When you need a hearty and delicious meal with some south-of-the-border spice, fajitas are a great choice. This popular Mexican dish is a favorite in restaurants, and is also an easy meal that you can make at home.
It’s traditionally made with seasoned grilled or sauteed strips of meat (usually chicken or beef) as the main ingredient and served with a variety of accompaniments. The beef and chicken varieties are perfect for meat lovers, but you can also make seafood fajitas with shrimp or vegetarian fajitas with an assortment of grilled vegetables. If you’re looking for an easy and tasty fajita recipe, check out these Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas.
One of the things that we love about fajitas is that they’re so versatile. There are so many options for delicious sides that you might enjoy the accompaniments as much as the main course. So whether you like to put your fajitas in a tortilla and create a custom tortilla wrap or just enjoy the meat and some grilled veggies straight from the skillet, we’ve got a ton of options for the best side dishes to round out this crowd-pleasing Mexican meal.
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Traditional Sides
If you order fajitas at a Mexican restaurant, they’ll always come with the essentials – tortillas, grilled veggies, salsa, and usually beans and rice. These are the basic sides I’d recommend making with your fajitas, as they provide all the ingredients you need to make a perfect fajita taco.
Tortillas
Fajitas are always served with tortillas, and it’s traditional to wrap the meat and veggies in the tortilla with some salsa, and maybe some beans and rice as well. Flour tortillas tend to be the more popular variety to use for this dish, but you can certainly use corn tortillas if you prefer them, or if you’re looking for a gluten-free option.
Tortillas taste best when served warm, so I recommend heating them for a few seconds in the microwave or placing them on a hot skillet to warm them up. To keep them warm for as long as possible, wrap them in a clean and slightly damp dish towel before placing them in a basket and serving them alongside the meat and veggies.
Grilled Onions and Peppers
Whether you’re serving beef, chicken, or shrimp fajitas, you’ll find that grilled veggies are a great addition to your meal. Grilled bell peppers and onions are traditional, and are usually cooked on the grill (or in the oven or a skillet, depending on your cooking method) right alongside the meat. Although you can eat this as a veggie side dish, I think the charred peppers and caramelized onions taste best if you put them right into the tortilla with the meat.
Beans
Beans are a staple in Mexican cooking, and a perfect side dish for your fajita dinner. Typically you’ll see refried beans, which consist of cooked and seasoned pinto beans that are mashed to form a smooth paste, but you can also make refried black beans. Whole beans work great too, if you prefer those, and you can even take a shortcut and buy a can of refried or ranch-style beans and simply heat them up with some spices on the stove top.
Rice
Rice is another simple side dish that pairs well with fajitas, and I like to make Spanish or Mexican rice, which is typically cooked with tomato, onion, and garlic, as well as spices like chili powder and cumin. Cilantro lime rice is another flavorful rice dish that would be great with fajitas. As with the beans, you can eat these as a side dish or put them in the tortilla with your meat.
Pico De Gallo
There are all kinds of varieties of salsa and any of them can be served with fajitas, but I like a fresh salsa like pico de gallo. It’s made by combining just a few simple ingredients – chopped tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and lime juice and seasoning with salt and pepper.
I love the fresh flavor and chunky texture of pico de gallo with fajitas, but if you’re short on time and don’t want to make your own salsa, feel free to buy your favorite brand.
Guacamole
Guacamole is another staple in Mexican cuisine, and for good reason. It’s creamy and delicious, and packed with fiber and healthy fat. Not only is this dip a great topping for your fajitas, but you can also enjoy it with some tortilla chips as an appetizer to your meal.
Don’t feel like making guacamole from scratch? You can buy pre-made guacamole in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores, or skip the dip and just slice up some ripe avocados with a little fresh lime juice and salt. It’s a great way to get the same delicious flavor with less work.
Other Fun Ideas
- Mexican Street Corn Salad – If you’ve never had Mexican street corn before, you’re in for a treat. This tasty corn side dish is a party for your taste buds, and it makes a great side dish or appetizer to go with your fajita meal. The recipe starts with roasted or grilled sweet corn, which is removed from the cob and then typically mixed with mayo or sour cream and topped with cojita cheese, chopped green or red onions, green chiles, lime juice and spices. You don’t even need a recipe for this tasty side – you can simply set out the corn and toppings and let everyone add whatever they like.
- Chips and Salsa – It’s one of the easiest dishes you’ll ever serve, but you can’t go wrong with simple tortilla chips and salsa as an appetizer for your fajitas. Especially if you’re throwing a party, you’ll always want to have some on hand, since they’re a delicious combination that’s also easy, inexpensive, and always a crowd-pleaser.
- Drinks – When it comes to Mexican food, the drinks might just be the best part or the meal! Skip the wine pairings for this one and go with a light and refreshing beer like a Mexican lager. Corona and Dos Equis are good choices in this category. Or go with a margarita, either frozen or on the rocks. The traditional lime flavored margarita is always a good choice, or try something a little different but equally refreshing like this Watermelon Margarita.
- Desserts – I always like to end a meal with a little something sweet, and these Churros are the perfect ending to your fajita dinner. They’re a crispy cinnamon sugar pastry treat, and unlike traditional churros, this version is baked rather than deep fried, so it’s a slightly healthier alternative. Other traditional Mexican desserts to consider are flan or tres leches cake.
Move over Taco Tuesday! I hope these appetizer and side ideas have given you plenty of inspiration to make your own homemade fajitas. Whether you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo, or just looking for a delicious and protein-packed family dinner that everyone will love, fajitas are a great choice.
They’ll be the star of your party or dinner, and are a great base around which you can build an entire Mexican themed meal or party spread.
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