Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes for Parties & Taco Night

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Cinco de Mayo is a delicious reason to gather around the table with fresh, festive recipes inspired by Mexican and Mexican-American flavors. Whether you're planning a party, a taco night, or simply looking for easy dinner ideas, these Cinco de Mayo recipes include everything from salsa, tacos, enchiladas, dips, rice, salads, and a few sweet treats to finish the meal.

Three Mexican dishes perfect for Cinco de Mayo Recipes: taco salads with avocado and salsa, a bowl of beef birria topped with onions, lime, and cilantro, plus chunky salsa with tortilla chips, lime wedges, and herbs on the side.

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From quick weeknight dinners to festive party favorites, this collection offers simple ways to bring bright, colorful flavor to the table with Mexican-inspired and Mexican-American recipes everyone can enjoy.

What is Cinco de Mayo?

According to History.com, "Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May," commemorates the Mexican army's May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.

While often confused with Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo is also known as Battle of Puebla Day.

History.com also notes that while it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States it has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, especially in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Cinco de Mayo Recipe Ideas

Browse the recipes below to plan a simple taco night, a festive appetizer spread, and don't forget the homemade guacamole, because no Cinco de Mayo table is complete without a bowl.

www.saveur.com

Chalupas Poblanas (Thick Tortillas Fried with Salsa)

"These thick tortillas, bathed in two types of salsa and garnished with shredded chicken, are a popular street snack in Mexico."

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Side view of Homemade Salsa in a blue bowl with tortilla chips

Easy Homemade Salsa with Pantry Ingredients

An easy, Homemade Salsa recipe, using pantry ingredients you may already have on hand. And it only takes about 1 minute to whip up.

Homemade Salsa Recipe Save

Side view of Mexican Shrimp Cocktail in serving glasses garnished with shrimp and cilantro

Easy Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail is a delicious, easy summer appetizer that's packed with tender cooked shrimp and veggies in a spiced cocktail sauce.

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Save

Two bowls of huevos rancheros topped with fried eggs, diced tomatoes, avocado, cheese, and cilantro are served on a wooden board with extra salsa and cilantro in the background.

Easy Huevos Rancheros (or Rancher's Eggs)

Huevos Rancheros, also known as "Rancher's Eggs," is a classic and healthy Mexican breakfast. This easy dish is delicious and prepared using simple, flavorful, and wholesome ingredients.

Huevos Rancheros Recipe

Three tacos filled with Mexican shredded chicken, topped with onions and cilantro, served with lime wedges, sliced radishes.

Easy Mexican Shredded Chicken - 3 Ways

Cinco de Mayo almost required shredded chicken! And this Easy Mexican Shredded Chicken is made with three simple ingredients. And there are three easy ways to cook it. Read more for a host of ideas on how to use this savory main ingredient.

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Top view of Mexican Lasagna with wedge missing

Mexican Inspired Lasagna Skillet Casserole

Mexican Lasagna Skillet is a Southwestern-inspired casserole made up of layers of tortillas, cheese, and taco meat. Simple, packed with flavor, and delicious!

Mexican Lasagna Skillet Save

A bowl of refried beans topped with sliced cherry tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro makes this the perfect Bean Dip Recipe, served with crispy tortilla chips and fresh cilantro in the background.

5 Minute Refried Bean Dip Recipe

This Refried Bean Dip Recipe is a super simple 5 minute healthier party appetizer, that is creamy in texture, spicy to your preference, and packed with flavor bright and zesty flavor!

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Oval platter with chopped lettuce, chicken, black beans, avocado, cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, and cilantro-this chicken taco salad recipe is served with a creamy dressing on the side.

15 Minute Chicken Taco Salad Recipe

This Chicken Taco Salad recipe is quick, hearty, and delicious! Packed with taco flavors, chicken, juicy tomatoes, beans, corn, cheese, and an easy, easy Taco Dressing. It's healthy, protein-rich, and so wonderfully yummy-- in 15 minutes!

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Easy One Pot Skillet Taco

This Skillet Taco is the easiest, most delicious way to serve tacos at your next party. With a few simple, healthy ingredients, it's a go-to game day, Super Bowl, Friday night tradition.

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Sliced grilled steak from a classic carne asada recipe, topped with diced red and green peppers, fresh cilantro, and crumbled cheese on a wooden board, with lime wedges, guacamole, and tortillas in the background.

Easy Grilled Carne Asada Recipe

This easy Carne Asada recipe brings bold, authentic Mexican flavor to your table with tender marinated flank or skirt steak infused with citrus, herbs, and smoky spices. Quick to prep and even faster to grill-perfect for summer cookouts or casual weeknight dinners.

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A skillet filled with a delicious Chicken Quinoa Bake topped with melted cheese and garnished with fresh cilantro and spinach leaves. A wooden spatula rests inside the skillet, while small bowls of spices are nearby on a white wooden table, inviting you to savor each bite.

Easy Southwestern Chicken Quinoa Bake with Spinach

For a healthier twist to Cinco de Mayo celebrations, this easy Southwestern Quinoa Bake is a favorite in our household. Make the quinoa ahead for a simple mix and bake before dinner. Yum!

Southwestern Chicken Quinoa Bake

A white baking dish filled with Mexican Street Corn Dip, garnished with cilantro, cotija cheese, grilled corn, and lime wedges, surrounded by tortilla chips.

Easy Mexican Street Corn Dip

Mexican Street Corn Dip is a quick and easy party appetizer incorporating all the flavors of street corn into a delectable dip oozing with flavors of sweet corn, the smokey heat of warm spices, and the creaminess of melting cheese.

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An overhead view of nachos and toppings-shredded cheese, black beans, jalapeños, pico de gallo, grilled meat, tortilla chips, and various sauces-perfect for your Cinco de Mayo recipes.

whatsgabycooking.com

Nacho Bar

"You see, it's all about a little make your own nacho bar. There are multiple essentials when it comes time for such an epic occasion…. Tortilla Chips, shredded cheese, cheese sauce, black beans, pickled jalapeños, green onions, pico, more shredded cheese, carnitas, guacamole, limes… the works! It all needs to laid out, arranged in cute little bowls and then turned into nachos!"

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A blue plate with white stars holds a vibrant Mexican corn salad topped with diced tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, cilantro, and crumbled cheese. A fork rests on the plate. Nearby are fresh tomatoes and a green towel.

Easy Mexican Corn Salad

"A quick and easy Mexican Corn Salad. It's healthy, a simplified version of elotes, robust with the warm and spicy flavors of cumin and red pepper. Serve warm or cold, it's simply delicious."

Mexican Corn Salad

A plate of tacos filled with grilled salmon, chopped red onions, cilantro, and creamy sauce. The tacos are in crispy shells, garnished with lime wedges. The background includes blurred avocados.

Easy Chicken Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce

These tasty Chicken Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce are the easiest, tastiest, most delicious tacos! Just 20 minutes to get these chicken tacos on the table! Juicy, flavorful, and utterly irresistible in the best possible way.

Chicken Tacos

A baking dish filled with cheese-topped enchiladas garnished with fresh herbs, surrounded by wooden utensils, onions, chili peppers, and parsley on a wooden table.

Easiest Chicken Enchiladas Ever with Leftover Chicken

A quick and easy chicken enchilada everyone will love -- including you!

Easy Leftover Chicken Enchiladas

Vertical side view of Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with chopped avocados and limes

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa and Black Beans

Rich in flavor, this Slow Cooker Turkey Quinoa Black Bean Chili is perfect for chilly nights by the fire, game days, or easy weeknight dinners.

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A white ramekin filled with fresh guacamole, garnished with lime and cilantro, surrounded by tomatoes, tortilla chips, avocados, and radishes.

Easy Homemade Guacamole Recipe

This easy homemade guacamole is fresh, creamy, chunky, and ready in about 5 minutes with ripe avocados, lime juice, cumin, cilantro, jalapeño, and garlic.

Homemade Guacamole Recipe Save

Quick and Easy Oven Baked Chicken Tacos

A quick and easy Cinco de Mayo favorite made simple with rotisserie chicken or Mexican Shredded Chicken. Plus - it's easy to make ahead and pop in the oven before the party!

Baked Chicken Tacos

Closeup top view of Mexican rice garnished with fresh parsley in a Spanish style bowl with condiments on the side.

Instant Pot Mexican Rice with Corn and Black Beans

If you love Mexican food, likely Mexican Rice is a staple. This Mexican Rice is a standby favorite, with easy ingredients.

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Three soft Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos filled with lettuce, tomato, red onion, sour cream, and cilantro on a wooden tray, served with bowls of chopped tomatoes, onions, fresh cilantro, and warm tortillas nearby.

Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos

Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef is fall-apart-tender, braised in a somewhat spicy tomato-chipotle sauce, that makes amazing tacos. Or whatever else your heart desires.

Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos

View of Whole Spicy Black Bean Cornbread Casserole in Baking Pan

Spicy Black Bean Chili Cornbread Casserole

Spicy Black Bean Chili Cornbread Casserole is perfect for chilly nights, game days, or anytime you want a hearty, spicy casserole. Slightly sweet, slightly spicy. Perfect for a crowd.

Spicy Black Bean Chili Cornbread Casserole Save

Top View of Mexican Rice in a White Bowl

Easy Instant Pot Mexican Rice

An easy Instant Pot Mexican Rice packed with vegetables, herbs and spices, and tons of flavor. A perfect side for your Mexican food favorites, cooked in 4 minutes.

Instant Pot Southwestern Rice Save

closeup vertical view of Butternut Squash Mexican Casserole

Butternut Mexican Enchilada Casserole

This easy, crowd-pleasing Butternut Squash Mexican Enchilada Casserole is packed with flavor, vegetables, and bubbling with enchilada sauce and melty cheese.

Butternut Mexican Enchilada Casserole Save

Top view of baked Tamale Pie with toppings

Healthy Tamale Pie Mexican Casserole

This Tamale Pie Mexican Casserole is a twist on favorite Mexican tamales. It's packed with ground meat, beans, vegetables, and tamale flavors. Baked with a simple cornmeal topping, and sprinkled with cheese, it's an easy dinner any night of the week.

Tamale Pie Casserole

A plate of Chile en Nogada, perfect for Cinco de Mayo recipes, is topped with creamy walnut sauce, fresh parsley, and scattered pomegranate seeds as it sits elegantly on a wooden table.

thekitchn.com

CHILES EN NOGADA

"Where did this elaborate dish originate, even if we can't pin down an exact original recipe? Historians believe that this artisanal dish was created 200 years ago by nuns in Puebla, Mexico, as a patriotic dish for Viceroy Agustin de Iturbide. Since then, the dish has continued to be a classic. It boasts the colors of the Mexican flag and thus is prepared every September when the chiles poblanos are their greenest, the pomegranates a ripe juicy red and the walnuts freshly plucked from the trees, just in time for independence day celebrations."

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A Street Corn Pizza topped with cherry tomatoes, corn, green onions, and crumbled feta sits on parchment paper with a pizza cutter beside it.

Roasted Street Corn Pizza with Pancetta

Roasted Street Corn Pizza with Pancetta and Tomatoes is an easy game day party food or Friday night classic that's as easy as it is delicious!

Street Corn Pizza Save

A plate of grilled shrimp tacos, perfect for Cinco de Mayo recipes, is adorned with avocado slices, shredded cabbage, and carrot on a tortilla. A lime wedge sits ready to be squeezed beside a glass of pink liquid on the white tablecloth.

www.foodandwine.com

Chipotle Shrimp Tostadas Recipe

"To create this Southwestern-inspired dish, Melissa Rubel Jacobson tosses shrimp with chipotle chile powder (made from dried, smoked jalapeños), grills them, then layers them on top of crunchy fried corn tortillas and crisp, citrusy slaw."

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Mexican Chocolate Cookies

These Mexican Chocolate Cookies are lightly spiced with cinnamon and cayenne yet deliver a rich, chocolatey flavor so incredibly delicious, I keep making them again and again.

Mexican Chocolate Cookies

Quick Pickled Red Onions to Brighten the Season's Best | 31Daily.com

Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Quick Pickled Red Onions are easy to make at home in under 30 minutes. Seasonless, they're incredible with tacos, salads, nachos, burgers and more.

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More Mexican-Inspired Recipes

Browse through our Mexican-Inspired Recipes collection for more ideas on appetizers, soups, mains, and even delicious Mexican-Inspired Desserts you'll love.

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