15+ Mexican Recipes to Spice Up Your Cooking

Mexican cuisine is full of vibrant flavors and colorful ingredients. It showcases the rich cultural heritage of Mexico. This cuisine combines spices, fresh vegetables, and hearty proteins to create meals that are both delicious and satisfying.

In this article, you’ll explore some popular Mexican recipes that you can easily make at home. These recipes will not only help you enjoy authentic tastes but also allow you to impress family and friends with your cooking skills.

1) Pork Carnitas Tacos

Pork carnitas tacos are a delicious way to enjoy Mexican cuisine. They feature tender, juicy pork shoulder, seasoned perfectly and slow-cooked until it falls apart. You can enjoy them in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings.

For this dish, you will mix spices and rub them on the pork before cooking. The process brings out amazing flavors. When served, add refried beans and some cheese to enhance the taste.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds (900 g) pork shoulder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 2 oranges, juiced
• 1 lime, juiced
• Tortillas

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse and dry the pork shoulder.
2. Rub the pork with salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano.
3. Place the pork in a slow cooker.
4. Pour orange and lime juice over the pork.
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 93-104°C).
6. Shred the pork and serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

2) Chicken Fajitas

Chicken fajitas are a delicious and easy meal. You get to enjoy flavorful chicken with colorful vegetables. It’s perfect for any occasion.

To make chicken fajitas, start by slicing chicken breasts, bell peppers, and onions. You can use any color of bell peppers you like for a vibrant dish. Season everything with spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder.

Cook the chicken and veggies in a hot pan with a little oil. You want them to get nice and tender. Warm up some tortillas to serve your fajitas.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450 g) chicken breasts, sliced
• 2 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Tortillas

Cooking Instructions

1. Slice the chicken and vegetables.
2. In a bowl, mix the chicken and veggies with spices.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat (375°F or 190°C).
4. Cook until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender, about 8-10 minutes.
5. Warm tortillas and serve with the chicken and vegetables. Enjoy!

3) Espagueti Verde

Espagueti Verde is a delicious Mexican pasta dish. It features green sauce made from fresh ingredients like cilantro and jalapeños. This dish is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

To make Espagueti Verde, you first cook spaghetti in boiling water. While it cooks, blend together your green sauce with ingredients like avocado, garlic, and lime juice.

Once the spaghetti is ready, you mix it with the green sauce. You can top it with cheese for extra flavor. Enjoy your meal warm, and feel free to add any proteins or vegetables you like.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of spaghetti
• 1 avocado
• 1 cup cilantro
• 1 jalapeño
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 lime (juiced)
• Salt to taste
• Cheese for topping (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook spaghetti in boiling water until al dente.
2. In a blender, combine avocado, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth.
3. Drain spaghetti and mix it with the green sauce.
4. Top with cheese if desired and serve warm.

4) Enchiladas Rancheras

![A sizzling skillet of enchiladas rancheras with spicy red sauce, melted cheese, and fresh cilantro on a rustic wooden table](https://ko

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add oil to the saucepan and let it heat up.
3. Once the oil is hot, add the rice and toast until golden brown.
4. Stir in the tomato sauce and chicken broth.
5. Then, add cumin and salt.
6. Bring the mixture to a boil.
7. Once it boils, reduce the heat, cover the saucepan, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes (93°C).
8. After 20 minutes, fluff the rice with a fork and serve.

10) Champurrado

Champurrado is a warm, thick drink popular in Mexico. It is made with chocolate and masa, which gives it a rich texture. You can enjoy it for breakfast or as a treat on a cold day.

To make champurrado, you’ll need a few simple ingredients. The mix of chocolate and spices makes it comforting and delicious. You can also add cinnamon for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup masa harina
• 2 cups milk
• 2 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil 2 cups of water in a pot.
2. Whisk in 1/2 cup masa harina until smooth.
3. Add 2 cups of milk and bring to a simmer.
4. Stir in 2 oz of chopped chocolate until melted.
5. Then, add sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir well.
6. Serve warm and enjoy!

11) Fish Tacos

Fish tacos are a tasty, fresh meal that you can easily make at home. They often include grilled or fried fish, topped with fresh ingredients.

You can use different types of fish, like tilapia or cod. Adding a squeeze of lime gives it a wonderful flavor.

Toppings like shredded cabbage, avocado, salsa, and cilantro make the dish even better. You can wrap them in soft corn tortillas for a traditional touch.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (450 g) white fish fillets (such as tilapia or cod)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 corn tortillas
• Shredded cabbage
• Diced avocado
• Fresh salsa
• Chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges

Cooking Instructions

1. Season the fish with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
2. Cook the fish on a grill or in a skillet over medium heat (350°F/175°C) for about 3-4 minutes per side.
3. Next, warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet for 30 seconds on each side.
4. Assemble the tacos by placing fish on the tortillas and adding toppings.
5. Serve with lime wedges.

12) Chili Con Carne

Chili con carne is a classic dish that combines meat with beans and spices. It is a hearty meal, perfect for cool days or when you want something warm and filling.

To start, you can choose ground beef or cubed meat for this recipe. The spice mix usually includes chili powder, cumin, and garlic for great flavor.

You will likely add beans, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Let all the ingredients simmer together to blend the flavors.

It’s tasty served on its own, or you can add toppings like cheese, sour cream, and green onions.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450 g) ground beef or cubed meat
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. In a large pot, brown the beef or meat over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic, cooking until softened.
3. Then, stir in bell pepper, chili powder, and cumin.
4. Add beans and tomatoes to the pot.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Let the chili simmer for at least 30 minutes.
7. Serve hot with your choice of toppings.

13) Guacamole

Guacamole is a classic Mexican dip made from ripe avocados. It’s creamy, flavorful, and easy to make. You can enjoy it with tortilla chips or use it in tacos and burritos.

To start, mash 2 ripe avocados in a bowl. Add 1 diced tomato, ¼ cup chopped onion, and 1 minced garlic clove. Squeeze in the juice of 1 lime and sprinkle with salt to taste. Mix everything until it’s well combined.

For extra flavor, you can add chopped cilantro or diced jalapeños. Serve your guacamole fresh for the best taste.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 tomato, diced
• ¼ cup onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt, to taste
• Optional: cilantro, jalapeños

Cooking Instructions

1. Mash the avocados in a bowl.
2. Add the diced tomato, chopped onion, and minced garlic.
3. Squeeze in lime juice and add salt.
4. Mix well.
5. Add optional ingredients if desired. Serve fresh.

14) Chiles Rellenos

Chiles Rellenos are delicious stuffed peppers, often enjoyed in Mexican cuisine. You can use poblano peppers for a mild flavor. The peppers are usually filled with cheese, meat, or beans.

To prepare them, you first roast the peppers to make the skin easy to remove. After that, stuff them with your chosen filling. Then, dip them in egg batter before frying until golden brown.

Chiles Rellenos are often served with a tasty tomato sauce. This dish is perfect for any meal or special occasion.

Ingredients

• 4 poblano peppers
• 1 cup cheese (like Oaxaca or Monterey Jack)
• 1 cup ground beef or beans (optional)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Roast the poblano peppers until the skin is charred.
2. Peel the skin off the roasted peppers.
3. Then, stuff each pepper with cheese and optional fillings.
4. Beat the eggs in a bowl.
5. Dip each stuffed pepper in flour, then in the egg mixture.
6. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (350°F or 175°C).
7. Fry the peppers until golden brown.
8. Serve with tomato sauce.

15) Carne Asada

Carne Asada is a tasty grilled beef dish popular in Mexican cuisine. It’s perfect for gatherings and is often served in tacos or burritos. The beef is usually marinated to add great flavor.

For the best carne asada, you can use flank steak or skirt steak. The key is to marinate it for a few hours, which helps make the meat tender and flavorful.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs flank or skirt steak
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix olive oil, lime juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
2. Place the steak in the marinade. Then, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours.
3. Preheat your grill to high heat (about 450°F or 230°C).
4. Grill the steak for about 5-7 minutes on each side for medium-rare.
5. Let the steak rest for a few minutes before slicing.
6. Enjoy!