Pork nachos are a delicious Tex-Mex appetizer or main dish featuring crispy tortilla chips topped with flavorful shredded pork, beans, cheese, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and more. With so many tasty components, pork nachos make for a filling and satisfying meal. However, when serving nachos for dinner you may want to round out the meal with some additional sides. Here are some delicious options for what to serve alongside pork nachos.
Salad
A fresh salad is a great option to help balance out the heavier nachos. The crunchy greens and vegetables will add some brightness and freshness. Try a taco salad with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, avocado and a tangy lime vinaigrette. Or make it southwestern style with roasted corn, black beans, red peppers, cilantro and cotija cheese over crisp romaine. You could also do a Mexican-style cabbage slaw with shredded cabbage, cilantro, lime juice and chili powder. The tangy crunch pairs perfectly with the nachos.
Beans and Rice
Serving pork nachos with beans and rice is a very traditional combo. The rice soaks up all the delicious juices and toppings from the nachos while the beans add fiber, protein and heartiness. Make some Spanish-style rice flavored with tomato sauce and spices. Pair it with your choice of refried beans, black beans, pinto beans or kidney beans. This is an easy, budget-friendly pairing that truly complements the nachos.
Fajitas
If you want to turn your pork nachos into more of a Mexican feast, serve up some sizzling fajitas alongside. Cook up strips of skirt steak or chicken breast with sliced onions and bell peppers. Bring the fajitas out in a cast iron skillet with some warm tortillas on the side. Let everyone assemble their own fajitas with desired toppings. The combo of fajitas and nachos makes for a fun interactive meal with lots of great textures and flavors. You could also offer fajita “fixings” like guacamole, pico de gallo, cheese and sour cream so guests can customize both dishes.
Taquitos or Flautas
For another tasty Mexican appetizer to accompany the pork nachos, try some crunchy taquitos or flautas. These are small corn tortillas that are tightly rolled and filled with shredded chicken, beef or pork then fried until golden brown and crispy. Served with guacamole or sour cream for dipping, they make a delicious addition to the meal. You can even use leftover pork from your nachos to make the taquitos. Their crunchy texture contrasts nicely with the soft, layered nachos.
Quesadillas
An easy, cheesy side to serve with pork nachos is quesadillas. Make them with corn or flour tortillas filled with oozy melted cheese like Monterey jack, cheddar or queso fresco. You can keep them simple or add in cooked meat, sautéed veggies or black beans for more flavor. Quesadillas are great for folding and dipping into salsa, guacamole or sour cream, just like the nachos. Offer a platter of bite-sized quesadillas alongside the nachos for guests to enjoy.
Chips and Guacamole
For a lighter, simpler option, serve the pork nachos with fresh tortilla chips and guacamole for dipping. The crunchy chips help balance the rich, hearty nachos while the creamy guacamole adds freshness. Make your guacamole extra chunky with plenty of ripe avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro and lime juice. You could also offer salsas in different styles like salsa verde, pico de gallo or roasted tomato and chili salsa. The nachos and dip combo is casual, easy and perfect for a crowd.
Mexican Street Corn
Also known as elote, Mexican street corn makes an awesome accompaniment to nachos. The grilled corn on the cob is slathered in a tangy, creamy sauce made from mayo, lime, chili powder and cotija cheese. Add some cilantro for extra flavor. The sweet juicy corn balances the rich pork nachos beautifully. Make it an interactive meal by having guests get hands-on to coat and devour the elote.
Charro Beans
Big pots of simmered pinto beans, also called charro or cowboy beans, are often served at Mexican restaurants as a side to nachos. Make a batch using pinto beans, onion, garlic, bacon, chili powder and beer. The beans thicken to a hearty, flavorful consistency. Scoop them beside the nachos to add protein and soak up all the delicious toppings. You could also add them as a layer on your nacho platter.
Jicama Salad
For something refreshing, try an Easy jicama salad with orange and pepita seeds. Jicama is a crunchy Mexican vegetable that pairs wonderfully with citrusy orange segments, chili powder, lime and fresh cilantro. The light, crisp jicama salad will cut through the rich pork nachos with bright flavor and texture. Add some crumbled queso fresco for a finishing touch.
Esquites
Esquites is a popular Mexican street food made of grilled corn, mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, lime and cilantro. It has a similar flavor profile to elote but with corn kernels instead of on the cob. The sweet corn is so addictive when coated in the creamy, spicy sauce. Serve it in cups alongside the nachos for guests to enjoy with spoons. It also makes for delicious nacho toppings.
Mexican Potato Salad
For a cool, creamy side to accompany hot nachos try a Mexican-style potato salad. Dice up some Russet or Yukon gold potatoes and toss with cilantro, scallions, diced bell pepper, pickled jalapeños and a dressing of mayo, lime juice, cumin, chili powder and cayenne. You can also add corn, black beans or chopped hard-boiled eggs. The spicy, tangy potato salad cools down the palate between bites of nachos.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Warm up with a comforting bowl of chicken tortilla soup served alongside the pork nachos. This flavorful Mexican soup typically contains chicken, tomato broth, chili peppers, onion, garlic, and corn tortilla strips. Top it with crunchy tortilla chips, avocado, cilantro and a squeeze of lime. The soup and nachos make a satisfying soup and salad combo. Serve the soup in mugs for a fun, casual dinner.
Shredded Chicken Tacos
Pork nachos and chicken tacos are a match made in Tex-Mex heaven. Shredded, juicy chicken tacos loaded with toppings pair perfectly next to the nachos for a tasty duo. Set up a DIY taco bar and let guests assemble their own with stewed chicken, warmed tortillas, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, Mexican crema and more. It’s an interactive meal with lots of great flavors and textures in each bite.
Cheesy Chili Mac
For ultimate comfort food, serve the nachos alongside a bubbly pan of cheesy chili mac. Cook up some pasta like macaroni or cavatappi and toss it with spicy, meaty chili, Monterey jack cheese and cheddar. Top with crispy fried onions, chopped green onion and cilantro. The rich, cheesy chili mac is so heartwarming and satisfying next to the loaded nachos. Add some cornbread on the side to really soak up the chili.
Vegetarian Refried Beans
If you want a meatless accompaniment, try some vegetarian refried beans, also called frijoles refritos. Sauté onion and garlic in oil, then add pinto beans, vegetable broth, chili powder and cumin. Mash the beans to your desired consistency. Served with rice and cheese, these flavorful refried beans make a great vegetarian side to complement meat-based nachos. They’re also tasty nacho toppings.
Ceviche
For a light, refreshing contrast to heavy nachos, serve some citrusy ceviche on the side. This seafood dish from coastal regions of Mexico marinates raw fish or shrimp in lime juice, chili peppers, cilantro, onions and tomatoes. The acid from the lime juice “cooks” the fish, resulting in a fresh, tangy flavor. Scoop the ceviche beside the nachos for a bright, cooling balance. Offer some tostada chips for scooping.
Enchiladas
Bake up some saucy, cheesy enchiladas to serve alongside the nachos for a hearty Mexican feast. Fill corn tortillas with your choice of protein like shredded chicken, ground beef or cheese. Roll them up and drench with red or green enchilada sauce before baking until hot and bubbly. Serve the enchiladas topped with lettuce, pico de gallo, Mexican crema and queso fresco for a delicious, flavor packed duo.
Empanadas
For an appetizing South American side, offer some empanadas alongside the pork nachos. These baked or fried pastries are stuffed with fillings like ground beef, chicken, cheese, beans or spinach. Serve empanadas with chimichurri or tomatillo salsa for dipping. Mini empanadas also make great nacho toppings. They add nice texture and flavor variety to the platter.
Tamales
In many Latin cultures, no feast would be complete without tamales. Serve up a batch of the steam-cooked corn dough delicacies stuffed with pork, chicken, cheese, beans or chili pepper filling. Let guests unwrap the tamales and enjoy them with the nachos, along with crema, cilantro and salsa on the side. You could also add tamale pieces as tasty nacho toppings.
Churros
End your nacho dinner on a sweet note with Mexican churros for dessert. These fried dough pastries coated in cinnamon sugar are perfect for dipping in chocolate or dulce de leche sauce. Offer churros with café con leche (coffee with steamed milk) for a sweet cap to a savory Mexican meal. The crispy-creamy churros pair wonderfully with the rich, indulgent nachos.
Tres Leches Cake
Another delicious Mexican dessert that complements pork nachos is tres leches cake, meaning “three milks cake”. It’s a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk – sweetened condensed, evaporated and heavy cream. This gives the cake a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Top it with whipped cream and fresh fruit like mango, pineapple or berry. The cold, creamy cake is a great way to cleanse the palate after nachos.
Flan
Serve some smooth, silky flan for dessert alongside the nachos. This custard is baked with caramel sauce, then inverted onto a plate when served so the caramel drizzles over top. Dust it with cinnamon or garnish with berries. The lightly sweet, luxurious flan provides a pleasant contrast to the heavy nachos and toppings. It’s sure to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.
Conclusion
Pork nachos make for a fun and filling Tex-Mex meal. Serving them with complementary sides and starters allows you to turn nachos into a whole dinner spread. Try pairing with fresh salads, beans and rice, quesadillas, Mexican street corn or fajitas. Round out the meal with tamales, enchiladas or empanadas. Finish on a sweet note with churros, tres leches cake or flan for dessert. With all these delicious options, you’re sure to find the perfect match for your nachos fiesta.
