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45 Mexican-Inspired Party Ideas Perfect For Cinco De Mayo

Let's party (respectfully! no sombreros allowed).

By
chicken enchiladaspinterest

A bit of history for you: Cinco de Mayo originally celebrates an important Mexican victory over French forces, which is why it's such a bummer that it's too often trivialized into a cheap happy hour featuring white-washed foods and caricatures of Mexican culture. Whether you’re having a big get-together or celebrating solo, we want to remind you that it’s totally possible to respectfully celebrate AND have fun by making some Mexican-inspired party foods at home. From easy dips and bites to more involved dinners that’ll feed a crowd, we’ve got something here for everyone.

Let’s talk tortillas. They’re the ultimate basis for all our favorite party foods, so grab a bag of the best ones you can find (or make your own flour, corn, or keto ones). The easiest thing you can do is make tacos, like our fish tacos, our tequila-lime chicken tacos (you’ve probably already got the margarita-themed ingredients!), or our carne asada tacos, but you can also use them to craft more involved party foods. Try our chicken flautas, spicy chicken taquitos, or green chile chicken skillet enchiladas for impressive dishes that only look difficult to make.

If you’re looking for party food that’s less hands-on, you gotta go nachos. Buy a big bag of tortilla chips (or make your own chips if you’ve got extra tortillas), and you’re halfway to a crunchy, cheesy appetizer or meal that’ll please a crowd. You can assemble and serve them straight off the sheet pan, no plates or utensils needed (but a big yes to lots of napkins). Hot tip: Our carne asada fries are proof that nacho toppings can go on anything, so get creative.

If you make nothing else, you’ve got to have chips and dip or salsa. Guacamole is the classic, of course (buy those avocados early so they’re sure to be ripe!), but it’s not the be all, end all for Cinco de Mayo. Try our salsa rojo or verde for something straightforward, or our queso fundido, our sikil p’ak (sort of like salsa verde x hummus), or our blueberry salsa if you want to get a little wilder—they’re all sure to impress more than store-bought. Bonus: If you’re going heavy on the meat for the rest of your party menu, these help add a little freshness to your spread.

And don’t forget about drinks and dessert! Check out our lists of our favorite Mexican sweets, our top tequila cocktails, and our best Mexican drinks too.

1

Tamales

tamales
Andrew bui

Tamales aren’t just fun to eat, they’re a great solo or group project for anyone who loves to cook. Make it a party by involving your friends, enlist your partner or spouse for a different kind of date night, or get the whole family involved. Tamale making is a joy, and tamales are a great canvas for different kinds of fillings.

Get the Tamales recipe.

2

Best-Ever Mexican Tostadas

mexican tostadas
PARKER FEIERBACH

Tostada shells can be tricky to find, so we made our own! Hot and fresh, there's so much more flavor. All that said, these insanely creamy beans + quick pickled onions would taste amazing on anything, including a packaged tostada shell. 😉

Get the Best-Ever Mexican Tostadas recipe.

3

Green Chile Chicken Skillet Enchiladas

green chile chicken skillet enchiladas
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Craving homemade enchiladas and being in a hurry aren't really compatible since the classic Mexican dish requires many steps and a fair amount of time. Enter: this skillet recipe, a quick take on the dish that comes together quickly and is perfect for a party.

Get the Green Chile Chicken Skillet Enchiladas recipe.

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4

Chicken Enchiladas

chicken enchiladas
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

When the craving for satisfying comfort food meets the need for a straightforward dinner, chicken enchiladas are a guaranteed winner. They’re easy, filling, and take less than an hour to prepare from start to finish.

Get the Chicken Enchiladas recipe.

5

Chalupas

chalupas with ground beef beans onions cojita and salsa verde
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLIST

Chalupas are a classic Mexican street food snack that are crispy, savory, and fun to eat. Usually chalupas are served like a tostada, but because we know you might be looking for the fluffy fry bread-like taco shell, we decided to create a version that was the best of both worlds.

Get the Chalupas recipe.

6

Bean & Cheese Taquitos

bean cheese taquitos
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

These crispy, cheesy Mexican taquitos are quick and easy to make—even if you don’t want to bust out the big bottle of oil. Instead, brush them with a little oil, then bake them at 450° for around 15 minutes.

Get the Bean & Cheese Taquitos recipe.

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7

Best-Ever Guacamole

guacamole with diced red onion, cilantro, and with chips
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

Whether you serve it as a simple dip, load it on top of your tacos, or smear it on a bun as a burger topping, we can all agree—it’s not a party without Mexico’s most famous dip. Keep it simple, like we did, or go wild with your mix-ins—just be sure to make extra, this'll go fast.

Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.

8

Carne Asada Tacos

marinated, grilled skirt steak, piled into a corn tortilla with salsa verde, cilantro, red onion, cotija, and radish
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This flavorful handheld food has it all—tender marinated carne asada, an aromatic corn tortilla, and all of the classic street taco toppings. Served for lunch or dinner, these are delicious with a hearty side of refried beans and rice, or you can keep it light with corn salad.

Get the Carne Asada Tacos recipe.

9

Mexican Fried Chicken Torta

mexican fried chicken torta
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

This torta recipe follows the "torta de milanese" tradition, featuring a breaded chicken cutlet that adds nice crunch to each bite. If you're looking for a torta made with beef, try our carne asada torta instead.

Get the Mexican Fried Chicken Torta recipe.

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10

Sopes

sopes made of masa harina and topped with refried beans salsa roja shredded lettuce mexican crema radishes and cojita
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

One of the greatest pleasures of Mexican street food are sopes: round bundles of masa lightly fried and piled with refried beans, shredded chicken, salsa roja or salsa verde, and cotija cheese. These little antojitos, or snacks, can be eaten throughout the day, and make for perfect anytime party apps.

Get the Sopes recipe.

11

Mexican Rice

mexican rice with tomatoes, onion and fresh cilantro
PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This easy recipe for Mexican rice is so full of flavor and might even be better than any we've had from a Tex-Mex restaurant. Make some to go with your chicken enchiladas or tamale pie, and call it a night!

Get the Mexican Rice recipe.

12

Sikil P’ak Pumpkin Seed Salsa

sikil p’ak pumpkin seed salsa
Andrew bui

If salsa verde and hummus had a child, it would remind us of this dip. Our version of sikil p’ak, which in Mayan means “pumpkin seed” and “tomato” respectively, is inspired by the Yucatecan version. Our riff uses hulled pepitas and charred tomatillos, and its subtle smokiness will keep you coming back for more.

Get the Sikil P’ak Pumpkin Seed Salsa recipe.

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13

Elote: Mexican Street Corn

mexican street corn delishcom
PARKER FEIERBACH

Elote is an unbelievably popular antojito (little craving) that you can find sold on the street in Mexico. It's often served on a stick, though you could skip the skewer and make it the same way you'd boil or oven bake regular corn on the cob.

Get the Elote: Mexican Street Corn recipe.

14

Nachos Supreme

nachos supreme
Parker Feierbach

In 1943, some wives of U.S. soldiers stationed at Fort Duncan in Eagle Pass, Texas, were on a shopping trip in the bordering city of Piedras Negras, Mexico. They stopped at a just-closed restaurant. Not wanting to disappoint his customers, the maître d’, Ignacio "El Nacho" Anaya, was determined to whip something up for them. He made due with what was left in the kitchen—tortillas, cheese, and pickled jalapeños—and served what would go on to be called "Nacho's especiales."

Get the Nachos Supreme recipe.

15

Chicken Empanadas

chicken empanadas with peppers and olives
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Empanadas come in many different forms with many different fillings. This version is a flavor bomb, with tender chicken thighs, peppers, and olives, bolstered by tomato paste and paprika. Yum!

Get the Chicken Empanadas recipe.

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16

Carne Asada Fries

carne asada fries
Emily Hlavac Green

These super-decadent fries, featuring carne asada, guacamole, and queso, are Tex-Mex at its finest. They're perfect for Cinco De Mayo (no judgment if you eat them for dinner alongside some margaritas!).

Get the Carne Asada Fries recipe.

17

Chicken Flautas

chicken flautas
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Made with shredded chicken wrapped in flour tortillas and then pan-fried, flautas are like taquitos mixed with chimichangas. They come together quickly, making them perfect party appetizers or a great weeknight meal served with Mexican rice and beans.

Get the Chicken Flautas recipe.

18

Salsa Verde Enchiladas

salsa verde enchiladas
Joel goldberg

Cheesy, savory enchiladas that have a super-green sauce might sound like a project, but mixing store-bought ingredients with fresh stuff speeds everything up without sacrificing flavor. The major “hack” here is using jarred salsa verde but punching up the flavor (and nutrients!) by adding a whole bunch of cilantro, fresh garlic, and jalapeños. It gives it a made-from-scratch taste but in a fraction of the time.

Get the Salsa Verde Enchiladas recipe.

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19

Chicken Quesadillas

chicken quesadilla
Ethan Calabrese

You don't really need a recipe to make this insanely popular Mexican dish. Top a tortilla with cheese (and whatever else you've got), then fold it in half and cook until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is melty. But if you're looking for some guidance, especially in cooking up some quick and easy chicken to stuff inside, this recipe won't let you down.

Get the Chicken Quesadilla recipe.

20

Refried Pinto Beans

refried pinto beans
LUCY SCHAEFFER

Mastering this classic Mexican staple takes a little bit of time, a lot of pork fat, and our few helpful hints (you CAN use canned beans!).

Get the Refried Pinto Beans recipe.

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