Mexican Recipes

Mexican recipes offer something for everyone, whether a little spice, savory flavors, hearty meat dishes, or cheesy comfort foods. Here are a few of my favorite classic Mexican recipes that my family thoroughly enjoys, and yours will too! From homemade tortillas and fresh salsa to the best-ever beef empanadas, you'll find everything you need for a quality fiesta.

For more Tex-Mex, Mexican-inspired, and Mexican recipes, check out my Cinco de Mayo recipes, my favorite Mexican casseroles, and Mexican desserts!

Jump to:

• 1. Birria Tacos
• 2. Refried Black Beans
• 3. Beef Empanadas
• 4. Flour Tortillas
• 5. Elotes
• 6. Beef Taco Seasoning
• 7. Chicken Taco Seasoning
• 8. Ground Beef Taco Meat
• 9. Tacos Dorados
• 10. Corn Fritters
• 11. Salsa Roja
• 12. Pico De Gallo
• 13. Guacamole
• 14. Salsa Verde
• 15. Red Enchilada Sauce
• 16. Fresh Pineapple Salsa
• 17. Fresh Mango Salsa
• 18. Caldo de Pollo
• 19. Sopa de Chícharos
• 20. Chicken Tortilla Soup
• 21. Mexican Picadillo
• 22. Albondigas
• 23. Albondigas Soup
• 24. Albondigas Tacos
• 25. Slow Cooker Beef Cheek Tacos (Barbacoa de Cachete)
• 26. Turkey Carnitas
• 27. Instant Pot Chipotle Beef Barbacoa
• 28. Carne Picada
• 29. Cheese Enchiladas
• 30. Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce
• 31. Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
• 32. Beef Enchiladas
• 33. Ground Beef Taquitos
• 34. Chicken Taquitos
• 35. Corn Tortilla Quesadillas
• 36. Chicken Quesadillas
• 37. Fajita Quesadillas
• 38. Steak Quesadillas
• 39. Breakfast Quesadillas
• 40. Prime Rib Quesaritos
• 41. Steak Fajitas
• 42. Chicken Fajitas
• 43. Shrimp Fajitas
• 44. Ground Beef Tacos
• 45. Shredded Chicken Tacos
• 46. Huevos Rancheros
• 47. Chorizo and Eggs
• 48. Arrachera (Mexican Steak For Tacos)
• 49. Carne Asada
• 50. Instant Pot Chipotle Barbacoa Beef Cheeks
• 51. Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice
• 52. Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
• 53. Coctel de Camarones (Mexican Shrimp Cocktail)
• 54. Torta
• 55. Sofritas
• 56. Chorizo Mussels
• 57. Mexican Pralines
• 58. Mexican Wedding Cookies
• 59. Churros
• 60. Tres Leches
• 💭 Tips For Making Authentic Mexican Food
• 📖 Recipe Card
• Best Mexican Recipes: Pico De Gallo (+More Traditional Meal Ideas!)
• 💬 Comments & Reviews

Sometimes, you just crave a big plate of Mexican food—or at least I do. Rice, beans, and something with a little spice often turn a rough day around.

I love making authentic Mexican recipes from scratch because you can taste the love and time poured into the meal. Below are a few of my family's favorites that are too good not to share!

1. Birria Tacos

Birria is a goat stew that is extremely versatile and jam-packed with flavor! Enjoy birria as a traditional taco, or make quesatacos by dunking the tortillas in birria broth, filling them with cheese, and frying until crispy!

2. Refried Black Beans

Refried black beans are a low-calorie Mexican side dish you can enjoy eating. A sprinkle of queso fresco on top, and you will forget just how healthy they are!

Best of all, you can use refried black beans in any way (or in any meal) you would use regular refried beans.

3. Beef Empanadas

Tender, flaky empanada crust stuffed with a delicious ground beef filling and baked in the oven, what's not to love?

They are hearty, filling, and just the right size to eat with your hands!

4. Flour Tortillas

Any Mexican dinner is improved with a stack of warm, homemade tortillas on the table. When you make your own tortillas, you can make them any size you need, from street tacos to huge wraps!

5. Elotes

If you've ever enjoyed elotes from a street vendor, then you know just how delicious and refreshing it is! The perfect balance of creamy, spicy, and tangy Mexican street corn makes any meal better.

Well, now there's no need to hunt down an elotes cart when you can make the real deal at home.

6. Beef Taco Seasoning

My homemade beef taco blend is the only seasoning you will ever need for beef tacos! It's a simple yet flavor-packed blend of herbs and spices without all the preservatives in store-bought seasoning.

7. Chicken Taco Seasoning

Shredded chicken tacos are ten times tastier with homemade taco seasoning. Mix it with shredded chicken and spoon it onto tortillas for the easiest taco night ever!

8. Ground Beef Taco Meat

Perfectly seasoned ground beef, just waiting for tortillas and taco toppings. You can make it as spicy as you like using your favorite taco seasoning or adjusting the cayenne used in my taco seasoning mix.

9. Tacos Dorados

Referred to as 'golden tacos' for their perfectly crisp, golden shell, tacos dorados are utterly delicious! The crispy shell won't fall apart on you, and you can dress them up with all of your favorite taco toppings and sauces.

10. Corn Fritters

Pan-fried Mexican corn fritters are super easy to make and can be served as part of any meal or as an appetizer! Make them spicy or not; it's up to you!

11. Salsa Roja

Learning to make homemade salsa roja is a skill you will utilize time and time again. Leave it chunky or blend it smooth, use it as a dip for chips, or drizzle it on your favorite Mexican dish; there are a million ways to serve this incredible salsa!

12. Pico De Gallo

Another traditional Mexican condiment, pico de Gallo, is incredibly versatile as well! This fresh vegetable salsa can be sprinkled over all your favorite Mexican foods, or scooped onto chips and enjoyed as-is!

Whip some up to make a big Mexican spread for Cinco de Mayo (or any occasion), or keep it in the fridge to add to eggs, baked potatoes, guacamole, whatever you like!

13. Guacamole

This is my tried and true guacamole recipe! It's fresh and limey, perfect for serving up on a summer day with a pitcher of margaritas.

Be prepared for this to be the appetizer everyone requests from you at parties! If you like variety, creamy guacamole and hatch chile guacamole are also favorites of mine.

14. Salsa Verde

Nothing beats an authentic salsa verde made from fresh tomatillos. A touch of jalapeno adds just the right amount of heat.

Like the salsa roja above, this green salsa can be put on any of your favorite Mexican foods or used as a dip on its own!

15. Red Enchilada Sauce

My favorite recipe for homemade red enchilada sauce that will elevate all of your enchilada dinners. Beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, cheese, it tastes great on everything.

16. Fresh Pineapple Salsa

Fresh fruit salsas are a great way to add vibrancy and crunch to your favorite Mexican dishes. Pineapple adds a wonderful juicy flavor and light sweetness that balances spicy meals.

17. Fresh Mango Salsa

Swap out pineapple for fresh diced mango for another versatile fruit salsa. It's the perfect condiment for everything from tacos to salads!

18. Caldo de Pollo

Caldo de Pollo is a wonderful soup for when you're feeling under the weather (or just because you're craving something comforting).

This Mexican chicken soup is full of fresh ingredients and a savory broth. It's a meal that warms the soul.

19. Sopa de Chícharos

Sopa de Chícharos is a traditional Latin American soup made with green peas, similar to split pea soup. It's hearty and flavorful, perfect for a cozy meal on a chilly day.

20. Chicken Tortilla Soup

My chicken tortilla soup has a savory broth loaded with tender chicken and veggies, topped with crispy tortilla strips. Leave out the tortilla strips, and it makes a great freezer meal.

21. Mexican Picadillo

Picadillo is a hearty meat and potato hash that can be used in various ways! Enjoy it with eggs at breakfast time, or use it to fill burritos, tacos, empanadas, or whatever your heart desires!

A touch of jalapeno adds just a little kick, but not so much that it's overpowering.

22. Albondigas

Albondigas are juicy Mexican meatballs with rice mixed right in. They're delicious on their own but also make great soups, sandwiches, and tacos.

23. Albondigas Soup

Albondigas, or Mexican meatballs, are even more delicious when tossed into a savory soup. Fresh veggies and a brothy tomato base make this soup comforting and delicious, while the albondigas make it super filling!

24. Albondigas Tacos

These Mexican meatball tacos are my favorite way to use up leftover albondigas. Not that you need to wait for leftovers, they are definitely worth whipping up a fresh batch.

25. Slow Cooker Beef Cheek Tacos (Barbacoa de Cachete)

Beef cheek tacos, or barbacoa de cachete, is flavorful meat perfect for traditional Mexican tacos. The beef cheeks are cooked low and slow in the crockpot with a zesty blend of herbs and spices until perfectly tender.

26. Turkey Carnitas

Using leftover turkey to make delicious shredded turkey carnitas tacos is one of the best meals to make after the holidays! You can even swap out fresh raw turkey or chicken, and you can make it in your crock pot if you need something hands-off!

27. Instant Pot Chipotle Beef Barbacoa

Using your Instant Pot to cook up some chipotle barbacoa beef cheeks results in tasty beef that tastes like it was slow-roasted for hours. It's juicy and fall-apart-tender in just about 45 minutes.

Use this flavorful shredded beef in tacos, burritos, or any of the Mexican recipes on your menu.

28. Carne Picada

Rich beefy carne picada is the most versatile beef taco filling you could ever make, and it tastes so incredibly delicious. It's a wonderfully quick and easy Mexican main dish to serve any night of the week.

29. Cheese Enchiladas

The classic enchilada starts with lots of cheese, tortillas, saucy goodness, and more cheese! This crowd-pleasing dinner is easy to make and a winner for picky eaters.

See all of my tasty enchilada recipes in this great collection!

30. Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce

Tangy verde enchilada sauce is even better homemade, especially on made-from-scratch shredded chicken enchiladas. Check out my favorite side dish selections for what to serve with enchiladas.

31. Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

If sour cream is your favorite condiment for Mexican cuisine, you will obsess over my rich sour cream enchilada sauce. It's perfect for shredded chicken enchiladas!

32. Beef Enchiladas

My classic beef enchiladas with rolled tortillas filled with seasoned ground beef topped with enchilada sauce and melted cheese. They're a comforting and satisfying meal, perfect for a fiesta or weeknight dinner!

33. Ground Beef Taquitos

This tasty ground beef recipe is a family favorite - and what's not to love?! Tasty seasoned beef rolled up in corn tortillas and fried until delightfully crisp makes for a great finger food snack, taco night appetizer, or casual dinner.

34. Chicken Taquitos

Rolled tacos filled with seasoned chicken and fried until delectably crispy. They're perfect for snacking or as a tasty appetizer!

35. Corn Tortilla Quesadillas

Corn tortillas are the traditional choice for tacos and quesadillas if you want to be as authentic as possible. See what to serve with quesadillas for my top side dish suggestions.

36. Chicken Quesadillas

Tender chunks of chicken, veggies, and lots of melted cheese sandwiched between two crispy tortillas. The fillings are customizable, as are the condiments you dip them in!

37. Fajita Quesadillas

Everything you love about steak fajitas sandwiched between two crispy, cheesy tortillas. Best of all, it's ready to eat in 30 minutes!

38. Steak Quesadillas

Tender steak and melted cheese between two crispy tortillas. They're perfect for a quick and satisfying meal and easy to customize with your favorite fillings and condiments.

39. Breakfast Quesadillas

All the breakfast classics come together for this epic breakfast quesadilla. It's fully loaded with cheese, eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns.

40. Prime Rib Quesaritos

Tender leftover prime rib and gooey cheese wrapped in a warm tortilla. It's a fun take on traditional burritos that turns leftovers into a new Mexican-inspired meal worthy of any restaurant.

41. Steak Fajitas

Sizzling hot strips of pan-fried steak and vegetables. Whether you eat it in a tortilla or not is up to you! Check out what to serve with fajitas for the best side dishes.

42. Chicken Fajitas

Tender strips of chicken, peppers, and onions, sauteed to tender perfection. You can load them up on tortillas or enjoy them as-is.

43. Shrimp Fajitas

Juicy shrimp, colorful peppers, and zesty seasoning all cooked to perfection Serve them sizzling hot, wrapped in warm tortillas for a flavorful Mexican fiesta!

44. Ground Beef Tacos

Perfectly seasoned ground beef that you can serve in crispy taco shells or flour tortillas with all the fixings. For side dish ideas, see what to serve with tacos.

45. Shredded Chicken Tacos

Tender shredded chicken piled high on corn or flour tortillas. The secret is in my homemade chicken taco seasoning!

46. Huevos Rancheros

Huevos Rancheros is a classic Mexican breakfast with fried eggs on tortillas and zesty red salsa. It's a flavorful and satisfying way to start your day with a perfect balance of spicy and savory flavors.

47. Chorizo and Eggs

Chorizo and eggs is a classic Mexican dish made with spicy chorizo sausage and scrambled eggs. It's a flavorful and satisfying breakfast option that's easy to make.

48. Arrachera (Mexican Steak For Tacos)

This flavorful Mexican steak is perfectly seasoned and grilled for the best street tacos. All you need is tortillas and a squeeze of lime.

49. Carne Asada

Tender beef marinated in a tangy citrus carne asada marinade for an authentic taco experience. It's a super easy way to elevate your taco Tuesdays.

50. Instant Pot Chipotle Barbacoa Beef Cheeks

Perfect for tacos or burritos, this dish is a delicious twist on traditional Mexican barbacoa. The meat is infused with chipotle flavor and cooks in half the time, thanks to your pressure cooker.

51. Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice

Learn to make authentic Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice at home with this simple recipe. Perfect as a side dish or a flavorful base for your favorite Mexican dishes!

52. Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice

With your Instant Pot, you can make flavorful cilantro lime rice in minutes. It's the perfect side dish for your favorite Mexican-inspired meals.

53. Coctel de Camarones (Mexican Shrimp Cocktail)

Coctel de Camarones is a refreshing Mexican shrimp cocktail with tomatoes, onions, avocado, and cilantro, all mixed in a tangy tomato-based sauce. It's perfect for a light lunch or appetizer, with fresh flavors and a hint of spice.

54. Torta

This hearty Mexican sandwich features a soft telera roll piled high with carne asada, lettuce, tomato, avocado, cheese, and jalapenos. The toppings are customizable, of course.

Learn more about this popular Mexican sandwich here at what is a torta?

55. Sofritas

Sofritas is a tasty meat substitute made from seasoned tofu that can be used as a filling in tacos or burritos. It's a great way to add a delicious vegan twist to traditional Mexican dishes.

56. Chorizo Mussels

Chorizo mussels offer a fusion of seafood and traditional Mexican cuisine. It's full of tender arborio rice, zesty tomato broth, and delicious mussels, making it a great choice for lunch or dinner.

57. Mexican Pralines

Chewy pecan pralines are Mexican candies with a rich caramel flavor. They're so easy to make at home and only take about 10 minutes of prep, and you don't have to bake them.

58. Mexican Wedding Cookies

Mexican wedding cookies are delicate, buttery cookies coated in powdered sugar traditionally served for celebrations. They melt in your mouth and are a delightful addition to any festive occasion.

59. Churros

Crispy fried churros have become a staple fairground food in the United States, but they have been popular Mexican desserts for a long time. These crispy sticks of fried batter are coated in cinnamon sugar for a treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth.

60. Tres Leches

Moist and sweet, tres leches cake is a decadent dessert soaked in three types of milk, hence the name. Top it with your favorite fresh fruit to make this cake your own!

💭 Tips For Making Authentic Mexican Food

By incorporating these tips into your cooking, you can make delicious and authentic Mexican cuisine at home:

1. Use fresh ingredients: Mexican recipes rely heavily on fresh produce like tomatoes, peppers, onions, cilantro, and avocados. Using fresh ingredients will enhance the flavors of your dishes.
2. Get to know the Chilies: Chilies are a staple in Mexican cuisine and come in various shapes, sizes, and heat levels. Learn about different types of chilies, such as jalapeños, poblanos, serranos, and chipotles, and use them according to your desired level of heat.
3. Don't forget the Lime: Lime juice adds a bright tanginess to foods. Squeeze fresh lime juice over tacos, guacamole, or grilled meats for an added depth of flavor.
4. Salsa, salsa, and more salsa: Salsa is a versatile condiment that can be used as a dip, topping, or marinade. Learn how to make different types of salsa, such as pico de gallo, salsa verde, and salsa roja, to complement your dishes.

With tasty recipes like these up your sleeve, you can have a delicious Mexican meal whenever you please! Let me know which recipes you have tried or what you want to see added to my list by leaving a comment below!

📖 Recipe Card