea that I will do now.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Chopped Green Salad
5.0 ⭐️ (2 ratings) | 15 mins
The next time your family plans a menudo meal, try out this chopped green salad.
The combination of crisp romaine lettuce and the tangy honey cider dressing brings a freshness to your menudo that will leave you wondering why you didn’t think of it sooner.
The best part? This salad is highly customizable. You can use any greens you have on hand! Spinach, arugula, kale — go for it! You can even skip the bacon or swap the sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds. Anything goes with this salad.
What readers are saying…
“This was soooo good! Thanks for the great recipe! Will make this again.”
“I made this salad today. So so good! Will make it again for sure.”
“Made this for lunch! So delicious! Thank you!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Fun and Flavorful Twists
These treats are by no means classics, but they’re an exciting way to jazz up your menudo. They can add depth and enhance the flavors of your meal.
Avocado Egg Rolls
5.0 ⭐️ (13 ratings) | 30 mins
I was pretty skeptical about this dish because the thought of avocado and egg rolls didn’t sound great initially.
But luckily, I was pleasantly surprised when I took my first bite.
The crunchy texture of the egg roll contrasts nicely with the soft avocado, making each bite satisfying. And when you dip the whole thing in the savory menudo broth, it really highlights the creaminess of the avocado. Yum!
What readers are saying…
“…this recipe was A-mazing!!! Thank you so very much for sharing. It’s one of my favorite things on the menu at this restaurant and it’s nice to be able to recreate it at home.“
“I just made them in my air fryer and they’re beautiful and delicious!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Dill Pickle Saltines
4.4 ⭐️ (161 ratings) | 40 mins
These crackers are the perfect partner for your rich, spicy stew.
They’re an easy way to add some substance and crunch to your meal without feeling like you’ve overindulged. Plus, they’re coated with a buttery dill and ranch mixture, infusing them with a salty, vibrantly tangy kick to contrast your menudo.
These jazzed-up crackers can be stored for up to 5 days, but I doubt they’ll even last that long with how good they are.
What readers are saying…
“This is totally addictive! My kids couldn’t stop eating it!”
“We love anything pickle-related, these were a hit!”
“We can’t stop eating this yummy snack! Thanks for the idea!”
Deliciously different alternatives…
Chipotle Chicken Taquitos
4.6 ⭐️ (91 ratings) | 25 mins
My favorite Mexican snack are taquitos. These little crunchy rolls are made from a filling of smokey chipotle, cheese, and chicken (although you can fill them with anything you want!).
The filled tortillas are then baked or deep-fried until the cheese inside becomes gooey. I prefer baking them because you can easily get a batch done, and it uses less oil. But if you want maximum crunch, deep-frying is the way to go.
They’re great for dipping in the menudo stew, adding more substance to the meal.
What readers are saying…
“Amazing recipe! I added jalapenos to spice things up a little more and it added to the flavor so much!”
“HOLY MOLY! I followed your instructions exactly and these turned out PERFECT! And the flavor…OMG! Even my ultra picky husband said they’re a keeper in our rotation!”
“Absolutely one of the best things we have ever made together.”
Deliciously different alternatives…
🧀 Cheesy Black Bean and Sweet Potato Taquitos
🥔 Potato Flautas
What To Serve With Menudo
Ingredients
- 1 portion bolilo
- 1 portion easy bean salad
- 1 portion guacamole
- 1 portion jalapeno corn bread
- 1 portion chipotle chicken taquitos
- 1 portion Mexican rice … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your menudo according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: bolillo, easy bean salad, guacamole, chopped green salad, avocado egg rolls, jalapeno cornbread, fresh oregano salad, dill pickle saltines, chipotle chicken taquitos, Mexican rice, and Mexican tostadas.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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