Celebrate Cinco de Mayo With These 21 Recipes

Richmond Mom

Cinco de Mayo isn’t just a great excuse for chips and guacamole (as though we needed one anyway), it’s also a wonderful time to celebrate Mexican culture.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, when Mexicans, vastly outnumbered, successfully defended themselves against a French attack on May 5, 1862. While not a major holiday, Cinco de Mayo is a chance to celebrate Mexican heritage and this unlikely victory.

Restaurant-Style Queso Blanco
Fake Ginger

Creamy, drippy, and highly caloric, queso blanco is a Mexican restaurant highlight.
Go classic with chips but queso is also delicious on veggies.

Authentic Pico de Gallo
Sweet Life

Pico de Gallo is so simple, fresh and delicious. Spice it up by leaving in the jalapeno seed or scoop the seeds out for a little less eat. Use pico de gallo as a topping on tacos or eggs or grab your chips and dig in!

Fresh Guacamole
Cooking Classy

What is ~~Cinco de Mayo~~ life without guacamole?
Bonus, this kid-friendly dip is packed with healthy fats, vitamin C, potassium and fiber.

Homemade Flour Tortillas
I Wash… You Dry

While corn tortillas are a traditional Mexican staple, many of us can’t resist a soft flour tortilla.
Enlist a little help in the kitchen from the kids and have them roll out the dough, then
cook them on a dry skillet for a soft and delicious way to hold your favorite toppings.

Slow Cooker Refried Beans
Mom on Time Out

Ah, the classic Mexican crock pot… Okay, well this might not be the most traditional way to cook refried beans but it’s a great way to save a little time and effort, and it’s a bit healthier than the more authentic pork fat version. Get your beans cooking in the crockpot for a nice warm compliment to your favorite Mexican dish.

Mexican Street Corn
Seeded at the Table

If you’re not in the mood to fire up the grill you can make them with simple boiled corn, but they’re really good with a lightly charred taste hot off the grill.

Authentic Taquitos
Cooking with Jax

These little tacos are rolled up and fried and make ideal Cinco de Mayo party food.

Fish Tacos
The Domestic Woman

When it starts getting warm out, it’s nice to have something a little lighter than the run of the mill beef taco. These tacos are a perfect lighter dinner and make great use of your pico de gallo.

Chicken Taco Salad
Richmondmom

A bottle of lime marinade and some chicken make a great base for a chicken taco salad (or chicken tacos).
This one makes a regular appearance at our house.

Frijoles Charros
The Other Side of the Tortilla

Serve these beans up as a side or a main dish. If you’ve never had them before they’ve got bacon, beans and chorizo in them… so they’re delicious.

Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Avocado Quesadillas
Maya Kitchenette

These quesadillas will keep vegetarian and meat eaters happy. Creamy avocado and meaty mushrooms and a hint of barbecue sauce… bonus: quesadillas are a flexible dish so you can whip up a bunch for a party and use a couple different ingredients.

Carnitas
Buns in my Oven

If you’re missing pork carnitas at Chipotle, you can make your own at home.

Shrimp Ceviche served in a Avocado Shell
Presley’s Pantry

Pronounced seh-BEE-tcheh, ceviche is a marinated seafood dish.
Served up in avocado shells, this dish is light and refreshing and perfect for warmer weather.