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—5 de Mayo—Cinco de Mayo!
Maybe it's just me, but there are so many years when this holiday sneaks up on me and I'm left unprepared: no festive decorations and no ingredients in the house for spicy, vibrant Mexican-inspired dishes!
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 Cinco de Mayo dishes, like appetizers, drinks, and suppers.
In a nutshell... 🐿️
- What this is: A festive collection of Mexican-inspired recipes and party tips to help you host a vibrant Cinco de Mayo celebration with New England hospitality.
- You'll love this part: These are reliable recipes for suppers, appetizers, and drinks, featuring flavors like lime, avocado, taco-spice, chorizo, and tequila.
- How to use this collection: Look through the recipe ideas below, then tap the links to get complete directions and ingredients lists. Bookmark and save your favorites!
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What traditional foods are served for Cinco de Mayo?
Smithsonian Magazine shares that Cinco de Mayo in the United States is nothing like the celebrations that take place in Mexico.
Though many think of Cinco de Mayo as a Mexican independence day, what it actually commemorates is a battle victory for one particular region, Puebla, in 1862 against the French.
In Puebla, Mexico traditional foods for Cinco de Mayo celebrations include chalupas filled with meat and cheese, a rich mole poblano sauce, and chiles en Nogada, which are battered poblano peppers with pomegranate seeds and walnut sauce.
In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo foods are far-ranging—everything from Mexican-inspired to Tex-Mex to tasty dishes that only vaguely resemble Mexican food!
In American homes and 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. Cinco de Mayo desserts include churros, flan, sopapillas, and tres leches cake.
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Cinco de Mayo FAQs
Many folks assume that Cinco de Mayo is the date that Mexico gained independence. However, what it actually commemorates is Mexico's victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla, located south of Mexico City. Although outnumbered nearly two to one, the Mexican army led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequín defeated and drove out the invading French forces.
Because it is not a national holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrations are mostly confined to the city of Puebla, where the original 1862 battle and victory took place. Cinco de Mayo has become a very popular holiday in the United States, as a way to celebrate Mexican foods and culture; though the foods and rituals are often more Americanized, and don't look like those that traditionally take place in Puebla.
Plan now for your Cinco de Mayo party
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 ideas for food for Cinco de Mayo 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, easy Cinco De Mayo food ideas! Find recipes below, organized by drinks, appetizers, and suppers. They're flavorful dishes that celebrate Mexican flavors and spices. Your friends and family are gonna love them!
Cinco de Mayo Drinks
Coconut Margarita
This festive drink has the classic lime juice and tequila of a margarita blended with sweet coconut.
Grilled Pineapple Margarita
Fire up the grill, because the heat makes pineapple even sweeter, with a smoky caramelization—and that's really delicious in this drink.
Cinco de Mayo Appetizers
Spicy Pineapple Salsa
A unique salsa with fresh pineapple flavor, plus coconut, onions, and jalapeños!
Spicy Beer Cheese Dip
Smooth and melty like a queso dip, but with robust flavor thanks to cheddar, green chilies, and Mexican beer.
Grilled Corn Salsa
Throw all of the salsa veggies, including tomatoes, corn, and peppers, on the grill! The result is a tender texture and a smoky-lightly sweet flavor.
Cinco de Mayo Dinners
Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Cups
Something new for Taco Tuesdays! Make your own cups with corn tortillas, then fill them with taco-seasoned chicken and your favorite toppings.
Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Enchiladas
Make this recipe ahead of time, then the next day bake up these flavorful enchiladas for breakfast, or as breakfast-for-supper!
Chorizo Quesadillas
My family loves these for a casual dinner or as a snack. Browned spicy chorizo and red peppers, and lots of melty cheese!
I was 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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