What to Serve With Chicken Tortilla Soup? 20 Tasty Side Dishes

Made with tomatoes, chicken, different seasonings, and herbs, chicken tortilla soup combines comfort and flavor in one bowl. It takes only 20 minutes to make this amazing appetizer, and it has a simple recipe that any beginner can follow.

Chicken tortilla soup tastes great on its own. However, to ensure that you have a fulfilling lunch or dinner, there are many sides that you can serve with it.

Looking for a quick answer?

The best side dishes to serve with chicken tortilla soup are tacos, nachos, burritos, Mexican rice, roasted corn, black beans, salsa and chips, and a wide variety of salads. 

Now, let's get cooking!

20 Chicken Tortilla Soup Sides

Here are our top 20 side dishes that may get along with the chicken tortilla soup. Ensure that you serve them according to the appetite of your guests and let them enjoy both soup and sides to the fullest.

1. Birria Tacos

Do you want to treat yourself to the best tacos with chicken tortilla soup? If yes, birria tacos will blow your mind and earn you all the praise.

These tacos are a definition of comfort food and give you the liberty to choose as many toppings as you like. You can make them savory or spicy, depending on your mood and preference. Also, include lots of herbs in the mix for a fulfilling treat.

2. Fish Tacos

Your bowl of chicken tortilla soup would taste great with two to three fish tacos. Fish tacos are healthy and feature a great balance between flavor and spices.

The recipe features Tilapia fish infused and cooked with mild spices and herbs. You can use smoked paprika in this recipe to give your fish a spicy and sweet flavor.

If you are looking for more inspiration, check out What to Serve With Fish Tacos.

3. Nachos

Raise your hands if you love nachos with salsa on a movie night. Of course, we all do, and the amazing combination becomes worth every time spent when served with chicken tortilla soup.

You can buy store-bought nachos and serve them with your favorite toppings. However, it is always better to get your hands on homemade nachos as they are accessible.

Combine tortilla chips with a salsa dip, and let each work its magic.

For even more ideas, you can check out What to Serve With Nachos.

4. Salsa Chicken

Do you want your guests to crave nothing after having dinner at your house? To make your wish come true, serve chicken tortilla soup with salsa chicken.

Salsa chicken has a sweet and sour taste, perfect enough to enjoy after having a bowl of simple soup. You can serve other sides like chips and nachos to make the dinner table fun.

5. Mexican Rice

This is a simple dish with lots of ingredients and flavors. A plate of Mexican rice goes well with chicken tortilla soup because both have their own unique textures and tastes.

For best results, use basmati rice to make this dish. You can also use seasonings such as cilantro, chili powder, and cumin.

Finally, when the rice is hot, top it with the ingredients of your soup and enjoy.

6. Chicken Burrito Bowl

Is it hard for you to resist a burrito bowl? If yes, consider serving it with your chicken tortilla soup.

A healthy burrito bowl takes about ten minutes to prepare and contains many flavors and textures. What's exciting is that there are no rules here.

You can add different ingredients and play around with various dressings. For example, you can add boneless chicken and mix it with black beans, Mexican rice, and green chilies.

7. Polenta

This vegan recipe goes well with the chicken tortilla soup, provided you aren't a vegetarian. Polenta is a healthy and wholesome North Italian dish and has ground cornmeal.

It tastes mild, and you can customize the dish with toppings like cheese, grilled vegetables, and cream.

8. Green Beans and Potatoes

Do you want to serve something light and easy to make with your chicken tortilla soup? In that case, try the above recipe that includes beans and potatoes.

This is a Southern recipe and is often labeled as comfort food. Also, it is one of the best options for serving a side dish for a large gathering.

9. Red Beans and Rice

Red beans taste great with chicken tortilla soup, so it makes sense to have them with this dish. Red beans with rice make a wholesome and fulfilling meal that can be enjoyed with or after your soup.

Make sure that you make the red beans soft enough so they are easy to consume. Besides, boil rice an hour before serving, so they don't become mushy.

10. Chicken and Mushrooms

The combination of chicken and mushrooms is unmatchable. And the creamy texture and flavor are the icing on the cake.

This dish is a wholesome recipe that goes well with chicken tortilla soup. If you think your guests have already consumed a lot of chicken,  you can also serve mushrooms with shrimp.

11. Mexican Salad

This is a beautiful and rich salad. It is healthy and light; therefore, an excellent side dish for your soup.

The Salad uses usual ingredients like tomatoes, corn, and avocados. A Mexican salad bowl contains the perfect sweet and zesty flavor that comes with fruits like mangoes and oranges.

This is a refreshing salad and can e enjoyed on a summer afternoon.

12. Mexican Slaw

Are you still unsure about your side dish? Think no more, as this Mexican slaw would slay with your chicken tortilla soup. This coleslaw has a unique dressing containing lime juice, canola oil, coriander, cumin, honey, and hot sauce.

It is safe to say that this slaw will want you to have more.

13. Jicama Salad

Are you familiar with Jicama salad? Made with julienne jicama and vegetables, this Salad has a fantastic taste and a crispy texture. It is also very delicious and fresh.

Jicama is often used in Asian and Mexican cuisines. The Salad from this crop tastes sweeter than potatoes, adding an ideal accent to your chicken tortilla soup.

14. Mexican Cornbread

This bread contains jalapenos, giving a spicy kick to your tastebuds. The additional heat compliments the moist and soft bread and your mild-flavored chicken tortilla soup. The bread tastes sweet when served with this soup, giving you all the reasons to love your meal.

15. Guacamole

Are the tortillas in your soup not enough to add a pleasing crunch? If yes, we have a suggestion for you.

To make your soup more crunchy, serve it with chips and guacamole. This is a delicious combination that is hard to resist.

You can dip the chips in guacamole and then your soup to enjoy a wholesome treat. The entire dish can also be served as an appetizer before your main meal.

16. Roasted Corn 

If you don't have enough time to make a complicated side to serve with chicken tortilla soup, roast corn and save lots of energy.

You can take corn on the cob and season it with cilantro, garlic, butter, pepper, and salt. Once seasoned, wrap the corn using foil and place it in your oven for 20 minutes. Ensure that the oven is preheated.

Although this side dish is simple and easy, it is delicious, and the kids would love the roasted corn.

17. Southwest Chipotle Salad

This chipotle Salad can add the perfect flavor to your chicken tortilla soup. Also, since this Salad has vegetables, it adds a perfect crunch to the meal.

You can add the smoky dressing to this Salad for an irresistible treat.

18. Fajita Quesadilla

This delicious side option compliments the soup's many flavors and crispy texture. It takes on 15 minutes to make this dish, and each second is worth the wait.

As a healthier alternative, you can also make chicken fajitas in the Instant Pot.

19. Bean and Cheese Taquitos

Serve your chicken tortilla soup with these wholesome, healthy, and delicious taquitos. They are spicy, but the crunch and cheesy flavor fulfill them in every way.

20. Classic Spanish Rice

This is a classic rice recipe that you can't say no to. Spanish rice is unique as it involves toasting the rice. This helps give the rice a nutty aroma, elevating the dish's overall flavor.

So, if you want to impress your guests, consider this as a side dish served with your tortilla soup.

Final Words

We hope that our 20 recommendations were worth your time. So, if you want to prepare a hearty meal with the comfiest chicken tortilla soup, you now know what to include on your dining table. Whether it's fish tacos or a healthy salad, your menu will definitely leave a smile on your and your guests' faces.

Best Side Dishes for Chicken Tortilla Soup

1. Birria Tacos
2. Fish Tacos
3. Nachos
4. Salsa Chicken
5. Mexican Rice
6. Chicken Burrito Bowl
7. Polenta
8. Green Bean and Potatoes
9. Red Beans and Rice
10. Chicken and Mushrooms
11. Mexican Salad
12. Mexican Slaw
13. Jicama Salad
14. Mexican Cornbread
15. Guacamole
16. Roasted Corn
17. Southwest Chipotle Salad
18. Fajita Quesadilla
19. Bean and Cheese Taquitos
20. Classic Spanish Rice

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