Cinco de Mayo is a day to enjoy fabulous food and drinks with friends — this collection of 70+ Cinco de Mayo recipes has plenty of delicious dishes to try!
What Does Cinco de Mayo Celebrate?
Margaritas!! Right??
Well, sort of…
But there’s a little more to it than that!
Cinco de Mayo means the 5th of May, and it commemorates Mexico’s victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is not the same as Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th each year.
Interestingly, Cinco de Mayo is much more popular in the United States than in Mexico, thanks to a big push from beverage companies in the 80’s. Over the years it has become a bit of an excuse to celebrate with friends and enjoy good food and drinks, but it is still nice to know the history behind the day.
And now you know the quick version of the history of Cinco de Mayo!
The BEST Cinco de Mayo Recipes
This massive list of recipes will give you so many options to choose from!
You’re certain to find a few recipes that you love!
Use the table of contents below to navigate to recipe categories, then click on the name of each individual recipe to open the directions in a new browser window.
Margaritas…y Más
Classic cocktails and unique drinks to enjoy for the occasion!
Pineapple Margaritas — A tropical twist on the classic margarita! Smooth and sweet!
Mexican Candy Margarita — This authentic Mexican margarita is a fiesta of flavors combining sweet and sour to make a delicious cocktail!
Sangria Margarita — Combine the delicious taste of sangria and margaritas in one delicious layered drink.
Pineapple Mezcal Margarita — This smoky yet sweet margarita is the perfect way to finish off your Cinco De Mayo celebration!
Agua Fresca — Enjoy this light and refreshing beverage all day during Cinco De Mayo or any day! Family friendly!
Sparkling Pink Paloma — The classic tequila cocktail gets a little bit of bubbly action!
Keto Coconut Mojito – This tangy coconut cocktail is the perfect beverage to enjoy on a hot day or on Cinco De Mayo! Light, refreshing, and low carb!
Frozen Blackberry Margarita — The ripe blackberries and smooth tequila combine to make a delicious margarita in this cocktail.
“Mistletoe” Margarita — This cranberry margarita might seem better suited for Christmas, but you can enjoy it any time of year!
“Thanksgiving” Margarita — This smooth, sweet, and spicy margarita is so delicious and comforting to enjoy any time of year.
Blood Orange Margarita — This vibrant orange cocktail tastes just as good as it looks!
Skinny Margarita — If you’re looking to cut some calories this Cinco De Mayo, you can’t go wrong with my skinny margarita!
Mojito Popsicles — These watermelon mojitos are so tasty and a great way to enjoy a sweet alcoholic treat in a popsicle form!
Cinco de Mayo Party Appetizers
Get the party started with these sharable dishes!
Cowboy Caviar – a classic Texas potluck recipe and it’s easy to see why! This zesty mix of beans, corn, and veggies is fresh, flavorful, and can be tossed together in minutes!
Guacamole Bites – This unique twist on the classic guacamole will leave you and your family wanting seconds!
Green Chicken Chile Enchilada Bites – Easy and delicious, these enchilada bites are the perfect bite-sized way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo.
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips – These crispy air-fried tortilla chips are so delicious and a healthier chip for dipping or turning into nachos.
Jalapeno Poppers – These grilled jalapeno poppers are the perfect appetizer for your Cinco De Mayo celebration!
Keto Jalapeño Poppers — All the flavor of the favorite app, without all the carbs!
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad – This easy pasta salad recipe would make a great side to go with any Mexican recipe.
Guac, Salsa, & Dips
Pair those tortilla chips with a variety of fresh salsas and fun dips!
Secret Ingredient Salsa – This salsa is filled with delicious fresh ingredients that take this simple salsa recipe up a notch.
Pineapple Watermelon Salsa — Sweet and spicy salsa made with tropical fruit.
Authentic Mexican Guacamole – This yummy guacamole recipe is the perfect go-to guac recipe for Cinco De Mayo.
Queso Blanco Dip – This zesty and smooth cheese dip is the perfect dip for your tortilla chips this Cinco De Mayo.
Pico De Gallo – Filled with fresh ingredients and tons of flavor, you can’t go wrong with this tasty pico de gallo!
Mango Salsa – This spicy mango is perfect for dipping your favorite tortilla chips in!
Vegan Refried Bean Dip – This vegan-friendly refried bean dip is perfect if you’re looking for a great chip dip for Cinco De Mayo!
Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Dip – This keto-friendly dip has all the delicious flavors of a chicken enchilada mixed up in one delicious dip.
Tacos, Tacos Tacos!
What would Cinco de Mayo be without tacos?!
Dutch Oven Carnitas – These Dutch Oven carnitas are so easy to make and so flavorful!
Chicken Tinga Tostadas – If you’re looking for a delicious Mexican recipe with a lot of flavor, you will love these tostadas!
Black Bean Tacos – These crispy black bean tacos are so delicious and the avocado lime sauce makes them even better!
Jackfruit Carnita Tacos – If you’re looking to go meatless this Cinco De Mayo, you can’t go wrong with these jackfruit carnitas tacos!
Steak Fajita Tacos – These tacos are so delicious and a great combination with the mexican street corn salsa.
Baked Wonton Tacos – If you are looking for a great kid-friendly taco recipe, you won’t be disappointed by these tasty wonton tacos!
Walking Tacos – If you’re looking to take your Cinco De Mayo celebration on the go, you can’t go wrong with this tasty walking taco recipe!
Vegan Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Slaw – Who needs meat when you can have these addicting and fresh vegan fish tacos.
Tex-Mex Main Courses
Try these authentic Mexican recipes and Tex-Mex favorites for dinner on Cinco de Mayo!
Jalapeño Popper Chicken — This cheesy dish is low carb and keto-friendly! Or you can serve over rice for a hearty meal!
“Lazy Enchiladas” — Made with frozen taquitos to save time!
Tex-Mex Enchiladas — The ultimate comfort food! Ground beef enchiladas in a classic red sauce.
Crispy Chicken Flautas — Perfect for dipping or serving over rice for a full meal!
Chicken Tortilla Casserole – This chicken tortilla casserole is perfect for busy nights, and a great make ahead recipe!
Beef Enchilada Casserole – This easy beef enchilada casserole is so tasty and an easy weeknight dinner for your family.
Enchiladas with Red Chili Sauce – This easy enchilada recipe is perfect for picky eaters and is a great crowd-pleaser.
Shrimp Chorizo Burrito Bowls – The unique combination of chorizo sausage, peppers, tomatoes, and shrimp over cilantro lime rice brings so many Mexican flavors into one amazing dish!
Air Fryer Nachos – Use your air fryer to put together this easy and delicious nacho recipe.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos – Crispy on the outside and full of flavor on the inside, these chicken bacon ranch taquitos are one of my favorite Mexican recipes!
Mexican Pizza – Get your favorite taco bell pizza from home with my Mexican pizza recipe!
“El Gigante: Mexican Ham Torta – The name means giant…and you can see why! If you’re looking for an impressive sharing sandwich for Cinco De Mayo, this recipe is a great go-to!
Carne Guisada Beef Stew – This hardy Mexican beef stew is a classic comforting dish that is perfect for a chilly May day.
Keto Nachos – You only need ten minutes to put together these tasty keto-friendly nachos.
BBQ Pork Taquitos – These delicious taquitos get an interesting texas twist in my bbq pork taquito recipe.
Keto Taco Bowl – These low-carb taco bowls are a tasty and delicious way to enjoy Cinco De Mayo while on a low-carb diet!
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas – This easy pork carnitas recipe takes just 10 minutes of prep work for delicious pork carnitas.
Tex Mex Stuffed Peppers – If you are looking for a healthy way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, you will love these stuffed peppers!
Easy Shrimp and Avocado Tostadas – These tostadas are a delicious Mexican dish with fresh ingredients that you’ll love!
Chicken Burrito Skillet – This one-pan dish is easy and quick to make! Making it the perfect option for an easy Cinco De Mayo meal.
Soups & Sides
Make it a full meal with these delicious accompaniments, from Mexican rice to chicken tortilla soup!
Easy Mexican Rice – This authentic Spanish rice is perfect for any Mexican side dish. The recipe has been in my husband’s family for years!
Corn Elote – This sweet and savory corn salad is so delicious and you can make it right at home!
Southwestern Deconstructed Chicken Keto Soup Bowl – Enjoy a delicious low-carb meal that is perfect for Cinco De Mayo with this tasty soup recipe!
Vegan Mexican Rice – Mexican rice is so easy to make, and this vegan-friendly Mexican rice is no exception!
Low Calorie Chicken Tortilla Soup – In just ten minutes, you can have this delicious and flavorful low-calorie chicken tortilla soup ready!
Shrimp Ceviche – This Mexican-inspired shrimp ceviche is the perfect no-cook recipe to enjoy on Cinco De Mayo.
Taco Seasoning – Make your own homemade taco seasoning for tacos, enchiladas, and more with this easy recipe.
Cinco de Mayo Desserts
Wrap up the festivities with a little something sweet!
Key Lime Pie Sheet Cake — All the flavors of the classic pie, in cake form! Topped with a graham cracker crumble.
Key Lime Poke Cake — Pudding is injected into the cake to make it extra moist and flavorful!
Cactus Pretzel Rods – These cute cactus pretzel rods are an adorable way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo!
Margarita Cupcakes – A sweet take on a classic margarita, these cupcakes have all the delicious flavors of a margarita inside a cupcake!
Icebox Margarita Cheesecake Bars – Finish off your Cinco De Mayo Celebration with these delicious cheesecake bars!
Gluten Free Churro Cupcakes – If you love the taste of churros, you will love this tasty gluten free churro cupcake recipe!
Classic Churros – These churros are so simple to make and so delicious!
Paletas Popsicles – These fruity popsicles only take four ingredients and are perfect for those enjoying warm weather this Cinco De Mayo.
Keto Churros — A guilt free version of the cinnamon sugar treat!
What are your favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes? I’d love to hear your go-to ideas in the comments!
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