Cinco de Mayo Recipes

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These are the BEST Cinco de Mayo recipes and menu ideas. This tasty round-up includes more than 38 recipes for appetizers, mains, sides, drinks and dessert. Select your favorites. Serve them at your Mexican fiesta.

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Image with 8 festive Cinco de Mayo recipes for Mexican party food.

Carne Asada Fries

Carne asada fries are a California favorite. This recipe begins with a flavorful steak marinade. It’s completed with a layering of fries, meat, fresh produce and toppings.

Piña Colada Mix

This tropical piña colada recipe is from a luxury beach-front resort. It’s a toes-in-the-sand vacation cocktail ideal for Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Queso Fundido With Chorizo

Queso fundido with chorizo is flavorful Mexican appetizer – a melty, stretchy hot cheese dip with sausage crumbles and diced green chiles. It’s a must-make recipe.

Deviled eggs on a white egg tray

Jalapeno Bacon Deviled Eggs

These jalapeño bacon deviled eggs are a spicy twist on the classic deviled egg recipe. Ideal for Cinco de Mayo, as well as parties and potlucks all year round.

Tex-Mex Cheese Quesadillas served with sides of pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole and black olives.

Tex-Mex Cheese Quesadillas

These cheesy Tex-Mex quesadillas are quick and easy to make. Serve as a savory appetizer or a main meal. Enjoy with guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo.

Taco Seasoning

Replace 1 packet of seasoning mix with this homemade taco seasoning recipe for 1 pound of meat. Perfect for ground beef tacos or chicken tacos. Save this easy recipe.

Pico de Gallo

Make authentic pico de gallo in just 5 minutes with fresh flavorful ingredients. Serve it as an appetizer with chips, or a garnish for Mexican recipes.

Baja Fish Tacos

These amazing beer-battered fish tacos are made and enjoyed on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Easy to make with fresh ingredients, they’re perfect for Cinco de Mayo gatherings.

Salsa Verde

This salsa verde is a fresh tomatillo avocado salsa. The recipe comes from a famous restaurant in Mexico City. You can make it at home in a blender in just 15 minutes!

Authentic Mexican Salsa

This Mexican salsa is made and served at a famous restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Waiters assemble it table-side as you watch. But now you can easily make it at home.

Mexican Pickled Onions

Quick-pickled red onions are a tangy topping for tacos, grilled meat, hamburgers, hot dogs and more. It’s a staple condiment at taco stands and restaurants in Mexico.

Fiesta Party Dip Recipe

Fiesta Taco Dip Recipe

This delicious savory appetizer is quick and easy to make. Garnish with cheese and tomatoes or pico de gallo. Serve with restaurant-style tortilla chips.

Air Fryer Taquitos

Serve chicken air fryer chicken taquitos as an appetizer or meal. Just add lettuce, tomatoes and tasty toppings. Getting a delicious dinner on the table has never been easier.

Flour tortillas

Grandma Mercie’s Flour Tortillas

Grandma Mercie’s homemade flour tortilla recipe. In my family it’s been passed down through four generations. It doesn’t get more authentic than this. Enjoy with pats of butter.

Homemade Corn Tortillas

Homemade corn tortillas are easy to make with 3 ingredients and this authentic Mexican recipe. They’re so much better and fresher than store-bought.

Cilantro lime rice to serve with pineapple shrimp skewers.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is a fragrant, flavorful side. Enjoy it in veggie bowls, or with grilled meat, chicken or seafood. This taste and texture is very similar to Chipotle cilantro lime rice.

Mexican Street Corn Dip

This street corn dip is filled with vibrant Mexican flavors. Enjoy it on Cinco de Mayo and family gatherings. Serve with corn tortilla chips, or use as a garnish.

Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)

Agua de Jamaica is a cool and refreshing non-alcoholic drink. Better than Hibiscus Tea Starbucks, it’s quick and easy to make. Assemble the beverage and refrigerate.

Mexican Sweet Potatoes

Loaded Mexican baked potatoes are full of vibrant flavors. It’s a healthy recipe that’s ideal for everyone – especially those who don’t eat meat. Make them in 35 minutes.

Pineapple Shrimp Skewers on a serving tray.

Pineapple Shrimp Skewers

These delicious shrimp skewers are packed with vibrant Mexican flavor. They’re perfect for feeding a hungry crowd. Enjoy on Cinco de Mayo and all summer long.

Blue Margarita

The Blue Margarita is a signature drink of Mexican resorts. Bring that vacation vibe home with these delicious tequila cocktails! Serve them for Cinco de Mayo.

Crunchwrap Supreme

This homemade crunchwrap supreme is hearty and satisfying. Better than Taco Bell! The taste and texture are amazing. You’ve gotta make this recipe, now or later.

Sonoran Hot Dog

Mexican hot dogs are bacon-wrapped wieners grilled to perfection. Nestled in a bun, they’re loaded with a ton of delicious toppings. Try this must-make recipe now.

Healthy Burrito Bowl

This festive burrito bowl is healthy, comforting and delicious. It has all the components of a perfect meal. Enjoy it with or without tortillas or chips.

Mexican Chicken Tostadas

Mexican Chicken Tostadas (15-Minute Recipe)

These chicken tostadas are crunchy, delicious, and a real time saver. An easy lunch or dinner entree. Assemble this simple Mexican recipe in 15 minutes.

Crispy Pork Carnitas

These succulent pork carnitas are cooked in a pressure cooker then crisped up in a cast-iron skillet. Wow your Cinco de Mayo guests with this deeply-flavorful recipe.

Crunchy Ground Beef Tacos

Taco Bell ground beef tacos are easy to make at home. The DIY taco seasoning has a secret ingredient. Garnish with fresh produce, hot sauce and sour cream.

Steak Fajitas

A border favorite, sizzling steak fajitas are commonly served at Tex-Mex restaurants in Mexico, California, Texas and Arizona. They go from stovetop to table in 30 minutes.

Mexican Chicken and Rice

Mexican Chicken and Rice

Mexican chicken and rice is the perfect weeknight dinner or Cinco de Mayo entree. It’s healthy and satisfying. And when topped with a bit of cheese – it’s extra delicious!

Mexican Citrus Chicken Marinade

Pull out the grill for Cinco de Mayo. This grilled chicken marinade is bright and flavorful. It delivers tantalizing juicy chicken breasts and tender chicken thigh fillets.

Chicken Taquitos

These crispy, crunchy chicken taquitos are a real crowd pleaser. Make them with rotisserie chicken. Garnish with cheese, sour cream, tomatoes and juicy wedges of lime.

Tequila Lime Wings

Zesty tequila lime wings are crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside. Air fry or oven bake. Coated with a tangy spicy rub, they’re served with cool tequila-lime dipping sauce.

Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Avocado Lime Dipping Sauce

Spicy Grilled Lime Shrimp

These skewers of spicy grilled lime shrimp are perfect for the grilling season. Served with juicy wedges of lime and a dipping sauce, it’s an appetizer or a main course.

Wonton Taco Cups

Wonton Taco Cups

Delicious wonton taco cups are festive appetizers that are oven baked and simple to make. Or for a quick easy meal, serve them as a main course for Cinco de Mayo.

Mexican Bean Dip served in a beautiful fluted dish.

Cheesy Rotel Bean Dip

This 7-ingredient bean dip is ready to serve in 15 minutes. You’ll appreciate the simplicity of this easy-to-make recipe. Serve with crispy restaurant-style tortilla chips.

Spicy Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita

This spicy strawberry jalapeño Margarita is a cool and refreshing cantina-style cocktail made with delicious fresh ingredients. Ideal for Cinco de Mayo and hot summer days.

Pineapple Margarita

This pineapple Margarita is sweet, tangy, cool and refreshing. Rim the glass with salty chili-lime seasoning or fine sugar. The perfect cocktail for Cinco de Mayo.

Authentic Mexican Guacamole

Authentic Mexican Guacamole

Pull out the tortilla chips! Get ready to enjoy authentic Mexican guacamole. This is a restaurant recipe from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico that’s easy to make at home.

Mexican Churros

Craving authentic Mexican churros? This is the recipe you need. Even Disneyland uses a similar recipe to replicate the flavors and textures of this Mexican dessert.

What is Cinco de Mayo?

As you get ready to celebrate May 5th, you might still be wondering what Cinco de Mayo is all about. Why is there a celebration? This date commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War.

A colorful poster image with a sombrero announcing the best Cinco de Mayo recipes.

It’s interesting to note that most Mexican states, including Jalisco and Nayarit, don’t celebrate this event at all. Life goes on as normal without any festivities. For example, if walking through Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on May 5, there would be no indication that this day is special at all in any way.

Why do Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

In areas of the U.S. with large Hispanic communities, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into something very special. It’s become a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture featuring colorful food, drinks, and parties!

Poster-type image for Cinco de Mayo Menu round-up of the best Mexican recipes.

🔖 Expert Tips: For a Mexican Fiesta

  • Money-saving Ideas: Select Mexican recipes that use many of the same ingredients. This will save both time and money. Garnish Cinco de Mayo recipes with leftover herbs and veggies from prepping various Mexican recipes: cilantro, wedges of lime, purple onion, etc.
  • Inexpensive Mexican Decor: Save tin cans from Mexican food products. Leave the labels on. Fill the cans with mini succulents. Another idea is adding a mix of lemons and limes to clear bowls. These are beautiful ways to decorate tabletops for your Cinco de Mayo party.
  • Mexican Taco Truck Condiments: Elevate the festive atmosphere by offering  5-6 different types of bottled hot sauces. Add taco truck condiments like little red and green salsa, cilantro, onions, jalapenos, and lime slices to small containers like bento boxes with spoons.
  • Serveware Idea: Serve appetizers and tacos in paper boats or in red plastic baskets with paper liners.
Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

Cinco de Mayo Recipes 👉🏻 Join the Convo

How are you celebrating May 5th? Which Cinco de Mayo recipes are you looking forward to making? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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