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It's that time of year again, and Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner! As a party planner, you know how important it is to make sure your guests have plenty of delicious options for celebrating Cinco de Mayo. We've got some great tips for planning a festive and easy menu perfect for any Cinco de Mayo gathering.
Cindo de Mayo: A Cultural Celebration
Before we being to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, it is important to know why it is being celebrated in the first place, just like any holiday. Cinco de Mayo is observed in parts of Mexico and the United States. It honors the Mexican army's victory over French troops on May 5, 1862. It is important to note that Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, which occurs on September 16th.
French forces tried to impose a monarchy and extend their influence, which also challenged United States power in the region. The battle of Puebla marked a pivotal movement for the Mexicans against foreign domination. You can read more about the battle itself here.
Today, the state of Puebla commemorates this day with parades, speeches, and reenactments of the battle. In other parts of Mexico, it remains relatively under-celebrated. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican heritage for the cultural pride and resilience of the Mexican people.
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
If you choose to celebrate the special occasion, whether you're hosting an intimate soiree or a giant fiesta, we've got easy recipes inspired by Mexican recipes that will tantalize the taste buds of everyone in attendance.
Authentic Mexican recipes and Mexican cuisine are ALWAYS delicious. Including items like carne asada tacos, huevos rancheros, and refried beans, you can't go wrong. Our Cinco de Mayo recipes may not be authentic Mexican food, but they are perfect for quick party food if you're looking for easy recipe ideas for the special occasion. All the recipes are inspired by Mexican recipes and Mexican flavors, which makes these dishes perfect for a celebration and an easy weeknight dinner.
From cocktails to salsa, these quick delicious dishes will help ensure that no one leaves hungry - or without being properly immersed in traditional Mexican inspired dishes! Grab your tortilla chips and sour cream and get ready to discover our favorite recipes inspired by Mexican food for making this year's Cinco de Mayo celebration truly memorable.
Cocktails that Pair Perfectly with Cinco de Mayo Party Food
Margaritas Made with Fresh Ingredients
Margaritas are among one of the many delicious Mexican recipes for drinks to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Both made with fresh lime juice and silver tequila, these two margarita recipes for Cinco de Mayo won't leave you feeling guilty afterwards.
Skinny Margarita
If you had to give up drinking sugary margaritas in you 20s, this lower-calorie alternative is perfect for you. Natural honey, fresh lime juice, and fresh orange juice keeps this Skinny Margarita is delicious - it tastes amazing! The recipe is simple and, best of all, guilt-free! For a little kick, add in some sliced jalapeños as a garnish.
Peach Margarita
Love the idea of margaritas, but don't want to taste the tequila? Our Peach Margarita recipe with honey is exactly what you need. You can craft this cocktail using any of our delicious honey. We've made it with blueberry, blackberry, and orange blossom honey as well.
No Tequila? No Problem!
Let's face it: tequila isn't everyone's cup of tea. But don't worry! Margaritas aren't the only drinks you can serve as classic Cinco de Mayo recipes. These cocktails are made with either rum, vodka, or gin. If you do like tequila but want to switch it up from. margaritas, you could try swapping the alcohol in these recipes for tequila - they will be just as delicious!
Mojito with Honey
When you make one with honey, it makes all the difference in the flavor. This Honey Mojito recipe we made with a craft spectacular club soda that we found at our local grocer and boy does it have a kick! Muddle in a few fresh blueberries, and you've achieved perfection. This mojito recipe is timed well for the warmer weather that's setting in just in time for Cinco de Mayo.
Bee Collins Cocktail
Yes, we know that this is technically not a classic when it comes to Cinco de Mayo recipes. However, our Bee Collins Cocktail is the perfect recipe for a warm May day. This refreshing drink will keep you and your guests comfortable, and the fruity flavor goes well with all your favorite Mexican recipes for Cinco de Mayo!
Do You Salsa?
Salsa HAS to be planned into all of your Cinco de Mayo festivities. This Summer Salsa recipe is a lovely sweet and savory happy hour treat for Cinco de Mayo. If you are familiar with the canning process, you can make a big pot of it and enjoy your salsa year-round.
Do you enjoy more spice? Try adding some chili powder in your salsa. You could also top it with cilantro lime dressing and eat it as a normal salad! This is a straightforward, easy recipe anyone can make. Obviously served best with delicious tortilla chips!
Taco Tuesday on a Sunday
Although Cinco de Mayo doesn't fall on a Tuesday, there is no reason not to have a taco night! The savory flavors of this delicious Fish Taco recipe will leave your Cinco de Mayo guests wanting more. We make this recipe with lime lime juice, olive oil, and cilantro for a homemade cilantro lime dressing. We use corn tortillas, but feel free to swap the corn tortillas for soft flour tortillas if you prefer!
One of the best things about tacos is that they are so easily customizable. Make these tacos your own with toppings such as sour cream, bell peppers, salsa verde, cherry tomatoes, hot sauce, red onions, pickled jalapeños, cheese, and more.
Taco Tips
Do you ever have an issue with your taco ingredients falling out as you're trying to eat? We have the perfect hack for you. Grab some tortilla chips and eat your tacos over them. When the ingredients fall out, you will have instant nachos! Top with cotija cheese for some gooey goodness and you are good to go.
Want to create your own lime crema? You can easily make your own lime crema using just fresh cilantro, lime juice, and sour cream. It is perfect for drizzling on top of your tacos!
Not Into Fish?
You could also turn these into shrimp tacos with our Honey Lime Shrimp recipe. The lime juice and honey in this recipe would make the perfect shrimp tacos. If you're not into seafood at all, you can always make your tacos with seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken.
A Classic Dish on the Side
We usually serve these tacos with our creamy cabbage Slaw. This recipe is easy to make while also being good for your digestion. If you don't like slaw, serve these tacos with black beans or refried beans and cilantro lime rice for more Mexican culture. Plus, you can save your leftovers for Taco Tuesday!
Our Twist on Delicious Mexican Recipes for Cinco de Mayo
Inspired by Mexican flavors and the best Mexican recipes, we hope you try out some of these easy recipes for Cinco de Mayo! Mexican food is among my favorite kinds of food, so we hope you enjoy our twist on Mexican recipes as much as we enjoyed making them.
It's no wonder why Cinco de Mayo is such a popular celebration worldwide - it's an easy and delicious way to celebrate the vibrant culture of Mexico. Planning your menu has never been easier with our tasty recipes that are perfect for any sized gathering. Whether you're inviting a few close friends or throwing a huge party, these recipes will add the perfect pinch of flavor to your fiesta. All you need to do is invite everyone over and let the good times (and festive flavors) roll!
Enjoy the colors, smells, and tastes of Mexican traditions while getting creative in the kitchen. Let your taste buds take you on a mini-vacation this year with one of these delicious recipes. Try them and transport yourself to an atmosphere so fun and flavorful, even bad weather can't put a damper on it. So go ahead: turn up the music and top off this margaritas; Viva Cinco de Mayo! Try these delicious recipes today and make this year's celebration extra special.
