Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico’s unlikely victory against the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In Mexico, the holiday isn’t celebrated far beyond Puebla (it isn’t even federally recognized there), but it’s very popular stateside. Whether you’re aiming to scarf down all the tacos, salsa and guacamole you can or just showing up to the party for margaritas, here are 40 foolproof Cinco de Mayo recipes to get your fiesta started, ranging from traditional to modern. Think slow cooker pork carnitas, huevos rancheros, chipotle chicken taquitos and everything in between.
40 Easy, Cheesy Cinco de Mayo Recipes for a Fiesta at Home
Margaritas, anyone?
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Published Apr 26, 2024
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, one pan, beginner-friendly
What's the secret ingredient that gives this dish all its flavor, you ask? Canned chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce. No one will ever guess you started with precooked rotisserie chicken (and I won't tell).
2. Spicy Turkey Enchiladas with Pumpkin Seeds
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, make ahead
Aka one of the most ingenious ways to repurpose leftovers. Sub in shredded chicken if you don't have cooked turkey on hand (and keep this Cinco de Mayo recipe in your back pocket for Black Friday).
3. Butter-Baked Cucumber Tostadas
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Presenting our new favorite way to cook cukes (because yes, you can cook them). They're brushed with butter, seasoned and roasted to perfection. The creamy homemade slaw takes things to the next level.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook, kid-friendly
It may strike you as unconventional, but this sweet, juicy tropical fruit balances the acidic lime juice and spicy serrano chiles like a charm. Finish the dip with a generous dusting of Tajín.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, one pan
Once the kids see this mess of frozen waffle quarters, gooey cheese, crispy bacon and traditional fixings (like red onion and avocado), they definitely won't mind starting the party early. Pass the hot sauce.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, one pan, crowd-pleaser
This elote-inspired appetizer has it all, from charred corn and crumbled cotija to lime juice and fresh cilantro. Because of how it's layered, you won't have to endure a single naked chip.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, pescatarian
In case you're wondering how to squeeze something healthy into your Cinco de Mayo lineup between all the queso and tortilla chips, these salad boats fit the bill. Pile them high with smoky salmon, mango, cilantro and yogurt.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, kid-friendly, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
Why prepare individual quesadillas when you could make one enormous one instead? You can likely find rectangular tortillas in the deli section of your supermarket, not to mention fixings like salsa and sour cream.
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pan
The only downside to nachos is that they get soggy after being buried under the toppings for a while. This way, your dip stays hot and your chips stay crispy. Extra cheese, por favor.
12. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Blue Cheese Crema
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, make ahead
You won’t even miss the beef, I promise. Prepare the funky four-ingredient crema ahead of time, and roast the sweet potatoes in advance too while you're at it.
13. Huevos Rancheros
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein, vegetarian
This dish has the power to make any morning a good one. (Especially because it only takes seven ingredients and 25 minutes to prepare.) Did I mention it's packed with 27 grams of protein?
- Time Commitments: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: low carb, keto-friendly, vegetarian, gluten free, <10 ingredients
If anyone at your Cinco de Mayo table is gluten-free, look no further than this five-ingredient substitute for flour tortillas. Cauliflower really can do anything, huh?
15. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Time Commitment: 6 hours and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pot, slow cooker recipe, high protein, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Dig into it with chips or serve it by the scoop with a side of taco-sized tortillas. It's as simple as layering all the essentials in the Crockpot and letting them cook to gooey perfection.
Minimalist Baker
17. Beef Empanadas
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
No Cinco de Mayo party—or any party, really—is complete without finger foods. Serve these savory gems with a bowl of mayoketchup (also known as salsa rosada) for dipping.
18. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, pescatarian, high protein
Close your eyes and take a bite: Boom, you’re on a tropical getaway. If the weather permits, feel free to grill the shrimp instead of sautéing it. Or alternatively, char it indoors on a grill pan.
19. Mini Nachos
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, one pan
Finally, the proper topping-to-chip ratio. Go ham with whatever fixings you love, like refried beans or salsa verde. As for the chicken, use a store-bought rotisserie bird for convenience.
20. Slow Cooker Corn and Jalapeño Dip
- Time Commitment: 2 hours and 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, one pan, crowd-pleaser
So good, you’ll want to eat it solo with a spoon. (For the record, you have our full support.) Serve it as an appetizer with chips, add it to quesadillas or tacos for sweetness or serve it as a side with a protein of your choice.
21. 5-Ingredient Chipotle Chicken Taquitos
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Taquitos are similar to Mexican flautas, except they're usually made with corn tortillas instead of flour. Serve them with pico de gallo, cotija cheese, salsa verde and sour cream.
22. Flank Steak Tacos with Cucumber Salsa
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, dairy free
I can't decide what I love more: the impeccably seasoned grilled steak or the mind-blowingly refreshing cucumber-scallion topping. Pickled jalapeños or onions would add a bright pop of acidity to the handhelds.
23. Carnitas and Guacamole Pizza
- Time Commitment: 4 hours and 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, kid-friendly
Two dinnertime favorites, united on a easy, store-bought pizza dough. Save a ton of cook time by preparing the pork in the Instant Pot instead of the Crockpot. (It'll only take 55 minutes as opposed to nearly four hours).
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: high protein, one pan, beginner-friendly
Sorry, Chili's, not tonight. Our cast iron skillet has it covered. To prepare this Cinco de Mayo recipe ahead, season the chicken and produce in the morning and refrigerate them in an airtight container. Then before dinner, preheat the oven, add the mixture to the skillet and roast.
26. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead
C'mon, how freaking adorable are these tiny, zesty eggs? They also happen to be super simple to whip up, despite their impressive appearance.
27. Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (Shrimp in Garlic Sauce)
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
It doesn't get more traditional than this old-school dish. Serve it with plenty of white rice and bread, so you have something to soak up all the lemon-garlic butter. (Trust, you won't want a single drop to go to waste.)
28. Roasted Poblano and Corn Guacamole
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Psst, wanna know a secret? This smoky, over-the-top guac is prime for Cinco de Mayo, but you can pull it off any time of year by swapping fresh corn for frozen corn kernels in the off-season.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, one pan, kid-friendly
Vegetarian tacos can be *so* much more than a pile of roasted veggies and cotija. This meatless spin stars crispy baked cauliflower, coated in taco-seasoned breading and homemade queso.
30. Mexican Posole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pot, dairy free
It's a soul-warming soup with all the magical healing powers of chicken noodle (and ten times the flavor). Chalk it up to store-bought rotisserie chicken, fresh lime, toothsome hominy and a flurry of spices and dried herbs.
31. Fish Taco Salad
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: pescatarian, special occasion-worthy, high protein
Isn't she lovely? Picture sautéed tilapia fillets atop crunchy fresh slaw, crowned with pico de gallo, avocado and crushed tortilla chips. Now that's our kind of salad.
32. Avocado Rice
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegan
This citrus-kissed beauty gives Chipotle's cilantro-lime rice a run for its money. Avocado makes it super buttery and rich, while fresh garlic and cilantro infuse every grain with savory flavor.
33. Crispy Baked Chicken Burritos
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly, make ahead
Each recipe makes about ten burritos. Feel free to prepare a double batch and store the leftovers in the freezer for up to a month, so you can indulge after Cinco de Mayo to your heart's content.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, vegetarian, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
Salsa-soaked tortilla chips + queso fresco + fried egg = the breakfast of my dreams. Add a generous scoop of sour cream to add some creaminess to the dish.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein, vegan
They're vegan, gluten-free, loaded with protein and ready in 25 minutes—any questions? Serve the beans as a dip for chips, slather them onto taco shells or add them to burritos, enchiladas, tacos, tostadas or quesadillas.
36. Birria Tacos
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, Instant Pot recipe, special occasion-worthy
This traditional Mexican stew-turned-taco is still going strong in the U.S. Whether you serve the stew over rice or in tacos or a quesadilla, be sure to serve it with a piping-hot cup of consomé (the stew broth), topped with chopped white onions and a lime wedge.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, one pan
Ground beef? I don't know her. The chips are piled high with pinto beans, red bell peppers, jalapeños, onions and radishes, not to mention three types of cheese. Best of all, they're served on a sheet pan for minimal mess.
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, one pan, <10 ingredients
Oh, to be a creamy, dreamy chicken enchilada tucked under a blanket of Monterey Jack cheese. What a life. Feel free to supplement the filling with beans, rice or charred veggies.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, crowd-pleaser
If you're pulling out all the stops for Cinco de Mayo, trading store-bought chips for a homemade batch is an easy way to show off. (Feel free to pair them with premade guac, salsa and queso, though.)
40. Churro Bites with Chocolate Sauce
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Hosting 101: Never forget about dessert. Bonus points for serving the churros with both chocolate sauce and decadent dulce de leche.
