30 Tasty and Popular Mexican Dishes

When people think about their favorite Mexican foods the first thing that comes to mind is variety of tacos, sizzling fajitas and filled to the brim burritos. Expand your horizons and go a road less travelled with these 30 tasty and authentic Mexican dishes. Mexican cuisine stretches out way beyond fast food joints and Margaritas at the local chains. It can be anything from cheesy, to meaty, to limy, to bursting with fresh flavors. These spectacular recipes are definitely worthy adding to your Mexican meals rotations. So save yourself a trip to a Mexican restaurant and try making them in the comfort of your own home. You will get hooked.

This delicious mashup of traditional Mexican flavors served traditional Italian way makes for a truly irresistible dish. Taco lasagna! My favorite Mexican food is tacos, I order them everywhere I go, and my favorite Italian dish is lasagna so why not marry those two together. This recipe is an ultimate comfort meal. Cheesy and gooey goodness that is also extremely flavorful, no one could resist this mouthwatering lasagna.This taco lasagna combines all the classic taco ingredients: beef, salsa, taco seasoning, tortillas and of course lots and lots of Mexican cheese. The cheese is oozing out with every bite that you take of this yummy offering. I also add veggies such as onion, garlic and peppers just to freshen up the dish and balance out the richness and creaminess of the cheese. Beans round up the complete list of Mexican flavors in this dish.

This creamy avocado salad has really became not only Mexican but international dip staple. There are as many variations of guacamole as there are Mexican families. You can make it smooth, chunky, spicy, anyway you heart desires, basically sky is the limit. The basic ingredients that are added to mushed up avocados are lime juice, fragrant onions and garlic, jalapeño or Serrano peppers, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro leaves. The avocado base is a plain canvas of flavor and texture that can be as simple or as intricate as you choose it to be.

Chili con carne or chili with meat is a Mexican stew with tomatoes, meat and beans. It is an ultimate comfort meal that will excite your taste buds as it it simmering away in the pot emitting a taunting smell. It is luxuriously rich and delicious. Very easy to make and the results are phenomenal. The chili spice mix is quintessential to the traditional Mexican flavors and super easy to make at home. It is spicy, fragrant and will enliven all the flavors with a mild heat wave.

This heavenly seafood delight is so easy to prepare in under 45 minutes. Yummy flour tortillas are loaded with succulent shrimp, tomatoes, jalapeños and onions, melty Mexican cheeses and baked in a creamy, spicy enchilada sauce. These shrimp enchiladas are to die for. All of my friends are always raving about them and begging to make again. It is a huge hit with everyone. Omit the spicy peppers to make it kid-friendly.

Give your dinner an upgrade with  beef empanadas. Every latin culture have their own version of these pastry turnovers stuffed with flavorful ground beef and aromatic herbs. The puff pastry dough is flaky and soft and the beef filling is hearty and perfectly seasoned. You can add carrots and onions for more texture and more complex flavors of the beef filling. Empanadas can be baked or deep-fried to a crisp perfection and an ultimate splurge. They can be made miniature, medium or large depending on their purpose.

Take your tacos to the next level of awesomeness with homemade tortillas. Those made from scratch delicious circles are soft and mendable but sturdy at the same time to withstand all the robust fillings and luscious sauces that they are meant to hold. And with only 5 item, ridiculously short ingredient list, they are super easy to make. No need for a special equipment as well. And let’s admit that rolling them out is a lot of fun and a bonus arm workout.

If you are really into authentic Mexican food a corn tamales recipe is right up your alley. The basic ingredients you will need are fresh corn kernels, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, egg, salt, baking powder, dried corn flour, and dried corn husks that can be found in your neighborhood Hispanic market. It is essentially a corn puree that is steeped in its own husks resulting in sweet tamales that are delicious when served with tomatillo salsa. You can whip out your own or just use a store-bought variety.

Stock up on those corn chips because salsa will become your favorite, hands down. It comes together in minutes but will rival a fancy Mexican restaurant salsa. This recipe can be made in either a food processor or a blender. Pulse it just a few times, we want the onion, garlic, tomatoes and cilantro to get chopped up but still be chunky. Add some jalapeños for a heat kick and cumin for a fragrant aroma.

You might have to wait for a little bit for this traditional Mexican dish of frijoles to be ready but you will be more than pleased with the end results. The beans are stewed for 4 hours together with savory salt pork, fragrant onion and garlic, tomatoes chilies and herbs. Many people adapt this recipe for a pressure cooker or crock pot to save on time.

This tropical coconut twist on a refreshing traditional Mexican rice drink is a breeze to make. When drinking coconut horchata you can’t but imagine yourself in warm paradise with your toes in the sand. Cinnamon adds a wonderful sweet and fragrant taste to this sweet, rejuvenating treat.

Craving a hearty, satisfying soup that is more than your average chicken noodle. Look no further. This easy and quick Mexican tortilla soup is a powerhouse of Mexican flavors. Made with traditional Mexican vegetable and herbs, and staples like corn on the cob, tomatoes, green chilies, pinto beans, garlic and onions, cilantro with added lime juice and grilled chicken. This soup is healthy and nutritious as well as comforting. Top with crunchy tortilla chips, tangy sour cream and creamy avocado for an ultimate meal.

Searching for a fun Mexican inspired appetizer to surprise your guests at the margarita party? These Mexican ricotta croquettes might be the winners. What can possibly be better then deep-fried balls of cheese covered in breadcrumbs? Balls that are made out of 5 Mexican cheeses! Mix Mexican ricotta, questo cremate, crumbled cotija, chihuahua and cream cheese in bowl with butter and eggs and matzo meal, refrigerate, scoop out the balls with ice cream scooper, coat with breadcrumbs and deep fry to a crispy perfection on the outside and gooey, melty on the inside.

Next time you are having a picnic or a barbecue during fresh corn season, is the time to try this succulent elote recipe. It is a classic way to enjoy corn on the cob in Mexico. Elote corn is Mexican street corn roasted over an open grill and coated with salt, chile powder, butter, cotija, lime juice, and mayonnaise or crema fresca. It is just all around wonderful dish to enjoy family-style: serve all of the ingredients out separately and let your guests top the corn however they wish.

Elevate your average burrito to a delicious, perfectly spiced, minced meat filled burrito. Seasoned with Mexican essential flavors like cumin, chili powder and oregano, the minced or ground beef filling is bursting with flavors and super juicy and moist. Add any additional stuffing ingredients of your choice like white rice, corn, beans, fresh fragrant herbs and cheese for an irresistible meal.

Give a new life to your fish tacos with mouthwatering cilantro jalapeño yogurt dip/sauce. This cilantro jalapeño yogurt sauce or dip is very easy to make and has plain yogurt, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño peppers, green onions, lime juice, and salt. Homemade dips and sauce taste so good, are simple to make, and can be customized based on your personal tastes or what’s in the fridge.

This fun spin on traditional salsa is super tropical and pairs perfectly with anytime of grilled fish. The outcome is flavorful, vibrant, healthy meal. Each tasty bite of this mango salsa consists of fresh mangoes, red bell pepper, avocado, red onion, jalapenos, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. Effortless to make, comes out looking vibrant and appetizing every single time. And very versatile. Could be enjoyed as a dip, a topping or a filling for your most loved seafood burrito.

Mexican cuisine has a bounty of vegetarian-friendly recipes that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Or if you are just temporary want to take a break from all the carne, try these black bean soft tacos. Protein-rich beans stuffed in soft corn tortillas and topped with crumbled cotija and creamy avocado slices. It makes for an utterly satisfying dish.

For all the cheese lovers out there there is nothing better then a homemade cheese enchilada. It is a stunner. Super cheesy, served with red sauce and shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, cotija cheese and sour cream on top. Why fuss and make your own enchilada sauce, take a shortcut and use a high-quality canned sauce for a quick and delicious meal.

There is a way to eat chocolate with your dinner. Hot chiles and rich chocolate make this quintessential cooking mole sauce perfect for topping chicken or enchiladas. The array of spices like clove, anise, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, garlic are stewed together with pork lard, tomatoes, chilies and cocoa powder to create this decadent sauce.

Ceviche has deep roots in many latin cultures. It is a method where fish or seafood is cooked using citrus acids. Add avocados, Serrano peppers, cilantro and tomatoes to plump shrimp for a wonderful Mexican inspired appetizer. Serve with tortilla chips.

I seriously cannot imagine my life without quesadillas. Amp up your everyday usual cheese quesadilla game with these delicious, crispy, cheesy beef quesadillas. Super easy to make they are a perfect no-fuss meal for a busy weeknight or quick, satisfying offering for a game day. For the best flavor use organic ground beef and if you are feeling super adventurous I highly recommend making your own taco seasoning from scratch. You will not believe the complexity of flavors in this simple dish.

Tostada means toasted in Spanish. Usually tostadas are like open tacos. Fried corn tortillas topped with a generous amounts of toppings, so they are meant to be messy. These are made with a crispy fried corn tortilla topped with refried beans, grated cheese, chopped avocado and tomato, sliced lettuce, and salsa. Simple, classic Mexican flavors that are just perfect compliments to one another.

Gorditas are cousins of corn tortillas. Once you make them at home from scratch you can never go back to the store bought ones. They are small, puffy pastries made from leavened dough that may be patted by hand or pressed with a manual or electric tortilla press. Once formed, gorditas are toasted or fried until crispy on the outside but still soft on the inside. They are usually split and filled like pita bread with your favourite fillings like steak, salsa, veggies, cheese and lettuce.

Winter is a perfect season to indulge in many delicious soup recipes. Step out of your comfort soup zone with this aromatic Mexican chicken and vegetable soup. It is warm, wholesome and packed with fresh vegetables for a phenomenal meal. Super easy to make this soup is tomato and Chile base. Take an express route to making the soup by adding leftover chicken meat.

Guarantee comfort in carbs with this cozy side dish. Mexican rice pilaf is so easy but tastes so good it will become your new accompaniment to all your Mexican dishes. It is he best kind of Mexican rice, is infused with a complex tomato flavor and each grain has just the right amount of bite and no mush. The key is to sauté the rice in sizzling oil until toasted and golden brown. This helps the grains keep some of their texture after they are cooked. Next, the rice simmers in a puree of tomatoes, onions, and chicken stock to really absorb all of those delicious additional flavors.

Sometimes simple is just better. Make this traditional chicken fajitas at home for an inexpensive but extremely tasty meal. Nothing can beat charred marinated chicken sizzling on the pan filling the house with insanely taunting aroma. The dish is very colorful thanks to orange, red and green bell peppers and onions. Wrap it all in the tortilla with extra topping and you have restaurant worthy meal.

Everyone loves pizza. So why not make it with Mexican inspired ingredients for a fun spin called Mexican pizza. Turn your basic cheese pizza into this exciting, novel pie with toppings like taco meat, refried beans, corn and salsa. It is great for sharing as well, and usually a huge hit with Mexican food fans.

All you have to do to make these ultimate nachos is pile everything onto a cookie sheet and place it into the oven. And when it comes to ingredients, you can use whatever you have in your fridge or pantry.. Ground beef, even no meat – that’s the beauty of this, there is no right or wrong way to make these, and they are just the stars of your own imagination. The only real must haves are the chips and the cheese, and everything else is up to your creativity. The best part is that the clean-up is minimal. Throw away the foil that you have lines your baking sheet with and that’s it!

Tamale pie is not very authentic to Mexican cuisine and only somewhat resembles the flavor of real tamales. But it does taste great, is budget friendly, and easily feeds a lot of people. It is like someone tried to recreate a taste of the tamale in a cornbread casserole. It is a wonderful dish to bring to a potluck or make a quick, easy weeknight meal. It is usually assembled with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, tomatoes, Anaheim chiles, corn, olives, cheddar cheese, and cornbread. Just an ultimate comfort food flavors that are very palette and belly pleasing.

Last but not least is the classic taco. This ground beef taco is easy to make, and perfect for homemade version of taco Tuesday. Save yourself a trip to a drive-through. Load crispy corn tortillas with ground beef, shredded cheese, tomatoes, shredded lettuce and sour cream. This is how ground beef tacos are supposed to taste! What makes them extra scrumptious is the seasoning, You can put it together yourself just with the spices that are already in your spice rack to make it extra special.