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How much Mexican food do I plan to eat this Cinco de Mayo, you ask? That’s nacho business!
Break out the margaritas! Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with some delicious food and refreshing cocktails. I have a handful of recipes that are full of flavor and easy to throw together for a last-minute party. Here’s what’s on the menu:
- Chunky Guacamole with Tortilla Chips
- White Queso Dip with Tortilla Chips
- Mexican Corn Tostadas
- Chicken Taquitos
- Mexican Pasta Salad with Chipotle Lime Dressing
- Cubano Style Tacos
- Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars
- Tequila Sunrise
Not only are these great recipes for Cinco de Mayo, but they are light and refreshing options for any summer dinner. Plus, you can make them as mild or spicy as you like by adjusting the amount of seasoning you add.
First up is Chunky Guacamole. This is one of my go-to appetizers to serve for a party. It’s full of fresh produce and tastes amazing so you might want to double…or triple…the recipe! I don’t know many that can walk away from this guacamole after only one chip. If you prefer a smoother guacamole, mash the avocado a bit more to create less of a “chunky” texture. I recommend serving with Tostitos Hint of Lime Flavored Tortilla chips.
The recipe can be found here.
Next up is White Queso Dip. This dip tastes just like queso served at your favorite Mexican restaurant, but it’s homemade! It’s creamy and zesty, and simple to make. If you are looking for more spice or want to make something a little more elaborate, add some diced jalapeno, diced tomatoes, cilantro, you name it! You can really make this dip what you want. I recommend serving with tortilla chips (or adding as a topping to a few other items on the menu, but more to come on that 😊).
The recipe can be found here.
Mexican Corn Tostadas are essentially flat tacos made by layering ingredients. These can be made vegetarian or be topped with the meat of your choice. Again, you can make these what you want. I opted for a vegetarian option and it didn’t disappoint! I used canned corn, but you can buy frozen or fresh. Grilling the corn before adding to the mixture would also add nice flavor.
The recipe can be found here.
Next up is Chicken Taquitos. A taquito is basically a rolled taco with a crispy outer shell that’s stuffed with tasty ingredients. These are to die for! I used flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas, but either option works. If you have the patience to fry them long enough to get a crispy shell, kudos to you 😊 I couldn’t wait and sampled one with a slightly soft shell – it was still delicious! One shortcut for this recipe is to buy a Rotisserie Chicken from your local Festival Foods. It saves time on having to cook the chicken yourself and yields the required amount. This is one of the menu items I referenced earlier – these taste great with a little white queso dip drizzled on top or used as a dipping sauce. Yum!
The recipe can be found here.
Mexican Pasta Salad with Chipotle Lime Dressing is a great dish for a crowd (or a few people if you like leftovers). The ingredients are fresh, the dressing gives off a nice citrus flavor, and your guests will love all the colors that make up the salad. I recommend buying the colorful bow tie noodles as they made the dish really stand out, but regular bow tie noodles are fine too. Very bold southwest flavors in this salad!
The recipe can be found here.
The final item on the menu, aside from dessert is, Cubano Style Tacos. This is everything you love about a Cuban sandwich but served in a tortilla. The pork, ham, cheese, pickles, and mustard sauce are nonnegotiable items (if you want to do this the right way, in my opinion 😊). The rest of the toppings are up for discussion.
The recipe calls for a pork shoulder roast that’s worth the wait! Seriously, if you have the time to roast the pork shoulder for this recipe, do it. You will not regret it! If you don’t have the time that’s ok too. Simply prepare shredded pork or purchase from your local grocery store. This is the other menu item I was referring to earlier – these also taste great when topped with a drizzle of white queso dip. Every bite of these tacos is savory and will make you wonder why you’ve never made these before.
The recipe can be found here.
For dessert I made Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars. This dessert is very easy to make, smells wonderful coming out of the oven, and tastes even better! These bars have the perfect ratio of cream cheese to sugar; sweet but not too sweet. You use quick bread (i.e. Crescent Roll Dough) as a shortcut vs. making dough and letting it rise, so it’s a simple recipe.
The recipe can be found here.
No Cinco de Mayo celebration is complete without a cocktail! Tequila Sunrise is the perfect fit for my menu. It’s a festive drink with colorful layers of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine.
Here’s how you make it:
- 1 1/2 oz. tequila
- 3 oz. freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tsp. grenadine
Directions
Add the tequila and orange juice to a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake well. Strain into a large, chilled cocktail glass. Slowly pour the grenadine into the glass over the back of a spoon. This will allow the colorful layers to form. Enjoy!
As always, our sous chef Bear, was very excited to be part of the festivities 🙂
I hope you can enjoy these recipes whether it’s for your own Cinco de Mayo party or a Mexican themed dinner at home! Salud!
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