7 easy Mexican-inspired recipes to make for dinner

Easy Mexican-inspired dinner recipes

Green chicken enchiladas
Enchiladas are crowdpleasing option for family dinners. Our easy green chicken enchiladas are filled with shredded chicken thighs, pinto beans, a generous handful of cheddar and a zingy salsa. Bake in the oven until the cheese is golden and bubbling. The salsa verde is made with green tomatillos – they’re a distant cousin of the tomato, with their own unique citrussy flavour, and are available canned.

Short rib and pineapple tacos
Authentic corn tacos make a great base for all manner of quick toppings, from chicken to prawns. Our current fave are these short rib and pineapple tacos. Marinade short ribs with a sweet and spicy mix of pineapple, chipotle, cumin and lime overnight, then put on to slow cook at lunchtime the next day – ideal if you’re working from home. Short on time? Cook the ribs at the weekend, ready to reheat during the week. Serve with more pineapple, fresh salsa, avocado and soured cream.

Chicken fajitas
Just like Friends’ Ross Geller, we love a good fajita night. This Tex-Mex favourite is best served sizzling at the table, for everyone to load their tortillas with peppers, onion and spicy chicken strips. Our classic fajitas recipe includes an easy homemade spice mix (so much tastier than the sachet stuff), plus all the usual accompaniments.

Mexican rice bowl
Looking for an easy Mexican recipe for one? Throw together this delicious Mexican rice bowl in just 20 minutes. It’s packed with goodies: spicy rice, black beans, crisp tortillas, roasted red peppers, sweetcorn and avocado. Swap the soured cream for a plant-based alternative to keep things vegan or add smoked tofu, shredded chicken or crumbled feta for a protein boost.

Chilli con carne
Everyone has a chilli recipe up their sleeve. But, trust us, take the time to make our ultimate chilli con carne from scratch and you’ll never look back. Think tender pieces of beef in a rich, thick sauce full of complex flavour notes from ancho chillies, fresh spices, coffee and dark chocolate. Another great one to batch cook at the weekend for stress-free eating later on.

Beef burrito bowls
Who doesn’t love a dish with an edible bowl? Load up crisp tortilla cases with a quick beef chilli, tomatoes and shredded lettuce, and serve with cucumber, lime and yogurt. A quick and easy midweek dinner for four!

Sweet potato nachos
Want an easy vegetarian option when you’ve got friends over? Sweet potato nachos are the perfect sharing dish for movie nights and other laid-back gatherings. Simply layer up rounds of sweet potato, crispy tortilla chips, black beans, red onions and cheddar and grill until golden.

4 essential Mexican sides

Pico de gallo
Pico de gallo gives a lift to all kinds of savoury dishes. Spoon this simple but punchy combination of tomatoes, lime, coriander and onion over tacos or serve alongside baked chicken or chilli con carne. The pico de gallo in our classic chicken fajitas recipe is quick and easy.

Elotes
This dressed-up corn on the cob is a street food staple across Mexico. Slather sweet and juicy grilled corn with a creamy mayo sauce spiked with lime, garlic and spring onions, then finish with crumbly cheese and Tajín seasoning. In this recipe, we’ve replaced the Mexican cheese cotija (tricky to find in the UK) with a moreish mix of parmesan and feta.

Guacamole
Guacamole multitasks as snack or starter (with veg sticks and plenty of tortilla chips) or as creamy side dish to counterbalance the rich flavours of Mexican meat and cheese dishes. Our perfect guacamole recipe has a generous dose of lime juice, a hint of chilli heat and a little soured cream to round out the flavours.

Burnt sweetcorn soured cream dip
A big serving bowl of corn dip is perfect for parties but is also an easy way to elevate a midweek Mexican-style dinner. Our five-ingredient version takes this creamy dip to the next level with charred corn for smokiness and addictive candied jalapeños. Try it spooned over nachos or tacos.

And to drink…

Friday night? Indulge with a cocktail. These are our favourite margaritas to enjoy with your feast.

• Jalapeño mezcal margarita
• Raspberry margarita
• Frozen mango margarita
• Classic margarita for a crowd

Hungry for more? Browse our complete Mexican recipes collection.