Mexican Christmas Food

Enjoy these 40+ ideas for the best Mexican Christmas Food! This collection includes sides, entrees, and even drinks and desserts for an amazing Mexican Christmas Dinner.

More Collections: Italian Christmas Dinner, Christmas Side Dishes, Christmas Appetizers, Christmas Dinner Ideas, Christmas Desserts, Christmas Cookies

Mexican Christmas dinner menu

In Mexico, and many Hispanic households, Christmas Eve, or Nochebuena, is when the largest Christmas feast is eaten.

As far back as I can remember, my Luna family would gather on Christmas Eve and enjoy a spread of our favorite Mexican dishes – enchiladas, tacos, flautas, empandas, rice, pozole, mole, and more!

And because so many people love Mexican food, especially for the holidays, I wanted to share some of our favorite recipes for a traditional Mexican Christmas menu.

With a few sides, salsas, and main dishes you’re set to enjoy all the best Mexican Christmas food! Feliz Navidad!

Mexican Christmas food - a bowl of salsa served with chips.

Other Mexican Festivities

The Mexican people have a deep-rooted Christian belief. Not only do they celebrate Christmas, but they also celebrate Posada, Dia de Reyes, and Dia de la Candelaria. All are days set aside to remember Christ and to celebrate with family and of course food!

Posada, which means inn or shelter, is celebrated from December 16-24th. The nine days prior to Christmas represent not only the nine months of pregnancy, but the time Mary and Joseph spent traveling to Bethlehem.

On the first night, Christmas carols are sung outside (often two individuals are dressed as Mary and Joseph) and then the host will invite them in for food.

The last night is Christmas Eve with a delicious dinner and a traditional piñata full of candy. On each of the 9 nights, a different attribute is focused on and is often accompanied by a religious service or devotional.

Some qualities include things like humility, joy, strength, trust, charity, and faith.

Dia de Reyes (Three King’s Day) is celebrated on January 6th and is a day to remember when the 3 Wisemen brought gifts to the Christ child.

Rosca de Reyes (King’s Wreath) is a sweet bread baked in the shape of a wreath. A baby Jesus figurine is baked inside the wreath. The person who receives the slice with the figurine is the one who hosts Dia de la Candelaria.

Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas) is on February 2nd. Mary and Joseph would have taken Jesus to the temple to be blessed on February second, forty days after his birth. Tamales are traditionally served on this day.

Mexican Christmas food- Beef enchiladas on a white plate

Tips for a festive Christmas Meal

Planning your meal. Decide which dishes you want to make fresh and which dishes can be made ahead of time. See the individual recipes for more storage and reheating information.

Spice level. Be mindful that while some people love spicy hot Mexican food, others prefer a more mild dish. I suggest labeling which dishes are spicy and which ones are milder. A great way around this is to prepare more mild dishes, but have hot sauce set out for those who want to give their plates a bit more kick.

Seasonal fruits. Incorporate seasonal fruit, or fruit traditionally used in Mexican food: oranges, guavas, jicama, and pomegranates are great choices.

Sit-down or buffet-style. The number of guests may determine whether or not you host a sit-down or a buffet-style dinner. Sit-down dinners work best with a smaller gathering, whereas buffet-style can work with 5 guests or 50.

Mexican food, especially, makes a nice buffet spread. When serving buffet style, I use chaffing dishes and crock pots to keep the dishes warm.

Decorating for our Noche Buena celebration always includes 2 things:

  • A Nativity. Traditionally, on Christmas Eve in Mexico children lead a procession into the church and place the baby Jesus into the manger. We don’t necessarily have a procession, but we always have the Nativity displayed. I also have costumes so that all the cousins can act out the Christmas Story from Luke 2.
  • Poinsettias. My mother has them everywhere. Poinsettias bloom in southern Mexico during the winter and there is a heartfelt Christmas legend associated with the beautiful plant.
Empanadas image - one of our favorite Mexican Christmas Dinner Ideas.

How much to serve

Appetizers. Plan to serve 3-5 appetizer pieces per person. For 5-10 people, serve 1-2 different appetizer dishes. Add another appetizer dish for every 5-8 people in attendance.

Sides. Per person, plan to serve: 6 oz of a starchy dish, 4 oz of a vegetable dish, 4-6 oz for side salads, ¾-1 cup of side soup. For every 5-8 people attending, add another dish to the menu.

Main dish. Serve each adult 6 to 8 oz of meat. Children will only need 3-4 oz. For soup as a main dish, plan 1½ cup per person. For casserole-type dishes, plan for 6-8 oz per person or about 1 cup.

Desserts. For 8 or fewer guests I’ll only plan for 1 type of dessert. For every 8-10 more people, add another dessert option. No matter how many options there are, you only need to have enough for people to have 2 total servings of dessert.

Drinks. On average, guests will drink 4-8 oz during the first hour and 4 oz for every hour after. Even if you’re serving the most delicious Champurrado, Eggnog, or fruit punch, people usually like to have water available.

Mexican Christmas appetizers

Some of the best Mexican Christmas Food is in the form of appetizers!

We love to have appetizers laid out as people come for holiday gatherings, and any of these recipes would be great for your Mexican Christmas dinner.

Don’t forget the tortilla chips. If you don’t have time to make them, our all-time fav is Juanita’s brand chips!

Chili Cheese Dip – Just four ingredients make for the BEST and yummiest chili cheese dip! Melty cheese and hearty chili are so tasty together! It’s the perfect appetizer for any party.

Simple Guacamole – Spicy, chunky simple guacamole is so easy and addicting, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser! You won’t be able to stop eating it.

7 Layer Bean Dip – This 7 Layer Bean Dip recipe is a must-have at every function! It has loads of flavor and all your favorite dip ingredients including avocados, olives, tomatoes, cheese, guacamole and more!

Bean Dip – This easy cheesy bean dip is ready to enjoy in only 30 minutes. It’s a favorite to eat with chips, tacos, or any Mexican dish!

Queso Blanco – This delicious Queso Blanco is made in no time, and will be the perfect addition at your next get together, especially served with tortilla chips and veggies.

Homemade Salsa – This is such an EASY homemade salsa recipe! All you have to do is throw all the ingredients into your blender, and blend!

Tomatillo Salsa – Easy tomatillo salsa is spicy and delicious! It’s great with tortilla chips or as a sauce on top of your favorite Mexican dishes!

Black Bean and Corn Salsa – This Black Bean and Corn Salsa is one of our favorite dips and appetizers. It’s great with any Mexican dish or served with tortilla chips!!

Sweet Salsa Verde – Sweet Salsa Verde is a delicious salsa recipe made from tomatillos, jalapeños, sugar, & cilantro. It is sweet and spicy and takes just minutes to make.

Strawberry Salsa – You can’t go a summer without eating this sweet and spicy strawberry salsa! The flavors are so unique. Grab some cinnamon and sugar chips or your favorite tortilla chips and dig in!

Mexican Christmas Side Dishes

Now that you have your appetizers, you need some sides. We like to have at least one or two sides to serve with our Mexican meals. Our go-to’s always include rice – Mexican or Cilantro Lime rice, and beans!

Don’t forget the soups!! These are all simple and make great sides to any Mexican meal.

Chicken Tortilla Soup – The BEST slow cooker chicken tortilla soup is filled with chunks of chicken, beans & corn. It is easy to make and full of flavor!

Taco Soup – Taco Soup is one of the EASIEST dinner recipes of all time! Just dump, simmer, and enjoy in under 20 minutes!

Albondigas Soup – Albondigas soup is a delicious Mexican recipe filled with meatballs, vegetables and spices! Packed full of flavor, this simple Albondigas soup is sure to become a favorite. 

Caldo de Pollo – Hearty and delicious caldo de pollo is a homey chicken soup filled with Mexican spices and flavors. It is warm, comforting, and SO yummy!!

Sopa de Fideo – This quick, simple and delicious Sopa (soup) de Fideo is a family favorite. It’s also cheesy and flavorful! Just 5 Ingredients and you’ll have dinner in no time.

Homemade Flour Tortillas – Homemade Flour Tortillas made from 5 Ingredients. They’re so soft, easy to make, and can be used for burritos, tacos, quesadillas, however you like!!

Esquites – Esquites is a tasty corn salad topped with chili and cotija cheese. It’s incredibly delicious and easy to whip up!

Mexican Street Corn – Delicious Mexican Street Corn – a copycat version from Torchy’s Tacos filled with butter, cheese, chili powder and cilantro. 

Spanish Rice – Restaurant-Style Spanish Rice (aka Mexican Rice), that is easy to make and tastes like it came straight from the restaurant, and is the best side dish to any Mexican entrée.

Cilantro Lime Rice – This recipe tastes just like Cafe Rio and Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice! It’s a simple and delicious rice prefect for a salad, burrito, or taco. Now you can make this delicious lime rice from home!

Mexican Cornbread – This Mexican Cornbread (AKA jalapeño cornbread) is light and fluffy and is filled with cheddar cheese and jalapeño. It has a bit of a nip and a lot of flavor.

Southwest Salad – Our favorite Southwest Salad recipe filled with chicken, peppers, beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado and topped with a homemade cilantro ranch dressing.

Crock Pot Pinto Beans – Nutrient rich pinto beans cooked to perfection. These make a great meal or a tasty side dish to any of your Mexican dishes.

Refried Beans – Get perfectly creamy restaurant style refried beans by adding just THREE extra ingredients to your canned beans! These refried beans are perfect served as a dip, side, or filling for burritos and tacos!

Taco Pasta Salad – Delicious Taco Pasta Salad filled with beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado and more!!

Homemade Tortilla Chips – Homemade tortilla chips are crispy and sprinkled with salt. They are surprisingly quick and simple to whip up!

Mexican Christmas Dishes

We have so many delicious Mexican recipes we love to make. For Christmas, we always do at least 3 recipes, and it’s usually a taco, enchiladas, and ALWAYS empanadas (they’re the family’s favorite)!

But all of the recipes below are winners, so give them a go and let us know what you think.

Green Chili Chicken – Green chili chicken is easy and delicious. Topped with cheese and green chili sauce guarantees it will become a new favorite in no time!!

Carne Asada – Carne Asada is the perfect Mexican flavored meat to add to tacos, burritos, salads, or quesadillas. It’s tender, flavorful, and juicy.

Beef Empanadas – Beef Empanadas are one of our favorite Mexican dishes. They are a crispy, airy taco made from dough, filled with shredded beef, red chile sauce, and olives.

Chicken Tacos – Restaurant-style Chicken Tacos are filled with ingredients like shredded chicken, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes, all inside a fried corn tortilla.

Steak Tacos – These steak tacos are marinated to perfection and bursting with fresh flavor! Tacos are quick and easy for a perfect weeknight dinner in under 30 minutes.

Tostadas – Open face tostadas topped with all of your favorite Mexican ingredients! These tasty tostadas are a frequent meal in this house!

Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas – Corn tortillas stuffed with chicken, cheese, green chile enchilada sauce, sour cream, and green chiles, topped with more sauce and cheese! These enchiladas are a family fav!

Beef Enchiladas – Shredded Beef Enchiladas Made with Just 6 ingredients! This easy dinner idea is a crowd pleaser and is filled with corn, beef, green chiles, cheese and covered in red sauce.

Cheese Enchiladas – Restaurant-Style Red Cheese Enchiladas are an old family favorite recipe that is simply the best!! They are cheesy, saucy, and so yummy.

Enchilada Casserole – Enchilada Casserole is simple, requires no rolling, and is a comforting family favorite—perfect for weeknights!

Chile Relleno Casserole – A twist on a classic, this Mexican-inspired chile relleno casserole has just the right amount of spice and is packed with flavor!

Bean Chimichangas – Easy and delicious Bean Chimichangas are filled with beans, cheese and ROTEL and they taste just like the ones at the restaurants!

Chicken Chimichanga – Everyone loves chimichangas! This Baked Chicken Chimichanga recipe is stuffed with rice, chicken, cheese and more. Such a simple dinner recipe that is so delicious and perfect to add to the monthly menu.

Beef Flautas – Tortillas filled with meat and cheese and fried to perfection! Crispy, flavorful flautas are a delicious dinner for everyone!

Chicken Flautas – Delicious, crunchy chicken flautas filled with shredded chicken, salsa, cheese, and more! They can be fried, air fried or even baked into a delicious and easy dinner or appetizer.

Bean Burritos – Cheesy bean burritos are so easy to whip up for dinner! These are perfect for making ahead of time, or freezing for later.

Chorizo Recipe – Follow these simple steps to marinate and cook up your own fresh Chorizo from home! It takes some time, but it’s worth it!

Mexican Christmas Desserts and drinks

We of course include a few desserts in our Christmas Mexican food spread! I’ve gathered some of our favorites – including drinks!

Tres Leches Cake – This easy Tres Leches Cake recipe is a cool, sweet treat made from a tasty sponge cake, a creamy mixture of three different milks, and homemade whipped topping.

Mexican Hot Chocolate – Curl up with a good book, blanket, and this Mexican hot chocolate. One cozy cup of this hot chocolate and you’ll be hooked with its yummy spices and delicious cinnamon cocoa flavor!

Horchata – A creamy, refreshing, cinnamon flavored drink that will knock your socks off with flavor! It’s festive and perfect for any occasion.

Arroz Con Leche – Classic Arroz Con Leche – a variation of rice pudding that is sweet and cooked with milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk and topped with cinnamon. 

Cinnamon Chips – The perfect baked snack to dip in sweet desserts, frosting, salsas and more! Super easy to make a bunch and serve with your favorite dessert dip!

Churros – Delicious, homemade, covered in cinnamon and sugar churros are a family favorite! It’s hard NOT to love this delicious treat when it reminds you of the Happiest Place on Earth!

Sopapilla Cheesecake – This decadent dessert is inspired by the Mexican treat—sopapillas! All of the flavors of fried dough and creamy cheesecake combine to make these decadent Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars.

Sopapillas – Puffy and pillowy Sopapillas are fried to perfection and topped with honey for a simple and delicious Mexican dessert.

Flan – This creamy, decadent flan is a Latin inspired custard dessert topped with an irresistible caramel coating. It’s also surprisingly easy to make!

Fried Ice Cream – Crunchy on the outside, and smooth and creamy on the inside—fried ice cream is a flavor bomb in your mouth and a go-to Mexican dessert!


Christmas Wedding Cookies

What better way to end your Mexican Christmas Fiesta than with delicious cookies?

These Christmas Wedding Cookies have become a family favorite and they’re so simple that even the kids can make them.

After all that Mexican food, these cookies are the perfect treat to end the meal and they’re especially great for Christmas because they look like snowballs!

Mexican Christmas Food Ideas – Dinner, Apps, Sides + Desserts

5 from 6 votes
Super easy Christmas Mexican Wedding Cookies are soft and buttery with almonds in every bite and covered in powdered sugar.
Course Dessert
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 21 minutes
Servings 24
Calories 160 kcal
Author Lil’ Luna

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Cream the butter and powdered sugar together in a medium bowl. Then, mix in the vanilla and almond extract.
  • Add the flour and almonds. Mix until just combined.
  • Cover the bowl and chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
  • After the dough has chilled preheat the oven to 325°F
  • Shape the dough into balls and roll in powdered sugar and place on a cookie sheet. (Do not spray the cookie sheet). Bake for 16-18 minutes.
  • Once cool roll them in powdered sugar.

The Complete List

Here are the picture cards of ALL the Mexican Christmas Recipes listed above.

Pick and choose a handful of recipes from each of these categories for the perfect Mexican Christmas Dinner.

There are so many delicious dishes to choose from, you really can’t go wrong with any of them!

1 Simple Guacamole Recipe

Appetizer Simple Guacamole Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
5 from 11 votes
Get the recipe

2 Homemade Salsa Recipe

Appetizer Homemade Salsa Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
4.99 from 97 votes
Get the recipe

3 7 Layer Bean Dip Recipe

Appetizer 7 Layer Bean Dip Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
4.98 from 35 votes
Get the recipe

4 Queso Blanco Recipe

Appetizer Queso Blanco Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
4.96 from 66 votes
Get the recipe

5 Salsa Verde Recipe

Appetizer Salsa Verde Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
4.98 from 41 votes
Get the recipe

6 Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe

Appetizer Black Bean and Corn Salsa Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
5 from 16 votes
Get the recipe

7 Bean Dip Recipe

Appetizer Bean Dip Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
4.99 from 252 votes
Get the recipe

8 Black Bean Dip Recipe

Appetizer Black Bean Dip Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 4 votes
Get the recipe

9 Strawberry Salsa Recipe

Appetizer Strawberry Salsa Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
5 from 11 votes
Get the recipe

10 Canned Refried Beans Recipe

Appetizer Canned Refried Beans Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
5 from 27 votes
Get the recipe

11 Flour Tortilla Recipe

Side Dish Flour Tortilla Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
4.96 from 44 votes
Get the recipe

12 Mexican Street Corn Recipe

Side Dish Mexican Street Corn Recipe
Total Time: 13 minutes
5 from 19 votes
Get the recipe

13 Spanish Rice Recipe

Side Dish Spanish Rice Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
4.98 from 2698 votes
Get the recipe

14 Mexican Cornbread Recipe

Bread Mexican Cornbread Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
4.87 from 52 votes
Get the recipe

15 Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe

cropped-cilantro-lime-rice-resize-2.jpg
Side Dish Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
4.96 from 46 votes
Get the recipe

16 Taco Pasta Salad Recipe

Salad Taco Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 7 votes
Get the recipe

17 Southwest Salad Recipe

Salad Southwest Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 14 votes
Get the recipe

18 Homemade Tortilla Chips Recipe

Appetizer, Side Dish Homemade Tortilla Chips Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
5 from 8 votes
Get the recipe

19 Crock Pot Pinto Beans Recipe

Side Dish Crock Pot Pinto Beans Recipe
Total Time: 12 hours
5 from 12 votes
Get the recipe

20 Tostadas Recipe

Main Course Tostadas Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
5 from 15 votes
Get the recipe

21 Green Chili Chicken Recipe

Main Course Green Chili Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 15 votes
Get the recipe

22 Flautas Recipe

Main Course Flautas Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
5 from 44 votes
Get the recipe

23 Chicken Tacos Recipe

Main Course Chicken Tacos Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
4.99 from 58 votes
Get the recipe

24 Beef Empanada Recipe

Main Course Beef Empanada Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
5 from 22 votes
Get the recipe

25 Carne Asada Recipe

Main Course Carne Asada Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
5 from 10 votes
Get the recipe

26 Chicken Enchiladas

Main Course Chicken Enchiladas
Total Time: 40 minutes
4.99 from 424 votes
Get the recipe

27 Beef Enchiladas Recipe

Main Course Beef Enchiladas Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
4.90 from 57 votes
Get the recipe

28 Bean Chimichangas Recipe

Main Course Bean Chimichangas Recipe
Total Time: 19 minutes
5 from 5 votes
Get the recipe

29 Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe

Main Course Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
5 from 16 votes
Get the recipe

30 Steak Taco Recipe

Main Course Steak Taco Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
5 from 10 votes
Get the recipe

31 Chicken Flautas Recipe

Appetizer, Main Course Chicken Flautas Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
5 from 53 votes
Get the recipe

32 Bean Burrito Recipe

Main Course Bean Burrito Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
5 from 31 votes
Get the recipe

33 Cheese Enchilada Recipe

Main Course Cheese Enchilada Recipe
Total Time: 47 minutes
4.93 from 492 votes
Get the recipe

34 Chile Relleno Casserole Recipe

Main Course Chile Relleno Casserole Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
5 from 37 votes
Get the recipe

35 Tamale Pie Recipe

Main Course Tamale Pie Recipe
5 from 5 votes
Get the recipe

36 Chorizo Recipe

Breakfast Chorizo Recipe
Total Time: 2 days 25 minutes
5 from 24 votes
Get the recipe

37 Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe

Drinks Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
5 from 18 votes
Get the recipe

38 Horchata Recipe

Drinks Horchata Recipe
Total Time: 12 hours 10 minutes
5 from 27 votes
Get the recipe

39 Arroz con Leche Recipe

Dessert Arroz con Leche Recipe
Total Time: 45 minutes
5 from 201 votes
Get the recipe

40 Tres Leches Cake Recipe

Tres Leches Cake
Dessert Tres Leches Cake Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
5 from 30 votes
Get the recipe

41 Cinnamon Tortilla Chips Recipe

Appetizer Cinnamon Tortilla Chips Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
5 from 21 votes
Get the recipe

42 Flan Recipe

Dessert Flan Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
4.92 from 12 votes
Get the recipe

43 Fried Ice Cream Recipe

Dessert Fried Ice Cream Recipe
Total Time: 4 hours 17 minutes
5 from 14 votes
Get the recipe

44 Churros Recipe

Dessert Churros Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 25 votes
Get the recipe

45 Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe

Dessert Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
5 from 9 votes
Get the recipe

46 Sopapilla Recipe

Dessert Sopapilla Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
5 from 28 votes
Get the recipe

Be sure to check out all of our Christmas Recipes.

More Collections: Mexican Soup Recipes, Mexican Appetizers, Mexican Chicken Recipes

Like this recipe?

Pin it now to remember it later! Share it with your Facebook friends (you know they’ll love it). Or tweet it to the world. Maybe even email it to your favorite cousin!

Related Posts

Summer Salad Recipes

This collection of best summer salad recipes features all of the best savory salads, sweet salads, pasta salads, and dressings to enjoy during the summer months when seasonal produce is…

Summer Desserts

During the summertime, we love making fruity, frozen, and no-bake desserts! This collection of summer desserts includes all of our favorites! More Collections: Summer Drink Recipes, Summer Dinner Recipes, Summer…

Summer Drink Recipes

Beat the summer heat with any of these delicious summer drink recipes! Serve these flavored drinks at BBQ’s and parties, or cool off with a refreshing fruit smoothie. More Collections:…

Summer Soups

Summer soups are usually lighter, less hearty and filling than soups served during other times of the year. Use up those summer veggies and get your soup on! More Collections: Winter…

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

Join the Conversation

Rate and Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    Our most favorite food on the planet! You cant go wrong with any of these dishes. All family approved. You will enjoy these dishes all year round.

  2. 5 stars
    I used your flautas recipe to make a few chicken and beef flautas for our Christmas Eve dinner. The added salsa to the meat as the perfect bit of flavor.