16 Great Cinco de Mayo Recipes

It's that time of year, time to get your Cinco de Mayo menu planned with these easy and delicous recipe. Make world class tacos, some tender quesideias and carnitas, or even the best taco soup. I do love a food holiday.

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🌮Tacos and Nachos
👍Fajitas and Carnitas
🥘Enchilada casseroles
🥣Soup and Side Dishes

Graphic markup for Cinco de Mayo.2023recipe collection

Cinco de Mayo was a victory in battle over the French and is not the Mexican Independence Day which is September 16th. I'm sure our French friends will join us on the food side of the celebration and wish our Mexican neighbors a happy holiday.

This year I'm picking my personal favorites, not by page views, not by comments. Just what I would cook for us.

🌮Tacos and Nachos

I make a 2-3 pound batch of taco meat at least once per month. Rarely do we freeze any. It is all consumed by two of us in 3-4 days.

The Best Taco Meat

The best Taco Meat recipe only needs 25 minutes, ground beef, and an easy homemade taco seasoning. Make it spicy or make it mild; you're in control. You will never use packaged taco seasoning again.

Spicy Taco Meat

Ground beef nachos with cheese, tomatoes ,and onion.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

With only three ingredients, a crock pot, and 5 minutes of prep, you can make delicious shredded chicken tacos or nachos. So simple, cheap, and healthy, you will repeat this recipe over and over.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Easy Mexican Shredded Beef

Shredded Mexican Beef is tender and flavorful, using a beef roast and a few pantry ingredients. It's super easy to make on the stovetop or in your crock pot. It makes fantastic tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.

Shredded Beef Taco and More

Chili Cheese Nachos

Chili Cheese Nachos with shredded beef chili smothered in melted cheese is perfect for tailgating and game-day parties. Easy to make ahead and serve both chili and nachos at the party.

Chili Cheese Nacho Recipe

plate of cheese chili nachos topped with tomatos and sour cream

👍Fajitas and Carnitas

Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Ready in only 30 minutes, this Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas recipe is perfect for fajitas, quesadillas, and tacos. Give everybody the Mexican dish they want with this versatile Mexican chicken.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

chicken fajita tortilla with sour cream.

Easy Marinated Steak Fajitas

This Easy Marinated Steak Fajitas recipe starts with a great fajita marinade and ends with great-tasting melt-in-your-mouth tender steak strips and vegetables.

Marinaded Steak Fajitas Recipe

Steak Fajitas on tortilla and white plate

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas in 30 Minutes

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas with sautéed onions, green peppers, seasoned chicken, and melted cheese in a crispy tortilla—an easy home recipe with everyday ingredients.

Fast Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

fajita quesadilla with trimmings on a blue plate

How to Make Carnitas in the Oven

Making pork carnitas is simple. Cut up a pork butt, and coat it with lime and spices. Roast in the oven "low and slow" for perfect crispy and tender carnitas every time.

Baked Pork Carnitas

Healthy Chicken Carnitas

Make Healthy Chicken Carnitas, AKA Carnitas do Pollo, but keep the traditional stovetop method using chunks of tender chicken with citrus and other spices for that deep flavor.

Healthy Chicken Carnitas

🥘Enchilada casseroles

Healthy Chicken Enchilada Casserole—Easy and Quick

Healthy chicken enchilada casserole is quick and easy to make. Featuring homemade enchilada sauce and fresh chicken, it is done in 60 minutes.

Fast Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken enchilada casserole on an orange plate.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

This easy sour cream chicken enchiladas recipe is packed with chicken and melted cheese and features creamy white enchilada sauce. An easy casserole will become a favorite quick dinner recipe at your home.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Recipe

bite of enchilada over a white plate with an enchilada.

Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas

Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas is one of the easiest recipes you will ever make with delicious homemade sauce, tender chicken, tortillas, and loaded with cheese.

Crock Pot Chicken Endiladas

🥣Soup and Side Dishes

Crock Pot Taco Soup

This easy crock pot taco soup recipe features seasoned ground beef, beans, and thick, spicy tomato broth. You can make it spicy, thick, or thin, or make a small batch for two. But you will never make a more delicious taco soup. It's spicy tacos in a bowl, perfect for Taco Tuesday.

Spicy Taco Soup Recipe

Easy Mexican Rice

This Easy Mexican Rice Recipe is ready in 30 minutes with pantry ingredients. Better than many restaurants, it is perfect for your favorite homemade Mexican dinner.

Easy Mexican Rice Recipe

Easy Guacamole Recipe

This Easy Guacamole Recipe is a basic recipe using only 4 ingredients and has many options to make it your own special homemade guacamole for parties or dinners.

Easy Guacamole Recipe

Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe

Sweet and savory with a touch of spice, this easy Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe is a perfect fresh fruit salsa to serve as an appetizer or party dish. Or as a complement to tacos, fish, or other entree.

Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe

For a complete listing of all our Mexican offerings, please visit our Mexican Recipe Category.

Let's all join together in wishing our neighbor to the south Happy Cinco de Mayo (AKA Victory Over the French) Day. I'm sure the French would agree, at least on the food side.

DrDan

Editor's Note: Originally published April 29, 2017. This roundup post is a "recurring" post that is updated and reused yearly for a special occasion so that some comments may be older.