Recipes Comfort Food Southwestern & Tex-Mex By Food & Wine Editors Updated on January 12, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos These amazing Tex-Mex recipes include grilled quesadillas, spicy posole, baked huevos rancheros and more. 01 of 20 Mexican Avocado Burgers DAVID MALOSH This terrific burger is sprinkled with a spice mix halfway through grilling; if you mix it in before cooking, the meat will get tough. Garnishes of crema and avocado add rich creaminess. Pasta Recipes Go to Recipe 02 of 20 Zucchini, Corn, Black-Bean, and Jack-Cheese Quesadillas The grated zucchini and defrosted frozen corn that fill these tasty quesadillas contain a lot of moisture. Drain them on paper towels for a few minutes before using; otherwise, you'll end up with soggy tortillas. Serve the quesadillas with spicy salsa. More Mexican-Inspired Recipes Go to Recipe 03 of 20 Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas Verdes Following her Mexican grandmother's recipe, Marie Hejl first dips the tortillas in a fresh tomatillo sauce, then fries them in oil. Mexican Dishes Go to Recipe 04 of 20 Four-Chile Chili Chili first made its appearance in the early 1800s as “chili con carne.” It was billed as a favorite dish in Mexico, although it originated in the American Southwest and was reportedly loathed by Mexicans. Chili rose to great popularity in the 1930s, after World War I had made all-American foods stylish. All-American Recipes Go to Recipe 05 of 20 Barbecued Spiced Shrimp with Tomato Salad The big, bold Southwestern flavors in this shrimp seasoning—which include pure ancho chile powder, smoked paprika, cumin and brown sugar—epitomize Bobby Flay’s style. The seasoning mix would also be terrific on pork chops or beef tenderloin. Best Wines for Barbecue Go to Recipe 06 of 20 Chicken Burritos with Black-Bean Salsa and Pepper Jack © Todd Porter & Diane Cu Pepper Jack cheese looks innocent enough but adds a nice kick to these burritos. If you prefer a milder taste, use regular Jack instead. Chicken Recipes Go to Recipe 07 of 20 Quick Chicken-and-Cheese Tamales © Tina Rupp Grace Parisi mixes store-bought rotisserie chicken and cheddar cheese into a quick dough, then she wraps the tamales in plastic before steaming them. Recipes with Rotisserie Chicken Go to Recipe 08 of 20 Blood Orange Margaritas The sweet-tart blood orange flavor intensifies the margarita-ness of this variation on the popular drink. Cocktail Recipes Go to Recipe 09 of 20 Cumin Chili You’ll get a clear taste of cumin in this great cold-weather chili made with ground beef, beans, and green bell pepper. If you want a hotter chili, add as much cayenne as you like. Super Bowl Recipes Go to Recipe 10 of 20 Baked Huevos Rancheros Traditional huevos rancheros are fried eggs served over tortillas and smothered in sauce and cheese. Here, Grace Parisi bakes eggs, tortilla chips and cheese in a seasoned tomato sauce in individual gratin dishes. For more sophisticated eaters, swap pepper Jack for the Monterey Jack to get a spicy kick. Brunch Recipes Go to Recipe 11 of 20 Chipotle Shrimp Tostadas © James Baigrie To create this Southwestern-inspired dish, Melissa Rubel tosses shrimp with chipotle chile powder (made from dried, smoked jalapeños), grills them, then layers them on top of crunchy fried corn tortillas and crisp, citrusy slaw. Fish and Seafood Recipes Go to Recipe 12 of 20 Bacon, Cheese and Jalapeño Tacos Rayme Rossello's mouthwatering bacon tacos are pressed on a griddle, and eaten more like quesadillas. Best Tacos in the U.S. Go to Recipe 13 of 20 Green-Chile Burgers with Fried Eggs Bobby Flay's 5 Burger Commandments Go to Recipe 14 of 20 Spicy Turkey Posole © Tina Rupp Posole is a hearty Mexican soup or stew made with hominy (dried corn kernels with the hull and germ removed) and pork or poultry. The recipe is an excellent way to use up leftover turkey. Soups for Every Season Go to Recipe 15 of 20 Meat-Stuffed Poblanos with Cilantro-Lime Sauce Affordable Recipes Go to Recipe 16 of 20 Grilled-Chicken Quesadillas These classic quesadillas are perfect for a summertime Fourth of July party. The leftovers make for a quick, easy-to-reheat lunch the next day. Summer Party Recipes Go to Recipe 17 of 20 Chicken, Cheese and Mushroom Enchiladas with Sour Cream Slaw A crunchy coleslaw made with a sour cream dressing is a cooling accompaniment to this spicy sauced enchiladas. Chicken Recipes Go to Recipe 18 of 20 Charro Beans “Most people prefer margaritas either frozen or on the rocks. In Texas, it's the same with refried beans versus charro,” says Tim Love. Refried beans are made with mashed pintos; for charro—a Tex-Mex take on pork and beans—the beans are served whole in a spicy broth. Tim Love's Grilling Tips Go to Recipe 19 of 20 Cheese-Topped Guacamole In this play on nachos, chef Gonzalo Martinez tops a chunky guacamole with gooey melted cheese. Tailgating Recipes Go to Recipe 20 of 20 Chicken-Chili Tamale Pie This chicken chili tamale pie recipe combines two Southern comfort foods in one dish: the spicy corn and chicken chili is topped with buttery and cheesy corn bread. Comfort Food Recipes Go to Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit