What to Serve with Cuban Sandwich? 10 BEST Side Dishes

If you’ve picked Cuban sandwiches to serve for dinner, great choice.

They are delicious, nutritious, and filled with cheesy goodness.

Now, if you know Cuban sandwiches, you’re aware they taste best when served with something on the side.

The main ingredients in the sandwich are Cuban bread, roasted pork, mustard, ham, pickles, and Swiss cheese.

It’s already quite heavy, so you’d want to pair it with side dishes that are light and refreshing and those that can provide a good texture contrast.

We have a handful of side dish options for you if you’re trying to figure out what to serve with a Cuban sandwich.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes with Cuban Sandwich?

Regardless of the type, a sandwich is still a sandwich. It’s great on its own for an afternoon snack.

However, if you’re planning to serve it for a full-on meal, you’ll need side dishes to help balance the meal and make it more substantial.

Luckily, we’ve got it covered. You have ten side dish options to choose from on this list.

Each one pair perfectly well with the main course, so you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong.

You can let your guests enjoy a few flavors by serving Cuban sandwiches with unique side dishes.

It’s hard to get tired of it when you have different ways to serve it.

What to Serve with Cuban Sandwich? 10 BEST Side Dishes

A Cuban sandwich is a delicious combination of roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard on thick slices of toasted Cuban bread.

It’s a richly satisfying dish, but it can become even more delicious with some side dishes.

From classic sides like black beans to exotic fruits like papaya, there are plenty of flavorful options that will pair perfectly with the sandwich.

Here are 10 MUST-try sides for your next Cuban sandwich experience:

1 – Cuban-Style Yuca

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If you want to stay in the theme, try this easy-to-make Cuban-style yuca.

It is one of the most effortless side dishes on this list- all you have to do is boil the yuca and toss it in a mixture of garlic, onion, and lemon juice cooked in olive oil.

Those who want to play with more texture can fry the yuca.

This dish adds a delicious sauce loaded with tangy citrus and spicy, garlicky flavors that your Cuban sandwich will taste like heaven with.

You can use both frozen and yuca for the dish.

Keep a sturdy and sharp knife handy to peel the coarse exterior of the tuber.

2 – Pesto Potato Salad

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Spice up your regular potato salad with pesto dressing to enjoy innovative flavors with your sandwich.

Pesto traditionally contains basil leaves, crushed garlic, coarse salt, parmesan, and pine nuts blended in olive oil.

It is an Italian sauce that goes well with a lot of other flavors.

Adding it to your potato salad will give it new flavors and make it tangy, herby, nutty, creamy, and incredibly delicious.

The sauce also gives the side dish a green hue- something to make your menu more vibrant.

Add pesto potato salad to your side dish list, and you won’t have to worry about not feeling full.

3 – Buttered Corn On the Cob

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Is anyone not a fan of corn? We don’t think so.

Why not serve buttered corn on the cob with your Cuban sandwich? You can call it a day.

Both dishes taste great on their own, but the magic happens when they are paired together.

If you want to elevate the dish more, you can add cilantro, parmesan cheese, and sea salt to the corn.

Corn is loaded with fibers and vitamins; plus, they are amazingly filling.

You wouldn’t search for anything else once you serve this combination.

4 – Cuban Black Beans

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If you have a can of black beans at home, forget about others and make Cuban black beans.

They are loaded with bold and delicious flavors from paprika, cilantro, and jalapenos.

You can serve this dish for a hearty meal when you have a Cuban sandwich as the main course.

It is vegetarian, highly fibrous, healthy, and gluten-free.

Although you’d typically serve black beans with rice or steak, this side dish goes well with sandwiches too.

And since both have Cuban flavors, you don’t have to worry about messing up the menu.

5 – No-Mayonnaise Coleslaw

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Don’t you like mayo on your salads? This side dish is perfect for you.

It also has a nice kick of spice to bring your palates to life.

The secret to making incredibly creamy and delicious coleslaw without using mayo is non-fat Greek yogurt.

The other ingredients for the seasoning include cider vinegar, kosher salt, black pepper, sugar, and shredded cabbage.

Plate it beside the Cuban sandwich to enjoy an easy and delicious meal.

It is a much healthier, lighter, and tastier version of your regular coleslaw.

6 – Beef Empanadas

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Another delicious side dish you can serve with Cuban sandwiches is empanada- an Argentinian pastry filled with cheese, meat, or corn.

In this case, we’re going for beef empanadas because why not.

This side dish is cheesy, crispy, and savory and takes only about half an hour to make.

You can consider them as mini pies for your sandwich.

Serve them with a small bowl of tomato sauce for dipping, and everyone will be happy.

7 – Homemade Cajun Potato Chips

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No one can deny how lovely the combination of chips and sandwich is.

But if we’re serving an elevated version of the sandwich, why not spruce up the chips, too?

Ditch the regular chips and make extra crispy, thin, and spicy Cajun potato chips.

The addition of Cajun seasoning to the chips gives them a smoky, salty flavor that perfectly compliments the rich sandwich.

If you’re not enthusiastic about Cajun, you can use cheddar or barbecue.

This super quick and easy entree or side dish takes only 10 minutes to prep and about 20 minutes to bake.

Serve them freshly baked to enjoy a plate of hot, spicy, and crispy chips.

8 – Tomato Bisque

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Tomato soup and grilled cheese is a combination no one questions.

But you can make it even tastier by replacing the grilled cheese with a Cuban sandwich.

You can turn your simple snack into a cozy meal by adding a bowl of tomato bisque.

The tomato’s acidity perfectly balances the sandwich’s rich flavors.

Also, no one will stop you from using the soup as a dip.

A cheesy Cuban sandwich with a hot bowl of thick and creamy tomato bisque? No one can say no.

9 – Mango Salsa and Chips

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If you want the ultimate easy and simple yet tasty side dish, serve some tortilla chips with mango salsa.

It’s as simple as it can get.

Nevertheless, the flavors in this side dish beat many.

They are sure to bring life to the menu and keep your guests scooping every bit of food from the bowl.

To make the mango salsa, you’ll need ripe mangoes, red onion, jalapeno, red bell pepper, lime, salt, and cilantro leaves.

10 – Rich and Creamy Macaroni Salad

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Consider serving this staple summer dish if you’re planning a picnic or barbecue.

Of course, you can serve it anytime, anywhere, and everyone would still enjoy it.

Rich and creamy macaroni salad is a nice side item to serve on a cold day when you want to brighten your menu but still want something warm and hearty.

This side dish takes only about thirty minutes to come together.

Plus, you can use your preferred pasta, so it’s one of the easiest, quickest, and most customizable recipes on this list.

The key ingredient of this salad that makes it so creamy is mayo.

But since it’s dairy-free, lactose-intolerance people needn’t worry about their food restrictions.

Conclusion

Cuban sandwiches might have originated in Key West or Tampa.

But it has gained popularity worldwide and become renowned to every food enthusiast.

Try all of our side dish recommendations when you serve Cuban sandwiches at home.

We guarantee the sandwich is worthy of being the main dish when paired with such delectable sides.

You can choose which one to cook this time by finding the perfect dish that suits your mood and palate.

They are all incredibly delicious and nutritious, so don’t miss out on any when you cook a Cuban sandwich.