What to Serve With Spanish Rice? 20 BEST Side Dishes

Have you ever had Spanish rice, a healthy, nutritious, and colorful dish with great flavors? It is easy rice to make with chilies, tomatoes, and brown rice. Also, you only have to spare 20 minutes to make this dish, which is a great plus for urgent food plans.

However, it is boring to have Spanish rice alone. This recipe requires a side dish to complement its flavor. So, what should you pair with your Spanish rice?

Looking for a quick answer?

The best side dishes to serve with Spanish rice are cashew chicken, orange chicken, pineapple chicken, Swedish meatballs, Venison roast, picadillo, Korean beef, Grape Jelly meatballs, Jewish brisket, fish curry, fried chorizo and potatoes, garlic grilled shrimp and sauteed prawns. 

Now, let's get cooking!

20 Spanish Rice Sides

1. Cashew Chicken

Cook a feast with Spanish rice and cashew chicken. Cashew chicken is a wholesome dish with ingredients such as chicken, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, cashews, ketchup and a few other things. It is a saucy dish and perfect to pair with your plate of colorful rice.

2. Orange Chicken

Have you ever tried orange chicken? It slightly tastes of oranges, thanks to orange juice, brown sugar, and lots of grated garlic. This recipe is not everyone's cup of tea; however, it does taste divine with Spanish rice.

Although you may require many ingredients for this recipe, all the steps used are simple and can be followed easily.

3.  Pineapple Chicken

If you are into sweet chicken gravies, you must try this pineapple chicken recipe. Again, it is easy to make and contains chunks of juicy pineapples to blend well with the sweet gravy and chicken.

If you own an instant pot, you can prepare this dish within ten minutes. It is so good and delicious that you will love every bit of this recipe and enjoy it with Spanish rice.

4. Swedish Meatballs

These meatballs are creamy, tender, and juicy. Made from grounded beef and French onion soup mix, they taste heaven with every bite. You can our the gravy on your plate of Spanish rice and serve it with meatballs on one side.

Believe us, you will love this divine combination and would want to try it repeatedly.

5.  Venison Roast

This is a perfect dish to enjoy on a weekend. It features your well-cooked roast, potatoes, and beef broth that tastes delicious with Spanish rice.

The good thing about this dish is that it is juicy, and tastes great regardless of having no gravy. You can place the roast on your rice and enjoy.

6. Picadillo

Next up, we have another beef dish to pair with Spanish rice. It can get ready within 20 minutes, thanks to your Instant pot. To ace Picadillo, you need ground beef, bell peppers, tomato sauce, and the mentioned herbs and spices.

Prepare this one-pot meal on a weekday, when you don't have much time to cook an extravagant dish.

7. Mongolian Beef

Have you ever tried having Mongolian beef with Spanish rice? This international combination is worth trying, especially when all the different flavors mingle together to make a beautiful treat.

This beef recipe is infused with various flavors, that you may have never tasted before. Also, this recipe is quick and easy and you can have it in only 15 minutes.

So, instead of cooking another basic dish on the weekend, try Mongolian beef this time and enlighten your food table with a new, delicious dish.

8. Grape Jelly Meatballs

This recipe is divine and can you from long hours in the kitchen as it gets ready within a few minutes. The dish features meatballs in a sweet sauce made from chili sauce, jelly, and a rich spice mix. You can make this dish within 20 minutes using your Instant pot.

Each bite explodes with flavor, so pair this meaty dish with Spanish rice and make a fulfilling meal. Garnish these meatballs with cilantro for an excellent presentation.

9. Jewish Brisket

Do you want to impress your family and friends with your cooking skills? If yes, we recommend you cook this Jewish brisket and let your guests enjoy lots of powerful flavors and textures in a bowl. Pair the dish with Spanish rice and witness the magic this combination creates in your mouth.

10. Fish Curry

Raise your hands if you want to enjoy fish curry before it gets hot. We love this recipe and you can try it too with a bowl of Spanish rice. Since this recipe uses coconut, you will love the combination of the sauce and rice.

Make a huge bowl of this curry, because it is too light that it vanishes soon. Enjoy it at dinner and serve it with your favorite drink.

11. Fried Potatoes and Chorizo

We love the combination of chorizo and potatoes and would want you to try it as well. Both these ingredients taste great together and the taste amplifies with Spanish rice. Follow the tagged recipe to the tee as each instruction can help you create a splendid dish.

12. Garlic Grilled Shrimp

Pair Spanish rice with our favorite shrimp recipe. The dish is called garlic grilled shrimp because it is a perfect summer dish with a garlicky and tangy flavor to help you enjoy your shrimp to the fullest. You can ace this dish without any experience or hassle.

Once the garlic shrimp is ready, serve it with a bowl of Spanish rice. The final dish looks beautiful and tastes divine. Add a sauce to the mix and enjoy different flavors with your favorite summer cocktail.

13. Sauteed Shrimp

If you don't like grilled shrimp, try sauteed shrimp instead. These shrimp are incredibly juicy and cooked to perfection within ten minutes.

It is a simple recipe that uses smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder to create a perfect seasoning for your dish. Also, use three lemon wedges in this dish and create a delightful recipe.

Once the shrimp is ready, serve it with Spanish rice and enjoy.

14. Carnitas

This is a Mexican dish featuring a new style of cooking pulled pork. Carnitas is a flexible recipe and perfect to serve with Spanish rice. Make sure that you follow the recipe for both pork and its rub properly, as a slight mistake can ruin the dish for you.

Cook as per the instructions and serve it warm with your plate of Spanish rice.

15. Queso Baked Chicken

We love baked and you would do after trying this recipe. Queso baked chicken is packed with flavors. It contains chicken pieces featuring Southwestern spices and is topped with green chiles, tomatoes, sauce, and cheese. When paired with Spanish rice, you get a fulfilling meal to enjoy with loads of flavors.

16. Calabacitas

It is time to say yes to another Mexican dish. After all, these are the best ones to pair with Spanish rice. Calabacitas is a beautiful vegetable dish featuring, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and loads of cheese.

Even if you are a serious meat lover, you will still find this vegan dish pretty fulfilling and satisfying. It is often served as a beautiful side dish with Spanish rice and enjoyed with a drink. So, whenever you plan to make a meal, try this combo.

17. Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes also taste amazing with Spanish rice. In this recipe, these fluffy potatoes are made with just a few ingredients, so it is worth it to make this dish on a lazy Sunday.

18. Chile Verde

If you haven't heard about this dish before, it is about time to try it and eat it with Spanish rice. Chile verde features pork in a unique tomatillo sauce which is cooked until the meat turns beautifully tender.

This is an exotic Mexican dish and worth having with rice. Make it for dinner tonight and gain praise from family and friends.

19. Portobello Fajita Mushrooms

If you aren't a meat lover, try these mushroom fajitas with Spanish rice. This dish is fulfilling and packed with different flavors. Mix the veggies with rice and witness an explosion of flavors in your mouth.

20. Cuban Black Beans

Finally, prepare these amazing and wholesome Cuban black beans with Spanish rice. They are rich in flavor, and quite healthy too.

Final Words

Spanish rice is one of the most delicious dishes to experience. So, without any further ado, get to your kitchen and cook it with the best side dishes we have shared above.

20 Side Dishes to Serve With Spanish Rice

1. Cashew Chicken
2. Orange Chicken
3. Pineapple Chicken
4. Swedish Meatballs
5. Venison Roast
6. Picadillo
7. Korean Beef
8. Grape Jelly Meatballs
9. Jewish Brisket
10. Fish Curry
11. Fried Potatoes and Chorizo
12. Garlic Grilled Shrimp
13. Sauteed Shrimp
14. Carnitas
15. Queso Baked Chicken
16. Calabacitas
17. Baked Potatoes
18. Chile Verde
19. Portobello Fajita Mushrooms
20. Cuban Black Beans

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