6 Great Side Dish Ideas To Complement Your Chicken Tinga

The sauce gives the dish a smoky and slightly spicy flavor that is addictively good.

The word “tinga” refers to a stew that is often made of some Mexican staples like tomatoes, onion, smoky chipotle, garlic, oregano, thyme, and bay leaf.

This dish is often served as a filling in other recipes rather than being eaten alone.

What to consider when choosing chicken tinga’s side dish?

There is nothing quite like a good chicken tinga dish.

But what’s the best side dish to go with it?

There are so many options, which can make it hard to choose the best one.

Check out the following tips to choose the right side dish to serve with your chicken tinga:

Chicken tinga is best on the side of a Mexican side dish

There is nothing better than a meal that is filled with Mexican flavors.

It is great if you can prepare a Mexican side dish to accompany your chicken tinga.

The blend of flavors from these dishes (chicken tinga and other sides) will blow in your mouth and satisfy your taste buds.

Chicken tinga should be paired with a side dish that has a mild flavor

Chicken tinga has a smoky and spicy taste on its own due to the use of a variety of spices, therefore, it should be served with a mild-flavored side dish.

If you pair this chicken dish with a spicy and strong-flavored accompaniment, your meal might be too pungent and upset your taste buds as well as your tongue.

6 best side dishes to serve with the chicken tinga

Here are the six best sides that are sure to make your chicken tinga taste better without any fuss:

1.     Tortilla chips

When it comes to Mexican cuisine, tortilla chips are one of the most popular dishes.

Isn’t it great to grab shredded chicken tinga with a piece of crunchy tortilla chips?

This side dish has a mildly sweet taste of corn, and it is even just perfect to be consumed as a favorite and healthy snack.

2.     Refried beans

Refried beans are a classic accompaniment in Southern cuisine to serve with a meat-based entree.

Refried beans can be made from scratch, or you can also buy canned refried beans from any grocery store across the country.

The tender texture and earthy sweet taste of this side dish can be a nice addition to your chicken tinga.

3.     Rice pilaf

Chicken tinga also works well with a rice dish.

Rice pilaf is an interesting way to add flavor to the regular steamed white rice.

This dish takes a while to achieve a fluffy and soft texture of the rice, but it is worth the time you have waited for.

Rice pilaf is hearty, filling, and can keep you full for a long time.

It is flavorful, but not too strong that can overpower the main character, chicken tinga.

4.     Salsa

You can also serve your chicken tinga with salsa.

Salsa can be cooked or uncooked, and it comes with different flavors too.

The refreshing taste of salsa (mainly from tomatoes or fruits) can help make your meal more balanced when served with chicken tinga.

Salsa is also very easy to make from inexpensive and easy-to-find ingredients so that even a novice cook can make this dish without any fuss or breaking the budget.

5.     Guacamole

Guacamole is another Mexican staple that should be served alongside your chicken tinga.

This avocado mash has a smooth texture with a refreshing taste of ripe avocado.

Guacamole pairs well with a meat-based dish as its mild flavor can balance the rich and savory taste of your chicken dish.

6.     Salad

Salads are a classic vegetable side dish to accompany any meat-based dish.

There are a variety of salad recipes for you to choose from with different ingredients and dressings.

So the options are endless.

Salads often come with a crunchy texture and refreshing flavor that can help offset the savory taste of chicken tinga.

The bottom line

In general, chicken tinga is best served with a Mexican side dish that can complement its flavor profile.

It all depends on your preference on the texture and flavor of the side dish to accompany your tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken tinga.

Hopefully, our six side dishes above have helped complement your next chicken tinga without any fuss.