Get ready to kick off your celebrations with these 20 Mexican appetizer recipes, perfect for adding variety to any gathering. From sheet pan nachos to carne asada fries, start your feast with a bang!
What makes a great Mexican recipe? Beans, cheese, tortillas, tomatoes, onions, chiles, and maybe some meat, all in some combination and sometimes fried for good measure.
What makes a great appetizer? Beans, cheese, chips, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and maybe some meat, all in some combination and sometimes fried for good measure.
You see where I’m going with this.
Mexican food and appetizers go together like hand in glove, beans, and cheese; you just can’t beat it.
Here are 20 of my favorite Mexican appetizer recipes to help prove my point!
20 Must-Have Mexican Appetizers
Queso Fundido
This restaurant-worthy appetizer is easy to make and ready in under 30 minutes! Cheesy and gooey, it combines melted cheese, chorizo, and peppers in a hot skillet. Don’t forget the tortilla chips for dipping!
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
I’m a buffalo chicken obsessive, so of course, I have a buffalo chicken quesadilla recipe! These quesadillas are an easy crowd favorite that combines an American classic with a Mexican staple. Made with perfectly seasoned chicken, buffalo sauce, and lots of cheese, this is a great recipe that’s perfect with all the sides, like ranch, guacamole, or salsa!
Pico de Gallo
Pico de gallo is one of the most versatile Mexican appetizers you can make. It’s a classic Mexican salsa, ready in under 10 minutes. It is excellent served with tortilla chips or in tacos and burrito bowls.
Rajas con Crema (Roasted Poblanos in Cream)
If you’re looking for a slightly different twist on the classic creamy dip recipe, look no further than rajas con crema. This easy Mexican dish combines roasted poblano peppers with onions, Mexican cream, and melted cheese.
Flautas
Crispy and satisfying flautas are always a crowd-pleaser. Made from rolled tortillas filled with juicy chicken and topped with salsa, sour cream, cheese, and more, you really can’t go wrong! Fry, bake, or air fry them for an easy weeknight dinner or party appetizer!
Cheesy Sheet Pan Nachos
I love nachos so much that I’ll often order them as my entree in restaurants, but technically, they’re an appetizer meant to be shared. These cheesy sheet pan nachos are loaded with melted shredded cheese, seasoned ground meat, black beans, corn, and all your favorite toppings!
Steak Quesadillas
Few things in life aren’t made better by adding steak, and quesadillas are no exception. With this recipe, you’ll make mouthwatering steak quesadillas using seasoned flank or skirt steak, sauteed onions, and lots of cheese!
Sopes
Sopes are arguably the best vessel for delicious toppings that you can choose. These authentic and irresistible Mexican Sopes can be layered with your favorite toppings like chicken, beef, beans, lettuce, cheese, and salsa. Made with only 4 ingredients, you can bake or fry them perfectly in a few minutes!
Chicken Taquitos
Everyone knows a good appetizer recipe is one that can be made quickly. This chicken taquitos recipe is ready in only 30 minutes, falling squarely into that category while tasting amazing! These are stuffed with seasoned shredded chicken and cheese and then baked, fried, or air-fried until crispy, crunchy, and golden brown.
Queso Blanco
Queso is THE centerpiece of any game day appetizer platter, and this queso blanco is the most delicious white cheese dip you’ll ever have! It’s an easy recipe that is rich, creamy, and better than your favorite restaurant-style queso. It’s the perfect addition to any football watch party, taco Tuesday, or just as a snack.
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
The air fryer has revolutionized my appetizer game, and these chips are at the center of it all. Made with only 3 ingredients, my air fryer tortilla chips will satisfy your craving for a salty snack. They taste better than store-bought ones, and you can make different flavors like classic, lime, spicy chipotle, or BBQ.
Carne Asada Fries
This carne asada fries recipe adds a California twist to my authentic carne asada recipe. It features crispy baked homemade fries topped with shredded cheese, tender carne asada, guacamole, sour cream, and other delicious Mexican toppings!
Jalapeño Popper Dip
Get the party started with this jalapeño popper dip! Made with cream cheese, shredded cheese, jalapeños, and crispy Panko breadcrumbs, this dip is the perfect appetizer to serve with corn chips, bagel chips, or tortilla chips.
Taco Dip
Whip up this easy taco dip in no time! It’s a flavor-packed, easy-to-make dip perfect for parties and celebrations. With a creamy base of cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning, plus all your favorite taco toppings, it’s got everything you could ever want in an appetizer dip.
Frijoles Puercos
Beans, chorizo, and cheese… come on now, you can’t go wrong with this one. Frijoles puercos are a creamy, savory, and versatile Mexican dish with refried beans, chorizo, and cheese. This is perfect served as a dip with tortilla chips or as a side dish to accompany your favorite meal.
Chicken Quesadillas
Chicken quesadillas are the ultimate Mexican comfort food classic dish. Easy and flavorful, they are a quick, crowd-pleasing meal and great as a tear-and-share option. This recipe is made with perfectly seasoned chicken and packed with onions, peppers, lots of cheese, and a special secret ingredient – soy sauce!
Guacamole
This guacamole recipe is simply the best! Ready in only 10 minutes, it’s a delicious Mexican classic that will quickly become a staple in your kitchen. Serve it with tortilla chips, on a salad, in tacos, on toast, and more!
Homemade Tortilla Chips
You might ask, why not just buy a bag of chips? Well, let me tell you, these crispy and crunchy homemade tortilla chips are the perfect Mexican appetizer. Made with only 3 ingredients, they’re ideal for salsas, dips, or as a side to your favorite dish. Best of all, they won’t crumble and fall apart when dipping and snacking!
Ceviche
Not every appetizer has to be fried! Ceviche is a popular Latin American dish that features fresh raw fish or shrimp “cooked” in tangy citrus and mixed with cucumber, red onion, cilantro, jalapeño, avocado, and tomatoes. It is best enjoyed with tortilla chips or on tostadas for a delicious and refreshing taste.
Cheese Quesadillas
These are the classics of all Mexican classics. They’re so easy to make! This recipe takes minutes to prepare and uses authentic Mexican cheeses. Serve with guacamole and salsa for the best snack ever!
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