Every school kid knows “April showers bring May flowers”. But what do May flowers bring? Margaritas! At least, in my house, and Cinco de Mayo recipes!
That’s right, it’s the beginning of May and I’m getting ready for a Cinco de Mayo bash. What makes the perfect party? Cinco de Mayo grilling recipes designed to soak up some of the tequila you’ll be drinking, of course. These Cinco de Mayo grill ideas are perfect for anyone hoping to impress with a little South of the Border flare at their next party.
Grab your margarita mix and glasses, and let me help you plan the perfect Cinco de Mayo menu.
Chicken Enchilada Sliders
If you’re looking for chicken recipes for Cinco de Mayo, this is one of my go to recipes for feeding a large crowd. The real game changer and what makes these sliders stick out in a crowded field of sliders, is the easy and simple homemade enchilada sauce. You seriously have to try it!
While these are for chicken, you can easily substitute the chicken for some left over pulled pork you’ve got in the freezer. Don’t like pork, or don’t have any?
Not to worry, I’ve also made these sliders with leftover slow smoked chuck roast and those are also fantastic.
Get the recipe for these Chicken Enchilada Sliders here.
Esquites – Mexican Street Corn Salad
If you love elotes but don’t love the mess, this easy esquites recipe is for you. Esquites, (aka Mexican street corn salad) pack all the flavor you’re expecting from elotes, but can be eaten with a spoon.
These little cups of delicious corn salad are perfect for parties and cookouts. Tossing the used cup in the recycle bin after makes clean up a snap.
Get the recipe for Esquites – Mexican Street Corn Salad here.
San Diego Style Street Tacos
Nothing scream Cinco de Mayo like an authentic street taco. These tacos are inspired by the hundreds of street tacos I ate while stationed in San Diego.
I love making these with either flank steak or this out of this world skirt steak. But don’t be afraid to go with some mouthwatering juicy grilled chicken as well.
Get the recipe for San Diego Street Tacos here.
Smoked Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas
If you love chicken enchiladas, you’re really going to this smoked version of the classic dish. Similar to the sliders, I highly recommend making this simple homemade enchilada sauce, game changing.
Adding to the sauce is the hint of smoke these enchiladas take on when on the grill. This one is a crowd pleaser for sure.
Get the recipe for Smoked Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas here.
Pico de Gallo
This recipe serves double duty for our meal, so you may want to double it. In fact, if my family is anything to go by, you may want to triple it. Pico de Gallo is a staple of authentic Mexican cuisine. Why? Probably because it’s easy to make and so full of flavor.
My Pico de Gallo is an easy Cinco de Mayo recipe that you can have on the table in under 15 minutes. And it’ll probably be gone just as quickly once you set it out next to some tortilla chips.
This is great to serve with Steak Quesadillas, so be sure to reserve some of the mixture. And by reserve I mean hide, because this stuff is always in high demand at any party.
Get the recipe for Pico de Gallo here.
Restaurant Style Salsa
You know the type of salsa you’re served when you sit down at your favorite Mexican restaurant? They kind you say you’re only going to have a little so as not to ruin your dinner?
Then you proceed to eat three bowls of it with warm chips and taking half of your dinner home. Yeah, that’s what this salsa is. I’m telling you it’s that good and a must for any Cinco de Mayo get together. If you make one thing from this blog, please let it be this salsa.
Fine the recipe for Restaurant Style Salsa here.
Grilled Mexican Street Corn
The ultimate authentic Mexican side dish, street corn is one of those recipes that looks difficult, but is actually pretty easy to do. While grilled corn might be a staple of your summer diet, if you’ve never tried this South of the Border upgrade, you’re missing out.
Covered in Cotija cheese, cilantro, mayo, and barbecue rub, this corn is bursting with flavor. The whole recipe takes about 40 minutes to do, which also means it’s a perfect easy side dish to whip up while you’re working on other food. Be sure to get more ears of corn than you think you’ll need—while technically a side dish, I’ve seen people go back for seconds and thirds. (Ok, the someone was me.)
As a bonus, corn is technically a vegetable, so I think we can count this recipe as health food!
Get the recipe for Grilled Mexican Street Corn.
Steak Quesadillas
What makes this the best steak quesadilla recipe? Not only is it absolutely delicious (with the help of our homemade sauce) but we’re using leftover steak; saving time, and preventing any waste!
This is a great meal for lunch or dinner or a snack in between. They come together quickly, so if you’re busy, this is a perfect time saving recipe.
Get the recipe for Steak Quesadillas here.
Now that you’ve got your menu, get cooking! If you decide to make any of my Cinco de Mayo grilling recipes, be sure to take a picture and tag me on Instagram. I’ll leave you with one last bit of advice: Start the grill before your start the margaritas!