Get ready for your Cinco de Mayo party with recipe ideas for Cinco de Mayo food! Find delicioso dips, appetizers, meals, and drinks to celebrate.

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May 5th! Cinco de Mayo! I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like this holiday always sneaks up on me—often on the morning of Cinco de Mayo.
Don't let this happen to you—begin planning now for Cinco de Mayo food to make at home! Have your friends over after work or put together a festive dinner for your family with recipes for appetizers, drinks, and dinners.
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What are traditional Cinco de Mayo foods and drinks?

Smithsonian Magazine says that Cinco de Mayo in the United States is nothing like the celebrations that take place in Mexico. For one thing, Cinco de Mayo commemorates a war victory not for the entire country but for one particular region, Puebla, in 1862 against the French.
They share that in Puebla, traditional foods that might be found at Cinco de Mayo celebrations include chalupas filled with meat and cheese, the rich sauce, mole poblano, and chiles en Nogada, which are battered poblano peppers with pomegranate seeds and walnut sauce.
In the U.S., traditional Cinco de Mayo foods are far-ranging, everything from Mexican-inspired to Tex-Mex to tasty dishes that only vaguely resemble Mexican food! At home parties and at restaurants on May 5th, there are drinks like margaritas, palomas, and jewel-toned Jarritos sodas. There are main dishes like loaded nachos, enchiladas, tacos, and tamales. Desserts on 5 de Mayo include churros, flan, sopapillas, and tres leches cake.
Plan now for your Cinco de Mayo party

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Decorate for the fiesta with decorations like a string of colorful flags or a piñata with or without candy. Pull out colorful table linens and napkins in the Mexican flag colors of red, green and white. Shades of orange, yellow, and aqua blue also look really festive.
Turn on some tunes: create a Pandora or Spotify list to have a steady flow of party music, like mariachi music or my personal favorite, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.
The most important part of the celebration is, of course, the food and drinks. My Cinco de Mayo food recipes below include lime-juice-infused guacamole and coconut margaritas. There's a breakfast enchilada casserole with eggs, sausage, and black beans. Make fresh salsas like pico de gallo with cilantro and salty tortilla chips. Make miniature taco cups or sweet-savory taco salad dip!
Cinco de Mayo Recipes
And now, Cinco De Mayo Menu ideas that celebrate Mexican flavors and spices.
On the news
I shared Cinco de Mayo party food on The Morning Brew at Fox Local 22/44 with Amanda Thibault, Brittney Hibbs, and Megan Carpenter! Check out the video here:
¡Un Feliz Cinco de Mayo a todos!
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