This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This collection of Mexican dinner ideas will help you make the best Mexican dinner! From main dishes to sides to appetizers, drinks, and desserts – every recipe is here to help you have the perfect fiesta!
More Collections: Mexican Side Dishes, Mexican Desserts, Mexican Soups
We Love Mexican Celebrations!
We love Mexican food! Yes, many celebrate Cinco de Mayo with their favorite Mexican dishes, but we have it almost weekly at our house.
Why we love these Mexican dinner ideas:
- For a fiesta or any night. Whether it’s for a holiday, a fiesta, or a weeknight dinner, you’ll have plenty of tasty dishes to choose from!
- The flavors of Mexico. All of these dinner spreads include familiar flavors from spicy to sweet, you’re tastebuds will water!
- Common ingredients. These recipes require the same or similar ingredients prepared in various ways so it’s easy to have them on hand.
common Ingredients in Mexican Cuisine
- Corn. From corn tortillas to Elote (Mexican Street Corn) and beyond.
- Cheese. Added on top or combined into the recipe.
- Seasonings. Common herbs and spices include cumin, chili powder, cilantro, garlic, onion, oregano, chipotle, cocoa, cinnamon, cloves, and more.
- Peppers. Chili peppers and jalapenos are both quite common.
- Avocados are served sliced or used to make Guacamole.
- Tortillas. Corn tortillas and Flour Tortillas are often used in the recipe or served on the side.
- Beans. Black beans and Refried Beans are commonly found in dishes or on the side.
- Toppings. Common toppings include sour cream, Pico de Gallo, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, olives, queso fresco, and a squirt of lime juice.
Our Top 10 Recipes
On my site, the top 10 most loved Mexican recipes (main and side) include:
Go-to Appetizers
For a dinner spread plan for 1-2 different appetizers. Salsas, Dips, and sauces can be made ahead of time to make things even easier!
1 Flautas
2 Taquitos Recipe
3 Nachos Recipe
4 Cheese Crisp
5 Refried Bean Dip
6 Cheese Quesadilla
7 Queso Blanco Recipe
8 Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
9 7 Layer Bean Dip
10 Tortilla Chip Recipe
11 Salsa Recipe
Go-To Sides
Pick 1-2 sides to complement your main dish. A bowl full of Rice is a great one that can be made ahead and kept WARM in the slow cooker or chafing dish. Soups and stews can be served as a main dish or on the side. All of these options pair with almost anything!
12 Spanish Rice Recipe
13 Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
14 Flour Tortilla Recipe
15 Esquites Recipe
16 Canned Refried Beans
17 Mexican Corn on the Cob
18 Loaded Nachos Recipe
19 Mexican Corn Salad Recipe
20 Mexican Cornbread Recipe
21 Taco Soup Recipe
22 Albondigas Recipe
Go-To Mexican Dinners
Now for the star of the show! We recommend choosing 1-2 depending on the size of the party. It’s a good idea to have at least one that can be made ahead of time. Anything fried is usually made right before serving.
23 Chicken Tacos
24 Beef Empanadas Recipe
25 Cheese Enchiladas
26 Bean Chimichangas Recipe
27 White Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
28 Burrito Recipe
29 Carne Asada Recipe
30 Chicken Flautas
31 Tostada
32 Taco Casserole Recipe
Recipe Video
More Mexican Dinner Recipes
We’ve rounded up even more of our favorite Mexican cuisine, perfect for dinner any night of the week!
33 Carnitas Tacos
34 Pork Tacos Recipe
35 Carne Asada Tacos Recipe
36 Steak Taco Recipe
37 Mexican Lasagna Recipe
38 Mexican Casserole
39 Sweet Pork Barbacoa Recipe
40 Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe
41 Dorito Casserole
42 Crock Pot Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe43 Creamy Chicken Enchilada Recipe
Recipe Video
Get the recipe44 Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas
45 Beef Enchiladas
46 Chicken Enchilada Casserole Recipe
47 Beef Enchilada Casserole Recipe
48 Green Chili Smothered Burritos Recipe
49 Baked Chicken Chimichanga Recipe
50 Tamale Pie Recipe
51 Salsa Chicken Recipe
52 Green Chili Chicken Recipe
53 Chile Relleno Casserole Recipe
Desserts & Drinks
Save room for dessert! I usually try to make this ahead of time so it’s ready to go when that sweet tooth hits. For a great tip, you can easily extend any dessert by adding Ice Cream.
54 Arroz con Leche Recipe
55 Sopapilla Recipe
56 Tres Leches Cake
57 Churro Recipe
58 Mexican Fried Ice Cream Recipe
59 How to Make Flan
60 Churro Cheesecake Bars
61 Mexican Wedding Cookies
62 Sopapilla Cheesecake Recipe
63 Carmelitas Recipe
64 Mexican Hot Chocolate Recipe
65 Horchata Recipe
A Family Go-To!
For those crazy weeknights we LOVE having a tray of these Enchiladas in the freezer so we can just pop it in the oven and have a delicious meal in no time.
Not only are chicken enchiladas so easy but they are so good! They are perfect for making in mass quantities and are super freezer friendly.
Here is the recipe:
60+ Mexican Dinner Ideas
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken cooked and shredded
- 2 cups Colby jack cheese shredded
- 1 (19-ounce) can Las Palmas green chile enchilada sauce
- 1 cup sour cream
- 6-8 corn tortillas
- 1 (4 ½-ounce) can can chopped green chiles
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Mix chicken, green chiles, 1 cup of cheese, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Add enchilada sauce to a small skillet and bring it to a boil then remove from the heat.
- Grab one of the corn tortillas and dip it into the enchilada sauce for about 10-15 seconds. Repeat the process for the rest of the corn tortillas.
- Spoon ⅓ cup of chicken mixture and 2 tablespoons sour cream in the middle of each tortilla (I usually put the sour cream in a sandwich bag and cut the bottom tip which makes it easier to squirt right down the center).
- Roll the tortilla tightly and place seam-side down in an 8×8 (or 9×9) inch baking dish.
- Repeat this rolling process with the rest of the corn tortillas. Pour the leftover enchilada sauce over the top of the rolled enchiladas and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
Notes
FOR A 9×13 PAN… INGREDIENTS:
- 3 – 4 CUPS CHICKEN
- 3 CUPS MONTEREY JACK CHEESE
- 1 – 28 OZ. CAN LAS PALMAS GREEN CHILE ENCHILADA SAUCE
- 12-15 CORN TORTILLAS
- 1 – 2 CANS 4.5 OZ. CHOPPED GREEN CHILES
- 1 1/2 – 2 CUPS SOUR CREAM
- SALT & PEPPER
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Perfect for Your Next Fiesta!
We hope these recipes help you create the perfect Mexican meal. Just pick one from each category and we guarantee you’ll get rave reviews! They’re simple, delicious, and perfect for your next FIESTA!
So many great Mexican dinner Ideas!!
More Collections: Mexican Casserole Recipes, Mexican Beef Recipes, Mexican Appetizers
Hello Kristyn,
I’ve made the Easy Chicken Enchilada recipe so many times. My family, friends and co-workers always request for this when we have gatherings. Very easy and very delicious.
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
OMG…I really love the Mexican recipes. There are so many to choose from. I am looking forward to make the bean burritos for a group of us for Cinco de Mayo also the Loaded Nachos. We have a few picky eaters, but these will go over very well with a margarita. Thank you for all the emails I receive from you. And, follow you on Instagram.
Rate of the two recipes…10+
Can’t wait to try these recipes, I love Mexican food