7 Side Dishes That Go Perfectly With Chicken Empanadas

Empanadas are a popular dish in Mexican cuisine, and chicken empanadas are one of the most favorite versions.

While some people prefer to eat them plain, others like to add their own side dishes to the meal to make them even more delicious.

In this post, we will share the best seven side dishes to serve alongside your chicken empanadas so that everyone will enjoy their meal happily.

What are chicken empanadas?

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Empanadas are a delicious, hand-held food that can be made with a variety of fillings, including chicken.

Chicken empanadas call for shredded chicken, onions, peppers, garlic, and spices for the fillings that are often wrapped in a store-bought dough and then folded to create a nice-looking edge.

Chicken empanadas are baked in the oven until the crust is a bit crispy and has a beautiful golden color, while the filling is juicy and tender.

The best part is that chicken empanadas can be made ahead of time and freeze well.

So if you are planning to host a Mexican party with chicken empanadas being the main character, it is great to make chicken empanadas in advance so that you have more time to prepare other dishes for the party.

What to consider when choosing a chicken empanadas’ side dish?

Every good meal needs a side dish and these chicken empanadas are no different.

Here are some points that you should keep in mind when choosing a good side dish to accompany chicken empanadas:

Chicken empanadas go well with a Mexican side dish

As already mentioned, chicken empanadas are a classic staple in Mexican cuisine.

Therefore, it is best to pair this dish with other Mexican sides.

This is probably because the spices and ingredients used in these Mexican dishes blend well with each other to create a balanced and delicious meal.

It is possible to serve chicken empanadas with both starchy sides and vegetable sides

Chicken empanadas are great to serve with either a starchy side dish like rice, plantains, or beans.

They are also perfect to pair with a vegetable-based dish so that the refreshing and light taste of vegetables can balance the rich and savory taste of chicken empanadas.

7 best side dishes to serve with chicken empanadas

Here are the seven best side dishes that can go perfectly with chicken empanadas:

1.     Mexican rice

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Mexican rice is a classic side dish that is often served alongside a savory meat-based dish.

It is also known as Spanish rice which consists of rice cooked in a tomato sauce and other spices.

The vibrant look and flavorful taste of Mexican rice will be perfect to pair with chicken empanadas and keep you fuller for a longer time.

2.     Corn salad

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Corn salad is another good side dish to serve with chicken empanadas.

It refers to any kind of salad that consists of corn kernels, but usually a green salad.

The crunchy texture and light taste of this accompaniment can make you be able to eat more chicken empanadas.

3.     Corn on the cob

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Another corn dish that can work well, in this case, is corn on the cob, or Mexican sweet corn.

Corn is a staple in Mexican cuisine, so it is not hard to find this ingredient in this country.

Corn on the cob is rich and buttery, but not too heavy so that your meal can still be very enjoyable.

4.     Salsa

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If you want your meal to be healthier and lighter, salsa is the way to go to accompany chicken empanadas.

Salsa is a Mexican staple sauce, and it is easy to make.

There is no fat or carb in this side dish, so don’t worry that you will gain some weight after eating salsa. 

5.     Fried plantains

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Fried plantains are another good option to serve along with chicken empanadas.

Plantains are more popular in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Frying is the most common way to cook plantains, and this will result in a crispy dish that tastes great too.

6.     Black beans and rice

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For those who want to be fuller, black beans and rice are a perfect option to accompany chicken empanadas.

Black beans and rice are both starchy dishes that can help fill your empty stomach with ease.

They match perfectly and also pair well with chicken empanadas.

Black beans and rice are both staples in Mexican cuisine, so it is quite common to see these dishes at the same table with chicken empanadas. 

7.     Sour cream

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Only a small bowl of sour cream is enough to make your chicken empanadas taste better.

The slightly thick and smooth texture of sour cream with a pleasantly sour taste can help offset the rich taste of the main dish, making your meal more balanced.

The bottom line

Chicken empanadas are so delicious and satisfying on their own.

The good news is that this Mexican staple pairs well with many side dishes that have different textures and flavor profiles.

What do you think about our list?

These options all taste great and are easy to make, so don’t forget to give them a try!