The ultimate guide to Cinco de Mayo Food! Whether you want breakfast, dinner, dessert, or drinks we’ve got you covered!
If you guys know anything it about me it’s that I have two favorite food groups: carbs and Mexican food. I will look for pretty much any excuse to eat Mexican food (every Friday night is Mexican night at our house) so I absolutely love Cinco de Mayo.
Since it’s my favorite holiday, I gathered up a few of my absolute favorite recipes perfect for a party or a festive dinner at home. You better believe that Trevor and I are going to celebrate with aaall of the best Mexican food!
Whether you’re hosting a Cinco de Mayo party or enjoying a simple celebration for one or two, these recipes will not disappoint!
What kind of food is eaten on cinco de mayo?
Mexican food like tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, chips, salsa, guacamole, and margaritas are commonly eaten on Cinco de Mayo. If you’re looking for something more traditional, check out this article from Smithsonian Magazine: What to Really Eat on Cinco de Mayo.
Breakfast
Maybe you think of a Cinco de Mayo celebration as more of a dinner in the evening. But I like to celebrate all day. 😉 Starting with breakfast!
Chilaquiles
These Chilaquiles are quick, easy, and inspired by the traditional Mexican breakfast dish! Crispy tortilla chips are simmered in enchilada sauce, then topped with cheese, beans, fried eggs, and more!
Breakfast Enchiladas
Start your day strong with these Breakfast Enchiladas, a delicious blend of sausage, eggs, and veggies wrapped in a soft tortilla and smothered in a creamy sauce and gooey cheese.
Breakfast Tacos
This is the best Breakfast Tacos recipe! Eggs are softly scrambled with cheddar cheese and served in tortillas with roasted breakfast potatoes, sausage links, and more. 15 minute prep!
Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos
These easy make ahead breakfast burritos are quick, easy, and freezer friendly! A flour tortilla stuffed with sausage, eggs, cheese, and veggies! A perfect on-the-go breakfast.
Vegetarian Breakfast Burritos
These Vegetarian Breakfast Burritos are stuffed with potatoes, veggies, black beans, meatless crumbles, cheddar cheese, and more. Enjoy immediately or make ahead and store in the freezer!
Appetizers
You can’t have a Cinco de Mayo celebration without the classic appetizer of chips and salsa, but here are a few more of my favorite appetizer options!
Shrimp Quesadilla
These Shrimp Quesadillas are packed with juicy shrimp, melty cheese, and spices, all wrapped in a toasty flour tortilla and piled with your favorite toppings!
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican Street Corn Salad aka Esquites is full of charred sweet corn, fresh herbs, smoky spices, creamy cheese, and a tangy jalapeno lime sauce. The perfect summer side!
Chicken Quesadilla
This Chicken Quesadilla is crispy on the outside and stuffed with juicy chicken, tender veggies, and loads of gooey cheese. These easy quesadillas are a crowd favorite!
Mexican Grilled Corn
This Mexican Grilled Corn aka elote is the perfect summer grilling recipe. Fresh corn smothered in creamy mayo, smokey spices, and salty cotija cheese!
Easy Guacamole Recipe
This is the BEST Easy Guacamole Recipe. A classic chip dip with fresh ingredients and simple seasonings. The best part? It’s easily customizable!
Loaded Chicken Nachos Recipe
These Loaded Chicken Nachos are absolutely LOADED with crispy chips, tender veggies, flavorful chicken, beans, corn, and of course, LOADS of cheese. Quick, easy, totally customizable, and delicious.
Easy Pico de Gallo Recipe
This Easy Pico de Gallo Recipe comes together in a matter of minutes! Fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime, & garlic make this truly delicious.
Mexican Sweet Potato Cheese Fries
These Mexican sweet potato cheese fries are loaded with crinkle cut fries, taco meat, peppers, onions, gouda cheese, beans, corn, and more! Perfect for a quick and easy week night meal or a lazy afternoon game day snack!
Instant Pot Mexican Corn Dip Recipe
Instant Pot Mexican Corn Dip. This easy, cheesy, creamy deliciousness is ready in about 15 minutes and is loaded with cream cheese, fresh corn, mayo, and loads of spices and fresh herbs! The perfect dip for tortilla chips!
Easy Queso Dip Recipe
This Easy Queso Dip Recipe is a lightened up version of everyone's favorite cheesy snack! Creamy Greek yogurt with melted sharp cheddar cheese and delicious seasonings.This dip is SO GOOD!
Vegan Cashew Queso
This Vegan Cashew Queso is ultra creamy, super flavorful, and extremely easy to make! 5 ingredients and a blender, and you're ready to go!
Dinner
Whether you love tacos, fajitas, or enchiladas — I’ve got it all!
Slow Cooker Carne Asada Recipe
Everything you love about carne asada made easier with a crockpot! This Slow Cooker Carne Asada is so juicy, tender, and topped w/ the best pico de gallo!
Smothered Beef Burritos
These Smothered Beef Burritos are easy, cheesy, and oh-so delicious! Fluffy tortillas are stuffed with meat, veggies, rice, and beans, then topped with enchilada sauce and queso!
Cheesy Gordita Crunch
This Cheesy Gordita Crunch is a homemade version of a classic fast food favorite. A crispy taco shell is wrapped in a cheesy, fluffy tortilla, stuffed with taco meat, and topped with spicy ranch.
Easy Enchiladas Suizas
These Easy Enchiladas Suizas are the perfect blend of tangy salsa verde, juicy chicken, and melty cheese!
Beef Tamale Pie
This Beef Tamale Pie is the ultimate comfort food: a soft cornbread crust is topped with saucy, seasoned beef and ooey-gooey cheese! This easy weeknight meal will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Tofu Tacos
These Tofu Tacos are the perfect, nutritious and delicious plant-based dinner. They're quick, easy, and packed with so much flavor, they'll convert even the biggest tofu skeptics!
Shredded Chicken Tacos
These are the BEST Shredded Chicken Tacos. They're quick, easy, so creamy, and pan frying the tortillas makes the outside ultra crispy!
Steak Tacos
These restaurant quality Steak Tacos are surprisingly quick and easy! These flavorful and tender tacos can be made on the stove, grill, and even in the oven.
Instant Pot Mexican Chicken
This Instant Pot Mexican Chicken is quick, healthy, flavorful, and versatile. Cube or shred then serve in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salads, and more!
Baked Fish Tacos Recipe
Baked Fish Tacos: Flaky and flavorful fish piled into warm corn tortillas, topped with a fresh, crunchy slaw for a tasty and healthy twist on a classic!
Pork Tacos
These Pork Tacos are quick, healthy, and kid friendly. Tender pork is cooked to perfection then served in a tortilla with a creamy green chile sauce and all your favorite taco toppings!
Instant Pot Carne Asada
This Instant Pot Carne Asada has everything you love about carne asada, but it's made quicker and easier by using the Instant Pot. It's tender, flavorful, and great served in tacos with all your favorite mix-ins!
Crockpot Taco Meat
This Crockpot Taco Meat is moist, tender, and absolutely packed with flavor. Ground beef is slow cooked in spicy enchilada sauce, taco seasoning, tangy lime juice, and more!
Chicken Tinga
This Chicken Tinga is ready in just 30 minutes! Tender chicken simmered in a flavorful sweet and spicy tomato sauce and served on a tostada with all your favorite toppings!
Picadillo
This Picadillo Recipe is the BEST quick and easy weeknight dinner. Perfectly seasoned ground beef and veggies are simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce, then served over rice or as tacos!
Chicken Fajitas
These Chicken Fajitas are a great quick, easy, and healthy dinner that the whole family will love. Loaded with perfectly seasoned chicken and veggies, this is a meal you'll be making every night!
Shrimp Tacos
These Shrimp Tacos are loaded with perfectly spiced baked shrimp and ultra creamy slaw! This quick and easy dinner is loved by all.
Salmon Tacos
These are the BEST Salmon Tacos! Juicy baked salmon is topped with a homemade fish taco sauce, optional pineapple salsa, and served with your choice of warm tortilla.
Chicken Enchiladas
These Chicken Enchiladas are packed with juicy chicken and gooey cheese! They're incredibly easy to make, so delicious, and bonus: kid approved!
Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe
These Slow Cooker Carnitas are packed with juicy, tender pork, zesty citrus, and bold spices that'll have everyone coming back for seconds.
Instant Pot Salsa Chicken
This Instant Pot Salsa Chicken is moist, flavorful, and perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, nachos, quesadillas, and more!
Easy Taco Recipe with Ground Beef
This Easy Taco Recipe is made with the most flavorful ground beef. Simmered in tomato and lime juice and seasoned with homemade taco seasoning then served with your favorite taco toppings!
Pro tip
Drizzle any of these in our cilantro lime sauce for an extra kick!
Sides
These side dishes are perfect alongside your favorite entree!
Instant Pot Spanish Rice
This Instant Pot Spanish Rice is a quick and easy way to make perfectly cooked and flavorful rice!
Mexican Street Corn Spoon Bread
A twist on a classic, this Mexican Street Corn Spoon Bread is a mash up of two of my favorite recipes: Mexican street corn and creamy corn casserole! A baked corn pudding texture with all the flavors and spices found in elote!
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
A twist on classic elotes, this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is full of all the traditional flavors with a few fun twists! It's sweet from the corn, smoky from the spices, and loaded with amazing textures and flavors thanks to bow tie pasta, black beans, peppers, and fresh herbs! The perfect summer side dish.
Easy Black Beans Recipe
This Easy Black Beans Recipe is gluten free, super tasty, has a short ingredient list, and can easily be made vegetarian or vegan!
Coconut Lime Rice
This Coconut Lime Rice is light, fluffy, and packed with flavor. Basmati rice is toasted with coconut flakes then simmered with lime juice and zest in creamy coconut milk.
Easy Mexican Quinoa Salad
This Easy Mexican Quinoa Salad is gluten free and can easily be made vegan. Loaded with quinoa, beans, corn, fresh summer veggies, herbs, feta, and the best chili lime vinaigrette. The perfect meal prep healthy lunch or side dish for summer bbqs!
Desserts
Tres Leches Cake
This Tres Leches Cake is a classic dessert made easier with a cake mix shortcut! This cake is rich and creamy, yet incredibly light, and topped with the fluffiest whipped topping.
Key Lime Pie
This Key Lime Pie Recipe has a shortbread cookie and pistachio crust and a bright, yet creamy filling made with sour cream and condensed milk!
Instant Pot Rice Pudding
This Instant Pot Rice Pudding is ultra creamy, buttery, and packed with tender rice and chewy raisins. This quick and easy dessert is great served warm or chilled.
Coconut Custard Pie
This Coconut Custard Pie is thick, creamy and absolutely packed with coconut flavor! Bonus: it's insanely easy to make!
What to drink on cinco de mayo
Margaritas! These fruity tequila cocktails are a Cinco de Mayo classic!
Easy Margarita Recipe
A classic, Easy Margarita Recipe. 5 ingredients: tequila, simple syrup (or agave), lime, lemon, and orange juice! A simply perfect and refreshing cocktail!
Five Ingredient Margaritas Recipe
Five Ingredient Margaritas - 4 Ways! Citrus Margarita. Spicy Mango Margarita. Mojito Margarita. Cucumber Chili Margarita. Cheers!
Jalapeno Margarita with Jalapeno Infused Tequila
A jalapeno margarita recipe with homemade jalapeño infused tequila! These jalapeno margaritas are strong, have no added sugar, and really pack a punch!
Mango Habanero Margarita
Habanero, Mango, Lime, Tequila. Spicy, sweet, fruity, tart. Sounds like the making of the perfect Mango Habanero Margarita!
Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita Recipe
This Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita Recipe is sweet from strawberries, spicy from jalapeno, tart from lime juice, & a little smoky from the chili salt rim!
Tamarind Margarita Recipe
This Tamarind Margarita Recipe is a unique twist on a classic! Full of tamarind paste, lemon juice, lime juice, agave, and tequila and lined with a chili salt rim!
Cranberry Pomegranate Margarita Recipe
Sweet, tart, and perfect for the holidays, this Easy Cranberry Pomegranate Margarita can be enjoyed by one or shared with many! Only 5 ingredients necessary!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
– Jennifer