39 Delectable Side Dishes to Serve with Empanadas

You’ve come to the correct spot if you’re wondering what to serve with your empanadas.

In this post, I present 39 of the most popular empanada side dishes.

In a rush? Heres the short answer.

Spanish rice, Cuban black beans, and creamy coleslaw are the ideal accompaniments to empanadas. You may also serve them with pico de gallo, guacamole, or chimichurri sauce on the side. Try a tossed green salad, corn and mango salad, or creamy potato salad for a light salad.

Ready? Lets jump right in.

Tossed green salad

Empanadas are already filling enough to eat on their own.

Nothing, however, surpasses the fresh tastes of a bright and green salad.

This simple tossed green salad is topped with a honey dijon vinegar dressing and crispy bacon pieces to make it extra delectable.

Why we like it: the tangy dressing balances off the hefty empanadas.

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Cuban black beans

Cuban black beans may seem bland, but they are bursting with flavor.

The rich, savory sauce is somewhat fiery from the jalapenos, slightly smoky from the paprika and cumin, and fresh from the cilantro.

It’s ideal for dipping an empanada (or two).

Why we like this recipe: it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Featured contentBlack beans from CubaMake classic baked beansRefried beans are a traditional Mexican dish.

Fried plantains

Fried plantains will give your empanadas a pleasant, fruity flavor.

The finest thing about them? Unlike potato chips, they are tasty enough on their own that you don’t need to season them.

We adore this dish since it just requires two ingredients!

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Spanish rice

Make your empanada supper even more filling by serving it with this simple Spanish rice.

It’s a colorful, fluffy rice mixture that I usually prepare extra of since it tastes even better the following day for lunch.

If you want some heat, add some red pepper flakes.

If you want something a little lighter, try lime and cilantro rice.

Why we like this recipe: it transforms ordinary rice into something delicious.

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Creamy coleslaw

Make your summer days even more memorable by serving a hot empanada with cold coleslaw.

The creamy, cold coleslaw will balance out the empanada’s powerful savory tastes while also providing a lovely crunch.

If you want to make it lighter, replace the mayo with Greek yogurt.

Why we adore this recipe: it tastes SO much better than store-bought.

Featured contenttangy coleslawRemove the mayonnaise.Coleslaw with vinegarTurn it into a tropical paradise.Caribbean mango salad

Corn and mango salad

Corn and mango salad is a refreshing and colorful side dish that will complement your empanadas.

It’s ideal for summer or if you’re feeding a large group since there’s no cooking required, just some, fine, a lot of chopping.

Why we like this recipe: each dish has less than 100 calories (great!).

Featured contentSalad with corn and mangoCream it up.Salad with creamed cornMake it crispy.Salad with Frito corn

Chimichurri sauce

Serve your empanadas with a basic chimichurri sauce to amp up the taste.

It’s a bright and herbaceous sauce with a spicy edge, but not so fiery that it turns people off.

Why we like this recipe: you can prepare a large quantity and keep it in the fridge for up to a week.

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Potato salad

A potato salad can’t be surpassed for its basic, clear tastes.

You can keep it basic with simply potatoes and a vinaigrette, or go all out with vegetables, eggs, and bacon.

Avocado is a secret ingredient I like to use to make the salad extra creamy.

Why we like this recipe: you may prepare it ahead of time to save time.

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Elotes

Add mayo, cheese, chile, and lime to your standard corn on the cob.

You now have some elotes, a zesty, delightful side dish to share with your empanadas.

The only drawback to this meal is that it may be somewhat messy to consume! If you don’t like the sound of it, you may offer the salad version (esquites) instead.

We like this recipe because it looks as wonderful as it tastes.

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Pico de gallo

Serve your beef empanadas with a classic pico de gallo to make the Mexicans proud.

The diced tomatoes make it incredibly juicy, and their sweetness complements the meaty empanada.

There are several variants available, ranging from strawberry and pepper to pineapple and cucumber.

Why we like this recipe: it’s a low-calorie approach to spice up your dinner.

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Guacamole

Guacamole is a popular dip that will give your crunchy empanadas a creamy freshness.

Everyone has their own style of cooking guacamole, but I believe it may become a bit difficult at times.

For me, the best guacamole is the simplest.

Why we like this dish: it’s a no-fuss recipe.

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Jamaican rice and beans

Wasn’t the zesty tastes of the Spanish rice appealing?

How about some Jamaican flavors instead.

With coconut, jerk flavor, all spice, and garlic, it’s more of a soothing meal. There’s also some scotch bonnet, but don’t worry, it’s not hot.

Why we like this recipe: it’s healthful, full, and inexpensive.

Featured contentRice and beans from JamaicaMake it one-of-a-kind.Beans and rice with vegetablesKeep things simple.Simple rice pilaf

Roasted garlic aioli

One of my favorite dips is aioli.

It works well with anything, even empanadas (particularly the meat ones).

And this one takes it a step further by roasting the garlic to give it a caramelized taste.

Why we like this recipe: it’s a crowd-pleaser.

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The best side dishes to serve with empanadas

• Tossed green salad
• Cuban black beans
• Fried plantains
• Spanish rice
• Creamy coleslaw
• Corn and mango salad
• Chimichurri sauce
• Potato salad
• Elotes
• Pico de gallo
• Guacamole
• Jamaican rice and beans
• Roasted garlic aioli