Serving tamales on Christmas Eve is a cherished tradition, and selecting the perfect side dishes can elevate your festive meal to new heights. Refried beans offer a creamy and rich complement, while Pico de Gallo offers a revitalizing crunch with its fresh tomatoes and lime. Mexican rice, with its savory and slightly spicy flavor, adds a festive touch. Mexican street corn brings an irresistible blend of creamy and spicy elements, and Frijoles Puercos, a delightful mix of chorizo and cheese, never disappoints. Enhance your tamale feast with these delicious sides and more to create a memorable holiday celebration. Discover all 15 delightful options to make your feast unforgettable.
Refried Beans
Among the traditional side dishes that complement tamales on Christmas Eve, refried beans stand out for their creamy texture and rich flavor. This classic side dish is made by sautéeing garlic and onions, then mashing cooked pinto beans with cayenne, providing a comforting touch.
Quick to prepare, refried beans are not only delicious but also a great source of protein and fiber.
Pico De Gallo
Complementing the rich and hearty flavors of refried beans, Pico De Gallo brings a light and invigorating contrast to the Christmas Eve tamale feast.
This quick and easy side dish, made with fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lime, and garlic, offers a perfect balance of acidity and crunch.
Its vibrant colors and flavors enhance the dining experience, making it an excellent addition to your holiday meal.
Mexican Rice
Mexican rice, or Arroz Rojo, is a quintessential side dish that brings both vibrant color and rich flavor to your Christmas Eve tamale spread. Made with extra long-grain rice and tomato purée, this Red Rice offers a savory taste with a hint of spice from cilantro and jalapeños.
It perfectly complements tamales, and its rich, red hue adds festive cheer.
Mexican Street Corn
Adding another dimension of authentic Mexican flavor to your Christmas Eve tamale feast, Elote, or Mexican Street Corn, stands out with its irresistible blend of creamy, zesty, and spicy elements.
Prepared in just 15 minutes, this dish features grilled or boiled corn slathered in mayo, chili powder, cotija cheese, lime juice, and Tajin seasoning.
It's a quick, flavorful side that complements tamales perfectly.
Frijoles Puercos
Elevating your tamale feast to new heights, Frijoles Puercos combines the rich flavors of chorizo, refried beans, and cheese into a quick and satisfying side dish.
This versatile dish, made with refried black beans, perfectly complements chicken tamales, adding depth and variety to your holiday table.
Its savory profile and ease of preparation make it a crowd-pleasing choice for Christmas Eve celebrations.
Frijoles Charros
A festive and hearty bean soup, Frijoles Charros combines chorizo, bacon, and hotdogs to create a rich and flavorful side dish that perfectly complements tamales on Christmas Eve.
Using canned beans, this dish is quick to prepare and offers a healthy side option. Its savory ingredients and thick broth make it a family favorite, adding warmth and depth to your holiday meal.
Ensalada De Coditos
Ensalada De Coditos is a traditional Mexican macaroni salad that is a quick and versatile side dish. It pairs wonderfully with tamales on Christmas Eve. The dish features elbow macaroni, vegetables, and optional proteins like tuna or ham. It is a creamy delight that is ready in just 20 minutes.
Enhance the dish with a vegan dressing and green vegetables for an invigorating, satisfying crunch that complements your holiday meal.
Rajas Con Crema
Rajas con Crema, a cherished Mexican side dish, combines roasted poblano peppers, cream, and cheese to deliver a sweet and spicy flavor profile that perfectly complements tamales.
The creamy texture and hint of smokiness make it an ideal companion for tamales, even leftover tamales.
This versatile dish will introduce your guests to a delightful and authentic Mexican culinary experience on Christmas Eve.
Champinones a La Mexicana
Often prepared in under 15 minutes, Champinones a la Mexicana is a quick and flavorful side dish that pairs excellently with tamales.
This easy-to-make dish features mushrooms, onions, jalapeños, tomatoes, and garlic, sautéed to perfection.
Naturally vegan and gluten-free, it's a versatile one-pan recipe that complements tamales beautifully, adding a rich and savory touch to your Christmas Eve meal.
Ensalada De Nopales
Adding another dimension to your Christmas Eve tamales, Ensalada De Nopales serves as a vibrant and invigorating salad featuring the hydrating and nutritious Nopales cactus leaves.
This exotic dish, similar to fennel salad, includes tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco. Its invigorating taste and crunchy texture provide a delightful contrast to rich tamales, enhancing the overall festive dining experience.
Queso Fundido
Queso Fundido is a delectable melted cheese dish featuring chorizo, green chilies, and garlic. It serves as an ideal accompaniment for tamales on Christmas Eve. This casserole-like dip is enriched with cream cheese and chicken broth, offering a rich depth of flavor.
Serve it hot and bubbly, garnished with cilantro on top for a fresh touch. It's both crowd-pleasing and easy to prepare.
Espagueti Verde
Espagueti Verde is a vibrant Mexican spaghetti dish. It features a creamy sauce infused with the bold flavors of poblano and jalapeño peppers. Often served as a first course, this dish is further enhanced by the addition of shaved fennel, adding a subtle crunch.
The quick preparation time and customizable heat levels make Espagueti Verde an excellent side dish to complement tamales on Christmas Eve.
Refried Black Beans
Complementing the vibrant flavors of Espagueti Verde, Refried Black Beans offer a creamy and quick-to-prepare side dish that enhances the traditional tamale feast. Ready in just 10 minutes, these beans are made with black beans, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and cilantro.
This vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free option is perfect for saving time while adding rich flavor to your Christmas Eve tamales.
Mexican Caesar Salad
Mexican Caesar Salad adds a flavorful twist to the traditional Caesar salad, making it a vibrant and complementary side dish for tamales on Christmas Eve.
Toss together cotija cheese, pepitas, crunchy tortilla strips, and a creamy cilantro dressing to achieve the perfect balance of textures and flavors.
This colorful salad pairs beautifully with tamales, enhancing the meal with its fresh, tangy, and nutty elements.
Mexican Sopita
A beloved staple during Christmas Eve celebrations, Mexican Sopita is a classic noodle soup that offers comfort and warmth alongside tamales.
This traditional side dish is made with a rich broth, noodles, tomatoes, onions, and garlic, and sometimes includes chicken or beef. Known for its simplicity and heartiness, Mexican Sopita complements the flavors of tamales, adding a cozy touch to the holiday meal.