Planning to throw a party or make a big feast to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this May 5? We have put together a list of some of our favourite Mexican inspired dishes to help you plan a menu. For anyone in need of a history refresh, Cinco de Mayo is a day of celebration in Mexico in honor of the Mexican army’s victory over French forces during the Battle of Puebla on May 5 1862. It was an unfair battle with the much smaller Mexican army both outnumbered and poorly equipped against the French but less than 24 hours into battle, the Mexicans came out victorious. May 5 has since been adopted by many Americans as an opportunity to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. With that in mind, check out the menu below where we have included a wide selection of dishes that you might enjoy. 

 

Appetizers

Peach, Jalapeno & Shrimp Ceviche

Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Dip

Salad

Mexican Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados

Mexican Beef Taco Salad

Grilled Kale Caesar Salad with Crispy Chorizo

Mains

Beef & Cauliflower Rice Mexican Casserole

Mexican Meatballs

Mexican Chicken Burgers

Roasted Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Tacos

Spicy Shrimp Tacos

Shredded Pork Tacos

Side Dishes

Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Oven Roasted Salsa

Whole30 Celery Root Tortillas

Dessert

Spicy Mango Popsicles

Grilled Lime & Chipotle Watermelon Skewers

 

Appetizers

Cinco de Mayo Appetizers

1) Peach, Jalapeno & Shrimp Ceviche 2) Creamy Jalapeno Chicken Dip

These two appetizers can both be made in advance and are great for feeding a crowd. The Peach, Jalapeno & Shrimp Ceviche is refreshing, spicy, sweet and zesty and a great “starter” ceviche for anyone who isn’t keen on the raw aspect of traditional ceviche. The Jalapeno Chicken Dip is Whole30 and Paleo but tastes like it’s loaded with cheese and dairy thanks to it’s deliciously creamy consistency. You can serve both appetizers with tortilla chips, or fresh veggies for dipping. 

 

Salads

Cinco de Mayo Salads

1) Mexican Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados 2) Grilled Kale Caesar Salad with Crispy Chorizo

If you are serving a crowd, these Mexican Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados are a great option because guests can pick them up and eat them with their hands, plus they can be made a day in advance which is always a bonus. Alternatively this Grilled Kale Caesar Salad with Crispy Chorizo is a fun spin on Caesar salad, which is a dish first created in Mexico. The combination of tender grilled kale and crispy chorizo all smothered in a creamy Caesar dressing is highly addicting and so tasty! 

 

Mains

Cinco de Mayo Tacos

1) Spicy Shrimp Tacos 2) Shredded Pork Tacos

Tacos are great for feeding a crowd, you can lay out all of the toppings and filling and let people assemble them themselves. Two of my favourite tacos are these Spicy Shrimp Tacos and Shredded Pork Tacos. You can serve them both in tortillas, lettuce cups or celery root tortillas and include a variety of toppings.

 

 

Cinco de Mayo Main Dishes

1) Mexican Beef Taco Salad 2) Mexican Meatballs 3) Beef & Cauliflower Rice Mexican Casserole

Looking for ways to use ground beef? These 3 recipes all use the budget friendly beef in different ways including in  a hearty Mexican Beef Taco Salad, as Mexican Meatballs smothered in a spicy chipotle tomato sauce and mixed with butternut squash cubes, cauliflower rice plus loads of spices in a Mexican Inspired Casserole. 

 

Cinco de Mayo Burger and Enchiladas

1) Mexican Chicken Burgers 2) Zucchini Wrapped Chicken Enchiladas

These are two of my favourite Mexican inspired recipes using chicken that showcase the protein in very different ways. The Mexican Chicken Burgers are made with ground chicken and a blend of spices all served on top of grilled butternut squash with guacamole and fresh salsa. The Chicken Enchiladas are a fun low carb option in which the spicy chicken is rolled in thin slices of zucchini and baked in the oven until tender.

 

Cinco de Mayo Vegan Dishes

1) Roasted Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Tacos 2) Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Although these two dishes are vegan and vegetarian, they are so tasty and satisfying that carnivores will love them too. The Roasted Cauliflower & Butternut Squash Tacos are an easy 30-minute taco loaded with spicy roasted vegetables smothered in a tangy lime sauce. The Mexican Cauliflower Rice is great as a main served with lots of toppings including guacamole and salsa, or as a side dish. 

Side Dishes

Cinco de Mayo Salsa and Grain Free Tortillas

1) Oven Roasted Salsa 2) Whole30 Celery Root Tortillas

When it comes to a Mexican feast, there are two things that you can’t leave out, salsa and tortillas! This Oven Roasted Salsa is so easy to make, just add all of the ingredients to a sheet pan and pop it in the oven to roast until the tomatoes are soft and slightly caramelized. Although these Celery Root Tortillas aren’t mandatory, they are great to have available for anyone doing Whole30. 

 

Desserts

Cinco de Mayo Dessert

1) Spicy Mango Popsicles 2) Grilled Lime & Chipotle Watermelon Skewers

A Mexican feast can be quite heavy, so here are two light and fresh desserts that are the perfect way to end the meal. These Spicy Mango Popsicles are a fun spin on Mango con chile y limón (fresh mango with chili powder and lime) a popular snack sold in Mexico. If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous, the Grilled Lime & Chipotle Watermelon Skewers are the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. 

Here are a few more recipe roundups you might enjoy:

If you make any of these recipes let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!