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This list of the best Cinco de Mayo recipes has your Mexican party menu covered, from appetizers and drinks to tacos and desserts! Everything you need to celebrate the occasion is right here, so pick a few of your favorites, and let’s get cooking!
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What Is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday commemorating the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
Though it’s not as important as Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16, the holiday has become a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in the United States and is often marked with parades, music, and, most importantly, food!
50+ Cinco de Mayo Recipes
When it comes to Cinco de Mayo food, there are a few classic dishes that are always a hit. These recipes have been enjoyed for generations and are always big crowd-pleasers at every Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Whether you’re keeping the festivities small this year or feeding a crowd, everyone will find something they love on this list.
If the recipes below aren’t quite what you’re looking for, be sure to check out the full collection of 140+ Cinco de Mayo recipes!
To start your celebration, here are some of my favorites to make for the big day.
Chicken Enchiladas
This homemade classic is stuffed with shredded chicken and cheese, topped with an easy red enchilada sauce, and baked for 20 minutes. It's an all-time family favorite and great for easy weeknight meals.
Get the Chicken Enchilada Recipe
Birria
This rich, flavorful birria is a must-make! Serve it as a stew or in tacos (quesabirria style). Make it on the stovetop, Instant Pot, or slow cooker – your call!
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Chile Relleno
Roasted poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, dipped in fluffy egg batter, and fried to golden perfection – way better than any restaurant version!
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Fresas con Crema
The easiest Mexican dessert! Fresh strawberries mixed into a sweet, creamy sauce. Ready in 10 minutes with just 5 ingredients!
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Frozen Margarita
This 5-ingredient frozen margarita is cold, slushy, and perfect for cooling off on a hot day. So easy, so refreshing, and so good.
Get the Frozen Margarita Recipe
Ground Beef Tacos
Ground beef tacos with juicy, flavorful meat cooked in a homemade taco seasoning with crispy shells or soft tortillas and the best toppings.
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Bell Pepper Nachos
Easy bell pepper nachos made from colorful bell peppers loaded with ground turkey, black beans, corn, and cheese! The best healthy nachos!
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Flan de Queso
Flan de Queso is rich, creamy, and smooth—like a cross between flan and cheesecake – topped with a thick caramel sauce. So easy to love!
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Carne Asada
This authentic recipe uses marinated flank or skirt steak grilled until juicy and tender with olive oil, lime, garlic, cumin, oregano, and more!
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Horchata Recipe
This sweet and creamy horchata recipe is an authentic and traditional Mexican rice drink made from rice, milk, cinnamon, and water!
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Carnitas
Tender, juicy carnitas are a Mexican staple – perfect for tacos, burritos, nachos, and more! Includes slow cooker, oven, and Instant Pot instructions.
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Flautas
Crispy flautas filled with juicy chicken and topped with salsa, sour cream, and cheese. Fry, bake, or air fry for an easy dinner or party snack!
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Chicken Tinga
Tender chicken simmered in a smoky chipotle-tomato sauce – perfect for tacos, tostadas, burritos, sopes, enchiladas, and more!
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Mexican Rice
This easy Mexican rice is made with simple ingredients and tastes way better than restaurant rice – perfect as a side for all your favorite dishes!
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Chicken Carnitas
Chicken carnitas are juicy, tender, and crispy with caramelized edges for a delicious, easy meal! Made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
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Pozole Verde
This cozy Mexican stew has shredded chicken, hominy, and a green chile broth made with tomatillos, jalapeños, and cilantro. Hearty, easy, and ready in just an hour!
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Tres Leches Cake
This tres leches cake is light, creamy, and moist (but never soggy), soaked in three milks and topped with whipped cream. Perfect for any occasion!
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Elote
Fresh corn coated in mayo, lime, cotija, cilantro, and a sprinkle of chili powder. It’s bold, creamy, and always a family favorite!
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Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)
Agua de jamaica is a sweet and refreshing iced tea made from dried hibiscus flowers. It's one of the most popular Mexican aguas frescas!
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Guacamole
This 10-minute guacamole is a Mexican classic you’ll want to put on everything—chips, tacos, salads, toast, you name it!
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Barbacoa
Slow-cooked beef barbacoa that's juicy, tender, and packed with flavor. Perfect for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, gorditas – you name it!
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Queso Blanco
Queso blanco is rich, creamy, and better than any restaurant queso. Perfect for game day, taco night, or just when you need a good snack!
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Taco Dip
This easy taco dip comes together fast with a creamy base, taco seasoning, and all your favorite toppings. Perfect for parties, game day, or any get-together!
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Salsa Macha
Salsa Macha blends fried dried chiles with peanuts, sesame seeds, garlic, and oil for a rich and unique oil-based Mexican salsa!
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Chicken Tacos
These simple yet flavorful chicken tacos are easy to make and filled with super juicy and delicious chicken! Perfect for weeknight meals and makes great leftovers!
Get the Chicken Tacos Recipe
Sheet Pan Nachos
Sheet-pan nachos are ready from start to finish in only 25 minutes, making them one of the quickest and easiest appetizers everyone will love!
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Roasted Tomato Salsa
Made from tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice. Better than store-bought, this roasted salsa is delicious and served with tortilla chips or in tacos and burritos.
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Chimichangas
These easy chimichangas are stuffed with chicken, cheese, beans, and salsa, then cooked until crispy – pan-fried, baked, or air-fried!
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Refried Beans
How to make refried beans just like your favorite Mexican restaurant, but even better! Includes stovetop, slow cooker, and canned beans instructions.
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Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas are perfect for busy nights – just toss steak and veggies in seasoning, roast on one pan, and dinner’s done!
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Chocoflan
This Mexican dessert has creamy flan over rich chocolate cake, topped with cajeta caramel. Perfect for special occasions and easier to make than you’d think!
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Salsa Verde
This salsa blends tomatillos, jalapeños, onion, garlic, cilantro, and lime for a tangy, vibrant flavor. Way better than store-bought and so easy to put on everything!
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Tamales
Mexican red chile tamales filled with tender pork and rich red chile sauce, wrapped in light, fluffy masa, and steamed to perfection in corn husks.
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Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
A favorite Mexican dinner recipe that's ready in only 30 minutes. Seasoned chicken breast, bell peppers, and onions are baked on one sheet pan simultaneously!
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Mexican Wedding Cookies
Mexican Wedding Cookies are rich, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth treats made with nuts, flour, butter, and powdered sugar. Perfect for any celebration!
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Baja Fish Tacos
The best Baja Fish Tacos you’ll ever eat! They’re filled with crispy beer-battered fish, smoky chipotle mayo, and a creamy cabbage slaw!
Get the Baja Fish Tacos Recipe
Calabacitas
This classic Mexican dish is made with zucchini, corn, peppers, tomatoes, and cheese. It’s healthy and filling – even meat lovers will be into it!
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Flour Tortillas
Love those soft, fresh flour tortillas from your favorite spot? Now you can make them at home with just 5 ingredients – easy, sturdy, and so good!
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Margarita Cupcakes
These cupcakes are made with lime zest, lime juice, and a splash of tequila, topped with a creamy lime-infused cream cheese frosting.
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Mexican Brownies
These rich, fudgy Mexican brownies have a hint of cinnamon and cayenne. They’re super chocolatey, addicting, and perfect fresh or frozen for later!
Get the Mexican Brownies Recipe
Corn Tortillas
Learn how to make corn tortillas at home – what you need, step-by-step instructions, and tips for keeping them warm. Perfect for taco night!
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Marranitos
A classic Mexican pan dulce flavored with molasses, best enjoyed with coffee or milk – especially on slow weekend mornings!
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Margarita
Made with 3 simple ingredients, the classic margarita is the perfect balance of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice that makes a crisp and refreshing drink every single time.
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Skinny Margaritas
Made with fresh lime juice, orange juice, tequila, and agave nectar for a refreshing, low-calorie cocktail.
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Mangonada
This easy mangonada recipe blends mango, chamoy sauce, lime juice, and chile lime for a refreshing, sweet, and spicy treat ready in minutes.
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Cóctel de Camaron
Cóctel de Camarón is a Mexican shrimp cocktail that combines juicy shrimp, a tangy tomato sauce, and a mix of fresh ingredients!
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Strawberry Margaritas
The perfect cocktail to enjoy on warm sunny days! Made with 5 simple ingredients, this drink is the perfect mix of sweet but not too sweet, boozy but not too boozy, and super refreshing.
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Watermelon Margaritas
Made with only 3 simple ingredients (yes, only 3!) and can be served frozen or on the rocks. Naturally sweetened with only fruit, this cocktail is sure to become a go-to every summer!
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Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
This creamy and tangy Mexican street corn pasta salad has all the flavors of Mexican elote but in a quick and easy pasta salad.
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Tequila Lime Chicken
Tequila lime chicken is marinated in tequila, lime zest, and a blend of spices grilled to juicy perfection. Great in burritos and tacos!
Get the Tequila Lime Chicken Recipe
Mango Margaritas
Sweet, tangy, and so refreshing – perfect for summer! They can be made frozen or on the rocks and are great for parties, celebrations, and barbecues.
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Esquites
Esquites (also known as elote en vaso and Mexican street corn salad) is the best street food snack made of corn in a creamy mayo sauce!
Get the Esquites Recipe
Charro Beans (Frijoles Charros)
Charro Beans (Frijoles Charros) are Mexican cowboy beans simmered in a flavorful broth made of bacon, ham, onions, chiles, tomato, and more!
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Mexican Stuffed Peppers
Try these delicious and satisfying Mexican Stuffed Peppers for an easy and healthy dinner. Packed with spices and topped with melted cheese!
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Salsa Verde Chicken
This Salsa Verde Chicken recipe made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot is fall-apart tender and great in tacos, burrito bowls, and tostadas!
Get the Salsa Verde Chicken Recipe
Love your recipes!!!
recipes sound good. i can’t wait to try them
I absolutely love all your recipes & you make it so easy to follow. Thank you so much for posting all your delicious recipes!
Thank you so much Isabel! Your recipes are my go to for all good things Mexican! Being so far away from the southwest, you’ve made it possible to dream in Spanish again!
Thank you so much, Jan!
Your talent is respected. I am enjoying cooking your recipes and appreciate your love and respect for good food. Many thanks for making me look good in the kitchen!
I love your recipes! The ones I have tried have been fabulous!
Thank you, thank you for being willing to share these incredible recipes! I have tried a couple so and each one has been DELICIOUS! 😋
Love all the recipes
Keep them coming
Thank you
Have tried many of them
From Calgary Alberta we do not have authentic Mexican restaurants and we love Mexican food
My mouth is watering! Thank you for creating this collection of delicious dishes for my Cinco De Mayo party!