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Home - Recipes - Side Dishes

Latest Updated: Feb 28, 2026 by Andrew Gray

What to Serve with Mexican Lasagna? 7 BEST Side Dishes

For Mexican Lasagna, go with Mexican Rice, Cilantro Rice And Black Beans, Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans, Bruschetta, and Caesar Salad.

Mexican Rice

Traditionally Mexican, this rice dish is made with onions, fresh tomatoes, and garlic.

For a lighter option, try Caesar Salad. Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad is perhaps one of the most popular salads out there.

Most people have heard about Lasagna and its origins from the region of Italy.

However, have you heard of Mexican Lasagna?

Mexican Lasagna is a generations-old dish that originated with the Aztecs.

This dish is a Mexican play on the Italian dish and also uses traditional Mexican ingredients.

It is popularly known as Pastel de Moctezuma.

This Lasagna is made of layers of meat stacked with tortillas that replace the lasagna noodles.

It also uses Latin American cheeses and chilies.

Salsa is also a part of Mexican Lasagnas.

In place of marinara sauce, enchilada or taco sauces are used.

These traditional flavors have imparted almost wholly conventional Mexican flavors to Lasagna.

So, even though the Mexican Lasagna has no connection to its Italian counterpart, it is also a recreation of the same.

Table of Contents

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  • 7 Perfect Sides for Mexican Lasagna
    • 1 - Mexican Rice
    • 2 - Cilantro Rice And Black Beans
    • 3 - Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans
    • 4 - Bruschetta
    • 5 - Caesar Salad
    • 6 - Instant Pot Minestrone
    • 7 - Tamales
  • Frequently Asked Questions

7 Perfect Sides for Mexican Lasagna

1 - Mexican Rice

mexican rice Save for Later!

Traditionally Mexican, this rice dish is made with onions, fresh tomatoes, and garlic.

You can also add fresh peas, corn, and carrots.

This dish can be made in one pot with all the good vegetables you want and is hassle-free.

The best part about this dish is that it can also be made with leftover rice.

The onions, garlic, and tomatoes add a beautiful color and aroma to the dish.

As such, it also becomes the perfect side dish for your Mexican Lasagna - or supplement the spread with chili party side ideas for gatherings.

With the meat fillings and cheese on one end, this rice dish makes it an absolutely fulfilling meal.

2 - Cilantro Rice And Black Beans

cilantro rice and black beans Save for Later!

Another traditionally Latin dish, this dish is loved because of the black beans and cilantro.

The cilantro and lime add a zing of freshness to the dish.

As such, the tempting factor becomes too real to resist.

It is also the perfect side dish to make for your guests because it is gluten-free, dairy-free, and devoid of nuts.

This recipe is easy to make and requires less prep time and minimal effort.

You can always use canned black beans for this dish; however, if you can home-cook the black beans beforehand, even better.

Serve this Cilantro Rice and Black Beans recipe with your Mexican Lasagna the next time you run out of options to consider for a side dish - or pair it with cilantro lime chicken side ideas for a zesty menu.

3 - Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans

cheater restaurant style refried beans Save for Later!

This dish is a dip and is perfect for most Mexican creations - also see refried beans side pairings for more serving ideas.

This dish uses refried beans, hot sauce, cheese, and sour cream to give you the perfect dip.

Paired with the Mexican Lasagna, it will be like having a little party in your mouth.

This dip is perfect for serving with nachos, tacos, and enchiladas.

You can also opt for low-fat refried beans if you can find them.

Also, pay attention to the hot sauce that you use because that is one of the main ingredients in this dip.

4 - Bruschetta

bruschetta Save for Later!

An Italian creation, this will also work nicely with its Mexican counterpart.

It is a traditional Italian bread made with garlic, bread, olive oil, and salt.

'Bruschetta' in Italian means 'to roast over coals.

Today, Bruschetta is a popular type of bread all over the world.

Bruschetta is usually served with toppings on one side.

These toppings can include vegetables, fruits, cheese, cured meat, etc.

This bright side dish can be an excellent companion to your Mexican Lasagna - try bruschetta side pairings for lasagna to match toppings and textures.

Try this combination the next time you are making Mexican Lasagna.

5 - Caesar Salad

caesar salad Save for Later!

Caesar Salad is perhaps one of the most popular salads out there.

This salad is made with Romaine lettuce and is dressed with Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, anchovies, etc.

This salad also contains Parmesan cheese and is very healthy and nutritious.

If you are thinking of serving it as a side dish along with Mexican Lasagna, think no further - also consider shrimp Caesar salad side ideas for a seafood twist.

The pair will be an instant hit.

6 - Instant Pot Minestrone

instant pot minestrone Save for Later!

Minestrone is a kind of soup; it is an Italian vegetable soup that is made with different ingredients and contains tomatoes as a base.

Minestrone can be either lightly cooked or rich in texture, depending on the amount of time given to cooking.

You can add vegetables like carrots, celery, beans, pasta and sometimes rice.

With its hearty taste and nutritious ingredients, this instant pot minestrone soup will be a great companion to your Mexican Lasagna - pair similar comforts from chicken pot pie side options when the menu calls for warming dishes.

7 - Tamales

tamales Save for Later!

Tamales are a traditional dish that is made from Masa- a dough made from corn.

They are then steamed in a banana leaf or husk to perfection.

The husks can be either discarded or used as plates too.

These tamales can be filled with various things like beans, cheese, or meat.

This filling and nutritious dish will make for excellent company with your Mexican Lasagna.

If you can grab this recipe's essential ingredients and requirements, you can easily make it at home.

The flavors from the filling and the dough make it a delicious and nutritious side to any meal.

Mexican meatloaf side pairings match many of these flavors. Mexican chicken side ideas provides further options for a cohesive menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best side dish for Mexican Lasagna?

Mexican Rice Traditionally Mexican, this rice dish is made with onions, fresh tomatoes, and garlic. The cilantro and lime add a zing of freshness to the dish.

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

Which sides can be prepped the day before?

Grain dishes and roasted vegetables are the best candidates. Mexican Rice Traditionally Mexican, this rice dish holds well in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Store the components separately and combine just before serving to keep textures intact.

What is the lightest option to round out the plate?

A simple green salad or steamed vegetable is the easiest low-effort option. It adds color and nutrients without heavy prep or additional richness.

How do you serve sides for a large group?

Sheet-pan sides and big-batch grains scale easily.

Roast everything on one or two trays and serve from the pan.

Avoid delicate sides that wilt or lose texture when held warm.

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

More Side Dishes

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  • What to Serve with Tamales? 7 BEST Side Dishes

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Andrew Gray - GustoMeadow founder

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Food Writer & Recipe Developer

Restaurant industry veteran sharing real recipes, honest substitutes, and tips that actually work in a home kitchen.

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