The best Cinco de Mayo recipes for a crowd are easy to scale, simple to make, and full of flavor! Ideas to help you plan appetizers, dinner, and drinks.
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Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner – which probably means you’re in need of some recipe ideas for your big fiesta! Every good party deserves a delicious spread of food, so to help you out we’ve compiled 16 easy Cinco de Mayo recipes for a crowd into one organized list. From simple appetizers to drink recipes and dinner ideas, these Mexican inspired recipes bring tons of flavor to any party.
1. Homemade Tortilla Chips
Start your Cinco de Mayo party off strong with traditional appetizers like these homemade corn tortilla chips and plenty of dips! Made with just corn tortillas, oil, and salt, you can easily whip up a big batch of fresh chips for your party the morning of – or a day ahead of time. Serve them with recipes like our Mexican salsa verde, homemade fire roasted salsa, or guacamole for an easy crowd-pleasing snack.
2. Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos
It’s not a party without nachos, and it’s definitely not Cinco de Mayo without these loaded sheet pan nachos! Topped with beans, jalapeno nacho cheese, shredded chicken, tomato, jalapeno, guacamole, and cilantro, these nachos are the ultimate crowd-pleaser (and will be gobbled up in seconds). You can serve them as an appetizer, side dish, or main course – because nachos are a perfectly acceptable lunch or dinner.
3. Cast Iron Skillet Nachos
For a lazy yet tasty Cinco de Mayo appetizer, add this vegetarian cast iron skillet nachos recipe to your menu! They’re fresh, fun, and so ridiculously easy to make – perfect if you’re short on time and need to throw together something quick before the party starts. With only 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes in the oven, you can have these vegetarian nachos ready to serve in just 15 minutes. Tip: make two or three skillets full of these nachos to feed a crowd!
4. 4 Layer Mexican Dip
When we say this is an easy Cinco de Mayo recipe for a crowd, we mean it. This is one of our personal favorite dips for any party, since you only need 4 ingredients – cream cheese, chili, shredded cheese, and jalapenos – and you can throw it together in no time. Make a single batch for a party of about 6 to 8 guests, or double it for a larger crowd.
5. Restaurant Style Mexican Bean Dip
This restaurant style bean dip is sure to be a crowd pleaser at your Cinco de Mayo party! Serve it with homemade tortilla chips for a savory appetizer no one will be able to resist. Made with just 7 ingredients that you mix together and throw in the oven, making appetizers for a crowd doesn’t get much easier.
6. Tiny Tacos With Spicy Dipping Trio
If you’re looking for a large batch Cinco de Mayo appetizer that’s both delicious and adorable, these fun-size tiny tacos fit the bill! A simple filling of chicken, beans, and cheese and a festive trio of dips – jalapeno avocado aioli, habanero hot sauce, and spicy queso – make these the perfect dippable finger food for a party.
7. Chilaquiles Verdes
For those of you planning on hosting a Cinco de Mayo brunch, chilaquiles are one of the best recipes you could make no matter the size of your crowd. Cheesy eggs, black beans, and spicy verde sauce on tortilla chips? It’s like eating nachos for breakfast – and there’s no better day to indulge in that than Cinco de Mayo.
8. Chicken Burritos Ranchero
Burritos are hands-down one of the best foods for celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Stuffed with a savory filling of rice, beans, chicken, and cheese and drenched in a spicy homemade ranchero sauce, these restaurant style burritos are the perfect indulgent Mexican dinner! Serve them with a side of chips, salsa, and homemade guacamole – and a margarita – for an unforgettable fiesta.
9. Restaurant Style Pork Carnitas Burrito
If you’re cooking to impress, make a big batch of these pork carnitas burritos with spicy verde sauce this Cinco de Mayo. This recipe takes a little prep work, but it’s so worth the effort! It tastes just like a juicy, tender carnitas burrito from your favorite Mexican restaurant, complete with salsa verde and crumbled queso fresco on top. Bonus: it’s super easy to scale this recipe to feed any Cinco de Mayo crowd!
10. Chicken Tinga Tostadas
We love serving these simple tostadas as a build-your-own dinner, which makes it perfect for celebrating Cinco de Mayo with all your friends and family! All you have to do is prepare the individual components, then it’s up to everyone else to assemble their own tostada at the table. Low-effort cooking and a fun, interactive dinner even kids will love? This recipe is a win-win in our book.
11. Vegetarian Tostadas
Need vegetarian or vegan recipes for your Cinco de Mayo party? You’ll definitely want to try these vegetarian tostadas, made with cauliflower, peppers, and onions. They’re spicy, savory, and so flavorful! Just make sure to use vegetarian refried beans, and skip the queso fresco to make them vegan.
12. Baked Chicken Tacos
If you’re not crazy about the idea of a build-your-own taco bar, these baked chicken tacos make it easy to serve pre-assembled tacos to a crowd. Simply fill up a big tray (or a few trays!) with these bad boys and pop them in the oven. Pro tip: prep the taco fillings ahead of time so that all you have to do during the party is assemble and bake.
13. Carne Asada With Rice & Beans
A simple and elegant dish, this carne asada recipe will impress your guests with its bright and zesty flavor! Topped with silky avocado lime crema and served with rice and beans, this dish is surprisingly easy to prepare and scale for a dinner party – no matter how many guests you’ll be feeding. Just make sure to plan ahead so you have plenty of time to marinate the steak.
14. Healthy Chicken Enchiladas
Keep things simple with a big dish of chicken enchiladas that everyone will love. Prep the shredded chicken ahead of time, and this easy Cinco de Mayo recipe comes together in just 45 minutes – 30 of which are hands-off baking in the oven! Serve them family style at the dinner table with all the fixings and you’ll have a fiesta to remember.
15. Spicy Mezcal Margarita
Nothing says Cinco de Mayo quite like a drink recipe that features mezcal. This spicy and smoky mezcal margarita is a unique twist on a classic margarita that doesn’t disappoint. And the best part? It is easy to prep a large batch for the crowd at your Cinco de Mayo party. Just make a pitcher ahead of time, then lay out glasses, lime wedges, a plate full of tajin, and jalapeno slices. That way all your work is done ahead of time, and your guests can garnish their drink however they’d like!
16. Pineapple Mezcal Old Fashioned
Once all the festivities are winding down, whip up a pineapple mezcal old fashioned for you and any remaining guests for the perfect end to an amazing party. This citrusy yet smoky cocktail is a new twist on a classic old fashioned – AKA, the best palate cleanser after a big Mexican feast. It’s one of the best Cinco de Mayo drink recipes you’ll try this year – trust us!
For even more delicious Cinco de Mayo recipe ideas, check out all our Mexican recipes here.
What are your favorite foods to eat on Cinco de Mayo? Let us know in the comments!
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