Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner. Here are 13 quick & easy Cinco De Mayo recipes that will add tons of Mexican flavor to your party! They are great make-aheads & perfect for potlucks & parties.
Like with any celebration, Cinco De Mayo is an opportunity to get together with family and friends, and enjoy some amazing Mexican food and delicious margaritas!
What is Cinco De Mayo
In case you’re wondering what it is, Cinco de Mayo means ‘5th of May’ in Spanish, and it is pronounced as Seenkoh-de-Maayo.
It is the annual celebration to commemorate the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862.
Quick & Easy Cinco De Mayo Party Recipes
If you’re hosting a party, or going to attend one, I have put together this collection of quick and easy Cinco De Mayo recipes that will add tons of flavor to your party! They’re super easy to make, can be made ahead and are great for potlucks and get togethers.
A lot of these recipes are made in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot, and I plan to add some more stove-top, oven-cooked, and, even some ‘no-cook’ recipes to this list going forward, so be sure to bookmark it! So, let’s get this party started!
Instant Pot Carnitas
Carnitas, is Mexican spiced pulled pork that is cooked with citrus and spices till it is fall-apart tender. It is then shredded and broiled in the oven, or in a skillet, so the sugars caramelize and give it an amazing crust. Each bite of this shredded pork is a perfect balance of juicy-tender and golden-crisp!
Super Easy Guacamole Recipe
All you need for this salty, tangy and refreshing dip is ripe avocados and a handful of fresh ingredients. A little bit of chopping, a little bit of mashing and a whole lot of dipping! Enjoy it with tortilla chips or alongside your favorite Mexican food.
Restaurant-Style Homemade Salsa
When I said this is the easiest salsa you’ll ever make, I wasn’t kidding! All you need to make this zesty salsa is mini pearl tomatoes, onion chunks, a clove of garlic (or two), cilantro, a lime, salt and cumin.
Mexican Rice (Tex-Mex Style)
In my take on this easy recipe, I combine simple ingredients and make the most delicious Restaurant-Style Mexican Rice.
Creamy Black Beans
This simple recipe for instant pot black beans goes with every Tex-Mex entree. Since beans are naturally vegan and gluten-free, this recipe makes for a great potluck dish for summer parties and barbecues.
3-Ingredient Salsa Chicken Tacos
I call this “the easiest recipe ever”. Pressure cook the chicken in your favorite salsa, along with some taco seasoning. Shred the chicken and serve it on tacos or sliders! Done!
Pulled Chicken Fajita Tacos
The crunch and sweet-spicy flavor of peppers and onions takes this taco to another level of flavor-town, making it perfect for a party! You don’t even need any condiments with Pulled Chicken Fajita Tacos, it’s that tasty!
Veggie Black Bean Burger
Jazz up your party and make these delicious and yum veggie bean burgers. The bean patties can be made ahead of time and you can let your guests build their burgers to taste. Arrange some toppings like guacamole, salsa, pepper jack or jalapeños cheese slices, picked jalapeños, Sriracha mayo and chopped cilantro!
Vegetarian Taco Pasta
Not authentic Mexican, but this recipe combines two popular favorites, Mexican food and pasta. This recipe is always a hit with kids. The key ingredients in this easy taco pasta are salsa, taco seasoning, canned black beans, frozen or canned corn, and of course, pasta.
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Real easy to make and a big party pleaser. Don’t forget to keep ‘extra’ tortilla chips ready for this! My kids’ favorite topping on this soup is a dollop of sour cream, and I love shredded Mexican blend cheese on it, just before serving!
Desserts for Cinco De Mayo
Arroz Con Leche (Spanish rice pudding)
Arroz Con Leche, literally translates to ‘Rice (Arroz) with Milk (Leche)’. Try this dump and start pressure cooker recipe for this evergreen and so satisfying dessert.
With the Instant Pot, making rice pudding for a party is a breeze. Simply pour all the ingredients in the pot, set the porridge mode, and go enjoy a margarita! The end result is a creamy, rich and smooth dessert that everyone loves.
Instant Pot Flan
This Flan recipe is a keeper! It’s by my friend, Valerie, from One Happy Housewife. It is rich, creamy, silky and looks like something I want to dive right into 🙂 Thanks for letting me add your recipe here Valerie!
Dulce De Leche (Cajeta)
This popular hispanic caramel syrup, known as Cajeta in Mexico is great for dipping and spreading on toast, cookies, churros and ice-cream!
I really hope you enjoy these recipes that have been on repeat in my home for several of our Cinco De Mayo get-togethers over the years! Enjoy!
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