Of all the Mexican soups, posole (also spelled "pozole") gathers everyone around the dinner table quickly! The fragrant, spicy soup comes in various flavors, depending on the ingredients used. Today, we'll help you decide what to serve with posole-whether you're making pozole Rojo, pozole Blanco, or a Pozole Verde Recipe!
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What sides go well with posole
Most pozole recipes are made with canned hominy or dried hominy, some sort of meat (like pork shoulder or chicken thighs), fresh vegetables, and yummy toppings.
This traditional Mexican stew is great both for special occasions and simple dinners. It's traditionally served on Christmas Eve.
So, when choosing accompaniments for your tasty main dish, consider serving side dishes that balance the richness of pozole-without overwhelming it.
Plus, it's always a good idea to complement the main ingredients of the soup, rather than serve foods too similar to those in your bowl of pozole.
Appetizers
The great thing about appetizers is that they get you excited to eat your main course! Here are some appetizer ideas to serve with posole:
- Green salsa and chips
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole and corn chips
- Veggie and bean tostadas
- Green onion dip
- Garlic butter shrimp and toast
- Bean and cheese dip
- Taco dip (simply omit the ground beef, if you'd like!)
- Queso and dippers
- Shrimp ceviche with lime juice
- Spicy mango salsa
Bread, tortilla chips, and rolls
There's nothing better to balance the spicy flavor of a bright red pozole than bread, chips, and rolls. These are the best side dishes! Plus, extra bread is great for wiping up every last drop of pork broth from your bowl!
- Air fryer garlic bread
- Tortilla chips
- Corn chips
- Homemade corn tortillas
- Crunchy tortilla strips
- Garlic-stuffed cheesy bread
- Mexican rice
- Cast iron skillet cornbread
- Easy yeast rolls
- Corn muffins garnished with butter and Mexican oregano
- Cilantro-lime rice
Vegetable side dishes
Serving your favorite vegetables with posole is an easy way to complement the tasty dish and add a healthier option to your dinner spread! Plus, fresh ingredients add flavor and texture to a meal.
- Grilled avocado with fresh cilantro-serve with lime wedges!
- Roasted zucchini in olive oil with chopped onions
- Grilled potatoes and vegetables
- Baked potatoes-don't forget sour cream!
- Cheese-stuffed poblano peppers (or use red chiles)
- Steamed carrots and broccoli
- Mexican corn casserole
- Pan-roasted mixed veggies and red onions
- Mexican-roasted street corn
Salads
Some people are surprised to learn that salads are quite common in Mexican cuisine. Plus, they add a delicious, crunchy texture that perfectly balances the creamy ingredients of posole!
- Shrimp salad
- Southwestern salad with black beans
- Mexican shrimp pasta salad
- Cucumber salad
- Mexican coleslaw with green cabbage
- Mexican street corn salad (with roasted corn kernels)
What's for dessert?
When deciding what to serve with posole, don't forget dessert! At the end of a meal filled with chile sauce, different types of dried chiles, and spicer side dishes, serving something simple and sweet is a great way to cool your palate!
- Flan
- Churros
- Fried ice cream with homemade vanilla ice cream
- Key lime pie
- Homemade fudge
- Snowball cookies
- Tres Leches cake
- RumChata cocktail
- Butterscotch pudding
- Mexican sweet corn cake
- Fruit-filled empanadas
What side dishes don't go with
Though there are a lot of delicious sides to serve with your favorite posole recipes, some ingredients just don't go together-and, some are too closely related! Here are a few sides that, though delicious, are best served with another dinner.
- If you're making pork or chicken pozole, stick with the same type of meat for your sides or salads-or, go meatless. Many chefs don't recommend mixing meats in the same dish, though there are usually exceptions to rules like this!
- This polenta bowl with charred corn salad is so flavorful and unique, but too similar to pozole to make a good side dish.
- Since posole is considered a soup/stew, refrain from serving another soup on the side of it!
- Heirloom tomato salad is a great summer side dish, but with posole would be too heavy on tomatoes for one meal.
- Go lighter on the spicy sides! Even if you're a heat lover, try to make milder versions of these great side dishes so that you don't end up with a stomach ache after dinner!
These sides are also great with...
Here's my favorite authentic New Mexico posole recipe. However, If you love Mexican food like me, you'll want to add these other recipes to your list-ASAP! Combine them with the sides recommended above and you're in for a meal with so much flavor it'll knock your socks right off!
Camden says
I would not have come up with options for what to serve with pozole on my own, so I'm glad to have found this article. I'd love to make some with a ton of veggies and bread like you recommended!
Debbie says
Thank you so much for this helpful post on what to serve with pozole. I had no idea there were so many tasty options!
Alyssa says
These are great ideas for what to serve with posole. They are also good side dishes for other meals too. I struggle with side dishes sometimes, so this is helpful!
Debra Clark says
That's great I'm glad you've found some great new recipes Alyssa!
Kristen says
Wow! Your thorough list of what to serve with pozole just stocked me up on Taco Tuesday meal ideas for the rest of the year, lol! Thank you!
Debra Clark says
You're welcome Kristen!
Brittany says
What an amazing list to help me know what to serve with pozole! I always struggle with coming up with side items once the main meal has been planned..this list is a lifesaver with so many options!
Debra Clark says
Fantastic, glad this gave you some good ideas Brittany!