Let's party (respectfully! no sombreros allowed).
Before we jump into all the recipes, we need to give you a bit of history food-for-thought: Cinco de Mayo originally celebrates an important Mexican victory over French forces, which is why it's such a bummer that it's too often trivialized into a cheap happy hour featuring white-washed foods and caricatures of Mexican culture. So, no matter if you’re having a big get-together or celebrating solo, we want to remind you that it’s totally possible to respectfully celebrate AND have fun by making some Mexican-inspired party foods at home. From easy dips and bites to more involved dinners that’ll feed a crowd, we’ve got something here for everyone.
Let’s talk tortillas. They’re the ultimate basis for all our favorite party foods, so grab a bag of the best ones you can find (or make your own flour, corn, or keto ones). The easiest thing you can do is make tacos (or a taco bowl!), like our fish taco bowls, our tequila-lime chicken tacos (you’ve probably already got the margarita-themed ingredients!), or our carne asada tacos, but you can also use them to craft more involved party foods. Try our chicken flautas, spicy chicken taquitos, or green chile chicken skillet enchiladas for impressive dishes that only look difficult to make.
If you’re looking for party food that’s less hands-on, you gotta go nachos. Buy a big bag of tortilla chips (or make your own chips if you’ve got extra tortillas), and you’re halfway to a crunchy, cheesy appetizer or meal that’ll please a crowd. You can assemble and serve them straight off the sheet pan, no plates or utensils needed (but a big yes to lots of napkins). Hot tip: Our carne asada fries are proof that nacho toppings can go on anything, so get creative.
If you make nothing else, you’ve got to have chips and dip or salsa. Guacamole is the classic, of course (buy those avocados early so they’re sure to be ripe!), but it’s not the be all, end all for Cinco de Mayo. Try our salsa rojo or verde for something straightforward, or our queso fundido, our sikil p’ak (sort of like salsa verde x hummus), avocado salsa if you want to have the best of both worlds—they’re all sure to impress more than store-bought. Bonus: If you’re going heavy on the meat for the rest of your party menu, these help add a little freshness to your spread.
And don’t forget about drinks and dessert! Check out our lists of our favorite Mexican sweets, our top tequila co*cktails, and our best Mexican drinks too.
1
Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
Nothing beats a street taco—super-juicy, tender grilled meat in a quick grab-and-go format, typically made possible by doubling up two smaller corn tortillas. This makes them easier to eat on the side of the street, in the car, anywhere! They're no frills yet tend to be some of the most crave-able tacos around.
Get the Grilled Chicken Street Tacos recipe.
2
Pozole
Don't let the time commitment on this fantastically flavorful Mexican soup scare you. It's as easy as bringing water to a boil and letting it simmer away while you multitask on other things. With time, the meat will turn tender, soft, and buttery, the aromas will deepen, and the color will become as rich as the soup tastes.
Get the Best-Ever Pozole recipe.
3
Tres Leches Cake
A tres leches (which means "three milks" in Spanish) cake is a sponge cake that contains three different types of milks to make it extra moist and tasty. It's basically the original poke cake, and you're going to be obsessed.
Get the Tres Leches Cake recipe.
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4
Tamales
Tamales aren’t just fun to eat, they’re a great solo or group project for anyone who loves to cook. Make it a party by involving your friends, enlist your partner or spouse for a different kind of date night, or get the whole family involved. Tamale making is a joy, and tamales are a great canvas for different kinds of fillings.
Get the Tamales recipe.
5
Chicken Taco Torta
Made with rolls called bolillos or teleras, which are crusty-chewy on the outside with a soft and tender crumb, these sandwiches are piled high with all sorts of meats and cheeses, often accompanied by a thick layer of rich refried beans, slices of avocado, and a handful of pickled jalapeños. This iteration of the torta is inspired by the Americanized version of the chicken taco, complete with shredded cheese, taco seasoning, and a layer of crunchy tortilla chips as an homage to the beloved hard shell taco.
Get the Chicken Taco Torta recipe.
6
Homemade Salsa
Salsa has been around for a very very long time. The origins date back to the Incas and Aztecs. To make ours the most flavorful salsa ever, we use both cherry tomatoes and fresh off-the-vine tomatoes. We also roast some of the ingredients to intensify their flavors and make this salsa POP!
Get the Homemade Salsa recipe.
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7
Green Chile Chicken Skillet Enchiladas
Craving homemade enchiladas and being in a hurry aren't really compatible since the classic Mexican dish requires many steps and a fair amount of time. Enter: this skillet recipe, a quick take on the dish that comes together quickly and is perfect for a party.
Get the Green Chile Chicken Skillet Enchiladas recipe.
8
Chicken Enchiladas
When the craving for satisfying comfort food meets the need for a straightforward dinner, chicken enchiladas are a guaranteed winner. They’re easy, filling, and take less than an hour to prepare from start to finish.
Get the Chicken Enchiladas recipe.
9
Chocoflan
Chocoflan’s beautiful contrasting layers of chocolate cake and flan are totally mind-blowing. During the bake, the batters switch places, which can seem like magic. The end result is a distinctly layered dessert with moist chocolate cake as the foundation, a creamy set flan on top, and a caramel drizzle to crown it all.
Get the Chocoflan recipe.
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10
Mexican Street Corn Flatbread
We’ve riffed on Mexican street corn more ways than we can count—nachos, tacos, even enchiladas—and we’ve loved every version, but this Mexican street corn flatbread is our new go-to. Here, we’re taking the creamy tangy sauce that usually goes on the corn, spreading it over pre-made pizza dough instead, and loading it up with corn, more chili, and lots of cheese. Twenty minutes later, it’s crispy, corny perfection.
Get the Mexican Street Corn Flatbread recipe.
11
Chalupas
Chalupas are a classic Mexican street food snack that are crispy, savory, and fun to eat. Usually chalupas are served like a tostada, but because we know you might be looking for the fluffy fry bread-like taco shell, we decided to create a version that was the best of both worlds.
Get the Chalupas recipe.
12
Bean & Cheese Taquitos
These crispy, cheesy Mexican taquitos are quick and easy to make—even if you don’t want to bust out the big bottle of oil. Instead, brush them with a little oil, then bake them at 450° for around 15 minutes.
Get the .
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13
Chiles En Nogada
This festive dish is often served in September for Mexican Independence Day, but due to the variety of spiced fruit and nut fillings, we think it’s ripe for improvisation to be served year round. Try zucchini and peaches for summer, or you could lean into its inherent wintery vibes by changing up the raisins for dried cherries or cranberries. Just don’t skip those pomegranate seeds!
Get the Chiles En Nogada recipe.
14
Best-Ever Guacamole
Whether you serve it as a simple dip, load it on top of your tacos, or smear it on a bun as a burger topping, we can all agree—it’s not a party without Mexico’s most famous dip. Keep it simple, like we did, or go wild with your mix-ins—just be sure to make extra, this'll go fast.
Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.
15
Carne Asada Tacos
This flavorful handheld food has it all—tender marinated carne asada, an aromatic corn tortilla, and all of the classic street taco toppings. Served for lunch or dinner, these are delicious with a hearty side of refried beans and rice, or you can keep it light with corn salad.
Get the Carne Asada Tacos recipe.
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16
Mangonada Sorbet
The secret to this sweet and savory scoop is chamoy, a sauce made of pickled fruits and chiles that is delicious on pretty much everything, but popular on fresh fruits, raw veggies, and grilled corn. If you can't track it down, we've provided an alternate recipe for a spicy strawberry swirl using Tajin. If you can't find Tajin in your grocery store, try out some chili powder or hot sauce and taste as you go!
Get the Mangonada Sorbet recipe.
17
Mexican Rice
This easy recipe for Mexican rice is so full of flavor and might even be better than any we've had from a Tex-Mex restaurant. Make some to go with your chicken enchiladas or tamale pie, and call it a night!
Get the Mexican Rice recipe.
18
Fish Taco Bowls
Crispy fish and a creamy, spicy slaw are the base of this veggie-packed take on everyone’s favorite taco. The sweetness from the diced mango and creaminess from cool avocado blends perfectly with the drizzle of a spicy crema, making this summer salad an instant staple.
Get the Fish Taco Bowls recipe.
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19
Sikil P’ak Pumpkin Seed Salsa
If salsa verde and hummus had a child, it would remind us of this dip. Our version of sikil p’ak, which in Mayan means “pumpkin seed” and “tomato” respectively, is inspired by the Yucatecan version. Our riff uses hulled pepitas and charred tomatillos, and its subtle smokiness will keep you coming back for more.
Get the Sikil P’ak Pumpkin Seed Salsa recipe.
20
Mexican Fried Chicken Torta
This torta recipe follows the "torta de milanese" tradition, featuring a breaded chicken cutlet that adds nice crunch to each bite. If you're looking for a torta made with beef, try our carne asada torta instead.
Get the Mexican Fried Chicken Torta recipe.
