18 Cinco de Mayo Food and Drink Ideas
Brittany Barber
Contributor
If you're on the hunt for Cinco de Mayo food and drink ideas, you've come to the right place. Along with fun party music and other Cinco de Mayo entertainment, you'll want to make sure you're fully stocked with classic Cinco de Mayo dishes like chimichangas and tacos. We've included recipes for a few key desserts and tequila-based cocktails you should consider serving as well!
Whether you choose to hire a caterer or bartender to help you make everything, you'll want to take a look at these delicious ideas for inspiration as you plan your celebration.
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Here are 18 Cinco de Mayo food and drink ideas.
Cinco de Mayo Food:
Chicken Enchiladas
Photo: gimmesomeoven.com
Check out Gimme Some Oven for the step-by-step breakdown on how to make chicken enchiladas. They even include a recipe for some delicious sauce to serve on the side, too.
Mexican Street Tacos
Photo: damndelicious.net
It doesn't have to be May 5th to enjoy these delicious tacos from Damn Delicious. Check out their skirt steak taco recipe here!
Shrimp Ceviche
Photo: sweetandsavorymeals.com
I bet I could eat this shrimp ceviche from Sweet and Savory every single day. If you've never made ceviche before, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to make!
Crispy Bean Tostadas
Photo: cookieandkate.com
If you're expecting a few vegetarian guests at your Cinco de Mayo party, an easy way to make sure they're satiated is with these delicious tostadas from Cookie and Kate. The jimaca-cilantro slaw adds a unique pop of flavor your guests will love!
Chicken Chimichangas
Photo: cookingclassy.com
This chicken chimichanga recipe from Cooking Classy is literally making me drool right now. If you plan on serving these up for your Cinco de Mayo party, make sure you make a bunch — because your guests will definitely come around for seconds!
Mexican Grilled Corn
Photo: Megan Keno/simplyrecipes.com
This Mexican grilled corn recipe from Simply Recipes would be great as a side dish at your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Don't forget the cheese!
Quinoa Tacos
Photo: minimalistbaker.com
Try this vegetarian spin on ground beef tacos from Minimalist Baker. They swap meat out for a delicious quinoa concoction that your vegetarian (and non-vegetarian!) guests will love.
Mexican Shrimp Burrito Bowl
Photo: cookingmadehealthy.com
Skip the tortilla altogether with this shrimp burrito bowl recipe from Cooking Made Healthy.
Salsa Fresca
Photo: Elise Bauer/simplyrecipes.com
Try this fresh salsa recipe from Simply Recipes for an upgrade from your usual store-bought stuff. Served with chips and guac? Heavenly.
Shrimp Cocktail
Photo: fromachefskitchen.com
Nothing beats a shrimp cocktail. Check out this awesome recipe from From a Chef's Kitchen for everything you need to make this dish for your Cinco de Mayo party.
Cinco de Mayo Desserts:
Churros
Photo: cookingclassy.com
This mouth-watering churro recipe from Cooking Classy will definitely be a hit at your Cinco de Mayo celebration. Be sure to make lots!
Mexican Chocolate Donuts
Photo: patijinich.com
These Mexican donuts from Patijinich are so good, you'll start making them for every event and party you host. You can stuff these babies with a filling of your choice, including dulce de leche, cajeta, chocolate, or even jam.
Arroz Con Leche (Mexican Rice Pudding)
Photo: isabeleats.com
This Mexican rice pudding recipe from Isabel Eats will satisfy any sweet tooth. It's super easy to make to make, too!
And of course, Cinco de Mayo Cocktails:
Margarita
Photo: gimmesomeoven.com
I don't think you can actually celebrate Cinco de Mayo unless you have at least one classic margarita. Check out Gimme Some Oven for their margarita recipe. They even give you tips on how to jazz it up with jalapenos and mezcal, too! Don't forget to pick up plenty of limes.
Tequila Sunrise
Photo: thespruceeats.com
If you're looking for an easy-drinking cocktail, check out this tequila sunrise recipe from The Spruce Eats. It's fruity, easy to make, and delicious!
Paloma
Photo: acouplecooks.com
Tequila and grapefruit, a match made in heaven. Check out this Paloma recipe from A Couple Cooks so you can make a batch at your Cinco de Mayo party.
Tequila Sour
Photo: acouplecooks.com
This frothy, sweet and tangy cocktail is sure to hit the spot. Check out the recipe from A Couple Cooks here.
Pineapple Mezcal Margarita
Photo: simplywhisked.com
Now, this isn't your traditional margarita — but it might be just as good. The only difference here is that you're going to add some mezcal and pineapple juice, and maybe even a slice of pineapple for garnish. Check out this fun recipe from Simply Whisked.
Happy Cinco de Mayo, y'all!
Check out The Bash for more Cinco de Mayo ideas and tips.
About Brittany Barber
Brittany Barber, lover of books, dogs, and romance, graduated from Bishop’s University with a Communications and Theatre degree. After spending some time working abroad in the theatre world, she is now a freelance writer covering a range of lifestyle topics including event planning for The Bash, WeddingWire, 2life and Fluttr, and shopping for BuzzFeed.
