What To Serve With Refried Beans? 15 Best Side Dishes

Not sure what to serve with refried beans?

Look no further!

I have compiled fifteen delicious side dishes perfect for pairing with this classic Mexican dish.

Refried beans are a comforting and filling food, full of protein and bursting with flavor.

But if you want your meal to experience true culinary perfection, you need to add the perfect sides.

From melt-in-your-mouth guacamole, chunky salsa fresca seasoned with cilantro, to succulent grilled veggies on a bed of greens – there’s something for everyone.

And all of these scrumptious sides will bring out even more of the rich flavors in your refried beans.

It’s time for a fiesta!

Let’s get cooking.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes With Refried Beans?

• Variety: Serving side dishes with your refried beans will provide variety to the meal, allowing guests to choose from a range of flavors and textures.
• Balance: Side dishes can help balance out the richness of refried beans by providing lighter options such as salads or vegetables. This helps ensure that everyone is getting enough nutrients in their meals without feeling overly full or weighed down after eating.
• Flavor: Side dishes can add flavor to the meal by introducing different spices and herbs into the mix, which can complement the flavor of refried beans nicely.
• Texture: Different side dishes can also provide interesting texture contrasts, such as crunchy slaws or creamy mashed potatoes, which will make for an enjoyable dining experience overall.
• Nutrition: Finally, serving side dishes with your refried beans ensures that everyone is getting a balanced meal with plenty of vitamins and minerals from all food groups – something that’s especially important if you’re trying to feed a large group on a budget!

What To Serve With Refried Beans? 15 Best Side Dishes

Refried beans are a delicious, filling and nutritious dish.

But what should you serve with them?

Here are 15 of the best side dishes that will complement refried beans perfectly:

1. Enchilada Stuffed Shells

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For a Mexican-inspired meal, fill jumbo pasta shells with your favorite enchilada filling.

These dairy-free Enchilada Stuffed Shells perfectly complement refried beans and rice.

You can customize the dish to meet individual tastes by throwing in whatever veggies you prefer—from vibrant bell peppers to tender mushrooms.

Meanwhile, dollops of sour cream add ideal contrast, making it easy to enjoy a hot and savory dinner at home any night of the week.

2. Fajita Chicken Burrito Bowl

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Offer a delicious and satisfying chicken burrito bowl that’s easy to whip up in just minutes.

The marinated strips of fajita chicken are perfect for spooning on top of your refried beans, juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce, sweet bell peppers and crunchy onions.

Toss the whole dish with cool sour cream and tangy salsa for a quick Mexican feast.

3. Mexican Lasagna

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Surprise dinner guests with a scrumptious twist on standard lasagna.

This Mexican version is sure to become a family favorite and can also serve as an impressive side dish for weeknight soups like black bean chili.

Layer crispy corn tortillas between layers of ground beef, tomatoes, salsa, garlic, oregano and other seasonings combined with sour cream and your favorite Mexican style cheese — an easy start to dinner success!

4. Creamy Black Bean Avocado Tostadas

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Crisp tostadas topped with creamy black bean-avocado smash make a fantastic accompaniment to refried beans.

Prepare this easy vegetarian tostada topping in just five minutes and then top each crisp shell with chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, cheese and a shower of freshly cracked pepper.

This light but full-flavored dish is an excellent pairing for any meal of hearty refried beans.

5. Mexican Ground Beef Casserole with Rice (beef mince!)

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This Mexican ground beef casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish.

Made with spiced ground beef mince, black beans, red enchilada sauce, mozzarella cheese and cooked rice in a comforting one-pot meal – it’s sure to please the whole family.

We love to serve ours alongside soup or salad as a tasty side dish!

6. Black Bean Tacos (with Avocado Cilantro Lime Crema)

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Black bean tacos are a delicious, vegan-friendly option that pairs perfectly with refried beans.

The tacos come together quickly in the skillet; and they just need some creamy avocado crema, cilantro, and lime to finish them off.

These tacos are sure to be a hit – even for meat eaters!

7. Taco Pizza

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Turn up the flavor at your next potluck with this cheesy, taco-inspired pizza.

This savory dish has all the beloved flavors of Mexican night, but on a crust made from refrigerator biscuits.

It’s so easy to put together and takes just minutes to bake.

Everyone will love topping slices with tomatoes and sour cream or salsa verde for a truly delicious Southwestern style meal or side dish!

8. Cheese Quesadillas

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Give your refried beans extra-satisfying heft by serving them with cheese quesadillas.

Quesadillas are a favorite amongst kids and adults alike— made with plenty of ooey gooey melting cheese, they make a classic side dish to heat-packing refried beans.

Make sure to add some crunch factor such as diced tomatoes, olives or green onions in the middle of each quesadilla too!

9. Jalapeño Cheddar Mexican Cornbread

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Take a bite of flavor with this spicy, cheesy Mexican-style cornbread.

It’s an addictive side dish to any bowl of chili, perfect for sharing at potlucks and family dinners, or even just as a snack.

The combination of sautéed onions and peppers really gives the bread plenty of zip!

10. Mexican Rice

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Nothing goes better with refried beans than a Mexican-inspired side of warm, fluffy rice.

The buttery aroma of Mexican rice is sure to fill your kitchen while it cooks up in the pot.

Using chicken broth instead of water infuses this classic dish with extra flavor, adding an inviting layer to every bite.

11. Chips And Guacamole

Who doesn’t love chips and guacamole?

Make your own fresh, creamy guacamole to serve with salty tortilla chips.

Start off with ripe avocados, lemon or lime juice for zing, a chopped onion or jalapeño pepper for flavor, plus the all important salt and pepper.

This delicious dip is perfect alongside fajitas or tacos. It’s also fantastic as an appetizer for game day!

12. Black Bean Soup

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Try this simple and delicious black bean soup with your refried beans for an easy and nutritious meal.

It pairs beautifully with some pickled onion, diced tomato, cilantro, avocado slices or a dollop of sour cream.

The smoky flavors in the broth give this soup a boost of richness when finished off with freshly squeezed lime juice!

Serve over cooked brown rice for extra filling power.

13. Chili

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Let chili night stand out from the crowd by serving this unexpected side dish.

This chili is a hearty mix of spicy, smoky flavor and creamy texture.

The canned tomato sauce provides depth as it simmers with chilis, peppers and ground beef or turkey, then cooled down with sour cream, diced tomatoes, corn kernels and chopped carrots.

Make sure you load up on your favorite chili toppings — which often include diced onions, jalapeños and shredded cheddar cheese — to make this a tasty side that’ll get rave reviews!

14. Mexican Street Corn Salad

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Mexican street corn salad is the perfect companion to a plate of refried beans.

This quartet of flavors—tangy lime and garlic, spicy chili powder, creamy mayo, cilantro and Cotija cheese— packs a lot into each bite.

An irresistible mix of charred sweetness, crunchy bites and depth of flavor will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds).

You’ll love utilizing readily-available ingredients like frozen sweetcorn and store-bought mayonnaise in this meal to make it even simpler – but no less delicious!

15. Salsa and Chips

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Put a little heat in your next cookout with creamy, chunky salsa.

It’s easy to make and you can control the spiciness – let the chipotle peppers give it some smoky kick, or cool it down with an extra dollop of sour cream.

Serve up homemade chips liberally rimmed with salt for scooping that juicy goodness and enjoying a snack, side dish, or game-day appetizer that just won’t quit.