If you have ever tried jalapeño poppers, you will know that they make the best snacks. The heat of the jalapeño peppers with the crunch garnish and cheesy yet creamy center is heavenly.
Each bite leaves you wanting more. They are rich in flavor and absolutely delicious, especially when you pair them with a good dipping sauce, guacamole, or salsa.
How intense the heat and flavor of a jalapeño popper is can depend on whether your poppers have seeds or not.
So you can enjoy super spicy jalapeño poppers if that is what you prefer. We particularly love fried jalapeño poppers.
They are perfectly crunchy and have a wonderful texture, especially with ooey gooey melted cheese.
Jalapeño poppers are great on their own, but they can be even better with a delicious side dish.
Well, if you are not sure what side to serve with your poppers, this article is going to be perfect for you.
In it, we are going to go over seven of the best and most delicious sides that go with jalapeño poppers.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and get started!
Why Should You Serve Jalapeño Poppers With A Side?
As you will most likely know, jalapeño poppers are largely served as appetizers. You will likely have come across them at parties or family events you have attended.
This appetizer has a very strong flavor, which means that it will more than likely stand on its own without a side dish.
However, if you have ever had a delicious yet spicy side dish, you will know that it can work phenomenally well with a well-balanced side dish.
The combination of jalapeño poppers and a good side dish can improve the overall flavor profile of your poppers.
Especially if the flavors are paired with something that works well with the existing flavors of jalapeño poppers.
What Sides Work Best With Jalapeño Poppers?
In this section, we are going to take a look at seven delicious side dishes that will perfectly pair with jalapeño poppers. We have listed these options below for you to peruse.
1. Green Bean Salad With Tomato
If you need a refreshing yet summery salad to go along with your jalapeño poppers, this recipe will be just what you have been looking for.
In fact, this salad will go fantastically well with fish or barbecued meat in particular.
There are loads of green bean salads with tomato variations online. One of the most interesting, tasty, and well-balanced options we found is Healthy Fitness Meals’ recipe.
This recipe calls for the ingredients we have listed below:
- Green Beans
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Pine Nuts
- Garlic Cloves
- Lemon
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Dried Oregano
- Feta Cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
You really shouldn’t have any trouble making this salad at home. It really is super easy to do. Especially with a good recipe like the one we mentioned above.
2. Rice Pilaf
This side dish is usually made up of a range of veggies and rice that has been cooked in a rich and flavorsome broth.
You can even enjoy it on its own or as a side as you see fit.
To take your rice pilaf to a whole new level, we recommend topping it with a little lemon and some freshly chopped coriander.
Making rice pilaf at home is super easy, there are tons of great recipes that you can follow. One of the best ones we came across was by Carl’s Bad Cravings.
Most of these recipes include similar ingredients. The main ingredients you will find in rice pilaf are as follows:
- Orzo
- Unsalted Butter
- Olive Oil
- Medium Onion
- Celery
- Jasmine Rice
- Garlic Cloves
- Chicken Broth
- Bay Leaf
- Chicken Bouillon
- Dried Parsley
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Frozen Peas
- Almonds
If you have been looking for a delicious rice-based dish that will go well with jalapeño poppers, rice pilaf will be a great fit for you.
3. Tomato Soup
This delicious meal is well known for its punchy yet refreshing flavor. But you probably didn’t know that this tasty classic soup goes so well with jalapeño poppers.
You can enjoy this side hot, or cold depending on your preference.
Tomato soup is a classic, as such, there are a ton of phenomenal recipes out there. The best of which, in our opinion, is All Recipe’s tomato soup.
The ingredients that this recipe calls for are as follows:
- Fresh Tomatoes
- Onion
- Garlic Cloves
- Chicken Broth
- Butter
- All-Purpose Flour
- Salt
- White Sugar
Tomato soup is a fantastic option as a side for jalapeño poppers for two reasons. One, it makes swallowing jalapeño poppers easier and two, it counters the spiciness of the poppers.
4. Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Garlic
You have not lived if you have not tried jalapeño poppers combined with brussel sprouts and garlic.
This is a super straightforward dish to make at home, and it really works perfectly with jalapeño poppers.
If you want something simple, flavorsome yet easy to make for your jalapeño popper side, this option will be perfect for you.
It is packed full of flavor, and you should be able to make it with ease. We particularly loved Well Plated’s recipe, which called for the following ingredients:
- Brussel Sprouts
- Garlic Cloves
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Parmesan Cheese
This dish is naturally sweet, which is why it is a delightfully balanced dish that you will almost certainly enjoy alongside spicy yet chest jalapeño poppers.
5. Patatas Bravas
A side of these delicious fried potatoes with spicy tomato salsa is delightful. You are guaranteed to love each and every bite.
Especially if you combine it with the jalapeño poppers. If you want a delicious yet light meal, this will be the perfect side for you.
This Spanish fried potato side dish is a delight. They can be cooked in a few different ways. But our favorite recipe is by Spanish Sabores. This recipe calls for the following ingredients:
- Medium Potatoes
- Olive Oil
- Salt
- Bravas Sauce
Patatas bravas is a fantastic snack, which can also be enjoyed as a side. They are easy to make and packed full of flavor. Just try it!
6. Buttermilk Biscuits
You would be surprised at how delicious buttermilk biscuits are. But it is not a surprise when you realize how buttermilk adds acidity and fat into the mix.
Both of these are why this side dish is so delicious. The acidity added to the dough helps it to rise better, which creates these light and slightly tangy biscuits.
Most buttermilk biscuit recipes will contain more-a-less the same ingredients. But, our favorite recipe comes from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
This recipe calls for the following ingredients:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Salt
- Unsalted Butter
- Buttermilk
- Honey
- Honey Butter
Buttermilk biscuits go really well with jalapeño poppers. The flavors work wonderfully together to create a heavenly combination you are guaranteed to love.
7. Cassava Fries
You have probably tried sweet potato fries or regular potato fries. But, you probably haven’t heard of cassava fries.
Cassava is a starchy root that is often used in Caribbean and Latin American cooking.
Cassava fries go remarkably well with jalapeño poppers. The sweet and somewhat nutty flavor really is delightful along with the spiciness of jalapeño poppers.
Cassava fries are remarkably simple to make. Despite that fact, there are tons of recipes to choose from.
The best one in our opinion is by The Spruce Eats, which calls for the following ingredients:
- Yuca/Cassava
- Salt
- Vegetable Oil
- Black Pepper
One taste of these unique crunchy yet starchy fries, and you will not be able to stop eating this delightful side dish.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and learning about which side dishes will go best with jalapeño poppers.
While jalapeño poppers are often thought of as just an appetizer, adding a few side dishes can really add some weight to a meal.
Side dishes can also improve the overall flavor profile of the jalapeño popper.
You know, like when peanut butter is delicious on its own, but combined with jelly, you get a heavenly combination?
Adding a side to your jalapeño poppers can help bring out the best.
If you have enjoyed reading this article, we hope that you will take a moment to peruse our website.
We have a range of fascinating and enlightening food-related articles. So, you are sure to find something that will suit your needs or be of interest to you.
Thanks for reading!
