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Home - Recipes - Side Dishes

Latest Updated: Feb 28, 2026 by Andrew Gray

What to Serve with Cuban Sandwich? 10 BEST Side Dishes

The top sides for Cuban Sandwich include Cuban-Style Yuca, Pesto Potato Salad, Buttered Corn On the Cob, Cuban Black Beans, and No-Mayonnaise Coleslaw.

Cuban-Style Yuca -

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

For a lighter option, try No-Mayonnaise Coleslaw. No-Mayonnaise Coleslaw -

Don't you like mayo on your salads?

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.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • 10 Perfect Sides to Serve with Cuban Sandwich
    • 1 - Cuban-Style Yuca
    • 2 - Pesto Potato Salad
    • 3 - Buttered Corn On the Cob
    • 4 - Cuban Black Beans
    • 5 - No-Mayonnaise Coleslaw
    • 6 - Beef Empanadas
    • 7 - Homemade Cajun Potato Chips
    • 8 - Tomato Bisque
    • 9 - Mango Salsa and Chips
  • 10 - Rich and Creamy Macaroni Salad
  • Frequently Asked Questions

10 Perfect Sides to Serve with Cuban Sandwich

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 go well with the sandwich.

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

If planning a party menu, include spicy options like chili sides - chili side dishes for parties lists 10 complementary choices.

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 bright.

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

Pesto works beyond salads - pesto gnocchi side ideas for variety offers seven complementary sides.

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 improve 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.

Simple buttered starches pair well together - buttered noodles side suggestions for balance shows ten tasty pairings.

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 filling 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 - or try Cuban sliders side ideas for matching flavors.

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.

For a heartier spread, include classic breakfast-meets-dinner sides like corned beef hash pairings - corned beef hash side list for variety.

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 - pair with Cajun chicken side ideas to amplify spice.

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 - and a bowl of tomato soup side pairings for comfort works beautifully with a Cuban sandwich.

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.

Mango salsa also pairs well with proteins like chicken, and mango salsa chicken side ideas for pairing suggests ten complementary sides.

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.

What to Serve with Cuban Black Beans and Rice? 7 Side Dishes is a useful match for many menus. Cuban black beans and rice side pairings complements the sandwich. What to Serve with Cuban Mojo Pork? 10 BEST Side Dishes works for heartier plans. Cuban mojo pork side suggestions for bold flavors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best side dish for Cuban Sandwich?

Cuban-Style Yuca If you want to stay in the theme, try this easy-to-make Cuban-style yuca. Pesto traditionally contains basil leaves, crushed garlic, coarse salt, parmesan, and pine nuts blended in olive oil.

Most home cooks pick this because it adds contrast and rounds out the meal.

What flavors contrast best with this dish?

Look for sides with brightness or acidity to cut through richness. This side dish brings the right contrast.

A squeeze of citrus or a vinegar-dressed salad achieves a similar effect if you want something lighter.

How do you avoid overshadowing the main dish?

Keep the seasoning on the side simple. Bold sauces or heavy spices can pull attention away from the main.

Let the supporting dish enhance rather than compete.

Do sides need to match the cuisine style?

Not strictly. Mixing cuisine styles is common in home cooking.

Focus on flavor balance rather than regional matching - the plate will feel cohesive if the tastes work together.

Explore more: This post is part of our Side Dish Pairing Guide.
Andrew Gray

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