From tamales to tacos, a Mexican Christmas Dinner with family is a great way to celebrate Mexican culture at the holidays. Making traditional dishes, Tex-Mex food or a combination is a tradition in New Mexico.
Christmas traditions are so fascinating to me in the way this holiday is celebrated around the world, especially when it comes to food.
Some people enjoy turkey for Thanksgiving and again a month later for Christmas, while others make a special entrée like prime rib or ham. People from other cultures might enjoy special dishes celebrating their heritage or to remind them of where they are from.
In my family, we often eat ham on Christmas Day, but the side dishes are always similar to Thanksgiving sides. But we always do something pretty special for Christmas Eve dinner, which is our big family celebration.
Growing up in New Mexico, it is very common to enjoy a Mexican Christmas meal either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Thanks to New Mexico’s proximity to Mexico, it’s not unusual that many Mexican holiday traditions have carried over for these special occasions, especially the food.
Mexican Christmas Traditions
Mexican families have many holiday traditions, from decorating with nativity scenes, poinsettias and Christmas trees.
In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from Dec. 12 to Jan. 6 each year. There are a series of processions and parties called Las Posadas (meaning "inn" in Spanish), with the final posada on Christmas Eve, followed by a midnight mass and feast.
In New Mexico, many families enjoy a traditional New Mexican dinner for Christmas with Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes instead of a turkey and its respective sides. No matter what is served, there is always green chile sauce at a New Mexican meal!
Traditional Mexican Christmas Dinner
After the Posadas, on Buena Noche (Christmas Eve) and Navidad (Christmas), Mexicans enjoy a number of traditional foods, including:
Main dishes
- Tamales — Served in corn husks or banana leaves, tamales are made with a corn-based dough mixture and are filled with various types of meat, beans and cheese.
- Posole — Posole is a stew made with tender pork and hominy. It's often the main dish that is so hearty and delicious! There are recipes for red pozole, made with chiles, and green pozole, made with tomatillos.
Desserts
- Buñuelos — Buñuelos are gorgeous, golden fried fritters in the shape of flowers or stars that are dusted with cinnamon sugar.
- Conchas — Also called Pan Dulce, these are a small Mexican sweet bread made with a fluffy, buttery dough topped with a streusel topping that is scored. Sometimes they are dyed red and green for the holidays.
- Churros — Another fried dessert dusted with cinnamon sugar, churros often come with a piloncillo dipping sauce.
Drinks
- Atole — A creamy warm drink with flavors of brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla, atole is a traditional drink thickened with masa harina (which is the same corn flour that’s used to make corn tortillas).
- Ponche de fruita — Ponche is a warm drink that is basically a hot fruit punch (and is sometimes spiked with rum or tequila for the adults!).
- Mexican hot chocolate — Sweetened and flavored with cinnamon, a warm mug of hot chocolate is perfect for chilly weather and Christmas time.
On Jan. 6, which is Dia de Reyes or King’s day, Mexicans celebrate the arrival of the three wise men to visit baby Jesus, there's even more great food. They bake Rosca de Reyes — Called Three Kings Bread in English, this is a sweet bread decorated to resemble a crown. Hidden inside is a small plastic baby Jesus — the person who finds it in their slice has to make tamales on Candelaria Day, which is Feb. 2.
Reasons to try Mexican Christmas Dinner
If you’re of Mexican descent, are from New Mexico or have a blended family, you’ll already have your own traditions, so the recipes here might just help you discover some new recipes to add to your table this Christmas season. (I’d love to hear about your traditions in the comments below!)
But if you and your family members are not Mexican or from New Mexico, there are still lots of lovely ways to enjoy Mexican Christmas celebrations and food in a respectful way. Here are a few reasons why:
- Trying new cuisines at the holidays is a great way for families to teach little ones about traditions around the world and celebrate other cultures.
- Incorporating new dishes is a great way to create special family traditions and discover great recipes.
- And if the idea of eating turkey again so soon after Thanksgiving just doesn’t seem appealing, a Mexican meal might help shake things up in lieu of a traditional Christmas dinner!
More Mexican Christmas Dinner Recipes
Let’s get into some of the great Mexican recipes you can make for the holidays! The traditional Mexican foods I listed above are wonderful.
However, many Americans are more familiar with Tex-Mex, which is a blend of Texan and Mexican foods. It is more Americanized and inspired by Mexican cuisine.
Though it is not traditional Mexican food, incorporating a little bit of both traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex can help all family members, especially picky eaters, feel comfortable with new dishes on the table.
Let's get into some of the great Mexican recipes you can make for the holidays!
Mexican Christmas Dinner Recipes
Appetizers
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.
This Cream Cheese Jalapeño Popper Dip will become your go-to party appetizer! It's a classic, easy recipe that can be thrown together for any occasion, and a great blend of Mexican-American flavors. This dip is made with cream cheese, sour cream, jalapeño peppers, tomatoes and green chiles and topped with bread crumbs, all baked and served with crackers for dipping.
Where there's chips and salsa, there should be guac! This duo is already festive in red and green.
If the game is on, this jalapeño ranch dip is the perfect dip to snack on with veggies or wings, with hints of American and Mexican tradition. Be warned though, this spicy dip will go fast!
Main Dishes
These Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Pulled Pork Tacos are the perfect dish! 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!
Grilled chicken fajitas are a delcious and easy dinner you can make on the grill, and are so wonderful for a crowd. Serve with all your favorite sides and toppings.
This five-ingredient Salsa Verde Chicken is an easy slow-cooker meal the whole family will love! It's made with jarred salsa verde, chicken, bell peppers, onions and rice.
Pork Carnitas Enchiladas make a delicious meal for any special occasion. Filled with savory slow-cooked pork and topped with a spicy homemade enchilada sauce, this recipe is perfect for sharing! Makes 20 enchiladas.
Homemade Enchilada Sauce is an easy way to upgrade your enchiladas. It adds tons of flavor to your Mexican recipes. Use it for enchiladas, sliders, dips and more. It's made on the stove and comes together in less than 20 minutes!
Easy ground beef tostadas are the perfect dinner for busy weeknights or a Mexican dinner! 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.
Side Dishes
This Mexican rice recipe comes from my grandmother in Arizona. She has made this for us countless times and once I got married I finally asked for the recipe so I could master it on my own. It's so easy, y'all and this is restaurant-quality Mexican rice.
Looking for an easy comfort side dish that can be prepped ahead of time and is bursting with flavor? This Slow Cooker Bacon Jalapeño Creamed Corn is a family favorite that's perfect for the holidays! Made with corn, cream cheese, roasted jalapeños and bacon, this is not your average side dish.
Instant Pot Mexican Beans made from scratch are easy and so tasty. They make the perfect side dish for Mexican food.
This easy, spicy Mexican street corn salad with cucumbers is served cold with fresh cilantro and vegan parmesan cheese. The creamy dressing is naturally dairy free, but it can be made vegan with one simple swap.
Desserts
Celebrating Mexico's #1 spirit, tequila, is a great way to finish off a special dinner. 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.
Cocadas are coconut treats from Latin America. These soft, chewy coconut mounds are mixed with dulche de leche and studded with macadamia nuts. Cocadas are like macaroons, but much better!
Mexican Wedding Cookies are a holiday tradition in a lot of cultures, as they go by many other names, including Snowdrop Cookies, Tea Cake Cookies, Butterballs, Russian Tea Cakes and Polvorones. These salty-sweet, buttery cookies are speckled with finely chopped nuts and come coated in a generous layer of powdered sugar. And they are super quick and easy to make!
This Authentic Tres Leches Cake Recipe takes you step-by-step on how to make a traditional Mexican cake soaked in three different types of milk and topped with a whipped cream frosting. Sprinkle with cinnamon and raspberries—or both!
Drinks
Mix up a batch of easy cranberry margaritas that will have everyone asking for another round! This easy holiday cocktail, made with tequila and cranberry juice, will delight everyone at your holiday parties.
For the kiddos and non-drinkers, make this easy strawberry lemonade with limes instead of lemons to celebrate one of Mexico's exports.
You always need a non-alcoholic drink for a party, and this Sparkling Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch is perfect for the holiday season and to toast the new year. If you'd like to make it a sangrita, add a bottle of dry red wine and half the cranberry juice.
If you're looking for a perfect margarita cocktail, this Prickly Pear Margarita is it. This uniquely New Mexican margarita is sweet and so refreshing.
Simple Orange Lime Margaritas are perfect to have on your menu. They are made with fresh squeezed orange juice, lime juice, triple sec and tequila for a simple, flavorful and fun margarita recipe! This is a twist on a classic margarita recipe that you're definitely going to want to try.
Palomas are the #1 drink in Mexico, not margaritas. This grapefruit cocktail pairs perfectly with the smokiness of mezcal.
Christmas Mexican Dinner Essentials
- Everyone needs a tortilla warmer! I'd be lost without mine.
- If you plan to make tamales, you'll need a steamer pot.
- Are chips and dip on the menu? Pick up a festive appetizer dish.
I hope this list inspired you to create your own Mexican feast! Mexican food has always been one of my favorite cuisines, thanks to my time living in New Mexico, but also because it is easily made at home.
For the most part, Mexican food uses simple ingredients and methods, so it is easy to incorporate into your kitchen once you learn the basics.
Basically, when in doubt, add more spiciness! (Or maybe that's just the New Mexican in me.)
Traditional Mexican Rice
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!
Ingredients
- 2 medium tomatoes, cored and quartered
- 1 medium white onion, peeled, quartered (root end cut off)
- 2 jalapeños, seeded and ribs removed
- 1 jalapeño, diced with seeds
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- In a food processor, puree tomatoes, onion, and two jalapeños (ribs and seeds removed) until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a liquid measuring cup, measure 2 cups and discard any extra.
- Dice the remaining jalapeño, including the ribs and seeds and set aside.
- Place the rice in a large fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear, about 90 seconds. Shake the rice vigorously in the strainer to remove all excess water.
- Heat oil in an ovenproof sauté pan or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid over medium high heat. Drop a few grains of rice into the oil, if the rice sizzles, the oil is ready. Add the rice and fry, stirring frequently, until the rice is light golden and translucent, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 90 seconds. Stir in the pureed tomato mixture, remaining jalapeño, chicken broth, tomato paste, and salt. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, cover the pan and transfer to oven. Bake until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 30 to 35 minutes, stirring well after 15 minutes.
- Stir in the cilantro. Serve immediately.
Notes
Rice can also be frozen up to 6 months! Just allow to thaw and then reheat.
To make this vegetarian, simply substitute vegetable broth instead of the chicken broth.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: ½ cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 282mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g
Maggie Unzueta says
Oh yum. I would love to try this.
Jenna Griffin says
I'm STILL drooling over those nachos. YUM town. I've got to try to make those soon!
Amy says
umm YUMMMM
i know a family that has the tradition of eating chinese christmas morning....so this is just fantastic! I LOVE all of your recipes!!
Nikol Murphy says
This looks delicious! We are going to stick with the traditional meal since family is coming into town, but this is going on the menu for another day during their visit.
Jana Tolman says
Oh yum! Those deconstructed nachos are definitely in my near future. 🙂 My family always makes homemade tamales for Christmas Eve dinner. We go super traditional New Mexican for the 24th with the tamales, frijoles, and a to die for salad with tomatillo lime dressing. Then for Christmas Day we have the standard turkey and all the fixings. 🙂
Victoria says
I love this menu!!! I'm all about switching things up at Christmas. 🙂
Yay! For getting to get together to cook and EAT all of this stuff!
Beckey says
Holiday rule in our house... turkey for Thanksgiving , ham for Christmas. Ham with a delicious molasses glaze. Which I just remembered is something I learned from my grandfather who passed last month.
Tayler says
We have ham and pineapple!
Reginia Cordell says
Madison, this is right up my ally! I love Mexican food and trying alternative things. My place at this table would be so awesome. 🙂
Ricci says
Looks yummy!!! We do steak and jambalaya for Christmas...LOL!!
Lindsay Ropella says
This sounds DELICIOUS! Mexican is my favorite food, so when I have to bring an appetizer for Christmas it's always something mexican inspired. Looking forward to trying a few of these!
Daisy @ Simplicity Relished says
Oh my word! I love Mexican food and cook it all the time 😉 As far as our traditional Christmas dinner-- it varies every year, depending on where we're traveling. I love the idea of having a food tradition though!
Elizabeth T says
So now I'm absolutely craving these dishes!!! When I was growing up, we always had the more traditional Christmas meal but since I've been married we try to do something a little different. I think we'll be going a little Mexican this year thanks to this!! 🙂
Linda B says
We eat about the same things we eat on Thanksgiving. Turkey, ham, potato salad, pea salad, green bean casserole, yams, etc..
Sarah Coggins says
If we eat with family, it's more "traditional" foods like turkey, ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, etc. Last year we were home for Christmas day and will be this year too. I don't recall what DH & I fixed since it was just the 3 of us. Realizing now I need a plan for next week too. If I didn't already have a dinner plan for tonight, I'd be making Mexican as I'm now in the mood for it!
Anne @ Love the Here and Now says
Mexican and Italian food are my favorites. Definitely have to try some of these out. The rice and nachos look so tasty!
Anne says
Love that you ladies did this together, and everything looks so yummy! So fun to have a meal like this at Christmas to change things up a bit.
Sarah says
Everything looks wonderful! You are spot on with the turkey comments. Once is enough and bringing a different tradition to our dinner table would be a nice change!
Abril@The Color Palette says
I mean we eat nachos and burritos but we don't consider that Mexican food, for us is tex-mex but as I said it looks delicious and I can't wait to try your grandma's recipes
Abril@The Color Palette says
Hii! I'm Mexican and besides the guacamole we don't eat any of that stuff, but I have to admit everything looks delicious definitely I'm going to try every recipe 🙂
Rachel Withers says
Our family has ham for Christmas. I'd love to serve Mexican this year, but it's tough changing traditions.
Kimberly Bolden says
All this Mexican food looks so delicious. You also did a great job with the pictures! Cheers to trying something new!
Bri says
That guac looks amazing. On Christmas Day we generally do more traditional foods with my mom's side but on my dad's side (which is smaller) we sometimes mix it up. One year we did different soups, one year we did Chinese, & one year we did prime rib. I love mixing it up at least one of the days especially because we celebrate both days. On Christmas morning, when it's just my parents, brother, & me we always make something different for breakfast.
jessica church says
We always have Turket on Thanksgiving and Ham on Christmas! Its nice to switch it up!
Jaelan @ Making Mrs. M says
Ahhh! This post is making my mouth water so much. Mexican food is my absolute favorite. ABSOLUTE favorite. Excuse me while I go make some nachos, guac, and that delicious sangria from Jenna's blog.
Leigh Powell Hines says
I love this idea. I was just planning my menu today and felt the same as you. I saw your FB post so I could wait to read.
Erin Sixth Bloom says
Yummy!!!! I love love love Mexican food?will be pinning these recipes!! Thanks for the share!
Faith Golden says
Now I'm all about tradition and we always do turkey and ham for Christmas but this look delish!! I'm very particular about my Mexican rice but that looks like it would be amazing! 🙂
Hannah Diane says
Yum! This looks amazing!
Logan Cantrell says
This looks so delicious! We had a Mexican Fiesta at our Christmas party last year and it was a huge hit! It's so easy to prepare for a large group of people!
Andrea B. says
If we're home we do something like turkey and sides, we've been known to do Chinese food, and we've also had dinner with family and loads of the typical and traditional foods!
Meagan Palmer says
Your photography is beautiful!
Gina Alyse says
Yum!! I never thought of doing an alternative meal for Christmas. And I love Mexican food!! All of these look so yummy! Maybe in the future I can make a Mexican meal for Christmas since I don't think my family would be up for it this year. But I might have to make the rice for them. Looks so good!!
Chelsea Jacobs says
This is definitely making me want to do mexican food on Christmas!
Katie says
Oh my! It's only 9:30 and I'm starving after seeing your photos! We really do need to do a blogger pot luck. When we celebrate Christmas in Omaha we feast on homemade tamales because Chad's aunt is from Mexico. So good!
Amanda | Life With Grace says
Love a Mexican themed Christmas dinner! Last year was the first year that we decided instead of Turkey to do tamales, tortilla soup and all the Mexican sides we could think of! Plus traditions desserts. It was so fun to have a more relaxed meal and easy to prepare. I love the idea of changing it up sometimes!
Rachel G says
My family often did ham or roast beef for Christmas, until Malaysia, when we would join our church for a traditional 8-course Chinese banquet, that involved squid, of course. Last year was my first year celebrating with Angel's family, so it was my first year eating tamales for Christmas, that's their Mexican Christmas tradition.
Christine Everyday says
Wow, that all looks so good and what a great idea! We always do finger foods...tons of cocktail weinies! Haha.
meg - me with the three says
LOVE This! We don't do "normal" food on Christmas either. We usually do Italian food because my family has an italian heritage, but I'm liking this mexican food!