Need Cinco de Mayo recipe ideas? Wondering what is the most popular food eaten on Cinco de Mayo and what do you serve at a Cinco de Mayo party or a Mexican food celebration? We have great holiday finger food ideas and snack ideas for May 5 or a fiesta party! Easy recipes for kids to make, too!
CINCO DE MAY RECIPE IDEAS FOR PARTY
What foods are served at Cinco de Mayo?
The official dish of the holiday is mole poblano because it is a traditional dish in Puebla. Mole poblano is a spicy chicken dish with a deep, dark reddish-brown sauce called mole. The sauce contains about 20 ingredients that includes chili peppers and chocolate.
(Mole is pronounced moe-lay.)
Other traditional Cinco de Mayo food includes:
- Chalupas
- Pozole (traditional soup served on holidays)
- Lamb barbacoa, smoked underground in banana leaves
- Carnitas topped with queso fresco, pickled onions, and salsa verde in a corn tortilla
- Chiles en Nogada (poblano pepper dipped in egg batter, fried, stuffed with picadillo—a meat and dried fruit hash—and topped with walnut sauce, pomegranate seeds, and parsley)
- Tamale
Cinco de Mayo desserts include:
- Tres Leche cake
- Churros
- Flan
Also Check Out:
Cinco De Mayo History for Kids
Cinco de Mayo Food Party Ideas
If you’re looking for Cinco de Mayo recipes easy to make, you can’t go wrong with any of the dishes here! They’re great for snacks or finger foods or even as additions to your Cinco de Mayo dinner menu.
And, get the kids involved in cooking! Most of these are super easy recipes and even recipes kids can make alone!
Fun Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas
Wondering what should I serve at a Mexican fiesta? Try these easy recipes!
This homemade pico de gallo recipe, or salsa fresco (and sometimes called Mexican salad or tomato and onion salsa), is a favorite easy dip for parties.
This 10 minute recipe is a super simple appetizer or dip and you'll never buy store-bought guacamole again! (It's also one of those easy kids' recipes they can make themselves!)
Mexican street corn off the cob, also called Mexican corn salad, Mexican street corn in a cup, or elotes / esquites, and is a great addition to your Cinco de Mayo party recipes!
This refried bean dip (also called refried bean taco dip) is a shockingly easy dip recipe. It's one of those appetizers or easy side dishes you can add last minute because it's quick and easy! We double this bean dip recipe whenever we make it because it heats up well (if there's any left!).
This black bean dip (or salad) is a healthy recipe that is a perfect easy salad, homemade salsa or one of the fast recipes for summer salads! It's a popular recipe that all ages love when we make it, so definitely add it to your Cinco de Mayo dips and serve with tortilla chips.
This cheese dip is one of those easy recipes that you really can’t go wrong with because it tastes good with almost any ingredient. (So don’t be afraid to play around with this appetizer recipe!)
Throw a few ingredients in a slow cooker in the morning, and this corn with cornbread casserole is ready to go just a few short hours later! It reminds me of some of the corn side dishes I've had in Mexican food restaurants.
A Pinterest user called these "Best churro recipe out there and super easy to make!" Add these desserts to your May 5th menu, served with side dipping sauces!
