Cinco de Mayo has become a huge celebration in America entailing adult beverages and plenty of traditional Mexican cuisine. Here are 10 of our favorite Mexican recipes for the holiday
Cinco de Mayo has become a national party in America. Who doesn’t look forward to the beginning of May while enjoying a cerveza and some amazing Mexican food? Recently, bars and restaurants have become flooded for this holiday. Here are 10 of our favorite Mexican recipes that are easy to make and better tasting than most restaurants (we will cede to authentic food in the southwest USA).
We have broken down our list into three sections. Section one are appetizers. Section two are main courses whose main ingredient is our crockpot Mexican chicken. The third are simple main courses that do not use the crockpot Mexican chicken.
Before we delve into this amazing cuisine, let’s talk about some basics regarding the special Mexican celebration. Unfortunately, most Americans love the party but aren’t aware of the meaning of the day.
Why is Cinco de Mayo celebrated?
Cinco de Mayo celebrates a major victory by Mexico over France in the Battle of Pueblo. For additional details click here.
Is Cinco de Mayo Mexican independence day?
It is not. Mexican Independence Day is September 16th.
Is Cinco de Mayo the day of the dead?
It is not. Day of the dead is from Halloween until November 2nd.
Cinco de Mayo Appetizers
Any cinco de Mayo party needs some good appetizers. We offer 2 simple appetizers that most everyone will love. The first is homemade guacamole. We all love the guacamole made at our table by the waiter at our favorite Mexican restaurant. Why only enjoy it at the restaurant? Our recipe is as good or better than any restaurant guacamole and it is simple to make.
The second is a spicy bean dip. We have all seen canned bean dip. Yes it looks gross. Our spicy bean dip is simple to prepare and can be warmed in a microwave or small crockpot.
Guacamole
Difficulty: EasyA simple blend of avocado, garlic, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, tomatoes and lime. That’s it!
Cinco de Mayo Recipes
The first recipe is our crockpot Mexican chicken. This chicken can be used to make most of the other recipes on this list. It is simple to prepare and in 3 1/2 hours in the crockpot you have a pot full of juicy, Mexican spiced chicken. Use this chicken when you prepare our recipes for chicken tacos, chicken quesadillas and Mexican pizza. To make Mexican pizza, start with pita or naan bread, top with Mexican chicken and top with Mexican cheese. Heat in oven til cheese melts.
Crockpot Mexican Chicken
Difficulty: EasyThis crockpot mexican chicken can be used to make all your favorite Mexican dishes! It’s simple and loaded with Mexican flavor. It’s better than takeout!
Chicken Tacos
Difficulty: EasyCreate chicken tacos in minutes when made with our crockpot Mexican chicken.
Chicken Quesadilla
Difficulty: EasyOnce our crockpot Mexican chicken is made, these quesadillas come together quickly. They are delicious and family friendly. Who says you have to go out for good Mexican food?
What kind of Cinco de Mayo party would it be without burritos and enchiladas? We have nicknamed our turkey and black bean burritos the “where did you buy those” burritos. Filled with turkey or chicken ground meat and black beans, these burritos aren’t just delicious but healthier than what you will get at the local burrito bar. If you make burritos, enchiladas is just an additional step or two. Our enchilada verde recipe looks and tastes fancy, but it’s actually simple to make and quite delicious. As an option, try filling the burrito or enchilada with the crockpot Mexican chicken.
Better than Chipotle Turkey Burritos
Difficulty: EasyThese perfectly seasoned, cheesy, and bold flavored burritos are healthier than store bought and will have your family and friends asking for more, and the recipe!
Enchiladas Verde
Difficulty: EasyTortillas filled with a deliciously seasoned meat and bean mixture, topped with cheese before being rolled up…pour the salsa verde made with tangy tomatillos on top with some more cheese and bake. So delicious, you’ll find it difficult to resist going back for seconds!
Many have never tried a Mexican torta. If you have never had one, you must try this amazing sandwich filled with chicken, refried beans, guacamole, onions and tomato.
The last two Mexican entrees included on our Cinco de Mayo list are our stuffed poblanos. Our stuffed poblano and stuffed poblano in ancho chili sauce are a bit fancier than the others on this list. However, these are still easy to make taking just a few more steps than the above recipes. The extra effort will yield a decadent meal that will far exceed anything on your local Mexican restaurants menu and will surely impress your guests.
Mexican Torta with Chicken and Guacamole
Difficulty: EasyA layer of seasoned roasted or grilled chicken, refried beans, cheese, guacamole and lettuce.
Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Difficulty: MediumA dish you thought you could only get at a Mexican restaurant. Stuffed poblano’s in green sauce will impress your family and friends!
Stuffed Poblanos in Ancho Chile Salsa
Difficulty: MediumAncho Chile Salsa is a pop of flavor that will enhance most any meal!
So, now that we shared some basic facts about Cinco de Mayo and loaded you with 10 of our favorite Mexican dishes, plan a party with your friends and celebrate this fantastic Mexican tradition.
Enjoy this Recipe?
First, thanks for visiting our site. If you have tried this recipe please consider giving us 5 stars and commenting below. Your comments will help us improve our future content.
If you would like to see more of our recipes, the links below will direct you to our most recent blog posts. Better yet, subscribe below and you will be notified as soon as we post something new. To subscribe we only need an email and a few seconds of your time.
- Simple, Healthy & Hearty 3 Bean Soup Recipe
- Cooking Asian Cuisine: A Beginners Guide
- Grilled Sorrentino Panini
- How to Use Asian Cuisine Ingredients to Create Healthy Tasty Meals
- 5 Essential Utensils for Asian Cuisine
