What to Serve with Chicken Tinga? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Have you tasted chicken tinga? It’s a Mexican dish made with shredded chicken in tomato sauce.

The sauce also has sliced onions and chipotle chilis.

It’s widely eaten in Mexico but has also gained popularity in other places.

Chicken tinga is a versatile dish; you can enjoy it with multiple other items.

This short write-up will mention some of the best side dishes to serve with it.

So, if you also want to know what to serve with chicken tinga, don’t go anywhere.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Chicken Tinga?

So, you plan to serve chicken tinga at dinner, BBQ, or an event with friends and family.

It’s a great idea, but you can’t serve only that one dish, no matter how delicious.

You require at least 2-3 items to serve alongside so you can have a complete meal.

It will also make the occasion more enjoyable when there are several items to enjoy.

Besides, it isn’t practical to cook any dish in massive quantity as there may be vast amounts of leftovers, and food may go to waste.

So, whether it’s a family dinner or a large gathering, you have to cook and serve extra dishes.

Don’t worry, though, because below, we will list ten of the best items to go with chicken tinga.

What to Serve with Chicken Tinga? 10 BEST Side Dishes

1. Corn Tortillas

–

They’re the first thing that comes to mind thinking about chicken tinga.

Why? Because they’re the perfect match.

Imagine folding the chicken in the tortillas and taking a bite, and it’s mouthwatering.

You certainly won’t want to stop eating the food once you start.

However, it’s essential that you use corn tortillas and not flour tortillas, as the former version is healthier.

They’re gluten-free, do not contain calories, and are a good source of fiber.

If you have time and are interested, you can make homemade corn tortillas using just three ingredients; masa harina, hot water, and fine sea salt.

2. Cilantro Lime Rice

–

Rice, as you know, is one of the most versatile ingredients.

It works well with most items without making you feel overloaded.

Cilantro lime rice is a perfect side dish for chicken tinga.

It’s delicious yet not overpowering, and it can enhance the chicken dish even more.

However, you have to use the right kind of rice to make the dish, or you won’t have the expected results.

Make the dish with basmati rice as it’s fluffy and provides a lovely aroma.

The key to making this dish perfect is to brown the rice in some oil (preferably olive oil) instead of cooking it the usual way.

Think of rice pilaf and Spanish rice, and you have the gist.

3. Southwestern Chopped Salad

–

It’s also a yummy dish that you can serve alongside chicken tinga.

If you haven’t tasted this salad, you must try it because it’s good.

When you serve it with the chicken dish, you’ll see how your guests flock to the table to grab a few spoonsful.

The dish’s main ingredients are romaine lettuce, creamy black beans, and sweet corn.

Avocado and crushed blue corn tortilla chips are also present in the salad.

What makes it more interesting is when you add pico de gallo and a salsa ranch dressing.

You will have the freshest and yummiest salad to go with chicken tinga.

4. Refried Beans

–

It’s also a popular dish in Mexican and Latin American cuisine that’s also versatile.

You can eat it with many different items.

Serve refried beans with chicken tinga, and you won’t want to eat anything else.

Refried beans are easy to cook, and you can use a variety of beans to make the dish.

Pinto is, however, the primarily used bean.

But you can use kidney, black, or Peruano varieties too.

Though the dish’s name is refried beans, you don’t fry the beans twice.

You cook, mash, and fry them.

For frying, pork lard is the typical oil used, but vegetarians and vegans can use olive oil or other oil for the purpose.

5. Elotes (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)

–

Who doesn’t like grilled corn? Everyone loves it, so you can undoubtedly serve elotes with chicken tinga.

The two dishes pair nicely and also balance the flavors.

Corn is a favorite of summertime cookouts, so you won’t regret serving this dish because it will be a big hit.

Elotes are also easy to cook.

You won’t have any problem if you have grilled corn on the cob before.

All you have to do is add ingredients that boast Mexican flavors, and your dish will taste excellent.

Cotija cheese, butter, lime juice, salt, and chile powder are the usual items that make elotes so yummy.

6. Mac and Cheese

–

Mac and cheese may be a typical dish, but it’s yummy, versatile, and a hit with both grownups and kids.

Yes, it also complements chicken tinga, and you can serve them together at dinner or on any occasion.

Mac and cheese is also an easy dish to cook, and it won’t take more than half an hour to complete the cook.

Cheese is an essential ingredient in the dish.

While the choice of cheese is endless, cheddar is the most used variety for mac and cheese, so you can also use it.

7. Baked Beans

–

You can also serve baked beans with chicken tinga.

They taste excellent together, and you will get filled up without feeling overwhelmed.

Baked beans are popular in American cuisine, and the dish regularly features at dinner and on many occasions.

Both children and adults love baked beans, so it will be a good idea to include the dish on the menu.

The popular beans used for the dish are white beans such as haricot or cannellini.

But you can use other beans too.

If you are short of time, use canned beans but buy those that don’t have high sodium content.

8. Potato Hash

–

We also have a dish that consists of the humble potato.

Think of crispy and golden-brown potatoes and how good they taste.

Spuds are yummy, versatile, and easy to find, so they’re handy veggies.

Make and serve potato hash with chicken tinga, and you’ll have a hit dish with everyone.

You can make potato hash in different ways according to the availability of ingredients.

Add bell pepper, parsley, and yellow onion for a bright look and slightly crunchy texture.

Parmesan cheese is the popular choice for the dish, so use this variety.

However, it would be best if you had the right potatoes; for this dish, Yukon Gold is the ideal choice.

9. Cilantro Lime Slaw

–

It’s coleslaw with Mexican-inspired flavors, and it complements chicken tinga.

When you combine the two, you have juicy and rich meat on one hand and crunchy, fresh, sweet, and tangy on the other, so they match perfectly.

Cabbage may not look good, but it’s full of nutritional goodness, so you absorb nutrients with each bite.

Make the slaw with cabbage, cilantro onions, and a dressing that contains lime juice, honey, olive oil, cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

10. Avocado and Tomato Salad

–

Last but not least, we will end the list with a fresh salad which consists of tomatoes and avocado.

It’s delicious and nutritious, and yes, it complements chicken tinga.

You will have a complete meal when you eat the two dishes as they balance each other.

Besides, the salad will refresh your palate and not make you feel overloaded.

There is no need for cooking, and you can also whip up a large portion if you have plenty of guests for the occasion.

Besides avocado and tomato, you’ll need onions, olive oil, salt, pepper, cilantro, red chili flakes, and lime juice.

You can add feta or mozzarella cheese for a cheesy flavor.

Conclusion

The ten items are the best dishes to serve with chicken tinga.

Hence, you won’t have to panic from now on if you plan to serve the chicken.

Choose 3-4 dishes and cook them according to requirements.

You can select another four the next time, and so on.

All are delicious and complement chicken tinga, so your event is sure to be a success.