75+ Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas

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These Cinco de Mayo food ideas are our favorite Mexican recipes for any time of the year! Celebrate all day long with our ideas from breakfast to dinner, or party with our Mexican appetizers and desserts.

Mexican Recipes

Mexican food is a big deal around our family! We grew up eating a lot of it because it is our Mom’s favorite kind of food, hands down. It’s no wonder why we have over 100 Mexican food dishes here on Favorite Family Recipes! We have everything from authentic Mexican food to more Tex-Mex style to Mexican food. We have gone through each and every one of these meals to find the best Mexican Recipes to help you celebrate with the people you love. And don’t miss our bonus recipe for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream Dessert below!

Breakfast Mexican Recipes

  • Breakfast Burritos – great way to start the day! Loaded with all the best breakfast foods.
  • Breakfast Quesadilla (in the Breakfast Ideas Post) – pan fried and filled with egg, cheese and your favorite breakfast meat.
  • Chilaquiles – a traditional dish includes fried corn tortillas, green salsa, fried eggs, and delicious toppings. 
  • Chorizo Breakfast Hash – a breakfast classic. Perfect for a lazy weekend brunch. (source: Budget Bytes)
  • Huevos Rancheros – a typical breakfast served at Mexican farms, featuring corn tortillas and fried eggs topped with plenty of warmed salsa. (source: Cookie and Kate)
  • Easy Mexican Migas – made with fried corn tortillas, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, salsa, hot sauce, and crema. (source: A Simple Pantry)

Mexican Appetizers

  • 9 Layer Bean Dip – so much better than 7 layers. It is loaded with tasty Mexican toppings and sauces and served with crisp tortilla chips.
  • Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers – jalapeño halves filled with melty cheese and wrapped in crispy bacon are so tasty on their own or dipped in ranch.
  • BBQ Pulled Pork Nachos – tortilla chips serve as the base, topped with pulled pork, a simple homemade bbq sauce, black beans, melted cheddar cheese, and sour cream.
  • Chicken Flautas – so easy to whip up for a quick dinner or even just an after-school snack. They also freeze great which makes them even EASIER to heat up when you are in a pinch for dinner!
  • Chili Cheese Dip – one of the easiest dips to make. It only takes 5 minutes to prepare.
  • Cowboy Caviar – a tasty and easy chip dip. It has guacamole feel, but with more textures and flavors. It is also great on other Mexican dishes.
  • Easy Oven Nachos – perfect for a crowd. An easy appetizer for parties that everyone will love!
  • Nacho Cheese Dip – comes together with just two simple ingredients! The perfect party dip.
  • Queso Fundido – gooey, stringy cheese just waiting to be scooped up onto your tortilla! (source: Mexico in my Kitchen)
  • Shredded Beef Taquitos – crisp on the outside, tender beef inside – a perfect way to use up leftover pot roast.
  • Shrimp Taco Bites – the perfect appetizer because they work great for almost ANY type of gathering AND they are SO easy to make. These shrimp taco bites will quickly become one of your favorite appetizers!
  • Strawberry Jalapeño Cheese Ball – sweet strawberry jam and spicy jalapeño, the perfect blend of sweet and heat.
  • THE Best Guacamole EVER – the ONLY guacamole recipe you will ever need. A few fresh ingredients & you’ve got yourself the best guac in town. This perfectly complements any Mexican food you can possibly imagine.

Salsa and Sauce Recipes

Side Dish Mexican Recipes

  • Black Beans – a great addition to any Mexican-inspired meal! Serve them with rice as a side dish or inside of your favorite burritos and tacos.
  • Cheater Restaurant Style Refried Beans – the perfect dip that goes so well with your favorite Mexican foods. This is our cheater recipe to make the canned stuff have that restaurant-like consistency and flavor – but better!
  • Cilantro Lime Rice – bursting with cilantro and lime flavor that really brings your Mexican-inspired meal together.
  • Easy Spanish Rice – an easy, delicious side dish or meal for any night of the week.
  • Grilled Corn Salad – a delicious summer salad that you can whip up any day of the week! Juicy corn, fresh veggies, and a little spice.
  • Grilled Mexican Street Corn – made with Cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime, topped on grilled corn on the cob. It’s simple to make and bursting with flavor.
  • Homemade Flour Tortillas – with a few ingredients you can make fresh, warm tortillas for your favorite burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. They are so easy to make and they will kick your party up a notch!
  • Homemade Tortilla Strips – fast and easy to make and are a perfect crispy topper to salads, burritos and more. 
  • Mexican Street Corn Cups at copycat from the Cozy Cones at Disney’s California Adventure! Such a great appetizer, snack or side dish. Mexican street corn, or elote, in a cup is an easy mess-free way to go when you are craving Mexican street corn.
  • Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice – rivals anything you can get in a restaurant, has the perfect consistency and just the right amount of seasoning.
  • Sweet Corn Tomalitos (Corn Cake) – a sweet yet savory side to any Mexican feast. Creamy, tasty, and easy to make!

Taco Recipes

Chicken, Beef, and Pork Tacos

  • Birria Tacos – a traditional Mexican dish that are all the rage right now. After just one bite of these savory tacos you will see why!
  • Chicken Taco Salad in a Tortilla Bowl – easily the best taco salad I’ve ever had. I am not a huge fan of ground beef in taco salad so the chicken is what really put it over the top for me.
  • Chicken Tacos with Bacon – a delicious fusion of two of our favorite Summer dishes. The bacon crunch in each bite takes chicken tacos to a new level!
  • Chipotle’s Crispy Tacos with Chicken – true to their namesake with a crispy shell, perfectly grilled and seasoned chicken, and corn salsa topped with cheese, sour cream and lettuce.
  • Easy Chicken Tacos – a simple and flavorful way to get dinner on the table quickly! Tender chicken, taco spices and topped with garden fresh ingredients.
  • Kalua Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa – loaded with juicy smokey flavored shredded pork and topped with fresh mango and avocado.
  • Easy Taco Salad – made with seasoned ground beef, crisp romaine lettuce, and flavorful toppings. An easy, healthy weeknight dinner!
  • Navajo Tacos with Homemade Fry Bread – pillowy fry bread piled with chili, cheese and all kinds of toppings.
  • Steak Street Tacos – my go-to recipe when Mexican food cravings hit. Tender steak combined with simple ingredients wrapped in corn or flour tortillas. Taco Tuesday can’t come soon enough!
  • Walking Tacos – also called Tacos in a Bag. Whatever you call them, they are the best thing ever for camping, reunions, and block parties.

Fish and Shrimp Tacos

  • Fish Tacos – so yummy and simple to make. A staple when we have leftover fish.
  • Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos – a light and fresh summertime supper. Flaky fish, a perfect blend of spices and all your favorite toppings.
  • Halibut Tacos – halibut fish on a corn tortilla topped with crunchy cabbage, cilantro dressing, and a squirt of lime.
  • Fiesta Fish Taco Bowls – crispy fish, veggies, and sauce over a bed of cooked rice. It’s an entire meal in one bowl!
  • Shrimp Tacos with Slaw – shrimp, homemade slaw and tangy cilantro dressing layered in warm corn tortillas.
  • Spicy Shrimp Tacos – bite-size shrimp, crunchy cabbage and spicy sauce comes together in just minutes.
  • Thai Fish Tacos with Spicy Peanut Sauce – jazz up your typical fish tacos and get your Thai fix all at once.

Veggie Tacos and Taco Seasoning

  • Black Bean Tacos – an easy dinner that your whole family will love. They taste amazing dipped in salsa or guacamole.
  • Homemade Taco Seasoning – making your own homemade taco seasoning is so simple and inexpensive! You likely already have most of the ingredients in your pantry.
  • Sweet Potato Tacos – so easy to make. You will love the black bean filling and the fresh, flavorful toppings.

Burrito Recipes

Enchilada Recipes

  • Easy Cheese Enchiladas – simple and delicious for dinner, these Easy Cheese Enchiladas are perfect. Simple, full of flavor, and cheese!
  • Enchiladas with Red Enchilada Sauce – a creamy, cheese, spicy dish that takes center stage at any Mexican feast.
  • Homemade Enchilada Sauce – you’ll never reach for canned enchilada sauce again! 
  • Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas – loaded with juicy marinated chicken, smothered in creamy enchilada sauce and topped with lots of melted cheese.
  • Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas – these Chicken Enchiladas are really easy to throw together, especially when the chicken is prepared ahead of time.
  • Spinach Enchiladas – loaded with spinach and cheese, and topped with a green enchilada sauce. They are a copycat of my favorite entrée at a local Mexican restaurant.
  • Thai Chicken Enchiladas – this chicken and vegetable filling is fresh, sweet, spicy, and flavorful!

Quesadilla Recipes

  • Grilled Avocado Quesadillas – loaded with cheddar cheese, avocados, peppers, and fresh cilantro and lime juice. Then grilled on the barbecue to melty perfection.
  • Grilled Steak Quesadillas – putting regular steak quesadillas on the grill adds so much flavor and authenticity to the meal.
  • Veggie Quesadillas – you can’t go wrong with corn, zucchini, black beans, and cheese. Delicious as a meal or a snack.
  • Quesadillas with Chicken – packed with juicy chicken, peppers, onions, garlic, and lots of melty cheese. (source: Gimme Delicious)

Dinner Mexican Recipes

Chicken Mexican Dinners

Beef Mexican Dinners

  • Beef Birria – (Birria de Res) a Mexican stew made with seasoned, braised meat that can be served in a variety of ways.
  • Chimichangas with Beef – a popular Southwestern dish that’s almost identical to a burrito, except it’s deep-fried. (source: Taste of Home)
  • Grilled Carne Asada – one of my favorite Mexican dishes! I love it in burritos, tacos, breakfast burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and simply over rice.
  • Homemade Chalupas – a crispy and soft taco shell filled with your favorite taco toppings such as ground beef, shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sour cream. (source: Brown Sugar)
  • Mexican Lasagna – a cross between lasagna and enchiladas. Tortillas, meat sauce, and cheese layered and topped with your favorite Mexican toppings.
  • Shredded Beef – the go-to recipe for any beef Mexican dish. So good in burritos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, salad, or just as is! It complements any kind of Mexican food you are serving.
  • Steak Fajita Bowls – all the flavors of your favorite fajitas in a tasty rice bowl.

Pork Mexican Dinners

  • Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe – the pork is marinated and slow-cooked to perfection in some surprising ingredients! The most popular Cafe Rio Copycat recipe on the internet. Be sure to try ALL of our famous Cafe Rio recipes so you can create all your favorite Cafe Rio menu items at home!
  • Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Salad Recipe – so easy to make this copycat at home, and it tastes exactly like the popular restaurant version.
  • Shredded Pork Tostadas – tender pork is made in a slow-cooker and the tortillas are baked, not fried, making this a light, delicious meal.
  • Tamales – a traditional Mexican dish made with a corn based dough mixture. Fill with meat or beans and cheese, then wrap and cook in corn husks. (source: Tastes Better from Scratch)

Veggie Mexican Dinners

  • Hatch Chiles Rellenos – Hatch chiles are the best kind of chile to use for chiles rellenos! They have a bright flavor with a touch of sweetness.
  • Black Bean Tamale Pie black bean and zucchini chili topped with homemade cornbread and baked to perfection. (source: Delish Knowledge)
  • Veggie Burrito Bowl with Mexican Rice – a fantastic make-ahead meal that travels well and heats up like a dream. (source: Healthy GF Family)
  • Portobello Fajitas – these mushroom fajitas make a healthy and delicious plant-based weeknight meal! (source: Simple Veganista)

Mexican Soup and Chili Recipes

Dessert and Drink Mexican Recipes

Two slices of raspberry fried ice cream on plates topped with fresh raspberries.

Raspberry Fried Ice Cream Dessert

I came up with this Raspberry Fried Ice Cream Dessert while trying to decide on a yummy dessert for Cinco De Mayo. I’ve done the “no fry” fried ice cream in the past but I wanted to try something unique with a twist on the original flavors. Now it is one of our favorite Mexican Recipes! The raspberries gave this rich dessert a delicious tart and sweet bursts of flavor. Don’t be deceived by the color of the sauce, it’s not caramel, it is actually a white chocolate fudge sauce and it is so incredibly good!

Slices of white chocolate raspberry fried ice cream on two plates.

Cinco de Mayo Food – Raspberry Fried Ice Cream Dessert

5 from 10 votes
This Raspberry Fried Ice Cream Dessert is actually not fried at all. This delicious dessert is a chilled creamy treat with a sweet crunchy topping.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Freeze 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Mexican/Spanish
Servings 12

Video

Ingredients

  • 13 oz Cinnamon Frosted Flakes 1 box, crushed into small pieces (Or Frosted Flakes mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon)
  • 1 cup lightly salted almonds roasted, chopped into little pieces
  • 6 Tbsp butter melted
  • 2 quarts ice cream (I did a white chocolate raspberry Tillamook Ice Cream, but vanilla will work too)
  • 1 container fresh raspberries

For the White Chocolate Fudge Sauce:

Instructions

  • Place the ice cream in a large bowl at room temperature and stir it occasionally until the ice cream becomes soft, but not melted. Then gently stir in half of the raspberries, reserve the other half for later.
    Bowl with cream and raspberries mixed together for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream.
  • In another large bowl, stir together the crushed cereal, chopped almonds, and melted butter until thoroughly mixed.
    Crushed cereal, chopped almonds, and melted butter mixed in a bowl for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream.
  • Pour half of the cereal mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 metal or aluminum pan and gently press it down evenly along the bottom. Then spoon the ice cream/raspberry mix evenly over the top, and carefully spread it evenly.
    Cereal mixture and raspberry ice cream mix in a 9x13 metal pan for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream.
  • Sprinkle on the remaining half of the cereal mixture and spread and lightly press it down over the ice cream. Cover your pan with aluminum foil and freeze for at least 3 hours before serving (I made mine the night before and let it freeze until the next day.)
    Cereal mixture lightly pressed over ice cream in a metal pan for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream.
  • When serving, cut into squares and put onto plates. Then drizzle on the white chocolate fudge sauce and sprinkle on leftover fresh raspberries.
    Raspberry Fried Ice Cream with white chocolate fudge sauce drizzle and fresh raspberries.

For the White Chocolate Fudge Sauce:

  • Combine first three ingredients in saucepan.
    Sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate chips, and light corn syrup in a saucepan for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream.
  • Cook over medium heat until chocolate chips are melted and sauce thickens.
    White chocolate fudge sauce in a pan for Sweetened condensed milk, white chocolate chips, and light corn syrup in a saucepan for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream.
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Serve warm.
    White chocolate fudge sauce in a pan with added vanilla for Raspberry Fried Ice Cream

Nutrition Information

Calories: 531kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 9gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 349mgPotassium: 379mgFiber: 4gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 831IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 193mgIron: 10mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

More about Emily Walker
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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Mexican food is my love language and this list is filled with the best recipes! I’ve never made anything like the raspberry fried ice cream and OH MY it is delicious. The absolute best flavors and textures!

  2. I’ve bookmarked so many recipes from this collection! Can’t wait to make them all! The raspberry fried ice cream is happening tonight!

  3. 5 stars
    All of these Mexican inspired dishes are truly wonderful! I love the variety of dishes, cant wait to try some of these!

  4. 5 stars
    Those street tacos are calling my name! Love every recipe in here – could make quite the Cinco de Mayo feast!