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Home » International Recipes » Flavors from Mexico » Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

May 3, 2023 · by Valentina · 24 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links.

Recipes for Cinco de Mayo -- From smoky guacamole and fruit-filled salsa, to spicy lettuce-wrapped tacos and fresh ceviche, these Latin inspired recipes are over-the-top delicious, and always a hit!

Tomato salsa in a black bowl with one chip held up with salsa on it.
First, what does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is typically thought of as Mexico’s Independence Day, but it's not. Mexico’s Independence Day is actually September 16th.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates a victory over France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Not widely celebrated in Mexico, in the United States the commercialization of the holiday has taken off and is mostly about food.

If you're celebrating Cinco de Mayo, or just want Mexican-inspired dishes, here are a handful of absolutely scrumptious recipes.

While these are not all authentic Mexican recipes, they're all inspired by them and are loaded with the Mexican flavors we love so much.

I could feast on each one of the below recipes day and night -- special holiday or not! I'm hoping you'll feel the same way.

Why This Recipe Collection is Great

  • There is something for every type of eater here. The list includes meat, chicken, fish, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
  • Some of the recipes are fabulous to serve to a large group -- especially the enchiladas, salsas and guacamole.
  • A couple of the recipes are lovely for a smaller gathering, like the blackened salmon and cremè brûlée.

Top Cinco de Mayo recipes . . .

Roasted Tomato Poblano Salsa 
The smoky flavor and fresh ingredients in this salsa make it superb for chips, tacos, burritos, or to top meats, chicken and fish. And after all, you can't really celebrate Cinco de Mayo without salsa! Right?

Tomato salsa in a black bowl with one chip on top.

Spicy Potato Soft Tacos
Potato Tacos are absolutely incredible vegetarian tacos. They’re a tad spicy, tangy, sweet, and super hearty and satisfying. Easy-to-make, they always draw a crowd and everybody loves them!

Three potato soft tacos on a large red plate with pickled onion and tomato salsa.

Puerco Con Salsa Verde
With succulent pieces of juicy pork, coated with a fresh, spicy Salsa Verde recipe, this popular Mexican dish, Puerco Con Salsa Verde, will have you licking your plate clean.

Bite sized pieces of pork in salsa verde in a green ceramic bowl.

Roasted Poblano-Lemon Guacamole Recipe
Hands down, my favorite guacamole of all time! It's fresh and smoky all at once.

White and beige ceramic bowl with guacamole and chips and fresh lemon on top.

Pepper Jack Turkey-Pickled Onion Lettuce Tacos
These bundles of lettuce are packed with superb spicy, savory flavors, and are perfect for a lighter meal to go alongside the salsa and guacamole!

6 lettuce tacos with avocado slices and ground turkey.

Tomatillo Shrimp Ceviche
This is the perfect starter for your Cinco de Mayo festivities this weekend!  It's fresh, light, and packed with delicious Latin flavors!

Martini glass filled with shrimp ceviche.

Blackened Fish Tacos 
These soft tacos have an amazingly delicious flavor combination. They're spicy, cool, soft, crunchy, hearty and a touch sweet — all at once. You simply won’t be able to get enough.

Three soft fish tacos with fresh lime and avocado slices.

Marinated Achiote Chicken
This beautiful, Marinated Achiote Chicken Recipe, also called Pollo Pibil, is juicy, succulent, and full of rich, deep Mexican flavors.

Two pieces of bone-in achiote chicken with avocado slices in a green bowl.

The Best Vegetarian Enchiladas
These are the Best Vegetarian Enchiladas Ever! They have an unexpected "secret" ingredient that puts them over the top!

Casserole dish packed with vegetarian enchiladas with cheese melted on top.

Blackened Mexican Salmon with Lime
This salmon is flavored with lime and an aromatic blackened spice crust made of Ancho chile, garlic, onion and oregano. It's super easy to put together and always a hit.

Blackened Salmon with three slime slices on a white plate.top view of blackened salmon fillet with lime slices on white plate.

Mexican Black Beans From Scratch
Mexican Black Beans from scratch are easy to make and great to have on hand for a delicious side dish, and for adding to all sorts of other recipes. A fine Mexican herb, Epazote, makes this recipe extra special.

Green ceramic bowl with crimped edges full of black beans with avocado slices.

Poblano Rice Pilaf
This rice side dish is a festival of Mexican flavors, and the perfect side dish to almost any meal with a Latin flair.

Rice pilaf with poblano chile peppers in a wooden oval-shaped bowl.

Mango Avocado Chipotle Salsa
Beautiful and crazy delicious, easy and versatile, it’s wonderful in so many different recipes and it will brighten up your summer barbecue or dinner party.

Yellow bowl full with beautifully chopped mango and avocado salsa.

Spicy Mayan Chocolate Truffles
These Spicy Mayan Chocolate Truffles are a sweet and spicy delectable combination, and the perfect way to finish a Cinco de Mayo meal.

A few chocolate truffles made with cinnamon with cinnamon sticks.

Mexican Chocolate Crème Brûlée
Mexican Chocolate Crème Brûlée is a fabulous Cinco de Mayo dessert. Every rich, chocolatey bite is subtly spiced with cinnamon, and the creamy texture is over the top! Whether you serve this for the holiday, or any day, it’s sure to make you happy.

Three Mexican chocolate creme burlee in terre cotta bowls.

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies These little bites of joy include melted chocolate, a subtle kick of heat from spices, and a whole lot of sweetness. They're a fun Cinco de Mayo dessert, or dessert any day!

Green and yellow ceramic mug filled with hot chocolate little cookies.

I hope you love these scrumptious Cinco de Mayo recipes as much as my family and I do!

Sa

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

    May 04, 2020 at 5:07 am

    What a fabulous collection!! I'd be quite happy with any of those recipes...for Cinco de Mayo or whenever!! So many delicious, fresh flavours! Happy Monday 🙂

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 04, 2020 at 1:26 pm

      Thanks so much, Dawn. I love this sort of food all year long. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  2. David Scott Allen

    May 04, 2020 at 6:38 am

    We are very much into ceviche recipes at home — much easier than trying to find ones in restaurants that don’t make me queasy! The shrimp ceviche looks amazing and will be on our menu tomorrow for Cinco de Mayo. It actually might be our entire dinner!

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 04, 2020 at 1:24 pm

      How fun, David. My favorite local restaurant has a delicious ceviche and I always make a meal of it. It's the only place I order it.One day they'll open again. Until then, it's this yummy recipe. Hope you love it, too! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  3. 2pots2cook

    May 04, 2020 at 8:31 am

    Oh dear ! I have completely forgotten about Cinco de Mayo while isolated !!!! I appreciate your reminder and such a beautiful collection dear !

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 04, 2020 at 1:19 pm

      Thank you. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  4. priya

    May 04, 2020 at 3:09 pm

    I am loving this collection. my first try will be that smokey guacamole. I am looking forward to that tacos too.
    have a great day ahead!

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 05, 2020 at 1:49 pm

      Thanks, Priya. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  5. Kim Lange

    May 04, 2020 at 6:38 pm

    OMgoodness! I want them all! I'm a huge fan of guac! It sounds so refreshing! Pinning for tomorrow! 🙂

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 05, 2020 at 1:49 pm

      Thanks, Kim! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  6. David @ Spiced

    May 06, 2020 at 4:58 am

    We didn't do much to celebrate Cinco de Mayo here yesterday as it was chilly (what the heck!) and a Tuesday (bah.). But we've been talking about a belated celebration this weekend! And I think that roasted poblano salsa will need to make an appearance...it sounds delicious! 🙂

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 10, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Hope it was lovely belated. 🙂 Thanks, David. ~Valentina

      Reply
  7. Liz

    May 06, 2020 at 6:40 am

    Oooh, I want to eat at your house next Cinco de Mayo! Every dish looks amazing!!!

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 10, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Thanks so much, Liz! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  8. John / Kitchen Riffs

    May 06, 2020 at 8:23 am

    We love Mexican dishes, so Cinco de Mayo is a high feast day for us. Terrific recipes here -- thanks.

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 10, 2020 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks, John. We are huge Mexican food fans, too. Never enough. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  9. Jeff the Chef

    May 09, 2020 at 8:50 am

    Well, cinco de mayo kind of passed me by unnoticed, but I love food like this all year long. So thank you!

    Reply
    • valentina

      May 10, 2020 at 2:38 pm

      Me too! I never need a holiday as an excuse for the foods I want. 😉 Hope all is well, Jeff. ~Valentina

      Reply
  10. Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!

    May 04, 2023 at 8:01 am

    I love that opening picture! I can't believe it's already going to be May 5 tomorrow! I need to make some salsa, pronto!

    Reply
    • Valentina

      May 11, 2023 at 8:31 pm

      Hope you had a delicious 5th of Mayo, Jeff! 😀 ~Valentina

      Reply
  11. mimi rippee

    May 04, 2023 at 1:05 pm

    These all look so good! Mexican cuisine has to be our favorite, as well as Southwestern inspired food. It's just so fresh and flavorful.

    Reply
    • Valentina

      May 11, 2023 at 8:31 pm

      Definitely at the top of my list too. Thanks, Mimi! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
  12. Cathy

    May 04, 2025 at 8:09 pm

    Everything looks and sounds amazing.
    Hard to decide which to start with.

    Reply
    • Valentina

      May 13, 2025 at 10:09 pm

      Awww, thanks, Cathy! Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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