How to Choose Food for a Mexican Fiesta Party

Whether you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo or throwing a kids birthday party, food for a Mexican fiesta is inexpensive and fun. Authentic Mexican food is easy to make and offers a great deal of variety beyond tacos and enchiladas. Most of the food ideas here can be made a few days or more in advance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Select Mexican-Themed Appetizers

1. Serve homemade salsa together with crispy tortilla chips.

2. Spice up traditional ranch dressing by adding a 1/2 teaspoon tabasco sauce and 1/2 teaspoon cumin to 2 cups \dressing.

3. Pair the spicy ranch dressing with fresh vegetables for dipping.

4. Offer guests hot empanadas filled with seasoned beef and Mexican cheeses.

5. Grill and serve skewers of shrimp seasoned with tequila and lime.

Select Mexican-Themed Main Dishes

6. Serve grilled chicken that has been marinating overnight in a lime-tequila sauce.

7. Dish up old fashioned Mexican beans and rice with the tequila chicken.

8. Give each guest a side of creamy guacamole to dip their chicken in.

9. Slice corn tortillas into thin strips, brush with a thin coating of olive oil and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder and cumin.

10. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 5 to 10 minutes until crisp.

11. Sprinkle the tortilla strips on top of a traditional Caesar salad.

Serve Mexican-Themed Drinks and Desserts

12. Purchase an instant flan mix in the grocery store. It is sold in the instant pudding section. Make it a day before the party.

13. Bake up a batch of cinnamon flavored Mexican wedding cookies to serve with coffee after dinner.

14. Serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic sangria.

15. Chill bottles of Corona, and serve with wedges of lime.

16. Serve Mexican inspired coffees, flavored with cinnamon, vanilla and cocoa.

Tips & Warnings

• Serve three of four different flavors of salsa, such as picante or pineapple salsa, along with traditional tomato salsa.

Resources

• All recipes offers interesting Mexican inspired recipes for fiesta parties.
• El Monterey showcases several quick and easy recipes featuring Mexican food.