The BEST Mexican food recipes for Cinco De Mayo that are easy, flavorful and quick to make. Over 50 recipes from side dishes, soups, salads and authentic desserts.
Best Mexican Food Recipes
Mexican food is BY FAR my favorite type of cuisine. All of the flavors, textures and fresh ingredients make each dish the absolute perfect combination of deliciousness. And don’t even get me started on chips and my restaurant style salsa!
This list of Mexican food recipes includes all of your favorite authentic recipes like enchiladas, tacos, taquitos and fajitas. You may also love my list of favorite Mexican appetizers and these easy Mexican side dishes!
Whether you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo or need a new dinner idea for Taco Tuesday, you’ll find it all here. Trust me, this is some of the best Mexican food you’ve ever tasted!
How to Create a Mexican Feast for Cinco de Mayo
Whether you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo or just need a reason to enjoy Mexican food recipes, creating a feast with your favorite foods is easy with these tips!
- Make what you can ahead. Many Mexican food recipes can be made ahead so takes advantage of that to save time on the day of the party.
- Add flavorful condiments and sauces. Everyone loves to be able to dip and top their tacos how they like! Choose a variety of hot and cold Mexican dips, salsas, bowls of cheese, sour cream and guacamole.
- Keep it simple. It can be easy to go overboard when there are so many delicious Mexican recipes to choose from. Pick a few main dishes, some complimenting sides and condiments and call it good.
- Make it a potluck. Enlist the help of party guests! Have them bring their own favorite Mexican food recipe. A sign up sheet can help prevent duplicates.
- Taco bar. This or a nacho bar always goes over well and is so easy! Make what you can ahead of time, grill the meat the day of and guest can assemble tacos or bowls themselves.
Mexican Salsa and Dips
A Mexican fiesta is not complete without plenty of salsa and other dipping favorites!
- Chili’s Salsa Recipe: Just like the restaurant with an endless supply of tortilla chips!
- Best Guacamole Recipe: Chunky yet smooth, guacamole is a creamy dip with fresh taste!
- Bean Dip with Cream Cheese: An addicting bean dip with lots of cheese!
- Corn Salsa (Chipotle Copycat): This fresh salsa will have you going back for another dip!
- Velveeta Queso Recipe: Easy and cheesy!
- Cilantro Lime Crema: Adds the perfect zing to any Mexican dish.
Mexican Dinner Recipes
These are the traditional Mexican recipes that you would order at your favorite Mexican restaurant but made at home in the comfort of your kitchen!
- Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas. Creamy, cheese and flavorful! These are better than your favorite Mexican restaurant.
- One Pot Burrito Bowl Recipe. This will be your new favorite way to make burritos and one pot is all you need.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls. Another hands off meal that is loaded with all your favorite Mexican foods!
- Skirt Steak Tacos. Mexican street food right at home in your own kitchen. You will love the bold flavor in these tacos!
- Slow Cooker Carnitas. Perfectly seasoned shredded pork in citrus juices and totally hands off in the slow cooker.
- Taco Casserole. All you need is 15 minutes to make this! If that doesn’t qualify as the best Mexican food, I don’t know what does!
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa: Shredded beef with spices is a Chipotle inspired recipe! Serve in tortillas for the best barbacoa tacos.
- Beef Enchiladas. One of the best Mexican food recipes for good reason! There is so much beefy, cheesy goodness going on in this dish.
- Pork Enchiladas. A smoky enchilada makes these a family favorite!
- Taco Pie. A savory pie with a Mexican twist! Flakey pie crust is filled with a creamy, beef filling and topped with cheese then baked.
- Mexican Chicken and Rice Bake Recipe. An one pan dish made with chicken, rice, veggies and cheese. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
Mexican Side Dishes
You may not immediately think about this when you think of Mexican food recipes, but they are just as delicious as the main course!
- Easy Mexican Rice. Simple to make and adds such a vibrant color to the table!
- Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe. You will love the fresh, zesty taste of this Mexican favorite.
- Mexican Street Corn (Elote). Grilled to perfection and topped with lime crema and crumbled cheese. It’s messy and so good!
- Mexican Cornbread. Sweet and spicy with a tender crumb. This side will dissapear in no time!
Fresh Mexican Food Recipes
These fresh and healthy Mexican recipes are lighter alternatives that are definitely not lacking in flavor. You won’t even believe something this delicious can be good for you!
- Mexican Salad Recipe. Perfect for a light lunch or simple dinner! Don’t forget the tortilla strips.
- Easy Taco Salad Recipe. No one will miss the tortilla shell with this favorite Mexican recipe!
- One Pot Sweet Potato Bowls. When you want something lighter and meat free, this dish is it!
- Shredded Chicken Taco Salad. Loaded with all your taco favorites and then drizzled with a salsa ranch dressing.
- Taco Lettuce Wraps. Out of taco shells? Use a lettuce leaf and make this!
- EASY Fajita Salad Recipe. Packed with all your favorite fajita items, but in bowl form.
- Chicken Fajita Bowls. Make this for dinner tonight and pack it for lunch tomorrow. You will be the envy of the office.
Mexican Soup Recipes
Each of these Mexican recipes are hearty, flavorful and packed with your favorite Mexican ingredients.
- Albondigas Soup. Everyone loves this soup with beef and rice meatballs!
- Easy Taco Soup Recipe. A deconstructed taco in soup form, one of the best Mexican food recipes.
- Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup. Crowd pleasing and ready in 30 minutes!
- Chicken Enchilada Soup. One of my favorite crockpot soups, it’s creamy and delicious.
- Stuffed Pepper Soup. Comfort food in a bowl with ground beef, bell peppers, rice and a tomato broth.
- Mexican Chicken Soup. This healthy soup is not only delicious but gluten free and Whole 30 friendly.
- Green Enchilada Chicken Soup. This is so easy to make in the crockpot with only 10 minutes prep!
Mexican Dessert Recipes
You can’t forget about dessert when it comes to the best Mexican food!
- Tres Leches Cake Recipe. A cake mix makes this homemade cake so much easier with the best sweet taste.
- Easy Homemade Churros. No one can resist one of these Mexican food favorites!
- Churro Cupcakes. All that you love about a churro but in a small individualized cake.
- Mexican Wedding Cookies. Melt in your mouth cookies that are the perfect sweet treat to a Mexican fiesta.
- Horchata Recipe. Served over ice, this milky drink is creamy with cinnamon and vanilla.
- Arroz Con Leche: Mexican rice pudding is creamy, sweet and the perfect way to end your fiesta.
- Sopapillas: Light and airy fried dough with a drizzle of honey or sprinkle of powdered sugar is mouthwatering and so good!
More Easy Recipes
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Best Mexican Food Recipes for Cinco De Mayo
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds beef roast , cut into 3-inch chunks
- ½ cup beef broth , or water
- 1 onion , chopped
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce , chopped
- 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 3 bay leaves
- Kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 2 limes , juiced
For serving
- tortillas
Your favorite toppings: avocado, sour cream, diced onions, cotija cheese, cilantro, lime wedges, etc.
Instructions
- Prepare roast. Pour 1/2 cup beef broth or water into the bottom of the slow cooker. Pat 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast down with a paper towel and then season with kosher salt and pepper. Place in crockpot.
- Add remaining ingredients. Add 1 chopped onion, 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 4 ounce can green chiles, 4 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons cumin and 2 teaspoons oregano over top. Place 3 bay leaves in.
- Slow cook. Cover crockpot with a lid and cook beef until tender about 8 hours on low.
- Shred. Remove bay leaves, then shred with two forks. Add juices from two lime. Allow juices to soak in for about 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: Cinco De Mayo, Dinner, Mexican, Recipe Roundup
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
All these dishes are really mouth watering. From looks to deliciousness, Mexican food gets 5 stars for everything. This is the reason I love Mexican dishes like Mexican rolls, Mexican burrito, Mexican sausage and eggs. Also, having all these with spicy salsa or dip like tomatillo green chile salsa, gourmet guacamole, roasted tomato salsa, etc. pushes me in the ocean of taste and deliciousness.
Okay. I just want to say that EVERYTHING on this page looks not only edible, but DELICIOUS. Please, please, please never stop sharing such awesome recipes. Ending with that “churro cupcake” just made me sad because I know I don’t have the ingredients to create it and I really need one, like right now. Haha.
My kids and I decided to try Una Mas Mexican Grill in San Jose. They have the best tacos we have ever tasted and the service was excellent. I definitely recommend you check them out at http://unamas.com.
My husband and I enjoy many traditional Mexican dishes, and decided to visit Una Mas Mexican Grill in Fremont, CA. Their popular Foghead Burrito is simply delectable and the Margarita Salad is fresh. I urge you to find out more about them at http://unamas.com.
Hi Katie, do you have a video tutorial on how to make Cowboy Caviar?
I very disappointed with this web site. I asked for the best Mexican food recipes and I get Lasagna, pizza, cowboy caviar and others. What region of Mexico is the pizza from? or the Cowboy caviar? If you are selling updated south west or TEX.,CAL. foods why then don’t you say so. I want the, THE Mole recipe and it’s not from Betty Crocker
I am glad I stumbled on this blog, because I Heart Mexican food. I get to try a couple of new recipes and this means Mexican food all this week….yippeee, thanks alot
Thank you so much for including my tortilla cups with cowboy caviar :)
As a Gluten Free Momma, Mexican is HUGE for us. I will definitely be checking out some of these babies! Thanks for sharing, Kate!
Thanks for including some Lil’ Luna recipes!!
Thank you for including a couple of our recipes! This list looks delicious – pinning for sure!
Thanks SO much for including a few of my recipes in this awesome roundup! SO much yummy stuff!!!
Haha, sorry about that, confusing comment form! I just wanted to say thanks for including me in this AWESOME round up, I’m pinning because there are so many recipes here I want to try!