27 Must-Try Mexican Recipes (2024)

Flank Steak Fajita Burritos

Like those build-your-own burrito bars? Then you'll love this meal that mashes up burritos and fajitas into one easy-prep dish. Grilled flank steak, bell peppers, and zucchini fill our tasty Mexican burrito recipe. Try serving with salsa verde and extra guacamole (we won't charge you more!) for kick.

Mexican Nachos

Think of this nacho recipe—one of the best Mexican recipes for sharing—as a customizable masterpiece rather than a strict, set formula. Top purchased or homemade tortilla chips with canned or DIY refried beans, your favorite shredded meat, mole sauce, and any crumbly or shredded cheese.

Skirt Steak Tacos with Guacamole and Lime Crema

Ground beef is good, but marinated grilled steak is even better. One bite will have you convinced: These aren't your ordinary tacos. Beyond the meat, this Mexican beef recipe calls for guacamole and lime crema for a mild taco that packs in loads of flavor.

Beef Enchiladas

This Mexican ground beef recipe can easily be transformed into cheese, chicken, or chorizo-refried bean enchiladas instead. (We have instructions for 'em all.) To save time, stock up on cans of enchilada sauce so you can focus on perfecting the fillings and get these on the table in about an hour.

Stuffed Churro Puffs

Sugar, spice, and everything nice. This Mexican dessert recipe combines the concept of crunchy cinnamon-sugar-dusted churros with light-as-air cream puffs (aka profiteroles). Impress the whole family by baking these in advance, then slicing and serving slathered with big spoonfuls of sweetened whipped cream and dulce de leche.

Pozole with Pinto Beans and Queso Fresco

Pozole, which translates to hominy, refers to one of the key ingredients in this traditional Mexican food recipe. To boost the flavor complexity, start by roasting the tomatillos, peppers, onions, and garlic for 15 minutes before blending and adding to the soup base. Add the chicken, hominy, and pinto beans; simmer until warm; and serve with piles of fresh herbs, pickled onions, and cheese.

Buy It: Bruntmor Enameled 6.5-quart Cast-Iron Dutch Oven ($64, Amazon)

Tres Leches Bread Pudding

Three milks give this Mexican dessert recipe its name. We stick to that theme by inviting sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and regular milk to the Instagrammable dessert display. From there, we start to take liberties. Rather than stirring this all together in sheet-cake form, we soak bread cubes in the creamy concoction for a unique, cinnamon-spiced bread pudding.

Smoked Conchita Pibil

It's incredible how much flavor you can coax out of meat when you spice it nicely and cook it low and slow. This Mexican pork recipe requires nothing more than a pork roast, a dry rub, and a smoker to score succulent meat and flavor that will transport you to the bustling streets of Mexico City. Shred the meat and savor it inside tacos, quesadillas, or over a bed of Mexican rice or tortilla chips.

Fajita-Style Quesadillas

Add some sizzle to your supper and celebrate Mexican street food with our top-rated (over 300 5-star reviews!) vegetarian quesadillas. A mix of fajita vegetables, melty cheese, and creamy avocado fills this dish that's ideal enjoyed as a snack or light meal. For a flavorful finish for this Mexican dinner recipe, dip the quesadillas in sour cream, salsa, or guacamole.

Buy It: Lodge Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet ($15-$65, Williams Sonoma)

Pork Carnitas Tacos with Cherry-Chipotle Salsa

Adding cherries to a fresh salsa recipe is the perfect way to balance out the flavors thanks to its sweet-tart taste. Allow the meat to simmer in your slow cooker for up to 10 hours for the most tender pork you've ever made. Top your tacos with that homemade salsa, fresh radish, and cilantro before diving in.

Veggie Tostadas with Cauliflower Mash

You'll be the toast of the town (or at least your dinner table) when you serve these tostadas. They're one of our favorite vegetarian Mexican recipes. Piled high with cauliflower mash, asparagus, corn, and grape tomatoes, these tostadas ensure you don't feel like you're missing a thing. Easy, cheesy, and oh, so good.

Vegan Tempeh-Walnut Tacos

Calling all vegans and flexitarians! We've made a super delicious taco meat alternative out of nutrient-rich walnuts and soy-based tempeh for a vegetarian Mexican dinner recipe. It's full of flavor thanks to layers of spices (chili powder, paprika, and cinnamon, to name a few) to accompany the beeflike filling.

Steak Jalisco

You're looking at one of our favorite traditional Mexican food recipes. Treat ribeye steaks to a good skillet sear before roasting in the oven. A rich tequila cream sauce made with poblano pepper, Mexican crema, and a splash of tequila combines with lump crabmeat for a seriously satisfying topper.

Pork Ribs in Mole Verde

An easy Mexican pork recipe that's also super impressive? Yep! Tomatillos and green chiles are responsible for the bright color of this zippy mole. Pour the sauce over the ribs before slow-cooking the pork for a tender results.

Salmon in Nogada Sauce

Perk up everyday salmon fillets with a spicy ground ancho chile pepper rub. Balance that heat with homemade nogada sauce, which is a sweet and creamy blend of walnuts, queso fresco, sour cream, and ground cinnamon. Pair it with a side of chips and fresh guacamole to make it a real home fiesta.

Beef Tinga

Think of this simple Mexican beef recipe as the starter pack for a DIY taco station. Use your Dutch oven to simmer beef roast with chorizo and chipotle pepper until fork-tender. Serve the family-friendly Mexican dish with queso fresco, jalapeño slices, and tortillas.

Huaraches con Carnitas

Due to their shoelace appearance, these toasty Mexican sandwiches are called huaraches, which translates to sandals. Made with masa harina, the crispy fried bread holds classic carnitas and all your favorite Mexican toppings. To complement the rich shredded pork, top each open-face sandwich with a crisp and refreshing Mexican salad recipe of shredded cabbage, tomato, avocado, and crema.

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Tlayuda con Chorizo (Mexican Pizza with Chorizo)

Tlayudas are flatbreads topped with refried beans, meat, and veggies. A tortilla makes a great crust for this traditional Mexican food recipe. Then pile on those homemade refried black beans, fresh veggies, and hot peppers for south-of-the-border "pizza" toppings.

Pork Empanadas with Jicama Pico de Gallo

Empanadas are a surprisingly easy Mexican recipe to serve as an appetizer. Filled with tender cinnamon-spiced pork, they pair nicely with a pico de gallo featuring jicama, a crisp root vegetable. Just pour a round of margaritas!

Chicken Sopa Seca

"Just delicious. We ate ourselves to the gills! It was so tasty we couldn't stop eating it," says BHG.com fan Cindy N. This Mexican casserole recipe is about to become your new go-to comfort food. Flavored with garlic, coriander, and chipotle chile peppers, it's savory and just spicy enough.

Shrimp-Stuffed Hatch Chiles with Cilantro Cream Sauce

Hatch chiles are medium-hot peppers grown in New Mexico. They're the right size for stuffed peppers filled with all your favorites. The Mexican food recipe contains shrimp, sweet corn, cheese, and a creamy cilantro sauce in the mix.

Mexican Fried Veggie Rice with Radishes and Avocado

Introducing fried rice that won't make you feel like you need a nap after devouring every last forkful! This is one of the best Mexican recipes for when you're craving a fusion meal but aren't so fond of all the fat and calories that can come with a takeout meal. We swap in lower-carb cauliflower and broccoli for regular rice, add ground chicken for protein, then top it all with diced avocado and a squeeze of fresh lime for a dose of healthy fats and lots of fresh flavor.

Steak al Carbon

Cooking over coals is imperative to make this Mexican beef recipe fit the al carbon (meaning cooked over charcoal) agenda. So bust out your grill, or your trusty grill pan, to sear these marinated steaks for a lovely low-carb dinner. After the steaks are done cooking, allow them to rest for 5 to 10 minutes as you char some grilled vegetables to serve on the side.

Buy It: Weber Original Kettle Charcoal Grill ($219, Amazon)