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Hey there, fellow quesadilla lover! I’m so glad you’re here because I’m about to share some of the best sides to serve with chicken quesadillas! Plus read on for tips for what to buy at the store for the EASIEST sides too!
Quesadillas are a versatile, easy, and quick Mexican dish that can be made with a variety of fillings, but chicken quesadillas are my personal favorite.
Use leftover rotisserie chicken, cooked chicken from last night’s meal, even chicken lunchmeat, or cook it fresh just for your quesadillas.
They’re filling, flavorful, and easy to make, which makes them perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
Here you’ll find an epic list of sides for quesadillas, including sauces, dips, queso, guac, soups, snacks, appetizers, and more that are classic and wild, hot and mild!
But what do you serve with quesadillas? Here are a few ideas to get you started, then keep reading our epic list with more details and links:
- Taco soup: This hearty soup is the perfect way to warm up on a cold day. It’s made with all the classic taco flavors, like ground beef, beans, corn, and tomatoes.
- Five-alarm chili: This spicy chili is sure to heat things up. It’s made with ground beef, beans, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
- Homemade air fryer tortilla chips: These crispy chips are the perfect way to dip into your favorite salsa or guacamole.
- Refreshing Drinks with Chamoy: This sweet and sour sauce is a popular Mexican condiment. It’s made with pickled fruits, chili peppers, and spices.
- Mexican Martini: This refreshing cocktail is perfect for a party. It’s made with tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur.
Want more tips for serving quesadillas? Here you go:
- Serve quesadillas with your favorite toppings, such as salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and cheese.
- Serve quesadillas with a side of rice or beans for a complete meal.
- Serve quesadillas with a salad or fruit for a lighter meal.
- Quesadillas can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or microwave.
These are just a few ideas for what to serve with quesadillas.
Quesadillas are quick and easy, a versatile snack or meal that can be enjoyed with a variety of sides.
Get creative and have fun!
Let’s get real for a sec.
It’s not always handy, easy, or fast to cook homemade recipes from scratch, and it could be the end of your long day (or a long week).
If the skyrocketing cost of ingredients is getting ridiculous and you have a lot of mouths to feed (or even one—your own), we have some quick tips.
Let’s take a look at some easy, budget-friendly sides for chicken quesadillas that we recommend just picking up from the store.
These chicken quesadilla side ideas may require heating or combining but mostly come together quickly:
- Frozen Taquitos
- Easy Elotes (Mexican Corn). Add half a pack of taco seasoning to a drained can of corn. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of mayo. Stir and heat for 2 minutes. Add a squeeze of lime if you have it.
- Three-ingredient Chili Dip (#106). Seriously, just three ingredients.
- Bagged Salad Kit. Southwest Style for that zip of flavor.
- Coleslaw Mix. You can find these next to the cold prep vegetables usually.
- Homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips (#10). No chips in the house? If you have a pack of corn or flour tortillas, cut them into pieces, toss with a tablespoon of oil and add ONE LAYER at a time into an air fryer for three minutes. Turn, heat for another minute, rest. Add salt to taste.
- Fast Mexican-style Rice. To a pack of white or brown Ready Rice or pre-cooked Minute Rice, add ½ can of drained sweet corn + ½ packet of taco seasoning. Heat and eat.
- Bag of Frozen Mixed Vegetables. Heat and eat.
- Mexi-Cali Kraft Dinner Mac & Cheese. Add a half-packet of taco seasoning to your powdered cheese, milk, and butter.
- Quick Quesadilla Topping Bar. Diced tomato, diced onion, heat up a half-cup of Rico’s Nacho Cheese, pull out your favorite jar of salsa, and spoon out some sour cream into a small dish. Let everyone serve themselves.
- Restaurant-Style Refried Beans (#179). Make ‘em taste fancy!
There are so many here that we are about to blow your mind.
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What To Serve With Chicken Quesadillas
The fresh, vibrant taste of jalapeño, lime, cilantro, tomatoes, and onions will bring out the rich flavor of your chicken quesadillas. Simple to make, but we recommend wearing kitchen gloves when slicing up lots of acidic or spicy vegetables.
Ingredients include: Roma tomatoes, lime, cilantro, garlic, and ground cumin.
Give this fast microwave veggie a chance. Season with your favorite spices AFTER you drain it, not before, or all the good flavor goes down the drain.
Ingredients include: Broccoli, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
If you love broc, then you’re sure to love this blackened broccoli!
A delicious combination, there’s something light and refreshing about this Cilantro Lime Rice. Choose long-grained rice for this recipe as it comes out drier and fluffier after cooking.
Ingredients include: Rice, cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, and salt.
4. Peach Salsa
The peach salsa is a show-stopping appetizer and a great side for chicken quesadillas. It features a sweet and tangy flavor from all the fresh ingredients. While this recipe works great as a dip too, use it as a topping for proteins like fish and chicken.
Ingredients include: Peaches, jalapenos, cilantro, red onion, and grapeseed oil.
This sauteed onion recipe has a special place in my heart when it comes to a tasty side dish for chicken quesadillas. You can saute them with butter or any kind of oil you have on hand.
Ingredients include: Onions, olive oil, and salt.
6. Fruit Salad
Fruit salad is another perfect side dish for all kinds of tortilla and cheese mix, including quesadillas! This creamy, sweet salad blends robust summer flavors from fresh ingredients such as Greek yogurt, berries, apple, and pineapple chunks.
Ingredients include: Apples, blueberries, grapes, pineapple, and strawberries.
This Carolina Coleslaw is an excellent side for quesadillas—crisp without the heavy mayo dressing. Celery seed is the unsung hero of seasonings, so don’t leave it out.
Ingredients include: Carrots, green cabbage, kale, white onion, and dijon mustard.
Tortilla chips go perfectly with almost any Mexican-inspired dish, including chicken quesadillas. The air fryer makes quick work of these, but baking is good too.
Ingredients include: Corn tortillas, vegetable oil, and salt.
Chicken quesadillas with cucumber tomato salad is a great way to step up your quesadilla meal. Make this the night before as a time-saver and to give the flavors a chance to combine.
Ingredients include: Cucumber, tomatoes, dill, basil, and red wine vinegar.
10. Mango Salsa
This Mango Salsa recipe is a great pairing with chicken quesadillas, thanks to its sweetness, acidity, and heat. Use ripe, fresh mangoes.
Ingredients include: Mango, red bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
11. Corn On The Cob
Prepare for a summertime staple as timeless as a park picnic. This recipe begins with large, golden kernels of fresh corn brimming with taste and natural sweetness.
Ingredients include: Corn, butter, salt, and pepper.
This Mexican Street Corn will add a little zing to your plate! We begin with luscious canned corn cooked in butter until soft. Then we add a creamy mayo-sour cream mixture and a generous sprinkle of crumbly Cotija cheese.
Ingredients include: Canned corn, butter, mayo, sour cream, and Cotija cheese.
This baked, warm dip is made with frozen, defrosted chopped spinach and easy-peasy jars of marinated artichokes so you aren’t spending all day processing veg. It’s got all the creamy, cheesy goodness you’d expect from any restaurant-style dip.
Ingredients include: Cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, garlic cloves, mozzarella, parmesan, and Monterey jack cheese.
Oh, grilled pineapple with brown sugar as a side for chicken quesadillas? Sounds like a culinary combination made in heaven! The secret to getting nice grill lines is to not move or flip the slices for longer than you might think.
Ingredients include: Pineapple, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt.
Imagine combining the flavors of creamy avocado, savory black beans, spicy cilantro, sweet corn, and luscious tomatoes in one delightful bowl. Pair it with cheesy chicken quesadillas and you’ve got a hearty meal.
Ingredients include: Avocados, quinoa, black beans, cilantro, corn, and tomatoes.
Choose several kinds of delectable savory, cheesy, and veggie options from this epic list of taco toppings!
Ingredients include: Shredded cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and tomatoes.
Picture this: A basket of crispy, golden fries that are smothered in a heavenly cheese sauce, oozing with a generous sprinkle of cheddar cheese. The diced tomatoes offer refreshing flavor, and a dollop of sour cream elevates this side dish to winner status.
Ingredients include: French fries, cheese sauce, cheddar cheese, tomato, and sour cream.
Nothing says “fiesta time” like a warm, gooey queso dip and zesty cool salsa on the side of your crisp chicken quesadillas.
Ingredients include: Monterey jack cheese, green chiles, cumin, jalapeño pepper, and onion.
“Behind every good quesadilla is an even better frittata!” they say. It has the right balance of heat and sweet.
Ingredients include: Heirloom tomatoes, serrano, sunflower oil, butter, and eggs
Behold, our practically perfect Three-Ingredient Chili Dip. With just three simple ingredients, you’ll have a crowd-pleasing dip that will make your guests beg for the recipe.
Ingredients include: Rotel tomatoes, Velveeta, and no-bean chili.
Here’s another good partner to your chicken quesadillas: the 5-Ingredient Lemon Rice.
The fluffy basmati rice is infused with lemon juice and zest, as well as flavorful garlic and butter.
Ingredients include: Basmati rice, butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and garlic.
22. Sauteed Eggplant
You can’t go wrong with Sauteed Eggplant for your chicken quesadillas. The eggplant complements the crispy tortilla and tender chicken in the quesadillas. The recipe’s versatility allows for a wide range of personal preferences and flavor profiles.
Ingredients include: Eggplant, olive oil, salt, and garlic.
23. Mexican Martini
Kick back and relax with this Tex-Mex twist on a classic cocktail, the Mexican Martini. This cocktail offers the right balance of sweet and sour. It’s so simple to make, but be careful since it goes down smooth and still packs a punch.
Ingredients include: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, olives, and olive juice.
24. Sauteed Apples
Mmm, a touch of cinnamony sweetness from fresh apples, you’ll love how good a side dish of sauteed apples can be alongside your ‘dillas.
Ingredients include: Apples, butter, cornstarch, and ground cinnamon.
25. Tajîn Recipes
For an extra burst of flavor, sprinkle your chicken quesadillas with some homemade Tajin–a delightful blend of red chile powder, lime powder, and sea salt.
Ingredients include: Red chile powder, lime powder, and sea salt.
With just a few simple ingredients and just a few minutes to chill in the fridge, these are crisp, sour and sweet. Can be stored for WEEKS tightly covered at the back of the fridge.
Ingredients include: Red or white onion, salt, sugar, and vinegar.
27. Taco Cups
These little taco tortilla cups make an excellent au pair for chicken quesadillas or any other Mexican-inspired dinner. The ground beef and taco seasoning combine to make a spicy filling that begs to be topped with creamy sour cream and oozy cheese.
Ingredients include: Ground beef, taco seasoning, taco tortillas, sour cream, and cheese.
The air fryer makes blissful quick work of so many delicious things, but especially when you want something crisp. This list offers up a ton of Mexican recipes to make in your air fryer.
Ingredients include: Chimichangas, tamales, Mexican pizza, enchiladas, and more.
If you’re headed to a Mexican feast of any kind and you want to bring something hearty and robust, choose one of these recipes for mexican casseroles.
Ingredients include: Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole, Vegetarian Mexican Rice Casserole, Mexican Cornbread Casserole, and more.
This sweet bread is so tender, it melts in your mouth faster than a ghost disappearing in the night. It’s no surprise that it’s a popular offering for altars during the Day of the Dead.
Ingredients include: Butter, all-purpose flour, eggs, and anise seeds.
There may be only one great thing about being a grownup and that’s dessert before dinner. Choose one or two of these Mexican-inspired cookie recipes to treat yourself.
Ingredients include: Hot cocoa sandwich cookies, Crinkle cookies, Mexican Wedding cookies, and more.
32. Quick Taco Soup
Our Quick Taco Soup is another sidekick to chicken quesadillas, or as I like to call them, quesadilla’s best friend. The recipe has endless possibilities for customization.
Ingredients include: Ground beef, stewed tomatoes, red bell pepper, green chiles, and black beans.
Whether it’s a soup, salad or finger food, here’s a great list of 27 Mexican-inspired appetizers you’ll love to make (and eat!).
Ingredients include: White queso, salsa, elote dip, Mexican spinach dip, and more.
Step right up and prepare to be amazed by these incredible recipes for easy, simple Mexican side dishes.
Ingredients include: Salsa corn cakes, taco slaw, guac, and more.
Tequila & Lime Grilled Shrimp is the life of the party, with succulent shrimp, zesty shallots, and a splash of tequila that adds a little wink to every bite.
Ingredients include: Shrimp, shallots, tequila, lime juice, and olive oil.
Skillet Fried Corn (From A Can) simple yet flavorful—corn kernels, butter, oil, salt, and black pepper—it transforms from humble to a star side dish. Don’t be too eager to stir, my friend, because we’re looking for that delectable char for a smoky essence.
Ingredients include: Corn kernels, butter, oil, salt , and black pepper.
Delicious, comforting and quick to make, here’s our list of recipes for Mexican-style soups that add a little something zesty to any ‘dilla.
Ingredients include: Tortilla soup, green enchiladas soup, slow cooker chicken corn chowder, and more.
Fire up the grill. This Grilled Pineapple isn’t just a delicious addition to your BBQ, it’s a showstopper with chicken quesadillas, too. But what I love about this recipe is it’s as easy on the wallet as it is on the taste buds.
Ingredients include: Pineapple, melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Creamy, stringy, and irresistibly melty, Oaxaca cheese will turn your dishes into fully loaded family favorites. If you haven’t tried it yet, then get started with this list of 13 Oaxaca cheese recipes!
Ingredients include: Grilled Mexican Pizza With Salsa Verde & Chorizo, Homemade queso fundido, Cheese onion enchiladas, and more.
They’re like little nuggets of pure banana bliss, with a touch of sweet flavor and warmth.
They go into the air fryer and come out with a caramelized, crispy exterior. The inside is still soft and tender.
Ingredients include: Ripe bananas, oil, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Take set it and forget it to a whole other level with these Mexican style crockpot recipes. If you love tex-mex, these Mexican crockpot recipes can be a lifesaver on busy days!
Ingredients include: Crockpot Chicken Fajitas, Crockpot Mexican Casserole, Slow Cooker Caramel Flan, and more.
This is already a huge list of choices, and we’ve just added 30 more! If you’re hosting a Mexican potluck feast and want to add dishes alongside your ‘dillas, ground beef is economical and filling.
Ingredients include: Homemade beef chimichangas, tamale pie, Mexican stuffed shells, Doritos taco pasta salad, and more.
Let me introduce you to our Mexican Tortilla Casserole, a beautifully layered stack of a tantalizing combination of corn, rice, ground beef, and cheese.
Ingredients include: Cooked white rice, black beans, oregano, and corn.
Take a bite out of Mexico’s most famous handheld snacks and easy treats at home with these 35 Mexican street food recipes! There’s a lot more than tacos, burritos, and nachos to Mexican street food than meets the eye!
Ingredients include: Bionicos, churros, gorditas, and more.
Let’s give a warm welcome to the incredible Salsa Macha. This fiery Mexican delight, originating from Veracruz, is here to pique your interest. Dried chilies, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, shallots, and olive oil team up to create a flavor experience.
Ingredients include: Pumpkin seeds, shallot, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil.
The bottom line
There are no real secrets to choosing the perfect side dishes for chicken quesadillas. Hopefully this epic list of side dishes that go great with chicken quesadillas will help you choose!
I hope you enjoy these delicious quesadilla sides!
