14 Flavorful Cinco de Mayo Food Recipes

Cinco de Mayo falls over the weekend this year, giving you the perfect excuse to indulge in some fabulous food and drink.

Whether you are planning a big fiesta with friends and family or simply want to enjoy some Mexican-inspired favorites at home, here are 14 Cinco de Mayo food recipes to provide you with inspiration.

Homemade Salsa

Start your celebration off with some of the best Cinco de Mayo appetizers. Chips with homemade salsa will elevate your menu with its fresh flavors.

This recipe for salsa combines fresh Roma tomatoes, onion, garlic, lime juice and its zest, salt, jalapeño, cilantro, cumin, and a pinch of sugar to mitigate the sharp taste of the other flavors.

The salsa makes a lovely dip for chips as well as a complement to a full array of Mexican side dishes and sides. You will never go back to store-bought salsa again once you realize how easy it is to whip up your own.

Guacamole Salad

While guacamole is always a standout in any Cinco de Mayo menu, you can also lean on the beauty of avocados to make a guacamole salad. This vibrant guacamole salad makes a great side dish for any of the entrees that you plan on serving as one of your Cinco de Mayo recipes.

As an alternative, you can also serve it alongside chips as a chunky dip. The recipe includes chopped avocados, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pepper.

Level it up by sprinkling in a bit of cotija cheese or add more spice with onions and red peppers. The flexibility of this Cinco de Mayo food makes it easy to customize to your exact tastes.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup

Need Cinco de Mayo food that you can throw into the crockpot and enjoy later in the day?

This slow cooker chicken taco soup is just what you are looking for. You will need chicken breasts, canned diced tomatoes with green chiles, canned chili beans, canned black beans, corn, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, and an onion.

A bottle of beer brings out all of the individual flavors in the soup. Serve this soup with tortilla chips, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, and shredded cheese so that everyone can dress up their bowl of goodness.

This recipe also freezes well.

Beef Chimichangas

Spice up your Cinco de Mayo recipes with beef chimichangas. A mix of ground beef and refried beans serve as the base for this recipe.

The base is seasoned with cumin, oregano, and chili powder before being rolled in a tortilla and fried until crispy. Slather the tortillas with cheese and a jalapeño tomato sauce for the crowning touch.

You can also choose to save some calories by air frying or baking the chimichangas. Save time by making the filling the day prior to preparing.

Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas

Even vegetarians can get in on the fun of this food-centric holiday with this recipe for black bean enchiladas. The filling comes together with black beans, broccoli, sautéed bell pepper, onion, spinach, and a variety of spices.

The homemade red enchilada sauce truly elevates this Cinco de Mayo while the cheese makes them perfectly gooey.

You can use flour or corn tortillas to hold all of the filling. Finish them off with a handful of cilantro after you pull them out of the oven.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Why settle for ordinary rice as a side dish when you can easily pull together this cilantro lime rice?

Basmati rice works best as the base for this side dish. You will also need extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, salt, lime zest and juice, and chopped cilantro.

In addition to being a natural complement for Cinco de Mayo food, this rice also tastes great with Asian-influenced food. It is sure to become a staple in your house.

Frozen Mango Margaritas

No Mexican fiesta is complete without a platter of margaritas. Enhance a standard margarita with the addition of frozen mango.

While you can certainly use fresh mango, the frozen version adds more creaminess. The frozen mango margarita recipe calls for both silver tequila and a small amount of cointreau to sweeten it further.

You can sweeten the recipe more with a bit of agave or simple syrup. Do not forget to rub the rim of the glass with sea salt.

This recipe for mango margaritas will have everyone asking for more.

Huevos Rancheros

You do not have to limit your Mexican food preparation to lunch or dinner. This recipe for huevos rancheros is a fabulous choice for brunch.

Huevos rancheros translates to “rancher’s eggs” in Spanish, featuring fried corn tortillas topped with eggs and salsa. Some recipes also call for the addition of black beans or refried beans along with cheese.

Once you have the base of this recipe down, you can expand with any other flavorful additions. This hearty recipe will keep you full for a good amount of time thanks to all of the protein.

Sheet Pan Poblano Chicken Fajitas

This easy recipe for sheet pan chicken fajitas is a cinch to pull together when you are short on time and do not want to make a mess in the kitchen.

The fajitas are cooked on just one pan stuffed with thinly sliced chicken, bell peppers, onions, poblano peppers, and a myriad of Mexican spices.

All of the ingredients are roasted together and served inside your choice of tortillas and all of the traditional fixings. Those who are watching their carb intake can serve the chicken and veggies on a bed of romaine lettuce instead.

Shrimp Tacos

Seafood lovers will delight in this recipe for shrimp tacos. Because shrimp cooks so quickly when compared to other meats, this recipe is great when you are crunched for time.

The shrimp are coated with chili powder, chipotle chili powder, cumin, and salt to create an explosion of flavor. A cool and creamy sauce balances out the heat with the addition of Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, and fresh lime juice.

Lastly, the slaw adds a bit of crunch and texture to the tacos. You will come back to this recipe all year long.

Chicken Torta Sandwich

For something more unique, consider making this chicken torta sandwich. This traditional Mexican sandwich features rotisserie chicken, tomato, pickled jalapeños, shredded pepper jack cheese, onion, iceberg lettuce, and taco seasoning.

Although you can use the bread of your choosing, the recipe calls for bolilo rolls for a more authentic taste.

Tacos Al Pastor

Tacos al pastor are a delicious addition to any Cinco de Mayo menu. A pork shoulder is sliced thinly and marinated in a mix of spices, chiles, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, and more.

The meat is grilled alongside pineapple spears and then stuffed into warm corn tortillas. Garnish the tacos with pickled red onions, cilantro, avocado, and cheese.

Nearly any Mexican-themed side dish will taste wonderfully with these tacos serving as the main star.

Mexican Casserole

You will never look at casserole dishes the same once you try this easy Mexican casserole recipe. The dish is loaded with layers of ground beef, tortillas, cheese, and more.

The addition of beans adds a bit more heft to the dish while a top layer of sour cream enhances the creaminess.

Even the pickiest kids will love this recipe, ensuring that it becomes a staple in your meal planning rotation long after Cinco de Mayo is over.

Tres Leches Cake

This light and fluffy tres leches cake will send your Cinco de Mayo celebration out with a bang.

The classic sponge cake is soaked in a mix of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.

You will want to allow plenty of time for this cake to soak up the milk. What a perfect sweet ending to your Cinco de Mayo recipe.