14 Easy Cinco de Mayo Snack and Appetizer Recipes (2024)

Published April 30, 2023

• The Best Guacamole

  

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  30 Mexican Recipes for Cinco de Mayo33 Easy Mexican Appetizers (Best Recipes For Your Next Cinco De Mayo Party)Cinco de Mayo Recipes16 Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes

  Deceptively simple, the best guacamole relies on the best avocados for a creamy texture. For a well-balanced flavor, season to taste with salt and lime juice. Dip a chip in there for your teste test so you get a good idea of what it'll taste like when you serve it, but this stuff is so good you'll want to eat it straight from a spoon.

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• Taquitos de Pollo

  

  Author Jennifer Zyman ate these often in her childhood home. "Growing up, my Mexican mom announcing she was making taquitos was music to my ears and a cause for celebration. The crispy, rolled-up pockets of goodness were an everyday thing because it was easy for her to prep over the course of the day while still managing two daughters." These are easier to make than you'd think, especially if you use rotisserie chicken.

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• Elote (Grilled Mexican Street Corn)

  

  Out-of-the-box riffs on this street food favorite abound, but you can't improve much on the original. Grill ears of corn, slather with spicy mayo, and sprinkle with crumbly Cotija cheese. Then watch them disappear.

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• Queso Dip

  

  Cream cheese keeps this smooth and tangy queso dip from curdling, and Ro-Tel tomatoes and roasted chiles in a can make it extra easy to prep. Get your chips ready!

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  Continue to 5 of 14 below.

• Mexican Shrimp co*cktail

  

  Saucier than American shrimp co*cktail, this beloved appetizer is cool and refreshing. You can almost make a meal out of it on a hot day.

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• 7-Layer Bean Dip

  

  Simply Recipes founder Elise Bauer prefers her refried beans warm, and that's what sets this bean dip apart from the pack. Warm the dish with the beans, then add the remaining layers for a bean dip that will convert you for life.

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  See Also

  37 Best Cinco de Mayo Recipes and Menu Ideas

• The Ultimate Quesadilla

  

  Don't ask me over when you're having quesadillas, because I will eat all of them. This quesadilla has extra texture from browning both sides of the tortillas before assembly. It's the little things that make a difference.

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• World's Easiest Salsa

  

  This is the salsa to make when you can't even. Use canned tomatoes and canned chiles and you're done in minutes. The kicker here is that even with the ease, it's still leagues better than any jarred salsa.

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  Continue to 9 of 14 below.

• How to Make Homemade Tortilla Chips

  

  Impress yourself and everyone else with homemade corn tortilla chips. They're way easier than you'd think! And we have three methods: traditional deep-frying, baking in the oven, or microwaving.

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• Birria Tacos

  

  Contributor Susy Villasuso explains what makes birria tacos unique. "The corn tortillas are coated with consomé, then they’re filled with birria meat and grated cheese. The tacos are fried in a hot, lightly oiled pan until golden brown. As if this doesn't sound delicious enough, they are then served with a small bowl of warm consomé for dipping the tacos." Make this specialty of Jalisco that's a blend of new and traditional birria taco methods and find out for yourself what the fuss is about.

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• Cactus and Corn Salsa

  

  This tangy salsa is a good way to try nopales, the prickly pear cactus paddles beloved in much of Mexican cuisine. Charred corn and green tomatoes (you could sub tomatillos) round out the flavors and textures.

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• The Best Nachos

  

  When we say the best nachos, we mean the best nachos. Pre-toasting the chips and combining the refried beans and taco-seasoned beef are what make these so satisfying, delivering just the right amount and variety of toppings in every bite.

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  Continue to 13 of 14 below.

• Dairy-Free Queso

  

  Does too much cheese threaten your love affair with queso dip? Dairy-free queso might seem like a contradiction in terms, but trust us. It's tangy, creamy, and addictive. Bonus: you can make it ahead of time, and there's not threat of it curdling.

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• Mexican Fruit co*cktail

  

  Fruit salads in Mexico walk the line between sweet and savory. Hints of salt, onion, and cilantro really punch up the fruit. Want to make it extra? Sprinkle on some Tajín.

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