21 Best Mexican Recipes for Beginner Cooks (2024)

Chicken Tostadas

These crispy crunchy tostadas are quick and easy. You'll sprinkle tacos seasoning over diced chicken breast meat and saute it. Then top tostada shells with refried beans, veggies, seasoned chicken, and cheese. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, and then top with chopped cilantro, salsa, and sour cream.

Cilantro-Lime Baked Shrimp

A quick and easy baked shrimp dish served over pasta with a little grated or shaved Parmesan cheese. "The shrimp were cooked perfectly at 15 minutes," says lutzflcat. "This is easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but I'd serve to company, as well."

Taco Meat

Here's the essential Americanized taco or burrito filling. It's simply lean ground meat sauteed with a few seasonings and tomato sauce. The recipe submitter Natalie says, "Make a big batch and use for a multiple of different meals: add to bean burritos for a more hearty and tasty burrito, or add a can of beans (kidney, red, or pinto) and use for Frito Pie, Navajo tacos, or taco salad."

Skinny Enchilada Casserole

"This skinny enchilada casserole is a quick and easy recipe," says lnicoletoliver. "Plus, you can substitute 1/2 of the cheese to the lower-fat Cheddar cheese and cut even more calories. Bon appetit!"

Instant Pot® Chicken and Tortilla Soup

"Perfectly seasoned tortilla soup in under 1 hour," says Laura. "Delicious! Top soup with a dollop of sour cream, non-fat Greek yogurt or non-fat cottage cheese, grated cheese, crushed tortilla chips or tostadas, and avocado."

Fabulous Wet Burritos

This recipe only looks complicated. You'll fill flour tortillas with a mixture of ground beef, refried beans, and canned chiles, and then top generousy with a simple sauce and cheese. "Very easy, yet very good wet burritos," says Cindy Newell. "Serve with guacamole, sour cream and salsa."

Black Bean Tamale Bake

This simple recipe combines several favorite Mexican foods into a one-skillet tamale bake, featuring seasoned ground chuck and black beans covered in a cheesy cornbread topping.

Taco Lettuce Wraps

Healthy and simple! Ground turkey, black beans, tomatoes, and corn are wrapped up in romaine lettuce instead of taco shells.

6 Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

Cans of black beans, chicken broth, corn, chicken chunks, cream of chicken soup, and diced tomatoes with green chile peppers come together to create a slightly spicy, Mexican-style soup.

Salsa Chicken

Boneless chicken breasts are seasoned with taco spices, topped with salsa, and baked. "This was surprisingly fantastic. I say surprisingly because it was so easy I assumed it would taste like nothing special. I was wrong. It tasted like I'd spent a ton of time preparing it," says CJNC.

Simple Shrimp Tostadas

Quick and easy, these tostadas are layered with homemade salsa, shrimp, and avocado. Shisafest says, "My aunt wowed me with this simple, yet delicious shrimp tostada recipe. It is very simple to make and everyone asks for more! I use garlic salt for the salt!"

Mexican Taco Meatloaf

This Mexican-inspired meatloaf recipe puts a new twist on a comfort food classic. It features crushed tortilla chips and taco seasoning. "Delicious!" raves Laura Wilson. "If your family likes tacos and meatloaf then this recipe is for you! Prep was super easy. I served it with chips/salsa and Mexican rice."

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

A great enchiladas recipe for beginners, it requires only a few ingredients. Start with leftover or rotisserie chicken and it's even faster to make. Cooked chicken, packaged cream cheese, salsa, and canned pinto beans. Roll the chicken mixture in flour tortillas and top with plenty of Colby Jack cheese.

Easy Chicken and Bell Pepper Fajitas

Strips of chicken tenderloin, bell peppers, and onions get the quick saute treatment in this easy recipe for chicken fajitas. "A simple, healthy dinner that's sure to please everyone's taste buds," says LLIGETT. "A favorite at our Mexican nights in college! Serve on tortillas with desired garnishes (cheese, sour cream, salsa, lettuce, tomato, guacamole)."

Quick and Easy Fish Tacos

These simple, no-mess fish tacos are perfect for anyone (not just beginner cooks) who hates the mess of battering and frying fish. The secret is crispy fish sticks! You'll fill warmed corn tortillas with crispy fish sticks and cabbage, and top with tartar sauce and salsa.

Easy Taco Casserole

This Mexican-style dinner features ground beef mixed with salsa and onions and layered into a casserole with crushed tortilla chips and cheese.

Pico de Tuna

"A low budget, low fat, easy and delicious salsa," says MARY4SEEDS. "You can add as many or as little veggies to your taste. This can easily be multiplied. Serve with crackers or tortilla chips."

Taco Bake I

Browned, taco-seasoned ground beef is layered with canned refried beans and salsa in a casserole dish. Top it off with shredded Monterey Jack cheese and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. "This is a great recipe! It is tasty, quick, and versatile," says LADYBUG611.

Quick Black Bean Chilaquiles

Canned black beans and pantry staples combine in this quick and easy, Mexican-inspired chilaquiles dish. Recipe submitter Matthew Francis calls it: "A quick Mexican-inspired breakfast using leftover chips, salsa, black beans, veggies, and eggs in the morning."

Sheet Pan Beef Fajitas

It doesn't get much easier than this. "Treat your family to fajita night with this simple sheet pan beef fajita recipe," says NicoleMcmom. "A deliciously seasoned flank steak cooks in the oven alongside onions and bell peppers, and is ready in no time to be served on warm tortillas with your favorite toppings, such as avocado, sour cream, and pico de gallo."

Weeknight Mexican Chicken Lasagna

"A fabulously easy and delicious take on a favorite, this lasagna is full of Mexican flavors and uses layers of corn tortillas in place of noodles," says SunnyDaysNora. "Easy to adapt and personalize -- try adding sauteed veggies, Spanish rice, diced jalapeno, or even switching out the red salsa for green!"

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