Skip to main content

Five Must Have Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

Don't you love it when Cinco de Mayo falls on the weekend?  That way you'll have plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the fun as well as the robust flavors of all the yummy foods.  Are you looking for some food suggestions? 

Here are five of my favorite dishes to make at home anytime, but especially to help celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Plan Your Cinco de Mayo Celebration with These Five Recipes

(This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  Thanks for shopping!)

Slammin' Guacamole
OK, I know guacamole is not technically a dish, but I can't imagine a Cinco de Mayo spread without a large bowl of tasty guacamole.   This is my favorite guacamole recipe, but I encourage you to make this one your own with a little bit of this and that.
Plan Your Cinco de Mayo Party with These Five Recipes
Add caption

Add a bit more jalapeno pepper to kick up the heat index.  Add a little more, or less, chopped tomato, or substitute parsley for the cilantro.  I happen to love the cilantro, but I know there are many of you who don't.  Leftover guacamole is a wonderful sandwich spread...just sayin'. 

Don't forget to get your party started with some inexpensive party decorations like these festive garlands and colorful cocktail napkins.  They are a downright cheap way to add some fun!

Click the links below to be taken to the step-by-step recipes for your Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Slammin' Guacamole

A Classic Margarita

We like margaritas twelve months of the year, so of course, I have to include this classic cocktail here. 

Make your own simple syrup by boiling equal parts sugar and water until the sugar dissolves.  Let the simple syrup cool and then add tequila, lime juice, and Grand Marnier or Triple Sec.  With salt or without, your choice!  We like to use these glass pitchers to make up a large batch in advance.  That way the party is ready to go and you can enjoy the fun without playing bartender.

A Classic Margarita

Southwest Chicken with Chipotle Barbecue Sauce


Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

This barbecued chicken recipe doesn't require a grill.  You can make this smoky-flavored chicken from start to finish in your kitchen with either a whole chicken or the chicken parts of your choice.  

The two keys to success in this dish are the Southwest Spice Mix and the Chipotle Barbecue Sauce.  Once you make them you'll always want to have them on hand to add a little zip to your life.

Southwest Shrimp with Grilled Corn and Black Bean Salad


Southwest Shrimp with Corn and Black Bean Salad
Southwest Shrimp with Corn and Black Bean Salad

Shrimp is always on hand in my freezer.  This recipe is one of the reasons why.  Come to think of it, these shrimp would be terrific as a taco filling as well.

Cumin Grilled Steak with Chili Lime Butter


Cumin Grilled Steak
Cumin Grilled Steak 

Last, but not least, is a delicious way to kick up the flavor of a grilled rib eye or NY strip steak.  Both are wonderful cuts of beef for grilling, but on Cinco de Mayo you deserve to punch it up and welcome the party to your mouth.  The chili lime butter keeps well in your freezer, so if you make some this weekend you'll have plenty on hand for the grilling season.

Of course, I have created a Cinco de Mayo Pinterest Board with other ideas for your Cinco de Mayo party.  Follow me on Pinterest and you'll never be at a loss for great ideas, no matter what occasion.

Before you go.....Never miss a Just One Donna post by signing up to receive posts in your email or your favorite RSS feed.  Links are in the sidebar.


Enjoy!

Comments

More Popular Posts

How to Make a Perfect Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

In my opinion, the best breakfast consists of two perfectly fried eggs, crispy bacon, and toast made with hearty bread. This bacon and eggs recipe delivers. Bacon and eggs or eggs and bacon? No matter, it is definitely the breakfast you want on those lazy mornings when you have time to relax around the kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee or two. The Best Bacon and Eggs Breakfast (This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  When you make a purchase using these links you help support this blog.) How to Cook Bacon and Eggs My technique was learned from my mom, by watching her make our family's breakfast over and over again, year after year.  This is a basted egg recipe which means the eggs are cooked in bacon grease. Cooking eggs in bacon fat is easy and takes just a little practice to perfect. All you really need for a great bacon and eggs breakfast is a good nonstick skillet and a good toaster . If you want to make your own bre...

The Best Asian Dipping Sauce You'll Ever Taste

If you're looking for a versatile, easy-to-make Asian dipping sauce perfect for sushi and dumplings, then you've come to the right place. This recipe for the best Asian dipping sauce is perfect for any time you want a  kick of delicious Asian flavor. An Asian Dipping Sauce for Sushi and Dumplings Try this if you are looking for a dipping sauce that is a little more flavorful than you typically get with your takeout order. You'll love it with dumplings, too!

Traditional New England Whoopie Pies

Are you looking for the best whoopie pie recipe?  Whoopie pies are a quintessential New England dessert and a memorable treat from my childhood.   My mom would make them for us every once in a while.  Oh, what a treat to come home from school to a platter of chocolate whoopie pies!  Yum! Today I'm sharing my recipe for the best-ever whoopie pies. The Best Whoopie Pies Recipe without Marshmallow Fluff Whoopie Pies Whoopie pies are soft round cookie-like cakes with a smooth cream filling sandwiched in the center. Debate rages about the whoopie pie's origin.  Some say these goodies originated in New England, others say they originated with the Amish.   There is also debate about what ingredients should be in the filling.  Many recipes include fillings made with Marshmallow Fluff or buttercream but neither is  traditional, in my opinion.  The whoopie pie of my childhood is a traditional Maine whoopie p...

Bread Machine Dinner Rolls

Are you looking for an easy dinner roll recipe? The easiest way to make fresh dinner rolls is with your bread machine. Relax while you use the dough setting of your bread machine to get the time-intensive steps out of the way. You'll be delighted with the results of this easy bread machine dinner roll recipe. The best bread machine dinner rolls are the ones you make yourself. How to Make Bread Machine Dinner Rolls This post contains Amazon affiliate links. When you use your bread machine to make dinner rolls most of the work is done by the machine.  You'll be delighted with how easy it is to make fresh rolls. While most of the work is being done by the bread machine you can be doing something else.

Grandma's Soft and Chewy Date-Filled Cookies

One of the things I can count on as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons arrive each year is a feeling of nostalgia. The traditional foods we serve at our family's holiday tables can sure bring out all the feels. Now that it is officially cookie season, we should kick it off with an old-fashioned homemade date-filled cookie recipe. This is a soft, tender cookie with dates that is a special, nostalgic, family recipe.   An Old-Fashioned Date Cookies Recipe This old-fashioned, date-filled cookie was my dad's favorite cookie from his childhood. My dad was born in 1932 so this recipe has been around for quite a while. 

How to Trap and Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a huge annoyance at certain times of the year. What can you do to kill fruit flies? We've all been there wondering how to get rid of fruit flies.  Fruit flies in the kitchen.  Fruit flies in the bathroom.  Fruit flies buzzing around everywhere in your home.   It's a frustrating problem that happens to everyone at one time or another.  If you are a fresh fruit and produce lover you certainly know what I mean. How to Kill Fruit Flies with Two Ingredients Those pesky little buggers can often be brought into your home on the vegetables and fruit you buy. You don't have to tolerate the annoyance.  This homemade fruit fly trap is one I have been using for many years and it works every time. 

Winter Care for Orchids and African Violets

Are you familiar with the term "hygge"?  It's a Danish term that has caught on in the U.S. because it speaks to the feelings of coziness and relaxation we seek during the winter months.  It emphasizes the simple things in life and the feelings of a life well-lived.   One of the ways I create hygge this time of year is by making sure my collection of African violets and orchids is happy and healthy, How to Care for African Violets and Orchids During Winter This post contains affiliate links.  We receive a small compensation when you shop with these links. Your houseplants are most likely crying out for some attention right now.  If you are like me, you ignored them a bit during the busy holidays.  After all the festive decorations are put away, it's time to give your plants a lovely spa treatment.  Read on for tips on how to care for orchid plants and African violets in winter.

Five Keys to Growing A Healthy Ficus Tree

Have you ever wondered how a single Ficus benjamina tree could become a beloved part of your home for decades, thriving and growing alongside your family?  If you haven’t yet, you might consider the addition of this living, air-purifying companion in your home that not only beautifies your space but also stands the test of time.  You may know this tree as either a Ficus benjamina or a weeping fig.   I have loved growing a ficus tree in my home for 36 years. It’s remarkable that I've had this tree for so long.   How to Grow A Ficus Tree Inside for Decades This post includes affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you use these links. When thinking about how I managed to keep this indoor ficus tree happy, healthy, and growing strong all these years it boiled down to five key Ficus benjamina plant care tips. Follow these tips and you can have a happy, healthy ficus tree in your home for many years, too.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread: A Bread Machine Recipe

Are you craving a warm, cozy treat perfect for fall mornings? Look no further than this delicious cinnamon raisin yeast bread. Baked in a bread machine, this recipe is incredibly easy to make and offers a classically delightful blend of flavors that's sure to satisfy.  Easy Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread This post contains affiliate links. Whether you're serving it as a comforting breakfast on a chilly morning or enjoying it as a sweet afternoon snack, this cinnamon raisin yeast bread is a versatile and delicious addition to your fall recipe rotation. Its soft, fluffy texture and warm, inviting aroma make it a favorite among both young and old. 

Amaretti Cookies for Your Christmas Cookie Platter

Are you looking for Christmas cookie suggestions? During the holiday season, while you're pondering classic Christmas cookie favorites like sugar cookies and gingerbread men, consider adding a touch of Italian flair to your Christmas cookie platter.  Try Amaretti, delicate Italian almond cookies, with a subtly sweet flavor and crumbly texture. They are sure to become a cherished family treat. These classic Italian cookies have become a favorite Christmas cookie at my house. How to Make Classic Italian Amaretti Cookies Homemade Amaretti cookies bring a touch of sophistication and elegance to any dessert spread, making them perfect holiday treats. Their crisp, slightly chewy texture offers a delightful contrast to the usual soft, gooey holiday desserts. With a subtle almond sweetness, these cookies appeal to adults and kids alike and bring a taste of Italy to your holiday table. What Are Amaretti Cookies? Amaretti cookies have a rich history i...