13 Delicious Sides to Serve with Juicy Pork Carnitas

Pork carnitas the juicy flavorful Mexican pulled pork, is a crowd-pleasing dish that works for everything from weeknight dinners to parties. With crispy bits on the outside and tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat on the inside, carnitas beg to be stuffed into tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more.

But what should you serve alongside the carnitas to make it a complete meal? I’m sharing my 13 favorite side dishes that perfectly complement the rich, savory pork. With a mixture of classics like Spanish rice and beans along with creative sides like jalapeño cornbread muffins and pozole soup, you’ll find plenty of delicious options.

I love making a big batch of carnitas on the weekend so I can use it in meals all week long These sides store well, so you can prep some in advance or just pull together a few each night to go with your leftover carnitas Let’s get to the recipes!

Best Sides to Serve with Carnitas:

1. Spanish Rice

Spanish rice is a classic companion for carnitas or any Mexican food. To make it, just sauté rice with tomato sauce and spices like garlic, onion, and cumin. The rice soaks up the delicious flavors as it cooks until perfectly tender. I love to top mine with a squeeze of lime juice and sprinkle of cilantro. The zesty, vibrant rice pairs so well with the rich carnitas.

2. Cilantro Lime Rice

For another easy rice option, try cilantro lime rice. Simply cook the rice in broth and stir in fresh lime juice and chopped cilantro at the end. The bright, fresh flavors are a perfect match for carnitas. Skip the cilantro if you’re not a fan – the lime gives plenty of flavor on its own.

3. Elote (Mexican Street Corn)

Elote is Mexican street corn slathered in a creamy, spicy coating and topped with cheese. Grill (or sauté) corn on the cob until tender and lightly charred. Then coat it in a mixture of mayo, Mexican crema or sour cream, chili powder, and cotija or queso fresco cheese. A squeeze of lime ties everything together. The sweet corn with its rich, spicy coating is an amazing carnitas side.

4. Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins

These easy jalapeño cornbread muffins have the perfect amount of heat to stand up to hearty carnitas. Made with cornmeal, buttermilk, shredded cheddar, and chopped jalapeños, they’re moist, tender and full of flavor. I love serving them warm right out of the oven. The cornbread also makes excellent taco shells for your carnitas.

5. Black Bean Salad

A fresh black bean salad provides protein and fiber as well as delicious Southwestern flavors. Simply toss together cooked black beans with corn, tomatoes, onion, cilantro and a tangy lime vinaigrette. Chill the salad for at least an hour for the best flavor. The cool, crisp bean salad balances the rich carnitas beautifully.

6. Southwest Salad

For an even easier salad option, pick up a Southwest salad kit from your grocery store. These typically include lettuce, black beans, corn, peppers, tortilla strips and a Southwest ranch dressing. Throw on some extra avocado and cotija cheese if you like. The salad gives you all those Tex-Mex flavors to enjoy with your carnitas.

7. Guacamole and Chips

No Mexican meal is complete without fresh guacamole! The cool, creamy avocado dip is the perfect pairing for carnitas tacos, burritos and more. Making guacamole is easy: just mash ripe avocados with lime juice, cilantro, onion and garlic. Serve it with your favorite tortilla chips for scooping up every last bit.

8. Salsa and Chips

Of course we can’t forget salsa and chips! Whip up a batch of your favorite tomato salsa or try recipes like salsa verde or pineapple salsa. Serve it alongside crispy tortilla chips for dipping into the zesty sauce. I recommend making extra – the salsa won’t last long!

9. Queso and Chips

Warm, melty queso dip is always a crowd-pleaser. Simmer Monterey jack and cheddar cheese with evaporated milk and diced tomatoes for an easy homemade queso. Spice it up with pickled jalapeños if you like. Dip tortilla chips into the creamy, gooey cheese sauce – it’s an irresistible snack alongside carnitas.

10. Refried Bean Dip

For a hearty, protein-packed dip, make this refried bean dip spiced with chili powder and cumin. Mix together refried beans, salsa, sour cream, and Mexican cheese blend. Bake until hot and bubbly. Top with avocado, cilantro and Cotija cheese. Scoop up the dip with your favorite tortilla chips.

11. Tortilla Soup

When you want something a little more substantial than a side salad, tortilla soup really hits the spot. This Mexican chicken and vegetable soup has tons of flavor from chili peppers, cumin, garlic and onion. Topped with crunchy tortilla strips, avocado, cheese and cilantro, it makes a satisfying carnitas accompaniment.

12. Pozole

Pozole is a traditional Mexican pork and hominy stew that’s full of bold flavor. Simmer pork shoulder with garlic, onion, and guajillo chiles. Add white hominy corn and top with lettuce, radishes, avocado and lime wedges. The rich, hearty pozole perfectly complements the pork carnitas.

13. Jalapeño Poppers

For an indulgent, game day-worthy side, make these bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. Mix cream cheese with cheddar, bacon, and green onion and stuff it into halved, seeded jalapeños. Wrap each stuffed pepper with bacon and bake until hot and melty. The spicy, gooey poppers are dangerously addictive alongside your carnitas.

With so many great sides to choose from, you could enjoy carnitas all week long without getting bored! Classic picks like Spanish rice, beans, guacamole and salsa are easy slam dunks. For a change of pace, try fun additions like elote, jalapeño cornbread, salads or tortilla soup. And for a indulgent treat, go for queso, bean dip or bacon poppers.

No matter how you serve it up, juicy, tender carnitas are sure to satisfy. Keeping plenty of flavorful sides on hand makes it easy to transform leftover carnitas into totally different meals all week long. With the right combination of carbohydrates, veggies, beans, cheese, and more, you can create balanced, nutritious plates.

So fire up the slow cooker or Dutch oven to get your pork going for carnitas. While it’s cooking, whip up one or two of these tasty sides. Soon you’ll have an amazing Mexican fiesta ready to be devoured!