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Home » Cinco de Mayo Recipes

What to Serve with Posole 48+ Side Dishes

Published: Feb 17, 2023 by Debra Clark · 8 Comments

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!

Authentic Posole Recipe in black bowl topped with onions, jalapeños and sliced radishes.
Authentic Posole is a classic Mexican Stew. It's easy to make and so delicious!
Jump to:
  • What sides go well with posole
  • Appetizers
  • Bread, tortilla chips, and rolls
  • Vegetable side dishes
  • Salads
  • What's for dessert?
  • What side dishes don't go with
  • These sides are also great with...

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.

Ground Beef Taco Dip in casserole dish with chips.

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
Toasted bread in air fryer basket.

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
Roasted vegetables in fry pan with serving spoon.

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
Caesar salad in bowl with serving utensils.
Caesar salad closeup

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)
Butterscot pudding dessert in parfait glass.

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!

  • Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
  • Mexican Albondigas (Meatball Soup)
  • Slow Cooker Al Pastor Tacos

More Cinco de Mayo Recipes

  • Spoon filled with chicken spaghetti over casserole dish.
    Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel
  • Mexican Fruit Salad topped with Tajin in pink bowl.
    Mexican Fruit Salad Recipe
  • Crockpot filled with chicken enchilada casserole with a serving spoon.
    Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
  • Puff pastry tacos on platter.
    Puff Pastry Tacos

About Debra Clark

Hey I'm Deb Clark, and I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over! We live in the sleepy little town of Scappoose, Oregon. And I admit it... I love food! Join me in this foodie journey (even if you've never cooked before!) I will help you learn to be confident in the kitchen! Want to learn more? Let's stay connected, you can email me at debra@bowl-me-over.com and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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  1. Camden says

    February 29, 2024 at 10:50 pm

    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!

    Reply
  2. Debbie says

    February 26, 2024 at 4:04 pm

    Thank you so much for this helpful post on what to serve with pozole. I had no idea there were so many tasty options!

    Reply
  3. Alyssa says

    February 22, 2024 at 12:55 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Debra Clark says

      February 22, 2024 at 4:12 pm

      That's great I'm glad you've found some great new recipes Alyssa!

      Reply
  4. Kristen says

    February 22, 2024 at 1:50 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Debra Clark says

      February 22, 2024 at 4:03 pm

      You're welcome Kristen!

      Reply
  5. Brittany says

    February 14, 2024 at 6:41 am

    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!

    Reply
    • Debra Clark says

      February 14, 2024 at 8:04 pm

      Fantastic, glad this gave you some good ideas Brittany!

      Reply
Blogger Deb Clark smiling at camera holding a plate filled with a casserole.
Welcome to Bowl Me Over!

Hey I'm Deb Clark! I'm the owner of Bowl Me Over. We live in a sleepy little town just north of Portland in the beautiful Pacific Northwest... (read more)

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