What To Serve With Spanish Rice – 33 Delicious Side Dishes

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

In this article, I list 33 of the most popular side dishes for Spanish rice.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best dishes to serve with Spanish rice are carne asada, chili verde, Cuban black beans, and margarita grilled shrimp. You can also serve queso-baked chicken, blackened fish tacos, or fried chorizo and potatoes. For purely veggie options, try calabacitas and One-pan huevos rancheros.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Carne asada

This recipe transforms budget-friendly flank steak into a restaurant-worthy dish with the help of classic Mexican flavors.

It involves soaking the beef in a citrusy marinade for at least two hours, making it extra flavorful and ensuring you get a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. 

Prop slices of this delicious steak over your Spanish rice for an impressive weekend dinner. 

Why we love this recipe: it’s a delicious steak that won’t break the bank.

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Fajita veggies

These mushroom fajitas are the best way to add a savory twist to your Spanish rice without using meat. 

Portobello mushrooms are loaded with umami goodness, and these ones have a citrusy bite from the lime marinade.

You can serve the veggie mixture in fajitas as suggested with the rice as a side, or just mix the veggies into the rice.

Psst… don’t forget the guac!

Why we love this recipe: there’s no hands-on cooking involved.

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Margarita grilled shrimp skewers

If you’re in the mood for a lighter main dish, these margarita grilled shrimp skewers are the way to go. 

They work really well as appetizers, but I also love serving them with Spanish rice for a filling lunch.

Pro tip: not a fan of alcohol? Just leave out the tequila, they’ll still be just as tasty.

Why we love this recipe: it has a 4.4 rating from 256 reviews.

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One-pan huevos rancheros

Huevos rancheros is a classic Mexican breakfast dish consisting of a salsa-topped fried egg over corn tortillas. 

But with this recipe, the tortillas are skipped. Instead, the eggs are cooked in a pan with salsa, peppers, and black beans – kind of like shakshuka. 

Keep a close eye on your eggs. You want the yolks runny so they can mix with the salsa and beans.

Why we love this recipe: you can serve it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

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Chili verde

Looking for a show stopping accompaniment? Whip up this classic chili verde.

It’s a green stew (bet you’ve never seen that before!) that gets its vibrant color from tomatillos, chiles, and cilantro.

Just thinking about drizzling some of that sauce over Spanish rice is enough to make my taste buds buzz! 

Psst… want more heat? Leave your jalapenos’ ribs and seeds on. 

Why we love this recipe: it’s perfect when you’re feeding a crowd.

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Queso baked chicken

Want something quick and easy for a weeknight dinner? Try this queso baked chicken.

It’s a great way to jazz up plain old chicken breasts.

And the two types of cheese (queso sauce and cheddar) will taste great with your tomato-ey Spanish rice.

Why we love this recipe: kids and adults will love it equally.

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Carnitas stuffed poblano peppers

Pulled pork on its own would be a great side for Spanish rice, but why not make things more interesting by using the meat as a filling for poblano peppers.

These green peppers have a pleasant heat that works superbly with the rich carnitas. 

On a spice scale, I’d put it half way between a bell pepper and a jalapeno.

Why we love this recipe: it’s fun and unique.

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Calabacitas

Calabacitas is a classic Mexican veggie dish made of zucchini, corn, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. 

And what sets this recipe apart from other variations is the light cheese sauce that’s made with shredded cheese and milk (as opposed to a heavy bechamel). 

Place a generous spoonful of this dish on top of your Spanish rice for a vegetarian-friendly main.

Why we love this recipe: it’s healthy comfort food.

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Fried chorizo and potatoes

I know this will be carbs on carbs… but everyone needs to indulge sometimes!

This side is such a breeze to make and you only need four ingredients.

The potatoes are cooked with the chorizo, yielding crisp, tender cubes with a delectable savory flavor, thanks to the irresistible drippings. 

Why we love this recipe: you can save any leftovers and have them for breakfast.

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Cuban black beans

These Cuban black beans will be an excellent addition to your weekly meal rotation. 

You get tender, creamy beans in a silky, slightly spicy sauce. 

And a topping of chopped cilantro and lime juice adds a refreshing flavor to round out the dish.

Pro tip: if you want a thicker consistency, mash a small portion of the beans.

Why we love this recipe: it freezes really well, so you can make a big batch and save some for later.

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Blackened fish tacos

I love all kinds of tacos, but these blackened fish tacos have to be my favorite. 

They’re lighter than your usual meaty tacos, but they’re big on flavor, thanks to the homemade blackened seasoning.

All you need is a side of Spanish rice to make them more satisfying. 

Why we love this recipe: these tacos are restaurant-quality.

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The best side dishes to serve with Spanish rice

• Carne asada
• Fajita veggies
• Margarita grilled shrimp skewers
• One-pan huevos rancheros
• Chili verde
• Queso baked chicken
• Carnitas stuffed poblano peppers
• Calabacitas
• Fried chorizo and potatoes
• Cuban black beans
• Blackened fish tacos

What To Serve With Spanish Rice

In this short recipe, I show you exactly what to serve with your Spanish rice.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican, Spanish

Servings 1 person

Calories 87 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 portion Spanish rice

Instructions

 

• Prepare your Spanish rice according to your favorite recipe.
• In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
• Side dishes include: carne asada, fajita veggies, margarita grilled shrimp skewers, one-pan huevos rancheros, chili verde, queso baked chicken, carnitas stuffed poblano peppers, calabacitas, fried chorizo and potatoes, cuban black beans, and blackened fish tacos.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Keyword spanish rice side dishes, what to serve with spanish rice