Last Updated 08-02-2024
Over 60 Mexican-inspired meals, from dinner to dessert, that are perfect for busy weeknights, game day, or a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
I realized recently that we eat a lot of Southwest and Mexican inspired food around here. And for good reason. Tex-Mex style food is usually easy to prepare, full of flavor and it’s always a hit with kids and adults.
So I’ve gathered some of my favorite Tasty Tex-Mex Inspired Recipes all in one place for you.
You can use this recipe round-up to plan your Cinco de Mayo festivities. Or use it to find something tasty to make any day of the year.
FAQs
What is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, celebrates Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. It’s actually a minor holiday in Mexico, but in the U.S. it has become a day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage.
What are some good ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo through food? This is the perfect holiday for a food bar or buffet! Think taco bar, salsa bar, or nacho bar. Don’t do all the work yourself — ask guests to contribute a salsa or topping.
There are main dishes–including breakfast–with a few appetizers (queso and salsa, of course!), soups, salads, and even a dessert or two to choose from.
The White Chicken Enchiladas are probably at the top of our list, with the Slow Cooker Pork Chile Verde a close second. Or maybe it’s the Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas.
Then again, the Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas are requested quite a bit, and so is the Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup. Come to think of it, maybe you should just try them all!
Tasty Tex-Mex Recipes for Cinco de Mayo
Smothered Chicken Burritos
Slow cooked chicken, rice and cheese, rolled in tortillas then smothered in a creamy green chili sauce and baked.
Not Fried Ice Cream Cake
All the flavors of fried ice cream, including the cinnamon Corn Flakes coating, are featured in this irresistible frozen treat!
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef for Burritos
Slow cooked shredded beef with diced chilies, taco sauce and spices is perfect for burritos, tacos, enchiladas and more!
Easy Huevos Rancheros
Easy Huevos Rancheros are done so fast, with an added, non traditional secret-ingredient weapon that guarantees amazing flavours!
Slow Cooker Chipotle Beef
Smoky shredded roast beef, cooked in spices and chipotles in adobo, then served with a tangy cabbage and red onion slaw.
Instant Pot Black Beans
These Instant Pot Black Beans are loaded with flavor and ready in about an hour--no soaking needed!
Quick and Easy Horchata
You can whip up this simple horchata in just a few minutes. Perfect if you're craving this sweet drink but don't want to go through the long process of making an authentic version.
Skinny Chicken Enchiladas
They are full of amazing flavor and you don’t have to compromise on taste!
Creamy Chili Colorado Burritos
Traditional chili Colorado gets a creamy twist in this tasty, slow cooked beef burrito recipe.
Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas
Just five simple pantry ingredients come together to make the best flour tortillas you've ever had.
Mexican Street Corn Dip
Grilled corn combines with jalapenos, spices, sour cream, cheese and spices in this warm, creamy dip that's always a hit--especially on game day!
Grilled Mexican Lime Chicken
Grilled Mexican Lime Chicken is great over salad, in tacos, burritos, or just by itself.
Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Soup
Grilled corn and potatoes are slow cooked in a creamy, cheese broth, along with red pepper and jalapeno, in this hearty, late-summer soup recipe.
Grilled Chicken Street Corn Tacos
Flavorful grilled chicken is piled into warm tortillas, along with Mexican street corn and your favorite taco toppings.
Mexican Street Corn Casserole
Corn is smothered in a mixture of sour cream, mayonnaise and spices, then baked until hot and bubbly in this baked version of Mexican street corn.
Slow Cooker Smothered Beef Burritos
These Slow Cooker Smothered Beef Burritos are better than takeout and great for an easy weeknight meal.
Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
This easy to make corn salsa if fresh tasting, delicious, and just like the corn salsa at Chipotle restaurants.
Easy Cheese Enchiladas
You'll never have leftovers when you serve these cheese filled enchiladas for dinner. With red enchilada sauce and two kinds of cheese, this dish is always a hit!
Queso Blanco Dip {White Queso}
This creamy melted cheese dip is made with three cheeses plus jalapeno and fresh tomatoes. Great for game day served with your favorite tortilla chips.
Copycat Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
This easy to make side dish tastes just like the rice from your favorite Mexican restaurant.
Slow Cooker Mexican Pinto Beans
Made from scratch, with dried pinto beans, these slow cooked beans are loaded with spices and topped with fresh pico de gallo for authentic Mexican flavor.
Lazy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Let your slow cooker do all the work with this easy “dump and start” pulled pork. Minimum effort, maximum yum!
Roasted Tomato Salsa
Roma tomatoes and green onions are roasted until charred, then combined with chipotle peppers, garlic, herbs and spices in this smoky, flavorful salsa.
Fresh Mango Pineapple Salsa
Mango and pineapple combine with red onion, cilantro, jalapeno and lime juice in this refreshing twist on traditional salsa. Great with pork, chicken, fish, tortilla chips, or your favorite tacos!
Simple Grilled Steak Tacos with Mexican Crema
Skirt steak is seasoned and grilled to perfection, then loaded into tortillas along with all your favorite taco toppings in this super simple but satisfying meal.
Green Chile Rice
Made with roasted poblano peppers and cilantro, this green rice is a delicious twist on traditional Mexican-style rice, and makes a great side dish for any meal.
Tacos al Pastor
Thinly sliced pork is marinated in a mixture of Mexican seasonings, peppers and pineapple juice, then grilled and served in warm tortillas with cilantro and fresh pineapple.
Homemade Salsa Verde (Green Salsa)
Fresh tomatillos are roasted, then blended with jalapeno, cilantro, garlic and onion to create this mildly spicy green salsa.
Al Pastor-Style Shredded Beef Enchiladas
Beef roast is slow cooked with pineapple and achiote chili, then shredded and wrapped in flour tortillas in these flavorful enchiladas.
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas
A flavorful chicken and cheese filling is wrapped in flour tortillas, then air fried to create this delicious Tex-Mex style meal.
Chocolate Cake with Mexican Chocolate Frosting
Four layers of moist, rich, and decadent chocolate cake, filled and frosted with a fluffy Mexican spiced chocolate whipped ganache frosting, and garnished with sweet/hot candied Serrano peppers.
Easy Air Fryer Cheese Taquitos
This incredibly easy air fryer recipe uses just a few simple ingredients, takes minutes to make, and is loved by kids and adults alike.
Baked Chicken Chimichangas with Creamy Green Chile Sauce
These baked chimichangas are loaded with savory slow cooked shredded chicken and cheese, then smothered in a cream green chile sauce. They'll satisfy any craving for Mexican food!
Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas
Savory slow cooked pulled pork is finished off under the broiler for a delicious, crispy texture. Perfect for tacos, burritos, nachos and more!
Slow Cooker Cheesy Enchilada Orzo
Orzo pasta and a spicy, cheesy, creamy sauce come together in the slow cooker in this Tex-mex side dish the whole family will love.
Avocado Serrano Cream Sauce
The perfect accompaniment to tacos, burritos, grilled steak and chicken, veggies, tortilla chips and so much more! You'll want to put this mildly spicy, creamy sauce on everything.
Slow Cooker Tex Mex Cheesy Chicken and Rice
Chicken is slow cooked with beans, corn and southwest seasonings, then combined with cheese, rice and your favorite taco toppings for Tex Mex comfort food the whole family will love.
White Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chile Sour Cream Sauce
Chicken, green chilies and cheese, rolled in floured tortillas and smothered in a creamy homemade sauce.
Homemade Pico de Gallo
Diced tomatoes, jalapenos, onions and cilantro star in this refreshing salsa that's perfect with tortilla chips, or served over enchiladas and burritos.
Turkey Chili Taco Bowls
Homemade turkey chili is served over corn chips with all of your favorite taco toppings!
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
All the flavors of Mexican street corn, including fresh grilled corn on the cob, come together in this colorful and delicious pasta salad.
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup
All the flavors of your favorite enchiladas come together in this hearty soup made with chicken, corn, beans, chili peppers and tortillas.
Slow Cooker Pineapple Green Chile Pork Tacos
Slow cooked pork with a green chile pineapple marinade, served in warm flour or corn tortillas.
Sweet Corn Tamales with a Savory Filling - Authentic Mexican Food.
It doesn't get more authentic than this! Sweet corn tamales stuffed with pork are a family recipe passed down from generation to generation.
Ultimate Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
With the perfect blend of seasonings and spices, this slow cooked pulled pork is some of the best you'll ever try!
Slow Cooker Chicken Posole
Chicken and hominy are slow cooked in a seasoned, tomato based broth, then topped with fresh herbs and vegetables in this classic Mexican soup recipe.
Skillet Beef Queso
Ground beef is added to melted cheese in this spicy, crowd-pleasing, one skillet dip that's sure to be a hit on game day, or any day!
Baked Chipotle Ranch Chicken Tacos
Crispy tacos shells are filled with chipotle ranch seasoned chicken and cheese, then baked and filled with your favorite taco toppings in this easy, crowd-pleasing dinner.
Homemade Tres Leches Cake
A made-from-scratch cake is infused with a hint of cinnamon, then soaked in three kinds of milk in this traditional Mexican dessert.
Restaurant Style Salsa
This easy salsa recipe comes together in about 5 minutes, and tastes just like the salsa from your favorite Mexican restaurant.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Skillet
This quick and easy Tex Mex chicken dish is a meal the whole family will love!
Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Filling
Chicken, rice, black beans and corn come together in this hearty slow cooker burrito filling!
Cheesy Green Chili Rice
White rice is combined with lots of shredded cheese, sour cream and diced green chilies in this Tex-Mex side dish the whole family will love.
Slow Cooker Pork Chili Verde
Tender pork, slow cooked in a spicy chili verde sauce. Delicious on it's own, or served with warm tortillas and a dollop of sour cream.
Birria Tacos
These birria tacos are crispy, cheesy, and incredibly flavorful!
Southwest Breakfast Quesadillas
Scrambled eggs, cheese, jalepeno and cilantro, served quesadilla style in soft flour tortillas.
Ancho Chicken Enchiladas
This Ancho Chicken Enchiladas recipe is easy to make, full of big flavor, nice and cheesy and filled with chicken and beans, and perfect for Cinco de Mayo or anytime you’re feeling like Mexican food!
Quick Red Enchilada Sauce
Why buy canned enchilada sauce when it is so easy to make it yourself at home with a handful of pantry staples.
Mexican Street Corn (Torchy's Copycat)
Grilled corn is tossed with mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice and spices in this delicious Tex-Mex side dish (Torchy’s Tacos copycat).
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Loaded with chicken, black beans and corn, this creamy tortilla soup is pure comfort food.
Quesadilla Enchiladas
Cheese filled tortillas are stacked with cheese and enchilada sauce in this crowd-pleasing Tex-Mex style dish.
7 Layer Dip
Made with beans, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, tomatoes, olives, and scallions.
Coconut Tres Leches Cake
Classic tres leches cake gets a tropical twist with the addition of coconut milk and a whipped cream and banana garnish.
Chile Lime Salmon Tacos
Salmon is roasted with spices and lime juice, then served in tortillas with a tangy cabbage slaw in this fresh and delicious seafood taco recipe.
King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Tortillas, chicken, peppers, cheese and a creamy sauce are layered together in this crowd-pleasing Southwest casserole.
Favorite Homemade Guacamole
Fresh avocados, tomatoes, onions, lime juice and cilantro come together in this class Tex-Mex dip!
Slow Cooker Southwest Pork Stew
Made in the slow cooker, this hearty, Tex-Mex style pork stew is the perfect way to use up leftover pulled pork. It's savory, spicy comfort food at it's best!
Mexican Flan
This is a make-ahead dessert (it requires some chilling in the refrigerator), which makes it perfect for parties and holidays like Cinco de Mayo!
Spicy Baja Shrimp Tacos
Breaded shrimp is coated in a creamy, spicy sauce, then served in warm tortillas with tangy coleslaw and green onions. A quick week night meal that will make you feel like your eating at your favorite taco truck!
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
Tender, slow cooked shredded chicken. Perfect for tacos, burritos, enchiladas and more!
Be sure to save this collection of Tasty Tex-Mex Inspired Recipes to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Hello! I’m Danelle. Thanks for visiting.
Uptown foodie meets real life at Let’s Dish, where I share all my favorite recipes. Making meal time easy, but doing it in style!
Stephanie @ PlainChicken
Great list! Now I want Mexican food!
Sarah
We are kindred spirits! I’m from Texas so I obviously love Tex Mex. Pinning some of these dishes for later! Thanks for sharing.
Danelle
Hope you love them Sarah!