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Boldly spiced and ultra-flavorful Mexican Chorizo can be intimidating if you’ve never tried cooking with it. Here’s your definitive guide to what it is, how it’s made, and how to use it in delicious Mexican dishes!
What is Chorizo?
Chorizo is a highly seasoned pork sausage that is very popular in both Mexican and Spanish cooking. It’s a staple in many of the Mexican dishes that I make here on Isabel Eats. Mexican chorizo is a very fatty and highly seasoned sausage typically made from ground pork. However, it can also be made from ground beef, chicken, venison, turkey, and soy.
The most popular type of Mexican chorizo has a distinct red tint due to the spices and seasonings that are used to make it. Typically, the seasoning in chorizo includes some or all of the following:
- Chile peppers – guajillo or ancho chiles are the most common.
- Coriander
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Garlic
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Vinegar
Here’s my homemade chorizo recipe!
Mexican Chorizo versus Spanish Chorizo
While I mainly use Mexican chorizo in my recipes, it’s good to know that chorizo comes in two forms: the Mexican version and the Spanish version.
The main difference is that Mexican chorizo is fresh and must be cooked before consumption. Spanish chorizo is dried and cured.
Mexican chorizo can be loose like any other ground meat or in a casing like a regular sausage. However, the casing is not edible and must be removed before cooking. Mexican chorizo can be cooked on its own or with other ingredients like peppers, onions, rice, and more.
Spanish chorizo can be found in most grocery stores, along with other meats prepared in a similar way, like pepperoni and salami. The casing is edible, and you don’t need to cook it to enjoy it. As a result, it can also be added to soups and stews. It’s also very popular on tapas platters. Spanish chorizo comes in smoked and unsmoked varieties that range from mild to very spicy. It always contains smoked paprika, which gives it a distinctive color and flavor.
How to Cook Mexican Chorizo
To cook with Mexican chorizo, you must first remove it from the casing. As a result, it will crumble as it cooks and will look a lot like ground beef when fully cooked. It’s a great alternative to other ground meats and is also delicious when mixed into things like homemade meatballs since it can add a lot of flavor and fat.
Chorizo Recipe Ideas
Chorizo is a versatile ingredient that adds lots of bold flavors. You can use it in a variety of ways, including fillings, garnishes, dinners, sides, etc. Here are some ideas:
- Make the ultimate Mexican breakfast with chorizo and eggs or breakfast tacos.
- Warm up with Mexican chorizo chili.
- Make everyone’s new favorite party appetizer with queso fundido, or crumble chorizo on top of queso blanco.
- Keep it simple with delicious chorizo tacos.
- Mix it into lucious frijoles puercos.
- Sprinkle chorizo crumbs on top of taco pizza for extra flavor.
Chorizo Variations
Chorizo is typically made of ground pork, but you can use other variations of it as well:
- Beef chorizo: Beef chorizo is the next common version that you can find in most grocery stores. It has the same level of spice and flavor but usually isn’t as fatty as ground pork.
- Homemade chorizo: Making your own Mexican chorizo is super simple! You can use my homemade chorizo recipe when you’re wanting a less processed version.
- Vegetarian chorizo: You can easily use tofu to make a vegan/vegetarian version of chorizo! Use super-firm tofu that’s been patted down and rid of any excess moisture, crumble, cook as normal, and season using the ingredients in my recipe to make chorizo.
Storage
Store-bought chorizo will have an expiration date.
Homemade raw chorizo can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 3 months until ready to cook.
More Recipes That Use Chorizo
This post was originally published in April 2022 and has been updated with more helpful information.
I was told chorizo is cows intestines. I’ve always liked it but now I hope I’m wrong. Anyone got the truth?
Good Chorizo is ground pork. Cheap Chorizo has Pork Salivary Glands, Lymph Nodes and Fat (Cheeks), Pork, Paprika, Soy Flour, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Red Pepper, Garlic, Sodium Nitrite. Buy the good stuff.
I purchased the beef version of the product pictures above cooked it this moning. it did not make crumbles..it’s runny! thats not normal, right?
Hi Katie! Some brands of chorizo give this type of consistency and that’s totally normal. If you prefer a more crumbly/sausage type of consistency we have a recipe for chorizo on the blog!
It’s really hard to find real chorizo 😞 when i live in Mexico,was not fad or Running.plus ibeen if you go to a Mexican store here in USA , they make their own and u will know that they put Ham or whatever they have really sucks that🙄😒
I just tried to pan fry some chorizo. It turned to mush and never looked like anything resembling sausage. What did I do wrong?
Hi Jason! Some brands of chorizo are more runny/mushy than others, so you may not have done anything wrong! It sounds weird, but that’s just the consistency some brands have. We have a recipe for chorizo on our site that has the crumbly/sausage consistency you’re wanting if you wanted to check that out!
what are the ingredients on the label? Can you use plant base meat and get the same results?
Hello! The ingredients vary based on the brand, but in general Chorizo is made out of ground pork and various seasonings. We haven’t tried using plant based meat, but there are lots of other great food blogs that may have the recipe you’re looking for.
Hi there,
I’ve been trying to replicate the chorizo from my local restaurant. When they make theirs, it is always very greasy with a red oily liquid that soaks the tortillas and I love it! I can’t seem to get the same result when I make it though. Do you think this is rendered fat? I’m using pork for my chorizo, maybe they’re using fatty beef? Do you normally cook chorizo hot and fast or low and slow? Thanks!
Hi Ben! I do think that’s what it is! You can try ground pork or beef that has more fat and see how that works! We would suggest cooking on medium-high heat. Let us know how it turns out!
Can chorizo be substituted for kielbasa in a rice dish? Which chorizo should I use?
Hi Jan! I think it can! You can use either pork or beef chorizo, but I personally like to use pork.
I do the filling for your breakfast too but for on the run I do burrito.
I’m in Queensland Australia.. what variety do we have here?
Hi! I’m not sure what’s available in your area but here’s a chorizo recipe that you might like: https://www.isabeleats.com/chorizo-recipe/
I found an unopened tube of Mexican chorizo in my meat drawer. It’s been thawed almost a month. Is it still ok to eat?
I would check the expiration date to make sure it’s safe to consume.
I love chorizo, but those tubes of el mexicano pictured above should be a no go for anyone trying chorizo for the first time (or any time for that matter). It will put you off because it’s not quality product. It’s made with pork salivary glands, lymph nodes, and fat. Pork is the 5th or 6th ingredient. It’s a cheap grab for cash, at only $1.70, it’s clearly a cut corner product. I made the mistake once, but knowing what real chorizo was, luckily I wasn’t fooled.
Yes sir..you got that right! I can do without the salivary glands and some of the other garbage in this ptoduct..I also have a close friend that makes his own premium Choriso and is 10 times better than the brands above. Very very cheap cuts of meat in those pictured above!
Yea. I read the ingredients and couldn’t get past the “salivatory glands”. It is a cheap “meat” product that I bought to feed my doggies. I’d love to find and try sine quality kind of it though. The recipes on here sound great!!!
Been eating this since I was 12 years old. Mexican chorizo from our local Carneciera here in Los Angeles, or now from another Carneciera here in Conyers Georgia. Tasty stuff!!
George Boy Now I’m from Georgia but lived and grew up mostly in Fort Myers,Florida and lived around Mexicans they thought me alot about Mexican Food Chorizo,Manado,Rice & Beans I ate better when I lived around them.
Even the your kids can cook Chorizo for Breakfast it’s really good kinda like traditional I Quess but I’m not Mexican just a White Boy who knew he was eating good. I miss you and your Family Chuck Periz .