12 Easy Mexican Dishes: Guide to Mexican Recipes

Mexican food emphasizes fresh, local ingredients and strong flavors. Here are some common ingredients you will find in many Mexican food recipes:

• Beans: The main ingredient in refried beans, beans, particularly black and pinto beans, are also a topping or a side dish for many Mexican dishes. Use them on chicken recipes like chicken tacos or chicken fajitas, or as part of a loaded burrito.
• Cilantro: You can add a freshness to many spicy and deeply flavored dishes by incorporating cilantro. Use it as a garnish for tacos, or chop it up and mix it into salsa.
• Chipotle peppers in adobo: Grocery stores often stock smoked and dried jalapeño peppers canned in an adobo sauce (tomato-based with vinegar, garlic, and other seasonings), but you can also occasionally find them dried.
• Cheese: Mexican cuisine typically incorporates cheese, including types like Oaxaca, queso fresco, and cotija. Oaxaca can be better for melting over enchiladas or in quesadillas, while cotija can be better for sprinkling over elote, a popular Mexican corn street food consisting of grilled corn cobs and spices.
• Cumin: Cumin is a spice found in taco seasoning and other seasoning blends. Use it as a flavoring for beef, chicken, pork, and even fish. It adds a smoky element to Mexican dishes and is part of the parsley family.
• Fresh fish: In coastal areas of Mexico, fresh fish is a staple ingredient. Depending on the region, cod, catfish, tuna, bonito, and bass are all popular fish in Mexican dinner recipes. Re-create a traditional dish or put your own spin on fish tacos or a sheet pan fish dinner for an easy weeknight meal.
• Jalapeño peppers: Fresh jalapeño peppers are sweet and spicy and can add a lot of flavor to Mexican dishes. Use fresh slices or pickle them for a tangier flavor. Add them to salsa verde or a chunky salsa to level up the heat.
• Lime juice: In slow-cooked meat recipes, lime juice adds freshness and acidity to brighten up a dish that has been in a slow cooker for a long period of time. Adding a squeeze of lime juice on tacos, in salsa, and in guacamole are all popular ways to use this zesty ingredient.
• Poblano peppers: Use fresh or dried poblano peppers as a base for thick sauces. Rehydrate dried poblano peppers, also called ancho chiles, in hot water before using them in recipes. Stuff the poblano peppers with cheese and veggies, then deep-fry them for chile rellenos.
• Red onion: A main ingredient in pico de gallo, marinades, sauces, and other salsas, red onion is a staple ingredient in Mexican cuisine. Pickle it for a taco topping, cook it with meat for a flavorful sauce, or leave it raw and use it as a topping for hearty soups.
• Rice: A popular side dish for many Mexican dishes, rice is a common ingredient in authentic Mexican cuisine. Note that red-tinged Mexican rice is a specific type, and you should avoid confusing it with Spanish rice, which gets its coloring and flavor from saffron instead of a tomato product.
• Tomatillos: Mexican husk tomatoes, also called tomatillos, are the base of salsa verde. Although they look like green, underripe tomatoes, they are distinct from tomatoes. You can eat them raw or cook them in Mexican dishes.
• Tomatoes: For centuries, Mexico has grown and harvested tomatoes, a key ingredient in Mexican-style ceviches and fresh salsas like pico de gallo. Use them fresh, cooked, and in soups and stews. Roma tomatoes are the most common tomato in Mexico.

If you stock your refrigerator and pantry with traditional ingredients, you or your whole family can make easy Mexican recipes for weeknight meals, appetizers, or side dishes. Here are twelve simple Mexican dishes to try:

1. 1. Beef steak fajitas: Use sliced marinated steak, fresh tortillas, and plenty of toppings and sides to make this Tex-Mex (Texan-Mexican) dish. Cook the meat and veggies on one sheet pan for an easy weeknight dinner. Serve sour cream, guacamole, and salsa on the side. Try this beef steak fajitas recipe.
2. 2. Carne asada tacos: To make carne asada tacos, or tacos de carne asada, start by marinating and grilling the skirt or flank steak, then slicing it thinly against the grain. Wrap the meat in a fresh corn or flour tortilla and top it simply with raw onion and cilantro. Try this recipe for carne asada tacos.
3. 3. Chicken enchiladas: Fill corn or flour tortillas with meat and cheese, then wrap the tortillas into a log. Bake them in the oven with an enchilada sauce and cheese on top, and then serve them with crema, salsa, guacamole, or refried beans. Any meat and a melty cheese like Oaxaca can work well for this Mexican comfort food. Try this easy enchilada recipe for Mexican chicken enchiladas.
4. 4. Churros: A popular Mexican and Latin American street food, churros are sweet, fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar. You can serve them with a chocolate or caramel sauce for dipping, or with ice cream for a cool summer treat. Try this recipe for homemade churros.
5. 5. Corn tortillas: A popular tortilla type in Mexico, corn tortillas frequently accompany shredded beef tacos or chilaquiles. Or you can wrap them around shredded barbacoa meat and top the dish with enchilada sauce before placing it in the oven for baked enchiladas. Learn how to make corn tortillas.
6. 6. Crispy tostadas: Tostadas feature a crispy corn tortilla as the base and several toppings. Refried beans, seasoned ground beef, shredded pork or chicken, chorizo, green chiles, bell peppers, and cheese are all popular options. Try this homemade tostada recipe.
7. 7. Empanadas: Savory turnovers or hand pies, empanadas are popular all over Mexico and the rest of Latin America, featuring seasoned beef, chicken, pork carnitas, or veggies stuffed in a pastry. Traditionally, the crimping pattern around the edges indicates to customers which filling is inside. Learn how to make this homemade empanadas recipe.
8. 8. Fish tacos: Cook your fish of choice on the grill with lime juice and olive oil, then top it with cilantro, hot sauce, and fresh salsa. Learn how to make fish tacos.
9. 9. Flour tortillas: Mexican flour tortillas have a good chew to them, are flexible, and fry well, making them good for huevos rancheros or tostadas. Try this simple recipe for flour tortillas.
   
10. 10. Guacamole: You can prepare guacamole, a Mexican avocado dip, in a variety of ways. Some cooks make a simple guacamole of avocados mashed with lime and lemon juice and a little sea salt; others add spices like cumin and vegetables like diced tomatoes and white onion. Try this quick guacamole recipe.
11. 11. Refried beans: Known as frijoles refritos in Spanish, refried beans are a popular element in many Mexican dishes. Use black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans, and season them with onions, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and even bacon fat. Try this easy refried beans recipe.
12. 12. Tamales: One of the main ingredients in Mexican tamales is a corn dough called masa. Cooks fill the dough with meat—like carnitas, carne asada, shredded chicken, or pork—and then steam them in corn husks standing up in a large pot. In Mexico, it’s a tradition to eat tamales during holidays and on other special occasions. Learn how to make this authentic homemade tamales recipe.

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