13 Mexican Dinners To Make Every Night a Fiesta

1Carne Asada Tacos marinated, grilled skirt steak, piled into a corn tortilla with salsa verde, cilantro, red onion, cotija, and radish PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Carne asada is a simple, classic Mexican preparation for skirt or flank steak. The meat is marinated, then grilled over medium-high heat to get a charred, flavor-packed crust. The result is delicious all on its own, but in a taco? Life-changing.

Get the Carne Asada Tacos recipe.

2Gorditas traditional masa harina gorditas, pan fried and and stuffed with chorizo, cheese, tomatoes, and cilantro PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

What makes these gorditas so magical? The masa harina. It’s an ingenious invention that makes preparing masa (the backbone of much of Mexican cuisine and the primary ingredient in things like tortillas, sopes, and tamales) an easy and delicious affair.

Get the Gorditas recipe.

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3Chicken Mole chicken mole with rice PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Pollo mole is a dish that may be easily intimidating with its infamous long list of ingredients, but the truth is it’s very straightforward, and you’ll end up with something very special on your dinner table.

Get the Chicken Mole recipe.

4Tamales tamales served with salsa verde PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

While making homemade tamales might be a bit of a project, we made this recipe more beginner-friendly by opting for a store-bought sauce. If you need a satisfying make-ahead meal or a weekend project, tamales will never disappoint you.

Get the Tamales recipe here.

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5Carne Asada Torta mexican fried chicken torta PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

The torta has got to be one of the best sandwiches of all time. Hearty, filling, and full of flavor, this is definitely the type of sandwich you can justify serving for dinner!

Get the Carne Asada Torta recipe.

6Black Bean Tostadas tostadas topped with black beans, cheese, and avocado slices PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

These tostadas use ingredients you’re more than likely to have on hand, making them the easiest last-minute meal to throw together when you just can’t be bothered to cook up anything else.

Get the Black Bean Tostadas recipe.

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7Grilled Chicken Street Tacos grilled chicken street tacos with cilantro lime crema PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Nothing beats a street taco—super-juicy, tender meat in a quick grab-and-go format. Our version uses chicken thighs marinated in a zesty lime and spice blend. They’re some of the most craveable tacos around!

Get the Grilled Chicken Street Tacos recipe.

8Ceviche shrimp ceviche with tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion Erik bernstein

While it may seem fancy, ceviche is actually a fairly simple dish at its core. All it involves is tossing raw seafood in lime juice, then letting the acid in the citrus “cook” the fish. Perfect for any warm day when you want to cool down!

Get the Ceviche recipe.

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9Pozole pozole with pork shoulder topped with cabbage and radishes PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Filled with pork shoulder, hominy, and a fair amount of heat, pozole is a cozy, comforting stew that isn’t shy about its flavor. This is a set-and-forget-it recipe that truly rewards you for all of your patience.

Get the Pozole recipe.

10Fish Tacos fish tacos with slaw PHOTO: PARKER FEIERBACH

A Baja California staple, fish tacos are the perfect easy bite for when you’re looking for a quick fancy-casual fix. One bite brings to mind beach days, salty air, and sunny dispositions.

Get the Fish Tacos recipe.

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11Mexican Rice mexican rice with tomatoes, onion and fresh cilantro PHOTO: KATE JORDAN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

While more of a nod to Tex-Mex cuisine, this fluffy, flavor-packed side has the power to upgrade everything it touches, from burrito bowls to taco dinners and beyond.

Get the Mexican Rice recipe.

12Homemade Tortillas homemade tortillas in a stack PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Fair warning—once you’ve made homemade flour tortillas, you can never go back to store-bought. Plus, you may be surprised to learn just how easy it is to make tortillas at home!

Get the Homemade Tortillas recipe.

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13Chile Verde chile verde topped with cilantro in a bowl Joel Goldberg

Chile Verde is a traditional dish from Northern Mexico that can be made with several types of meat. Pork is classic, and here, you’ll transform a pork shoulder into meltingly tender nuggets through a long braise

Get the Chile Verde recipe.

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