6 Cinco de Mayo Dinner & Appetizer Ideas

Key Takeaways

• Molé poblano is considered the most traditional dish of Cinco de Mayo.
• Festive Cinco de Mayo appetizer ideas include chalupas, chips and guacamole, or even mini tacos.
• Ribeye tacos, chalupas, chanclas pobalanas, and fish tacos make excellent Cinco de Mayo dinner ideas.

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than enjoying some Mexican (and Mexican-inspired!) dishes? Learn more about what to cook for Cinco de Mayo with Don Peter’s Carniceria.

P.S. These meal ideas are also fantastic all year round!

Ribeye Tacos with Habanero Salsa Are Crowd-Pleasers

This Cinco de Mayo dinner idea combines two of our favorite things: ribeye and tacos.

Your premium-cut beef gets pan-seared or grilled to perfection (we recommend medium or medium-rare), and then placed atop warm tortillas with a fresh habanero salsa.

While the fruitiness and acidity of the salsa provides a delicious counterbalance to the beefy flavor of the meat, you can substitute it with something milder for your non-spice-loving friends.

Celebrate the Right Way with Molé Poblano

Wondering what to cook for Cinco de Mayo? Well, it’s not Cinco de Mayo without molé poblano!

“The jewel of Puebla food,” molé poblano is a favorite celebratory dish in Puebla and considered the traditional dish of the holiday.

This dish is a doozy though, requiring 20+ ingredients and some time to make. But it’s well worth it for its rich and complex flavors. Serve it over your fresh-cut chicken (oven-roasted or grilled) with tortillas, veggies, or rice for a delicious Cinco de Mayo dinner idea.

Try Making Chanclas Poblanas

Want to do your part in honoring Puebla’s people? Try making Chanclas Poblanas, a “drowned” torta originating from Puebla.

These sandwiches are made with a mixture of chorizo (gourmet sausages), ground beef, onions, lettuce, and avocado. All of that deliciousness is then sandwiched between two slices of bread and drenched in a spicy tomato-guajillo chile sauce.

Add Authentic Chalupas to Your Menu

If your idea of chalupas comes from a certain popular fast food chain, you’re in for a surprise with this Cinco de Mayo dinner and appetizer idea.

Rather than thick and puffy flatbread, these chalupas consist of small tortillas, often fried in oil. Fillings can also vary. However, they often include ingredients like shredded chicken, onion, and lettuce.

You can make your shredded chicken a few ways:

• Cook the chicken in a slow cooker for 4 to 5 hours.
• Poach it on your stovetop for around 10 minutes.
• Bake it at 400°F for about 20 minutes.

Create the Perfect Guacamole

About 81 million pounds of avocados are consumed in the U.S. during Cinco de Mayo. That’s a lot of avocados! So, it stands to reason that you’d whip up a batch of guac for your dishes and appetizers.

Combine fresh produce like avocados, onion, jalapeno or serrano peppers, cilantro, and lime. Season with salt, and use it as your chip dip or on your tacos.

Serve a Plate of Fish Tacos

Tacos are quintessential Cinco de Mayo dinner ideas that belong at everyone’s celebration. Grilled chicken, carnitas, USDA Prime beef…you can’t go wrong with any meat. But why not switch things up with tacos made from wild-caught seafood?

White fish (like cod or tilapia) is popular, but you could use any fish you’d like.

Salmon is a great choice for grilling. Shrimp is another coastal favorite, thanks to their fast cooking time and tender texture. Shrimp also readily takes on meat seasonings for a bold, savory taste that stands up to everything from salsa to creamy avocado.

Grab Your Holiday Essentials at Don Peter’s Carniceria

There are so many holiday dinner ideas that we couldn’t possibly name them all. But almost all of them start with one thing: quality meat. And for that, you have Don Peter’s Carniceria.

Our local butcher shop has a large selection of meats and marinades for your fiesta, including pork meat, chicken, beef, and more. Come visit our Whittier or Rialto, CA stores, or shop online!

FAQs

What is the best thing to cook for Cinco de Mayo?

The best Cinco de Mayo dinner ideas include shrimp tacos, ribeye tacos, chalupas, and chanclas poblanas.

What’s eaten the most during Cinco de Mayo?

Avocados are an American staple during Cinco de Mayo, with over 80 million avocados consumed in the U.S. alone on the holiday!

Tacos and molé poblano are some of the most popular dishes to eat on Cinco de Mayo.

What are some good Cinco de Mayo appetizer ideas?

For Cinco de Mayo appetizers, you could serve chips and guac, mini tacos, or chalupas.