If you’re like us, you’ve got a soft spot for Mexican food that won’t quit. There’s something about those flavors that stick with you, isn’t there? We’ve rounded up 17 Mexican dishes that are so good, they keep popping up in our thoughts long after the plates are cleared.
These meals are the real deal, from street tacos that pack a punch to comforting bowls of pozole. You don’t need to be a food expert to appreciate the simple, bold tastes that make each dish stand out. It’s all about the love and tradition in the cooking, making each bite special.
And let’s not forget about those sweet treats and hearty breakfasts. Whether it’s a morning chilaquiles kick or a post-dinner churro craving, these selections have covered you. So, let’s talk about these unforgettable Mexican meals that keep us returning for more.
Shrimp and Chorizo Tacos
Wrapped in a warm blanket of tortillas, a pairing of seafood and traditional sausage offers a blend of textures and flavors that insists on repeat visits to the table. Evening street markets often resonate with the sizzle and aroma that signify this fan-favorite is nearby, each bite promising a mini-celebration for the palate that one can indulge in with zest.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Chorizo Tacos
Enchilada Sauce
Any aficionado will vouch that the heart of enchilada’s appeal lies in its rich, robust sauce, which brings together a tapestry of local flavors into a glossy, simmered concoction. The velvet cloak graces plain tortillas, turning them into a feast for the senses, holding power to transform or transcend the ordinary into festive fare.
Get the Recipe: Enchilada Sauce
Camarones a la Diabla
With a name that hints at its fiery spirit, this dish holds no punches with its bold character. Fierce flavor splashes cascade through each succulent bite, making simple gatherings into vibrant fiestas. For thrill-seekers and lovers of heat, it’s an invitation to test limits and revel in the spirited zest of regional cookery.
Get the Recipe: Camarones a la Diabla
Arepas con Queso
These golden delights are a testament to the beauty of simplicity, promising the comfort of a hearty bite with a cheesy core. Brunches and late-night snacks find solace in this hand-held treasure, versatile in nature and humble in its appeal. They remind us that sometimes, the simplest combinations can lead to the most profound of gastronomic experiences.
Get the Recipe: Arepas con Queso
Beef Birria
Marrying tender strands of slow-cooked meat with a consommé that carries generations of tradition in every spoonful, this dish is a staple for celebrations and Sundays. It beckons with an essence that is at once exhilarating and nurturing, an embodiment of culinary heritage that is as rich in history as it is in taste.
Get the Recipe: Beef Birria
Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Creations from the modern kitchen meld with age-old traditions, as crispy cylinders filled with spiced chicken emerge not from vats of oil, but from the air fryer. Family movie nights often find this snappy finger food at the center of the table, promising less grease but all the pleasure. They serve as a testament to the adaptation of culture in the culinary world.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
Sopa de Camaron
A broth that carries the essence of the ocean and the warmth of home cooking, this soup has stood the test of time as a remedy for both hunger and nostalgia. Each ladle-full whispers tales of coastal towns and family gatherings, inviting you to a humble feast that is as nourishing to the soul as it is to the body.
Get the Recipe: Sopa de Camaron
Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema
Few things marry the fresh flavors of sea and land as harmoniously as these tacos, each bite picturesque as a day at the beach, accentuated with a zestful crema. Outdoor picnics often host this light yet satisfying repast, a reflection of the breezy and bright landscapes from where its inspiration takes root.
Get the Recipe: Fish Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema
Salpicon de Res
This ensemble of shredded beef gently tossed with a medley of fresh add-ons is a refreshing respite on a warm day, often finding its place at the center of daytime soirees. Striking a balance between hearty and light, it fosters an environment for conviviality and the shared joys of al fresco dining.
Get the Recipe: Salpicon de Res
Chicken Enchiladas
Encased in their corn tortilla shells and arrayed in a cascade of vibrant sauce, they are a testament to the beauty of bringing the very basic to a level of heartwarming sophistication. Gathering around the table becomes a moment of anticipation, for a dish that encapsulates a sense of home and a flair for indulgence.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas
Air Fryer Fish Tacos
They symbolize a shift toward healthful choices without sacrificing indulgence, offering a crackling exterior that gives way to the delicate flavors within. Suitable for health-conscious yet flavor-seeking individuals, they are a testament to innovating within constraints while delivering an experience that resonates with traditional seaside eats.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fish Tacos
Corn Tortillas
These round, soft canvases offer the most intimate touch of tradition to meals, hand-pressed and toasted to a point of subtle bliss. They are the supporting cast that performs with stellar versatility, capable of wrapping, dipping, and cradling a range of fillings and flavors, pivotal in myriad mealtime narratives.
Get the Recipe: Corn Tortillas
Instant Pot Tortilla Soup
Harnessing the magic of modern gadgets, this soup marries convenience with comfort, each spoonful brimming with the warmth that typifies a grandmother’s cooking. Adapted to the pace of contemporary life, it doesn’t shy away from delivering a dining experience rooted in time-honored practice but executed with present-day efficiency.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Tortilla Soup
Salsa Verde
Its bright notes and verdant hue make it a cool drizzle of countryside summer on any plate it graces. It’s as adaptable as it is flavorful and adept at amplifying everything from morning eggs to midnight tacos, becoming an irreplaceable staple that no dining table dare be without.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Verde
Instant Pot Black Beans
These are not just a side but the soulful essence of many a plate, their comforting presence evoking the home fires of rustic kitchens. Cooked to creamy perfection with the precision of technology, they bring substance and subtlety to the table, complementing and completing countless meals with understated grace.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Black Beans
Air Fryer Carnitas
Revered for their irresistible crust and tender heart, they challenge the notion that one must choose between health and flavor. A dish usually the product of patient labor finds a new expression through swift and smoky whispers of heat, presenting a dish well-loved and now more accessible.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Carnitas
Elote
This street-side charisma-soaked snack celebrates corn in its most festive attire. It bursts from simple gatherings to major fairs, each kernel embodying the joy and community spirit of open-air feasting, a humble snack elevated to a shared delight.
Get the Recipe: Elote