- Recipes
Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated Oct 12, 2020
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The bold, bright flavors of Mexican food are instant joy-makers, as far as we’re concerned. It’s hard not to smile when tucking into your favorite tacos or whipping up a batch of margaritas. So, we’ve rounded up some of our very favorite recipes — both classic and newfangled — to get you inspired in the kitchen any night of the week. While this lineup isn’t necessarily authentic, the recipes are downright delicious and inspired by classics and restaurant favorites.
Here you’ll find over 20 of our best Mexican-inspired recipes, ranging from crowd-pleasing guacamole and fizzy palomas to cheesy enchiladas and smoky refried beans, plus everything in between.
Mexican Main Dishes
There’s a little something for everyone here, whether you’re a carnivore or a vegetarian, a spicy food lover or someone who simply wants something extra fresh.
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Slow Cooker Chili Verde
This bright and hearty pork-based stew is simmered with green chiles and tomatillos.
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Salsa-Simmered Fish
In this weeknight dinner, white fish fillets are simmered in tomato salsa on the stovetop and served over rice.
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Instant Pot Barbacoa
This recipe delivers spiced, tender shredded beef from the Instant Pot in less than an hour. Here's everything you need to know to make it.
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Classic Slow Cooker Margarita Fajitas
These fun fajitas are seasoned with all the flavors of a classic margarita.
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Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos
We'll bet that these are the easiest shrimp tacos you can make. They're cooked on a sheet pan and topped with cabbage slaw, avocado, and sour cream.
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Roasted Mushroom and Poblano Tacos
These quick and easy vegetarian tacos are filled with roasted portobello mushrooms and poblano peppers and topped with tangy goat cheese.
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Easy One-Pot Chicken Taco Soup
Loaded with juicy chicken, hearty black beans, and sweet corn, this quick soup was made with weeknight dinners in mind.
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Slow Cooker Veggie Burrito Bowls
Veggie burrito bowls are a one-stop shop, delivering the best part of a burrito — the filling! — with tender brown rice, smoky pinto beans, and fresh veggies, all topped with a dollop of citrusy sour cream.
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The Best Chicken Flautas
Flautas are rolled tacos that are fried until golden and crispy. Here's how to make the very best ones.
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Chile Relleno
A step-by-step guide to making chile relleno at home, including tips for broiling and peeling the chiles, the best way to fry them, and how to serve them.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga
Slow cooker chicken tinga is swimming in a full-flavored tomato-chipotle sauce, studded with sliced onions. It has just enough heat to keep you on your toes.
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Steak Fajitas
This recipe teaches you how to make restaurant-style steak fajitas at home, from the flavor-packed marinade to the best cooking technique.
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Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Rich and cheesy sour cream chicken enchiladas are comfort food at its finest.
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Black Bean and Sweet Potato Tacos
A quick and easy recipe for soft tacos filled with black beans and sweet potatoes, which can be made vegan without the cheese.
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
A jar of pickled jalapeños and a drizzle of maple syrup transforms a big cut of pork into a sweet and spicy taco filling.
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Chicken Tortilla Soup
Thanks to a little help from the grocery store, this soup is ready in under an hour.
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Pork and Green Chile Tamales
A step-by-step guide to making pork and green chile tamales at home, plus instructions for freezing and reheating.
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The Best Cheesy Quesadillas
Fill it with plain cheese and beans or with shrimp and avocado; the quesadilla is whatever you want to make it.
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Mexican Side Dishes
Round out your dinner with one of your favorite Mexican side dishes, such as tomato-rich rice, smoky beans, or a crunchy salad.
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The Best Homemade Refried Beans
Here's how to transform a can of pinto beans into creamy, smoky refried beans.
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Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice
If you can't get enough of the rice at your favorite Mexican restaurant, you've got to add this side to your roster.
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Frijoles de la Olla
There's no end to all the ways you can eat these slow-cooked beans.
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Esquites (Mexican Corn Salad)
Sweet, charred corn is partnered with a slew of ingredients for a salad that's just the right balance of smoky, spicy, and tangy.
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Instant Pot Mexican Rice
This popular side dish can be made quickly with just a handful of ingredients to round out any meal.
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The Best Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
It's hard to resist cooked sweet corn slathered in a spicy mixture of mayonnaise, crema, and chili powder and then sprinkled with cheese.
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Drinks and Snacks
Any excuse to kick off your night with margaritas and chips and salsa is a good one.
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3-2-1 Pitcher Margaritas
Tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice are all you need for these easy pitcher margaritas.
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Michelada Recipe
This michelada pitcher is spicy, tangy, and extra refreshing.
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Paloma co*cktail
Rosey-hued and bittersweet, this grapefruit and tequila highball gets a fizzy finish with a splash of grapefruit soda.
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Spicy Pineapple Punch
Pineapple juice and muddled jalapeños give this 3-ingredient tequila punch a pop of flavor.
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The Ultimate Blender Margaritas
Ditch the syrupy slush that covers bottom-shelf tequila and blend a batch with better ingredients right at home.
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Smoked Watermelon Agua Fresca
This summery agua fresca combines juicy sun-kissed watermelon and crisp lime juice with smoked salt and paprika, which add notes of smoke coming off a grill.
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Guacamole Recipe
Make this guac once, and it's all but guaranteed it'll become your new go-to.
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This bold-flavored black bean corn salsa is made with freshly squeezed lime juice, smoky chipotles, and fresh cilantro.
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Mango Salsa
This fresh, 5-ingredient mango salsa pairs just as well with chips as it does with fish tacos, grilled salmon, and more.
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The Best Salsa Verde
A simple combination of tomatillos, garlic, cilantro, chile pepper, and onion yields a vibrant and tart salsa.
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Filed in:
mexican
Recipe Roundup
