Mexican food is a moment. Aromatic, bold, and unapologetically delicious, the fresh ingredients that go into making these dishes carry a range of varied authentic flavors, making them a complete hit with the entire family.
Dive into these 30 appetizing Mexican recipes to create the perfect feast for fun family dinners or make them for gatherings where these dishes might just take center stage!
#1. Beef Birria
Made with beef, lamb, or goat, fire-roasted tomatoes, and chiles along with a combination of spices and herbs, this traditional soup recipe is a masterpiece. Garnish with chopped onion and cilantro and have it as a stew or use it as a filling for quesadillas. Feel free to tweak the composition of this hearty, flavorful, and versatile stew braise according to your dietary preferences.
#2. Black Bean and Corn Nachos
Loaded with tomatoes, onion, corn, avocado, and sour cream, and sprinkled with melted cheese and cilantro, this recipe will make your nacho nights an otherworldly experience. You can also pair this incredibly delicious appetizer with your favorite Mexican food for an irresistible meal.
#3. Camarones a la Diabla
This Mexican classic is picture-perfect for spice lovers. Spicy shrimp simmered in a homemade chili sauce, the Camarones a la Diabla (“diablo shrimp”) makes for a fantastically fiery appetizer. Include more of your favorite seasonings if needed and pair it with rice, noodles, or tortillas to make it more filling (and to tone down the spice levels!).
#4. Caramel Apple Empanadas
A sweet and tart treat, these caramel apple empanadas are the best way to wrap up any meal on a sinfully delicious note. Made with an apple pie filling sealed in a flaky, buttery crust and topped with an aromatic caramel sauce, these empanadas are the best apple hand pies to ever exist. Sprinkle these delicious delights with cinnamon sugar or turbinado sugar before serving.
#5. Carne Asada
This recipe is destined to become a hit with everyone who tastes it! The tender, grilled steak is marinated to perfection with lime and orange juice, crushed garlic, and a few staple spices and herbs. Top it with cilantro and enjoy it as is or serve in a taco or burrito.
#6. Mexican Ceviche Tacos
In this refreshing no-cook recipe, sushi-grade fish is marinated in lemon and lime juices to “cook” it in the fridge. Season the ceviche and mix it with lettuce, avocado, and cilantro. Layer the mixture on a tortilla, and serve with lime wedges or black bean salsa to enjoy. You can also substitute the ceviche with pan-fried white fish or cooked prawns if desired.
#7. Chicken Burritos
Deliciously juicy and protein-filled, this easy-to-make recipe uses shredded chicken, Mexican red rice/plain white rice, and refried beans to deliver a burst of flavor. Load up the burrito with mozzarella, avocados, cilantro, cheese, or your choice of Mexican toppings. Dunk, drizzle, or smear avocado sauce, salsa, queso dip, or guacamole to make it more flavorful!
#8. Mexican Chicken and Rice
This simple one-skillet family meal is made with ingredients most people already have at hand. Boneless chicken, black beans, brown rice, and a host of aromatic herbs and spices come together to create a protein-rich, healthy, and delicious meal. Serve with Mexican cornbread and a pitcher of margarita for a refreshing dinner!
#9. Chilaquiles
Made with fried corn tortillas/chips immersed in salsa and cheese, this classic Mexican comfort food is easy to make and incredibly delicious. Make it with homemade salsa verde or red chili sauce, top it with fried eggs, refried beans, nopalitos, guacamole, or shredded chicken, pork, or beef, and garnish it with crumbled cheese, crème fraîche, chopped cilantro, or red onion.
#10. Chorizo Sausage Enchiladas
Fire pit chorizo sausages wrapped in tortillas and topped with a delicious tomato sauce and grated cheddar cheese, these enchiladas are baked to perfection. Garnish this healthy, flavorful dish with avocado, roughly chopped coriander, jalapenos, and sour cream to make this meal the highlight of your day!
#11. Cilantro Lime Chicken
Seasoned with garlic, cilantro, and lime, these lime chicken thighs are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, sporting a hint of sticky sweetness. Ingredients like cumin, fresh lime, cilantro, garlic, brown sugar, and red chili flakes pack powerful flavors. Garnish it with fresh cilantro and lime slices and serve with a side of black beans and rice or mashed potatoes for a heavenly main dish.
#12. Easy Mexican Ground Beef Skillet
Loaded with a healthy dose of veggies, ground beef, taco seasoning, rice, and beans and topped with a generous helping of cheese, this protein-rich ground beef recipe will perfectly complement your tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and other Mexican-inspired dishes. It’s an incredibly versatile dish made in one pan so you have minimal clean-up following a hearty dinner.
#13. Elotes
A popular Mexican street food, elotes are grilled corn slathered with a variety of tasty toppings. Sporting exquisite color, flavor, and texture, the corn is grilled until slightly charred and then coated with a mouthwatering mixture of sour cream, cheese, mayonnaise, cilantro, garlic, and chile powder. Serve hot with lime wedges — these are the best corn on the cob you will ever taste!
#14. Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
This addictive dish is made with cheese, ground beef, guacamole, onions, peppers, and salsa wrapped in soft flour tortillas and garnished with fresh cilantro, corn, black beans, lime juice, and sour cream. The color, flavor, and texture of this savory and spicy Mexican recipe make it a complete hit with everyone that manages to grab a bite.
#15. Horchata
Rich, creamy, and incredibly refreshing, this rice-based beverage is made with milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. The unique and distinct flavors make it an incredible pick for a hot summer day. Serve it over ice for an incredibly cooling beverage. For a vegan-friendly alternative, consider swapping the milk with almond or oat milk.
#16. Huevos Rancheros
This colorful, savory dish is made with tortillas topped with refried black beans and fried eggs loaded with salsa — the perfect, filling breakfast recipe. Sprinkle the dish with freshly ground black pepper and cheese (optional) or your choice of garnish and serve with salsa. It’s filling and tasty enough to hold its own as a full meal!
#17. Killer Guacamole
Made with avocado, tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and jalapeno (optional), this classic Mexican spread is vegan, gluten-free, healthy, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways! If you want to prevent the guacamole from turning brown, add the seed to the bowl or add a little bit of extra lime or lemon juice.
#18. Marranitos (Mexican Gingerbread Pigs)
A Mexican bakery staple, dense and soft Marranitos sport an adorable pig-shaped form and a wonderful taste to complement it. These sweetbreads are flavored with molasses and go well with milk or coffee — the perfect breakfast duo.
#19. Mexican Fruit Cups
This sweet, tangy side dish can level up your menu in minutes. Just throw mangoes, oranges, pineapple, watermelon, cucumbers, and jicama in a bowl and sprinkle a mixture of Tajin or chili powder, hot Mexican salsa, dried lime juice, and salt to create a healthy and flavorful fruity blend everyone will love.
#20. Mexican Hot Chocolate
Milk simmered with finely chopped semisweet chocolate, cinnamon, and chili, this hot chocolate recipe will ruin all other types of hot chocolate for you. The aromatic spices offer a nostalgic drink that will warm you up on the coldest winter day. Top it with whipped cream, dust with cocoa powder, and pair with some churros.
#21. Mexican Rice
This light, fluffy, and hearty dish is an easy option for a filling, satisfying dinner. White rice, seasonings, tomato sauce, and Caldo de Tomate with an optional addition of veggies give this dish its signature red hue with top-tier flavor. Serve it with refried beans, ground beef enchiladas, or chicken tacos to enjoy.
#22. Mexican Wedding Cookies
Don’t let the name fool you. Mexican wedding cookies are not reserved for weddings only. You can also enjoy these buttery, nutty, and crumbly melt-in-your-mouth cookies for the holidays or just as a weekend treat. Once baked, roll the cookies in powdered sugar and serve with a cup of Mexican hot chocolate.
#23. Migas
This tantalizingly delicious recipe is made with corn tortillas topped with scrambled eggs for a scrumptious flavor and texture. Add some guacamole, sour cream, salsa, or your choice of toppings to level up your breakfast game. You can also serve it with a side of beans, fresh fruit, or iced coffee.
#24. Mole Negro
Smoky, spicy, and nutty, this flavorful recipe is a labor of love. It is made with toasted nuts and herbs, an array of vegetables and fruits, chilhuacle negro chilies, and some chocolate. Simmer a spoonful of the sauce with turkey, chicken, or pork to your desired consistency and top it with more mole negro and toasted sesame seeds to enjoy.
#25. Molletes
A popular Mexican treat, these open-faced sandwiches are made with flatbread and loaded with piping hot cheesy beans. If time’s in your favor, consider whipping up some fresh pico de gallo — you’d be surprised at how big a difference it can make. This easy-to-make recipe offers a beautiful variation of flavors and textures and can be easily customized to your liking.
#26. Pico De Gallo
Like your salsa creamy? Make a slight alteration to the traditional pico de gallo recipe by adding a bit of Greek yogurt to create an absolutely creamy delight. This will also tone down the spice level of the salsa and keep it mild for kids. Scoop it up with tortilla chips and cucumber slices or add to tacos and fries.
#27. Pinto Beans
An incredibly flavorful recipe, Mexican pinto beans are a great option for healthy meals. These beans soak up all the flavors of the various ingredients used, making them more flavorful when allowed to sit for a while after cooking. You can then add them to your burritos, tacos, or healthy bowls to enjoy a light, tasty dinner.
#28. Pozole Verde
Made with tangy ingredients like tomatillos, green chilies, and cilantro added to chicken, this flavorful Mexican stew is an absolute delight. Top it with avocado, cilantro, diced tomatoes, pepitas, radish, red onions, or shredded cabbage to enjoy this summer-to-fall transitional soup. Pair it with unoaked white wine to add to its appeal.
#29. Refried Beans
Another Mexican staple, this tender, creamy, and savory dish serves as the perfect side dish for any Mexican meal. Garnish it with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice to liven up the flavors of this protein-rich dish even more. Remember to cook the beans from scratch instead of using canned refried beans for a fresher flavor. They’re a great spread for tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.
#30. Sopes
A popular street snack, sopes are thick, small tortillas with a border around the edges. The dough is a mix of masa harina and water and the borders are formed by pinching the edges of the cooked sopes while they are still warm. Top with meat, beans, cheese, and sour cream or other toppings of your choice and serve with salsa.
