Here are some fun and festive ideas for Cinco de Mayo! From party inspiration to 40 amazing recipes, you'll find everything you need to celebrate.
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The Ultimate Cinco De Mayo Guide
When Cinco de Mayo rolls around (on May 5) every year, I like to plan to eat all things Mexican, margarita and tacos.
Mexican food was a favorite of mine long before I lived in the southwest. My mom could practically eat cheesy enchiladas for a week straight if she had to. (Though you wouldn't need to pull her arm too much for that to happen.) I guess I come by it naturally, because I, too, could eat Mexican multiple times in a row without complaint!
That's probably why I have so many Mexican-inspired recipes to share with you! This is my ideal Mexican menu - the hardest part is picking which few I will make for a Cinco de Mayo party! But one thing is for sure, there will be margaritas!
Cinco de Mayo Party Ideas
When it comes to food for a Cinco de Mayo get together, there are so many options. We enjoyed this little meal after my party setup, so I kept it simple with beef tacos with cilantro, lime and queso blanco. I love to serve a dip like salsa and chips, too.
Dessert doesn't have to be difficult, either. One year, instead of making cupcakes, I purchased vanilla cupcakes and spiced them up by adding a cinnamon stick and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top! This was a super easy way to be able to have dessert, without adding another dish I had to make for the party.
When setting up a tablescape for a party, it's important to vary the height of all the dishes you are serving. You can add visual height changes with different size bowls and glasses. Placing a crate upside down makes a great makeshift cupcake stand, and a few pretty bottles in the back or flowers in a vase can add depth to the whole scene.
The Best Cinco de Mayo Recipes
1
Grilled Chicken Fajita Tacos
Grill up tasty chicken fajita tacos for dinner! Pair this marinated chicken with your preferred sides and toppings for a satisfying taco night meal.
If you love Mexican food but want that restaurant quality food at home, this Traditional Mexican Rice is for you! This recipe is easy to make and bakes in the oven, which locks in the flavor and moisture that makes this recipe so delicious. You'll never go back to eating Mexican rice any other way!
Five Minute Blender Salsa is the easiest way to enjoy fresh, delicious restaurant style salsa at home! One batch makes enough for a crowd and can be made in minutes with a blender or food processor. See how easy (and delicious) this restaurant style salsa is!
Easy ground beef tostadas are the perfect dinner for busy weeknights! They're quick to make and can be customized a ton of ways to be your perfect flavor combination! Start with a flat, crunchy corn tortilla and add your toppings like beans, ground beef, tomatoes, avocado and cheese for a flavorful, quick dinner.
Grab some ground beef, taco seasoning, tomato paste and broth because that's all you need to make the best taco meat. This easy recipe is a dinnertime game-changer.
These Orange Margaritas are perfect to have on your taco night menu. Made with fresh-squeezed orange juice, they have a fresh flavor and are so simple to make.
These Pulled Pork Tacos are the perfect dish for lunch, dinner, or just because they're so yummy! They're made with slow cooker Salsa Verde Pulled Pork, cotija cheese, avocado, white rice and a little extra salsa verde poured on for good measure. You don't need an occasion to indulge with these tacos!
Make this Easy Taco Soup for a quick, healthy dinner for the whole family. This soup can be prepped in under 10 minutes. It's made with beef, onion, corn, tomatoes, and beans and is the perfect quick lunch or easy dinner! Top this soup with cheese, avocado or jalapeños.
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas are the perfect weeknight dinner that will gather your family around the table. These enchiladas are made with flour tortillas, instead of traditionally used corn tortillas, and are stuffed with shredded chicken mixed with cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and cheese. The whole dish is topped with cheese and spicy green chile sauce! It's packed with flavor and the perfect dish for your family!
Grilled chicken is a staple of warmer weather! This grilled chili cilantro lime chicken will get dinner on the table in a hurry for your family and it will be packed with flavor.
This Vanilla Tequila Bread Pudding is the perfect easy dessert to serve to a crowd or just for two! This boozy bread pudding has the perfect blend of spices and is topped with a scoop of ice cream and a splash of vanilla tequila.
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Wow, everything looks so fun and festive! I love the blanket and all of the bright colors! You are the best at throwing parties. I just wish I could come to one of your fiestas! One day. 🙂
Love you! Thanks so inviting me to be a part of this!
This party looks like so much fun! I've been thinking about planning a Cinco de Mayo party with some friends. I love your easy cupcake hack! What a great way to get a festive, delicious dessert for the party while still having time to prepare the rest of the food.
Thanks! As much as I looove making dessert, it can be so time consuming. So sometimes, store bought is the way to go. Those cupcakes were at Walmart and had a cream filling! Target has some similar ones, too. So yummy!
Wow, everything looks so fun and festive! I love the blanket and all of the bright colors! You are the best at throwing parties. I just wish I could come to one of your fiestas! One day. 🙂
Love you! Thanks so inviting me to be a part of this!
Cinco de Mayo AND taco Tuesday. It's like Christmas in May!!!
What a cute party set up! I love Mexican food, so I will definitely need to try some of these recipes for next week!
Cute ideas! I could each cheese enchiladas 7 days a week, too, but right now those cupcakes have all my attention. Yum! 😉
Oh Wow!! Thank you for this! We are doing a fiesta for Mabel's 1st Birthday next month so these links will be really helpful!
Wow, what a great roundup of Cinco de Mayo treats!
This party looks like so much fun! I've been thinking about planning a Cinco de Mayo party with some friends. I love your easy cupcake hack! What a great way to get a festive, delicious dessert for the party while still having time to prepare the rest of the food.
Thanks! As much as I looove making dessert, it can be so time consuming. So sometimes, store bought is the way to go. Those cupcakes were at Walmart and had a cream filling! Target has some similar ones, too. So yummy!