Cinco de Mayo: Recipes for Parties and Fun Family Meals

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Whether you celebrate the
holiday for cultural reasons or just enjoy the festive vibe of the day, there
is one thing we can all look forward to on this Mexican holiday: the food. Aside from being delicious,
Mexican cuisine provides a lot of great options for different settings, such as
parties with friends or fun gatherings with family. While you’re aware of the
holiday, you may be wondering…

What is Cinco de Mayo?

As you probably already know, “Cinco de Mayo”
translates to the fifth of May and – as you can probably guess – is celebrated
every year on May 5. Historically, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s
1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.
Another term for Cinco de Mayo is Battle of Puebla Day. Beyond the history of
the holiday, Cinco de Mayo has also evolved into a
celebration of Mexican culture. The holiday is celebrated in different parts of
Mexico as well as in the United States.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Food

Whether you’re hosting a Cinco de Mayo party this year or
are planning a fun, themed dinner at home with your family, you’re probably
thinking about one very important celebration piece: the food! Check out some
of our favorite celebratory Cinco de Mayo recipes below which are great for
serving in group settings with limited cutlery.

Classic Homemade Salsa

Who doesn’t love salsa? This recipe is easy to put
together and features a blend of authentic Mexican spices that makes its taste
much more advanced than it is to put together! Whip out the food processor and
get ready to have everyone asking you for the recipe. Side note: Don’t forget
to grab some of your favorite tortilla chips to serve alongside your salsa (we
recommend grabbing extra – it’s going to be popular)!

Mocktail Margarita

This mocktail recipe for virgin margaritas is perfect for
serving up at Cinco de Mayo parties where people will be
driving home after the fun, or to invite your kids to
participate in the festivities with you. On a similar note, it’s also great for
when Cinco de Mayo falls on a weekday and you have to go to work the next day! Download
the recipe and click on the button at the bottom of this article to watch a
video on how to put this festive drink together. Serve your margarita in themed
glasses for an extra dose of fun! 

Mexican Street Corn Nachos

Nothing says Cinco de Mayo like a giant plate of nachos to
go with your mocktail margarita! This nacho recipe features authentic cotija cheese
for an especially festive flare. If you have young chefs around, this is a
great, simple recipe to make together and – in doing so – make fun memories in
the kitchen.

Beef
Empanadas

These
fan-favorite beef empanadas are the perfect finger-food for parties and an easy
way to add some protein to your menu! If beef isn’t your thing, you can also
swap out the filling for spiced chicken or pork. Their versatility also extends
to how you cook them – bake them in the oven or air-fryer depending on what
else you’ve got going in the kitchen. Your guests will love the
authenticity of this recipe and kids will love that they get to dig in with
their hands! 

Whatever you’ve got planned for Cinco de Mayo, we hope
it’s full of fun and good food!