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LAST UPDATED: • FIRST PUBLISHED: By Toni Dash - 30 Comments

Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Cinco de Mayo recipes are perfect for celebrating on May 5th or anytime you are craving Mexican flavors! This collection of easy recipes will become favorites!

Cinco de Mayo recipes title image

Though Cinco de Mayo’s significance is rooting in military victory, most Americans look at it as a reason to celebrate with mouthwatering food and drink!

Whatever the motivation, Cinco de Mayo recipes are some of the most delicious in my opinion, at ANY time of the year!

The only thing that makes them better? Is making them EASY!

Cinco de Mayo Recipes

May 5th (‘Cinco de Mayo’) is coming quickly but these easy Cinco de Mayo recipes don’t need much pre-planning!

Whether planning a party with lots of guest or just a simple delicious meal, you’ll find some new favorites in this Cinco de Mayo recipes collection.

Cinco de Mayo Party Tips

This recipe collection includes a number of slow cooker and instant pot recipes that are perfect for a larger group.

For instance, the Slow Cooker Mexican Taco Meat is perfect to set up on a buffet with:

  • flour and/or corn tortillas,
  • and traditional toppings like
    • shredded lettuce,
    • chopped tomatoes,
    • grated cheese,
    • sour cream or Mexican crema

Have guests make their own tacos, burritos or tostadas.

Pitchers of Agua Fresca (a non-alcoholic classic drink) or Margaritas and the party will run itself!

Gluten-Free Note

All recipes in the first section below are gluten-free or have a gluten-free instruction in the recipe.

Those in the second section which are not naturally gluten-free have an adaptation noted in the recipe description!

Favorite Cinco de Mayo Recipes that are EASY!

Oven Baked Chicken Breasts with Mexican Flavors title image

Oven Baked Chicken Breasts with Mexican flavors
These oven baked chicken breasts steeped in creamy, cheesy Mexican flavors are flavor-packed, easy to make and perfect for an easy dinner any night of the week.
Check out this recipe
Oven Baked Chicken Breasts with Mexican Flavors title image

Slow Cooker Carnitas + Carnitas Tacos - Cinco de Mayo recipes

Pineapple Citrus Slow Cooker Carnitas & Carnitas Tacos
This easy recipes for slow cooker carnitas is always a win. Robust spices rubbed into the meat create incredible flavor as the meat slow cooks over several hours. The resulting meat can be used in many dishes including Carnitas Tacos.
Check out this recipe
Sheet pan of Pineapple Citrus Slow Cooker Carnitas with Carnitas Tacos on a small plate, corn tortillas and quick pickled red onions

Red Posole recipe title

Slow Cooker Shortcut Red Posole
Spicy posole soup has never been easier than making it in the slow cooker! The flavors simmer together over time for a delicious soup.
Check out this recipe
Red Posole recipe title

Easy Mexican Chicken Casserole title image

Easy Mexican Chicken Casserole
This casserole is very easy to make and a delicious, spicy combination of the best of comfort foods!
Check out this recipe
Easy Mexican Chicken Casserole - BoulderLocavore.com

Fresh, light Blackberry Mint Agua Fresca with fresh mint sprigs on vintage white wood with yellow background BoulderLocavore.com

Blackberry Mint Agua Fresca
Agua Fresca is a refreshing fruit water that quenches the thirst with a beautiful flavor of berries and mint in this version. Able to be made in about 10 minutes, it's a simple way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo or any day without much effort or time.
Check out this recipe
Fresh, light Blackberry Mint Agua Fresca with fresh mint sprigs on vintage white wood with yellow background BoulderLocavore.com

Homemade Tortilla Chips and Pico de Gallo - Cinco de Mayo recipes

Homemade Tortilla Chips and Pico de Gallo
Making chips at home and fresh pico de gallo is so easy you may never buy them again!
Check out this recipe
Homemade Tortilla Chips and Pico de Gallo

Slow cooker Shredded Chicken Taco Meat title image

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Taco Meat
This has to be one of the most versatile recipes ever. Great for a large party where the shredded chicken can be kept warm in the slow cooker for a taco bar (or other Mexican-themed buffet meal). The meat is fantastic on salads, and in soups or sandwiches. It makes a large batch to leftovers may be individually bagged up and frozen for future meals too.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Taco Meat. Savory, spicy chicken with a special trick to shred it effortlessly! Great for Mexican dishes, salads, soups. Makes enough for a crowd or to freeze for leftovers. Gluten-free. - BoulderLocavore.com

Strawberry-Blueberry, Blackberry-Mint and Cucumber-Thyme Fresh-Style Margarita - BoulderLocavore.com

Fresh-Style Margaritas
Fresh-style margaritas are made without mixes or syrupy liqueurs.  Three simple ingredients form an easy base recipe which is built on with fresh fruits, vegetables and/or herbs.  This recipes shares some summer favorite combinations for your inspiration but anything may be used.
Check out this recipe
Strawberry-Blueberry, Blackberry-Mint and Cucumber-Thyme Fresh-Style Margarita - BoulderLocavore.com

Taco Lettuce Wraps title image

10-Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps
10-Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps are the best of each tacos and lettuce wraps. They are loaded with fresh ingredient and the meat is cooked in less than 10 minutes. 
It's an easy meal to serve as a buffet for dinners to make their own with an assortment of toppings. 
Check out this recipe
10 Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps (recipe). A fresh twist: meat tacos meet lettuce wraps. Crunchy and full of fresh flavors. Ready in 10 minutes too! - BoulderLocavore.com

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas title image 2

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
These sheet pan chicken fajitas could not be easier or more tasty! They come out of the oven steaming hot just like fajitas served on fancy cast iron fajita pans. 
Check out this recipe
Colorful Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice in a large white bowl with fresh cilantro and zested limes

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
This easy rice recipe is fresh flavored with cilantro and lime zest added at the end of the recipe. For a tangier flavor, lime juice may also be added as well as a drizzle of vegetable oil for a richness of flavor. Perfect side dish or added to Mexican-themed dishes like tacos, burritos and more.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice in a large white bowl with fresh cilantro and zested limes

Shortcut Margarita Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Lime Frosting | BoulderLocavore.com

Shortcut Margarita Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Lime Frosting
A few quick changed to any vanilla cake mix (regular or gluten free) turns ordinary cupcakes into the flavor of margaritas! Topped with Cream Cheese Lime Frosting and they become the hit of any occasion. NOTE: Cook Time, Servings and Nutrition Facts may vary depending on the box mix used
Check out this recipe
Shortcut Margarita Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Lime Frosting | BoulderLocavore.com

More Easy and Delicious Cinco de Mayo Recipes…

Instant Pot Taco Pie

Instant Pot Taco Pie from Simply Happy Foodie

Instant Pot Taco Pie {Simple Happy Foodie} This photo says it all about this irresistible Instant Pot Taco Pie! A meaty, cheesy pie that’s easy in the Instant Pot. (gluten-free adaptation: substitute gluten-free flour tortillas OR corn though corn are more fragile).

Homemade Horcata

Homemade Horcata from Averie Cooks

Homemade Horchata {Averie Cooks} Horchata is a classic sweet, cinnamon-y plant-milk drink. This easy Horchata recipe is made with key ingredients soaking overnight then being blended the next day. Thirst-quenching any time and a great complement for spicy Mexican recipes!

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad from Live Eat Learn

Mexican Street Corn Salad {Live Eat Learn} One of my favorite Cinco de Mayo recipes is Elote (Grilled Mexican Street Corn). This recipe takes all that goodness and folds it into a crave-worthy salad!

chicken tortilla soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup from Carlsbad Cravings

Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Soup {Carlsbad Cravings} I love making Turkey Tortilla Soup and this chicken tortilla soup recipe is another flavor-packed recipe with wonder textures.

Best Red Salsa Recipe

Best Red Salsa Recipe from Cookie and Kate

Best Red Salsa Recipe {Cookie And Kate} There is nothing like fresh salsa and this one is a Cinco de Mayo recipes MUST! It couldn’t be easier.

Angel Food Cake Churro Bites

Angel Food Cake Churro Bites from Lil Luna

Angel Food Cake Churro Bites {Lil Luna} I have a delicious Churros recipe but it would not be called ‘easy’ due to having to deep fry the churros. This recipe is pure genius. Using a box mix Angel Food cake and pan frying, these delicious Churro Bites are easy to make with all the cinnamon-sugar churro flavors! (gluten-free adaptation: when I make gluten-free Angel Food Cake I use this mix)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TONI DASH

Toni Dash, is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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  3. Annemarie LeBlanc says

    May 1, 2019 at 5:27 pm

    Carnitas is always a winner in my family. I will check out your recipe for it. Looks really good, as well as all the other recipes in this post. I am bookmarking this page and saving all the recipes!

    Reply

  4. Ruth I says

    May 1, 2019 at 1:17 pm

    These are all mouth watering and perfect for the Cinco de Mayo. I would love to try all if I can!

    Reply
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