Looking for the best Cinco de Mayo recipes? I have rounded up my favorites for you!
Let’s start with a quick history lesson. Don’t confuse Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day – that’s on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo commemorates May 5, 1862, the date that the Mexican Army had an unlikely victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla.
The Mexicans were outnumbered, and the French Army was better equipped, but the Mexicans were victorious. This was a major victory that lifted the spirits and patriotism of the Mexican people and added strength to the resistance movement.
Some people have argued that if the Mexicans didn’t defeat the French in the Battle of Puebla, that the French might have fought with the Confederacy in the American Civil War and which may have led to a different outcome.
So… maybe it isn’t so silly that Cinco de Mayo tends to be more celebrated in America than Mexico.
The Best Cinco de Mayo Recipes:
Now that we have a little more context, here are my favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes. Just in case you want to celebrate all day, I have listed the best Cinco de Mayo recipes, including breakfasts, snacks, and main courses.
Cinco de Mayo Breakfast Recipes:
Chilaquiles – Chilaquiles is a classic Mexican breakfast made with tortilla chips simmered in salsa. It’s spicy, easy to make, and it is said to cure a hangover. I love to add fried eggs, cheese, and avocado on top.
The Best Breakfast Burritos – Breakfast burritos are a great way to use up any leftovers from taco night. These burritos have scrambled eggs, black beans, chorizo, hashbrowns, and poblano cream sauce.
Breakfast Tostadas – Tostadas are a great thing to keep in your pantry. Add some leftover shredded pork, some avocado, cheese, and a fried egg on top, and you have a delicious and hearty breakfast.
Cinco de Mayo Snacks:
7 Layer Taco Dip – A party classic, 7 Layer Taco Dip takes just minutes to prepare and I promise that every bite will get eaten.
Brussels Sprout Nachos – These nachos are a bit more elegant and a lot more colorful thanks to the addition of roasted brussels sprout and a garlic beet crema.
Classic Queso – Queso makes everything a bit more delicious! Use cabot cheddar to make this easy queso recipe!
Guacamole – Roasted tomato guacamole adds sweet oven roasted grape tomatoes to this beloved dip. It’s an easy twist on a classic.
Cinco de Mayo Main Courses:
Shredded Beef Chimichangas – Chimichangas are one of the best Cinco de Mayo recipes because it is easy to make a big batch. You can add your favorite fillings to chimichangas – I like to add roasted bell peppers and zucchini, plus beans, rice, and cheese.
Chicken Chimichangas with Poblano Cream Sauce – These chimichangas are filled with shredded chicken, refried black beans, rice, cheese, and sautéed onions. The final touch is my (famous among my friends) poblano cream sauce.
Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Pesto – These tacos are made with shredded chicken coated in an easy homemade cilantro pesto and a cabbage slaw. It’s a healthy meal that is easy to prepare. You can even use a store-bought rotisserie chicken if you want to save time.
Chicken Tortilla Soup – If you are looking for a healthier Cinco de Mayo recipe, this chicken tortilla recipe is filled with vegetables. I add tomatoes, peppers, beans, and corn in addition to chunks of chicken and some crumbled tortilla chips.
Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos – You can make these tender spicy shredded beef tacos with just minutes of active preparation. Add the meat and seasonings into a slow cooker and let the meat cook low and slow for 6 hours, then shred the meat and add it to tacos and top with cheese, jalapeños, and cilantro. So easy and delicious, and easy to make in big batches.
Beef Stuffed Poblano Peppers – You can make these poblano peppers filled with ground beef, quinoa, black beans, corn and cheese in just 30 minutes of active preparation time. I love the smoky spice of poblanos, but if you want to use a milder pepper you can use bell peppers instead.
4 Ingredient Taco Chicken – It doesn’t get any easier than this shredded taco chicken, just throw the 4 ingredients into the slow cooker, and let it work its magic for 5 hours. The chicken will be so tender that it will shred easily.