12 Easy Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas
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Cinco de Mayo food at home is easiest when people can build what they want: warm tortillas, a couple of taco fillings, rice and beans, black bean salad, avocado spread, and cold drinks nearby. Add chicken fajitas if you want something hot from the skillet, and churros at the end if dessert is part of the plan.
Cook the slower pieces first. Rice and beans, black bean salad, avocado spread, and deviled eggs can be ready before you heat the tortillas or cook the chicken. Finish the fajitas, salmon tacos, margaritas, and churros closer to eating, when hot food and cold drinks matter most.
Black Bean Tacos
Black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes and cilantro lime sauce make these tacos filling enough for a meatless meal. The filling has color and texture without needing much else added.Keep the cheese separate if you have vegan eaters or skip it completely. Bring out the tortillas and toppings once everyone is hungry.
Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Chicken, peppers and onion cook in one skillet, then get tucked into tortillas with avocado and yogurt garlic dip. It keeps the hot part of the meal in one pan, which helps when you have rice, salad or drinks going too.Rice and beans or black bean salad are enough alongside it.
Instant Pot Mexican Rice and Beans
The Instant Pot does most of the work here. Rice, beans, tomatoes, broth, olives, paprika and cayenne cook together into a bowl that can go with tacos, fajitas or avocado on top.It also works as a base for anyone skipping tortillas. Cilantro, lime or sliced avocado can go on top.
Salmon Tacos
Salmon makes for a lighter taco after the rice and beans. Pan-sear or grill it, then add salsa, a cooling yogurt sauce and lime while the fish is still warm.The salmon is the part to cook close to eating. The salsa and sauce can be handled earlier.
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Black beans and corn make this salad sturdy enough for scooping with tortilla chips or spooning into tacos. Chop the ingredients smaller if you want it to act more like a dip.It is vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free, which helps when people eat different things. The colors also brighten up heavier taco fillings and rice dishes.
Avocado Spread
This avocado spread is quicker than making a fuller guacamole. Spoon it into tacos, add it to fajitas or put it out with chips while the rest of the food is coming together.Cover it until you need it, so the top does not brown too quickly. A squeeze of lime helps too.
Buffalo Chicken Tacos
Cooked chicken gets tossed with buffalo sauce, then layered with avocado, lettuce, cilantro, lime and a tangy yogurt sauce. These are not traditional Cinco de Mayo food, but they fit the tortilla-and-toppings style of the meal.They are good when you want one taco with more heat or when you already have cooked chicken to repurpose.
Guacamole Deviled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs get an avocado and lime filling, so they bring guacamole flavor in a small bite. Cold and ready in the fridge, they give people something to pick at while the hotter food is still cooking.They are a nice break from tortillas and chips too, especially if you want one make-ahead appetizer.
Curry Beef Tacos with Sweet Corn Salsa
Ground beef cooked with curry seasoning gives these tacos a different direction from the chicken, salmon and black bean ones. The curry hits first, then the sweet corn salsa cools things down and adds crunch.Put them after the more familiar tacos if you are making several fillings. They are still easy to build, but the flavor is a little less expected.
Orange Margarita
Orange juice, lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur and agave syrup make this a quick margarita with a citrusy edge. Add a salt rim if that is how you like it.Mix it cold and close to drinking. It is especially good with chips, fajitas and anything with lime.
Watermelon Agua Fresca
Watermelon agua fresca is the non-alcoholic drink for the meal. It is light, fruity and good to have if kids are eating too.Chill it well before people arrive. Pour it over ice when the food is ready.
Homemade Churros
Churros take more attention than the dips and salads, but they make a strong ending. The dough is piped, fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar.They are best warm, especially with chocolate sauce for dipping. Make them when someone is happy to take dessert duty after the tacos and drinks are sorted.
What would you put on your Cinco de Mayo plate first: tacos, fajitas or churros? Let me know in the comments.