When it comes to weeknight dinners, Mexican cuisine is like a fiesta on a plate—vibrant, bold, and utterly irresistible. I remember the first time I made homemade tacos; the sizzle of the pan and the aroma of spices filled the air, transporting me straight to a bustling street market. These easy Mexican dinners are not just meals—they’re a celebration, a chance to bring a bit of that warmth and flavor into your home, creating memories with every bite.
Steps
- Salsa Chicken: Start by seasoning chicken breasts and placing them in a baking dish. Pour your preferred salsa over the chicken and bake until the chicken is cooked through and juicy.
- Easy Chorizo Street Tacos: Cook chorizo and chipotle peppers in a skillet until the chorizo is browned and cooked through. Fill corn tortillas with the chorizo mixture and serve with your choice of toppings.
- Mexican Casserole: Layer refried beans, chopped onions, tortillas, salsa, and shredded Cheddar cheese in a baking dish. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Easy Spicy Mexican-American Chicken: Marinate chicken thighs in a mix of hot sauce, paprika, cayenne pepper, and brown sugar. Grill or bake the chicken until it is cooked through and has a spicy-sweet glaze.
- Suegra’s Tomatillo Chicken: Sear chicken pieces in a skillet, then simmer them in tomatillo sauce until cooked through. Serve with warm tortillas and a side of rice or beans.
- Salsa Verde Pork: Place pork in a slow cooker and cover with salsa verde. Cook until the pork is tender, then shred it for use in enchiladas, tamales, or burritos.
- Papas con Chorizo (Mexican Chorizo and Potatoes): Cook diced potatoes until tender, then add chorizo and cook until browned. Serve with a fried egg on top or inside corn tortillas with toppings like cotija cheese and cilantro.
- Flaming Slow Cooker Pork: Put pork tenderloin in a slow cooker and add picante sauce and chipotle peppers. Cook until the pork is tender and spicy.
- Delia’s Grilled Shrimp Sonora: Marinate shrimp in a flavorful mixture and grill until cooked through. Serve at barbecues for a family favorite dish.
- Mexican Mostaccioli: Combine cooked pasta with leftover ground beef and taco seasoning. Top with cheese and bake until bubbly.
- Taco-Seasoned Salmon: Coat salmon fillets with a mixture of taco seasoning and bread crumbs. Bake until the salmon is flaky and the crust is crispy.
- Quesadillas de Flor de Calabaza (Zucchini Blossom Quesadillas): Fill tortillas with zucchini blossoms and cheese, then cook in bacon grease until crispy. Serve hot with your favorite salsa.
- Gluten-Free Mexican Lasagna: Layer tortillas, meat, salsa, and cheese in a baking dish. Bake until the cheese is melted and the dish is heated through.
- Quick Tamale Hash: Chop leftover tamales and fry them with onions and peppers. Serve hot with a fried egg on top.
- Simple Mexican Quinoa: Cook quinoa with corn and black beans for added flavor and color. Enhance with your choice of seasonings like cilantro or lime juice.
- Quick Beef Taquitos: Roll shredded beef, green chili, and gravy in tortillas, then fry until crispy. Serve with salsa or guacamole.
- Rick Big Bad Bean Burrito: Spread refried beans on a whole-wheat tortilla and top with lettuce, avocado, and pico de gallo. Roll up and enjoy for a healthy meal.
- Easy Mexican Sopes: Form dough into small discs, grill, then fry. Top with chicken salad or your favorite toppings.
- Camarones a la Diabla: Cook shrimp in a spicy sauce made with ketchup and hot peppers. Serve with rice for a complete meal.
- Microwave Longaniza con Huevos: Cook longaniza in the microwave, then scramble with eggs. Serve for a quick and hearty breakfast.
Ingredients
- Salsa Chicken:
- Chicken breasts
- Jar of salsa
- Easy Chorizo Street Tacos:
- Mexican chorizo
- Chipotle peppers
- Mexican Casserole:
- Can of refried beans
- Onion
- Tortillas
- Salsa
- Shredded Cheddar cheese
- Easy Spicy Mexican-American Chicken:
- Chicken thighs
- Hot sauce
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Brown sugar
- Suegra’s Tomatillo Chicken:
- Chicken pieces
- Tomatillo sauce
- Salsa Verde Pork:
- Pork
- Salsa verde
- Papas con Chorizo (Mexican Chorizo and Potatoes):
- Chorizo
- Potatoes
- Optional toppings: Cotija cheese, cilantro, hot sauce, avocado
- Flaming Slow Cooker Pork:
- Pork tenderloin
- Picante sauce
- Chipotle
- Delia’s Grilled Shrimp Sonora:
- Shrimp
- Mexican Mostaccioli:
- – Ground beef
- – Pasta
- – Optional: Mexican seasoning
- Taco-Seasoned Salmon:
- – Salmon fillets
- – Taco seasoning
- – Bread crumbs
- – Optional: Egg white
- Quesadillas de Flor de Calabaza (Zucchini Blossom Quesadillas):
- – Zucchini blossoms
- – Cheese
- – Bacon grease (or lard, oil, butter)
- Gluten Free Mexican Lasagna:
- – Gluten-free tortillas
- – Mexican cheese blend
- – Salsa
- – Ground beef (or other filling)
- Quick Tamale Hash:
- – Leftover tamales
- Simple Mexican Quinoa:
- – Quinoa
- – Corn
- – Black beans
- – Optional seasoning: Cilantro, broth
- Quick Beef Taquitos:
- – Beef (cooked and shredded)
- – Green chili
- – Gravy
- – Tortillas
- Rick Big Bad Bean Burrito:
- – Refried beans
- – Lettuce
- – Avocado
- – Pico de gallo
- – Whole-wheat tortilla
- Easy Mexican Sopes:
- – Dough (for sopes)
- – Chicken salad
- – Lime juice
- Camarones a la Diabla:
- – Shrimp
- – Ketchup
- – Hot peppers
- Microwave Longaniza con Huevos:
- – Longaniza
- – Eggs
FAQ
- What can I use to add flavor to simple chicken breasts?
- You can enhance the flavor of plain chicken breasts by using your favorite jar of salsa or even a homemade version. This method offers a quick and easy way to impress with minimal effort.
- How can I make street-style tacos spicy?
- Incorporate chorizo and chipotle peppers into your street-style tacos for a spicy kick. These ingredients are known for adding a robust heat to any dish.
- What is a quick way to prepare pork for Mexican dishes?
- You can prepare flavorful pork with minimal prep by using salsa verde. This method is perfect for creating juicy pork suitable for enchiladas, tamales, burritos, or as a main dish.
- What is an easy and budget-friendly Mexican-inspired pasta dish?
- Mexican Mostaccioli is a great option. It stretches leftover ground beef and has been compared to a tastier version of Hamburger Helper.
- How can I make salmon with a Mexican twist?
- Season salmon fillets with a mixture of taco seasoning and bread crumbs. For an extra touch, dip the salmon in egg white before coating it to ensure the crumbs adhere well.
Tips
- Experiment with Salsa Varieties: When making salsa chicken, try using different types of salsa such as green tomatillo or fruit-based varieties to alter the dish’s flavor profile and keep things interesting.
- Balance the Heat in Chorizo Tacos: If you find the chorizo and chipotle peppers in the street tacos too spicy, consider adding a dollop of sour cream or a sprinkle of cheese to tame the heat while enhancing the flavor.
- Customize Your Mexican Casserole: Incorporate Spanish rice or even quinoa into your Mexican casserole to make it a more filling and complete vegetarian meal, as suggested by one of the reviewers.
- Use Broth for Flavorful Quinoa: When preparing the simple Mexican quinoa, consider cooking it in broth instead of water to boost its flavor. Adding fresh herbs like cilantro can also elevate the dish.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker – For recipes like Flaming Slow Cooker Pork.
- Food Processor or Blender – Useful for making homemade salsa or sauces, such as the tomatillo sauce in Suegra’s Tomatillo Chicken.
- Tortilla Press – Handy for making homemade tortillas, which could be used in many Mexican dishes.
- Cast Iron Skillet or Grill Pan – Ideal for dishes like Delia’s Grilled Shrimp Sonora or for searing chicken and other meats.
- Quesadilla Maker – Could be useful for making quesadillas like Quesadillas de Flor de Calabaza.
- Tamale Steamer Pot – Useful for dishes like Quick Tamale Hash if you’re making tamales from scratch.
- Microwave Egg Cooker – For quick preparation of dishes like Microwave Longaniza con Huevos.
- Chorizo Sausage Stuffer – If making homemade chorizo for dishes like Easy Chorizo Street Tacos or Papas con Chorizo.
