Cinco De Mayo recipes are all about bold, craveable flavors and a table full of food that's meant to be shared. A mix of fresh dishes, warm favorites, and plenty of dips and toppings makes it feel festive without a lot of effort.
Jump to:
- The backstory.
- Must make Cinco De Mayo recipes.
- Tacos and meaty fillings for Cinco de Mayo.
- Mexican sauces and seasonings.
- Soups to serve for Cinco de Mayo.
- Enchilada recipes.
- Fajita recipes for Cinco de Mayo.
- Flavorful tostadas.
- Mexican inspired salsas and dips.
- Easy Cinco de Mayo salad recipes.
- Cinco de Mayo casseroles.
- Sides for your Cinco de Mayo celebration.
- 💬 What readers are saying.
The backstory.
When it comes to the food, I like to keep things simple with a mix of fresh, flavorful authentic and Tex-Mex recipes that everyone can build their own plate from. A few staples, a couple new recipes to try, and suddenly it feels like a party.
xoxo Kori
Must make Cinco De Mayo recipes.
Cinco De Mayo recipes should feel easy, flexible, and full of flavor - the kind of food you actually want to make and eat.
- Easy to pull together. Nothing here is fussy, so you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying it.
- Great for a mix-and-match spread. Build-your-own plates, snacky bites, and options for everyone make this perfect for gatherings.
- Fresh and flavorful. A good balance of lighter, plant-forward options and hearty favorites keeps things feeling just right.
Tacos and meaty fillings for Cinco de Mayo.
If tacos are on the menu (and they should be), these fillings bring plenty of flavor without overcomplicating things. Perfect for stacking, scooping, and going back for seconds.
Chili-Lime Tacos with Tofu
These crispy chili-lime tofu tacos are a fresh, flavor-packed take on weeknight tacos - golden crispy crumbled tofu with smoky spices, tucked into warm tortillas and topped with a crunchy avocado slaw. They're plant-based, protein-rich, and bold enough to satisfy even the tofu skeptics.
Check out this recipe.
Best Fish Tacos Recipe
This is my favorite way to make fish tacos! You'll love the smokiness of the chipotle fish taco sauce and freshness of the toppings paired with the cooked fish. Delicious.
Check out this recipe.
Quesabirilla Tacos Recipe
A great way to use up leftover beef birria! Cheesy fried tacos with tender beef, onions, and melted cheese with a crispy on the outside, tender on the inside corn tortilla - all with the most delectable dipping sauce!
Check out this recipe.
Taco Chaffle Recipe
Chaffles make the perfect low carb and keto taco shells. Top with flavorful taco meat and your favorite taco toppings, and you've got a wonderful dinner everyone will love.
Check out this recipe.
Baked Chicken Tacos
Delicious family-friendly baked tacos loaded with flavor, crunch, and melted cheese. Yes, please!
Check out this recipe.
Tofu Taco Crumbles
Savory, crumbly, and perfectly seasoned, this healthy tofu taco meat tastes just like classic ground beef taco filling - but it's plant-based and protein-packed.
Check out this recipe.
Birria Tacos with Consommé
Seriously the best birria taco recipe! Flavorful tacos made with braised beef in a most delectable sauce! Use the sauce for dipping tacos.
Check out this recipe.
Stuffed Zucchini Taco Boats
Quick and easy stuffed zucchini taco boats with ground beef, homemade healthy taco seasoning mix, fresh zucchini, and cheese are baked in the oven - with just 10 minutes of prep! The best part-these are high protein, gluten free, keto, and low-carb.
Check out this recipe.
Mexican Ground Beef Recipe
Delicious Mexican-style ground beef is full of flavor and will take your tacos to the next level! This recipe is gluten fee, low carb, keto, and has no added sugar.
Check out this recipe.
Copycat Barbacoa Chipotle Meat
You'll love this easy copycat Chipotle barbacoa recipe - cook it in your crockpot (the easiest way) or a dutch oven. The beef is so tender and has a wonderful smoky mildly spicy kick.
Check out this recipe.
Chipotle Copycat Steak
An easy to prepare flavorful juicy steak with the smoky sweetness of chipotle - pan-seared to perfection!
Check out this recipe.
Mexican sauces and seasonings.
Sometimes it's the sauces that make the whole meal better. A drizzle here, a spoonful there, and suddenly everything tastes better.
Healthy Low Carb Keto Taco Seasoning
This copycat taco seasoning mix is healthier and tastes better than store-bought packets. It's super easy - ready in 5 minutes or less, and uses spices straight out of your pantry. The best part? You know what ingredients are going in your food! Use 1 recipe for every 1 pound of ground meat (beef, chicken, turkey, or pork)
Check out this recipe.
5-Minute Seasoning for Chicken Tacos
A delicious and healthy homemade chicken taco seasoning mix. Only 5 minutes to make! You'll never buy store-bought packets again. Use 1 recipe per pound of chicken. 1 recipe = 1 store-bought seasoning packet.
Check out this recipe.
Homemade Fajita Seasoning Mix
A bold and smoky fajita seasoning made with 8 everyday spices straight from your pantry. This homemade seasoning mix is so much better than store bought, plus it's naturally low carb, gluten-free, vegetarian, and contains no added sugar-flavorful, flexible, and made for real life.
Check out this recipe.
Green Enchilada Sauce Recipe
Homemade Green Enchilada Sauce is a quick and simple 8-ingredient recipe that you can use on many of your Mexican-inspired recipes. You'll love the homemade taste!1 recipe = 1 (28 oz) can of store-bought green enchilada sauce
Check out this recipe.
Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce
Tomatillo Enchilada Sauce is tangy and tasty with caramelized vegetables, garlic, and cilantro. Use as a sauce in your favorite Mexican-inspired recipes or as a salsa verde.
Check out this recipe.
Soups to serve for Cinco de Mayo.
A pot of soup might not be the first thing you think of, but it works surprisingly well - especially if you want something cozy that can feed a group without much effort.
Chicken Fajita Soup (Crockpot Recipe)
This Crockpot Chicken Fajita Soup is both easy and delicious - and chock full of flavor, tender chicken, vegetables, and ooey gooey melted cheese! Instant Pot instructions also provided.
Check out this recipe.
Healthy Green Chicken Enchilada Soup (Low Fat High Protein)
This lightened-up version of my viral green enchilada chicken soup is packed with lean protein, creamy goodness, and bold green chile flavor-without the extra fat. Made with my homemade green enchilada sauce and simple pantry staples, it's a cozy, nourishing bowl that proves healthy comfort food can still be crave-worthy.
Check out this recipe.
Easy Taco Soup
The perfect easy weeknight recipe. With ground beef, onions, peppers, taco seasonings, cream, and cheeses, your whole family will LOVE this creamy beef taco soup.
Check out this recipe.
Creamy White Bean Enchilada Soup Recipe
A creamy, high-protein soup made with white beans, tofu, and green enchilada sauce. Cozy, plant-based, and easy to make on the stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.
Check out this recipe.
7 Can Taco Soup with Chicken
A quick and easy 7 can chicken taco soup recipe - no chopping required, just dump it all in the pot and shred the chicken when it's done! You'll love the combination of beans, corn, tomatoes, and tender chicken with the taco seasoning.
Check out this recipe.
Weeknight Enchilada Soup with Ground Beef
Fast, high-protein enchilada beef soup with lean beef, my sugar-free, gluten-free taco seasoning, and my red enchilada sauce-big flavor, lower sodium, weeknight-easy.
Check out this recipe.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Soup (Chili's Copycat)
This is my interpretation of chili's chicken enchilada soup recipe! It's total comfort food - thick, tasty, and easy to make. Make it on your stovetop or in a crockpot. Low carb adaptation provided. Enjoy!
Check out this recipe.
Crockpot Birria Stew
Crockpot birria is the easiest and most flavorful method for making this super popular Mexican beef stew. Serve as a stew with its flavorful juices, or shred the meat for use in burritos, enchiladas, or birria tacos! Use the sauce for dipping your tacos!
Check out this recipe.
Green Chicken Enchilada Soup - Creamy and Cheesy!
You'll love this creamy, cheesy green chicken enchilada soup! Made with green enchilada sauce, salsa verde, melty cheese, and tender shredded chicken, it's easy to make in your slow cooker, stovetop, or Instant Pot-perfect for busy nights!
Check out this recipe.
Enchilada recipes.
These are the kinds of dishes you pull out when you want something warm, saucy, and guaranteed to be a hit. Bonus - most of them reheat really well.
Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Perfectly seasoned cheesy chicken enchiladas with red sauce, black beans, and soft flour tortillas are a family favorite dinner idea!
Check out this recipe.
Beef Enchiladas
These simple, 8-ingredient ground beef enchiladas are sure to please the whole family. They're not too spicy but still flavorful.
Check out this recipe.
Veggie Green Enchiladas
Flavor-packed vegan green enchiladas filled with veggies, black beans, and rice, rolled in flour tortillas, and baked in green enchilada sauce with creamy vegan sour cream.
Check out this recipe.
Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas
These black bean and sweet potato enchiladas are a hearty, satisfying vegetarian dish made with sautéed onion, mushrooms, zucchini, and creamy black beans-all wrapped in flour tortillas and smothered in a tangy enchilada sour cream sauce and melted cheese. It's the perfect blend of comforting and nutritious, with layers of flavor in every bite.
Check out this recipe.
Green Enchiladas
Creamy and cheesy and full of rotisserie chicken, vegetables, and a delicious green sauce - a seriously good enchilada recipe! We lightened this casserole up using lower fat and lower carb ingredients - with no sacrifice on flavor!
Check out this recipe.
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas with White Sauce
These delicious white chicken enchiladas are pure perfection! A delicious, cheesy, and creamy Mexican-inspired chicken casserole that's sure to be a hit with the whole family!
Check out this recipe.
Steak Enchiladas Recipe
Flavor-packed carne asada enchiladas with caramelized onions and peppers with chipotle-rubbed flank steak and melted cheeses wrapped in a corn tortilla and smothered in our bold red sauce. These are the best steak enchiladas!
Check out this recipe.
Best Seafood Enchiladas Recipe
Seafood enchiladas are creamy, cheesy, full of shrimp, scallops, crab, and vegetables. Literally my favorite enchiladas recipe!
Check out this recipe.
Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
Green enchiladas with chicken have it all - melted cheesy goodness, seasoned tender chicken bites, soft tortillas, slight creamy filling, and some spicy heat that's just right. Yes, please!
Check out this recipe.
Fajita recipes for Cinco de Mayo.
Bold seasoning, fresh ingredients, and that just-off-the-skillet finish make fajitas a simple way to add something warm and flavorful to your Cinco De Mayo spread.
Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas with Mexican Rice
Instant pot chicken fajitas are a tasty and easy-to-make recipe that's perfect for busy weeknights. Bonus! Make the Instant Pot Mexican rice recipe with the leftover juices in the pot - so good!
Check out this recipe.
Flavorful tostadas.
If you want something a little different, tostadas are a fun option. Crispy, layered, and perfect for piling on all your favorite toppings.
Chicken Tostada de Tinga
Tinga tostadas are a delicious dinner or snack idea! Combine the smoky heat from the tinga sauce with time-saving pre-cooked chicken topped with your favorite ingredients and you've got an amazing meal!
Check out this recipe.
Mexican inspired salsas and dips.
This is where things get snacky in the best way. Fresh salsas, creamy dips, and plenty of reasons to keep reaching for another chip.
Guacamole Avocado Dip
A simple recipe that's super healthy and tastes great. Guacamole makes a wonderful appetizer or a perfect condiment for chicken, beef, pork, tacos, enchiladas, and more!
Check out this recipe.
Chipotle Copycat Corn Salsa Recipe
This copycat corn salsa recipe from Chipotle is a wonderful blend of sweet roasted corn, a trio of roasted chile peppers, and tomatoes, with fresh onion, cilantro, and lime. A great addition to most, if not all, of your Mexican-inspired dishes! Roasted chili corn salsa makes a wonderful snack or condiment.
Check out this recipe.
Mango Peach Salsa
Fresh fruit salsa is so delicious and the perfect compliment to pork, chicken, fish, tacos, and dipping tortilla chips.
Check out this recipe.
Corn and Black Bean Salsa
This black bean salsa is bright, zesty, and ridiculously easy to throw together-like the life of the party in a bowl. It's packed with bold Southwest flavor and makes the perfect scoopable dip, taco topper, or sidekick to grilled meats. Fresh, tangy, and just the right amount of heat!
Check out this recipe.
Easy Fresh Homemade Guacamole
A simple recipe that's super healthy and tastes great. Guacamole makes a wonderful appetizer or a perfect condiment for chicken, beef, pork, tacos, enchiladas, and more!
Check out this recipe.
Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa
This strawberry salsa recipe is fresh, bright, and just the right balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. Juicy strawberries, crisp red onion, jalapeño, and lime come together in a colorful salsa that pairs perfectly with salmon, grilled meats, or tortilla chips.
Check out this recipe.
Tomatillo Salsa Verde Recipe
A classic tomatillo salsa verde recipe that's used as a dip for tortilla or corn chips, a condiment, or as a sauce for enchiladas or tacos. You'll love the combination of fresh tomatillos, chile peppers, and cilantro!
Check out this recipe.
Dill Pickle Salsa
If you love pickles and salsa - marry the two, and you have a fabulous pickle salsa to use as a condiment, dip, or topper for chips, tacos, meats, burgers, hot dogs, and more! This stuff is fresh and tasty.
Check out this recipe.
Easy Cinco de Mayo salad recipes.
A few fresh options help balance everything out. These are crisp, flavorful, and still feel like part of the party.
Easy Taco Salad Recipe
A healthy taco salad that doesn't feel like one - hearty, crunchy, full of bold flavor, and ready in less than 20 minutes.
Check out this recipe.
Mexican Corn Salad Recipe
This corn salad is made SUPER EASY using frozen corn. Sweet corn, fresh veggies, and a wonderful creamy tangy dressing tossed with cheese - yes, please!
Check out this recipe.
Mexican Chicken Salad
Mexican chicken salad is DELICIOUS!! A make-ahead chicken salad recipe with Mexican-inspired flair. The perfect blend of sweet, salty, and tart.
Check out this recipe.
Cinco de Mayo casseroles.
If you want something you can prep ahead and not think about later, casseroles are the move. Easy, filling, and great for feeding a crowd.
Chicken Fajitas Casserole (easy and cheesy!)
This chicken fajita casserole recipe is a super delicious and EASY Mexican recipe - full of all your favorite fajita flavors, but in a cheesy casserole. Yum. Only 8 ingredients and one pan from stovetop to oven. A family favorite!!
Check out this recipe.
Taco Casserole Recipe
A crave-worthy taco casserole with the most delicious zucchini and cheese crust topped with flavorful taco meat and melted cheese. Your family will love it.
Check out this recipe.
Chicken Enchilada Bake
A totally delicious easy chicken enchilada casserole to make - 8 ingredients, no stuffing or rolling tortillas, and just 30 minutes bake. So simple!
Check out this recipe.
Stuffed Taco Peppers (Low Carb + High Protein)
Stuffed taco peppers are an easy, high-protein way to enjoy all the flavors of taco night without the extra carbs. Tender bell pepper halves are filled with seasoned ground beef, salsa, sour cream, and melted cheddar for a keto-friendly, low carb dinner that's simple enough for busy weeknights and satisfying enough to become a regular in your rotation.
Check out this recipe.
Vegetarian Stuffed Poblano Peppers
These vegetarian stuffed poblano peppers are packed full of flavor and 7 healthy vegetables along with black beans and quinoa to boost the protein for a healthy meal-in-one that's perfect for dinner or lunches!
Check out this recipe.
Mexican Ground Beef Potatoes
Mexican ground beef with potatoes is full of seasoned ground beef, skillet fried potatoes, caramelized onions, and melted cheesy goodness! Serve for dinner as a one-pot meal, as a burrito filling, or for breakfast topped with a runny egg. Yes, please!
Check out this recipe.
Sides for your Cinco de Mayo celebration.
If you're building out your spread, a few extras like rice, beans, and other sides can go a long way. Nothing fancy - just flavorful dishes that work with everything else on the table.
Mexican Cabbage Slaw
This is a delicious creamy style Mexican-inspired cabbage slaw everyone will love. It's fresh, it's bright - and you'll love the hint of spice from the jalapeno and radishes.
Check out this recipe.
Mexican-Style Fried Rice
This easy Mexican Fried Rice is a bold, flavorful dish made with leftover rice, black beans, corn, and zesty spices. Perfect as a quick meatless main or a hearty side dish, it's ready in just 25 minutes using one skillet. This recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian.
Check out this recipe.
Mexican-Style Green Beans
These delicious Mexican-style green beans with salsa verde are the perfect side dish to any favorite Mexican inspired dish!
Check out this recipe.
Authentic Refried Beans
Homemade authentic refried beans are so delicious and simple! 2 ways to make - using dry pinto beans (traditional) or canned (the quickest).
Check out this recipe.
At the end of the day, Cinco De Mayo recipes are really just about good food and an easygoing vibe. Keep it simple, mix in a few favorites, and let everyone help themselves. That's usually when it turns out the best.
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