27 Easy Mexican Appetizers (and Snacks!) Anyone Can Make
Updated: Dec. 23, 2022
Taco'bout delicious: These creative Mexican appetizer recipes come together quickly for a potluck, a party, or just a pantry meal with the family.
You’ll love cooking and eating these
From nachos and guacamole to mini tacos, you really can’t beat Mexican appetizers. If you’re having a night in (or a party!) and want to cook your own goodies rather than get takeout, you can’t beat these fantastic Mexican-inspired bites and appetizers we’ve compiled from our sister site, Taste of Home, and other great food blogs.
Layered buffalo chicken nachos with creamy gorgonzola sauce
Shred up leftover chicken to make this easy Mexican appetizer from Smells Like Home, which combines crunchy chips with bubbly, melted cheese and velvety avocado. Before you start cooking, here are the Mexican restaurant words you need to know.
Jalapeño chicken wraps
Bacon-wrapped anything makes every meal better, and when you wrap bacon around jalapeños and strips of chicken, you get an instant fiesta hit. Best served with blue cheese or ranch dressing. Get the recipe from Taste of Home.
Queso fundido with chorizo
Whether you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo or that your team just scored, this Mexican appetizer dip from Smells Like Home should satisfy. Loaded with chorizo, jalapeños, and an optional splash (or three) of tequila, it’s best served warm with sturdy chips for scooping. Find out the best casserole for you, based on your zodiac sign.
Mini phyllo tacos
Do you ever wish tacos were smaller just so you could eat more of them? Your wish has been granted. These tacos may be small, but they pack in as much flavor and joy as regular-sized ones. Get the recipe here from Taste of Home.
Pulled pork taquitos with chipotle ranch dipping sauce
Blogger Iowa Girl Eats rolls corn tortillas around slow-cooker pulled pork and shredded cheese, then serves this festive Mexican appetizer with a smoky sauce for dipping. These are the secrets your restaurant menu won’t tell you. Try these brilliant kitchen hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner.
Margarita granita with spicy shrimp
Imagine drinking seasoned grilled shrimp into a frozen margarita. That’s essentially what you’re doing in this Taste of Home recipe, but believe us, the sweet-spicy combo tastes a lot better than it sounds. Here are more weird food combos people actually love.
Huevos diablos
For those who need to brush up on their Spanish phrases, this recipe is for Mexican deviled eggs—and they really do have the devil’s heat in them. You can thank the jalapeños for that. These finger foods are perfect for any party.
Grilled pepper poppers
These zesty peppers from Eat.Drink.Smile blend three cheeses (goat, parm, and cream cheese) in a handy, edible jalapeño for a bite-sized Mexican appetizer. Scrape out most of the seeds if you aren’t a hot-and-spicy fan.
Fried jalapeños
A spicier spin on pepper poppers, this Taste of Home recipe isn’t your typical deep-fried fair food. Once spicy food lovers try one, they won’t be able to get enough.
Grilled street corn
Everyone who loves Mexican food needs to know how to make grilled street corn. This traditional recipe is easy to make—just grill the corn and cover it with your cheese mixture—and it’s a crowd pleaser at any cookout. Plus, check out these foods you didn’t know you could grill.
Spicy refried beans
All you need for a quick appetizer is a can of refried beans, a jalapeño, cheese, and seasoning. You can serve this recipe with tortilla chips or let your guests dig right in.
7-Layer Mexican dip
Sliced black olives, tomatoes, and green onions dot the top layer of this colorful dip from So, How’s It Taste? Try adding chipotle powder for a smoky flavor.
Mexican chicken wings
Don’t expect any leftovers. This recipe adds a Spanish kick to regular wings with its special jalapeño cilantro dip, which works just as well for tortilla chips once you run out of wings.
Tableside guacamole
The secret ingredient in this guac from Spinach Tiger? Freshly squeezed orange juice. This recipe scales up really well: use one avocado per person and adjust the other ingredients accordingly. The origin of the word “avocado” is about to make you really uncomfortable!
Pork burritos
The best part of this recipe is that your slow cooker does most of the work for you. Once your pork is tender, just top it with avocado, sour cream, and cilantro—and you’ve got a spicy masterpiece. These are the cooking tricks that are only taught in culinary school.
Creamy chicken taquitos
Skip the freezer aisle and instead make these fun Mexican appetizers from Handle the Heat with simple, fresh ingredients like red bell pepper, cilantro, garlic and lime juice. If you’re eating meatless, serve with refried beans instead of chicken. By the way, is it safe to cook frozen meat in a slow cooker?
Beefy taco dip
You can never have too many taco dip recipes. This award-winning one comes from a Taste of Home reader in Nova Scotia who found that the secret to perfect taco dip is all in the layering.
Vegan red pepper spinach quesadillas
Not just for vegans, though: this Mexican appetizer from Queen of Quinoa only requires five ingredients and comes together really quickly for parties. P.S. No judgment if you start making these for breakfast, too. Did you know that the best bread in the world only has two ingredients?
Chipotle lime corn cobs
Traditional Mexican street corn is a versatile dish because changing just a few ingredients can give it an entirely different flavor. This version swaps in Asiago cheese for Parmesan and adds chipotle pepper for a spicier kick.
Chicken tortilla soup
Pantry staples like canned chicken broth, tomatoes, corn, and black beans make short work of this classic Mexican soup from Lemons and Anchovies. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, crushed tortilla chips or sour cream—and don’t forget a squeeze of lime. Watch out for these ways you don’t realize you’re cooking chicken wrong.
Creamy pumpkin Mexican soup
This nourishing bowl from Queen of Quinoa blends smooth pumpkin puree with cashew milk and adds heat from cinnamon, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Here are 30 more fresh pumpkin recipes you’ve never tried before.
Hibiscus flower enchiladas
Chewy dried hibiscus flowers complement shredded carrots and jicama in these inventive enchiladas from Love and Olive Oil, which are smothered in a generous tomato chipotle sauce, plus crunchy purple cabbage and salty Cotija cheese.
Fresh lime margaritas
Get the party started right with an easy Taste of Home recipe for everyone’s Cinco de Mayo drink of choice. (Well, we assume it’s everyone’s favorite.) It only takes 15 minutes, and you can switch things up with frozen and flavored marg options.
Pork taquitos
Taquitos are one of the most popular Mexican appetizers, and these homemade ones taste SO much better than the frozen store-bought ones.
Salsa rice
You can’t get much simpler than this 15 minute recipe from Taste of Home. Just boil water and chunky salsa, add rice, and top it with cheese. This dish makes a perfect side when you’re crunched for time.
Smoked salmon quesadillas with creamy chipotle sauce
Sure, everyone loves a good chicken quesadilla, but a salmon quesadilla? Even better. With this recipe, you can wow guests with a creative spin on a traditional meal and wow their tastebuds with a spicy yet creamy spread.
Grilled guacamole
Have you ever thought about grilling avocados? They’re one of the foods you didn’t know you could grill, but once you taste them, you won’t be able to get enough of that smokey flavor. Now that you know how to cook a Mexican feast, check out the recipes everyone should know before turning 35.
