Ultimate Cinco de Mayo Guide

By Food & Wine
Updated: May 04, 2017
Celebrate Mexican-American culture this Cinco de Mayo with tequila cocktails, taco recipes and more.
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Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

PHOTO © THE FOOD GAYS

These fantastic recipes for a Cinco de Mayo party include gooey, tequila-spiked queso fundido, fantastic tacos and, of course, margaritas.

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Cinco de Mayo Soups

PHOTO © TODD PORTER & DIANE CU

From chicken tortilla soup to black-bean soup with avocado salsa, these Mexican soup recipes are perfect for Cinco de Mayo.

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How to Make Piñata Cake, the Ultimate Cinco de Mayo Dessert

© ABBY HOCKING

Chock-full of candy and decorated to look like a piñata, this cake is sure to be a hit at your Cinco de Mayo party.

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The Ultimate Not-Taco Cinco de Mayo Menu

PHOTO © JOHN KERNICK

Separate yourself from the taco-obsessed masses and make this gorgeous (and insanely delicious) Mexican party spread.

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7 Mexican Cheeses You Need to Know

PHOTO © QUENTIN BACON

How many can you name?

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13 Things to Add to Tacos

PHOTO © QUENTIN BACON

You can wrap anything in a tortilla and call it a taco, but some combinations are more delicious—and original—than others. Here, a few ideas to break out of taco tedium.

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5 Five-Ingredient Party Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

© LUCY SCHAEFFER

Here are five excellent, super-easy recipes for a Cinco de Mayo party.

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Why Chocolate and Chiles Belong Together Forever

PHOTO © NICHOLAS HOPPER

The duo makes everything better—from cake to steak.

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5 Creamy Queso Dips for Cinco de Mayo

© KALEI TALWAR

Bust out the chips!

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5 Reasons to Add Fruit to Your Salsa

© IAN KNAUER

Up your salsa game.

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9 Ways to Eat as Much Avocado as Possible on Cinco de Mayo

PHOTO © CHRISTINA HOLMES

No fiesta is complete without avocado.

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14 Best-Ever Tacos for Cinco de Mayo

© JOHN KERNICK

Grab a cerveza and celebrate Cinco de Mayo with these 15 incredible taco recipes.

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9 Best Fajitas for Cinco de Mayo

PHOTO © CHRISTINA HOLMES

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with these 11 superb fajita recipes.

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13 Epic Guacamole Recipes

TODD PORTER & DIANE CU

Guac is a Cinco de Mayo must. From bacon guacamole to tomatillo-poblano guacamole, we’ve got you covered.

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15 Modern Mexican Restaurants Where You Can Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

GREG POWERS

You may not find chips and guac, but you’ll definitely find the fiesta at these modern Mexican restaurants across the U.S.

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24 Spots to Eat Tacos on Cinco de Mayo

LUIS GARCIA

It doesn’t feel like Cinco de Mayo without a belly full of tacos (and margaritas).

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30 Incredible Tacos to Make This Cinco de Mayo

John Kernick

From fish tacos with creamy lime guacamole to crispy fried chicken-filled tacos, here are the best taco recipes for a homemade Cinco de Mayo.

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14 Mexican Breakfast Recipes for Cinco de Mayo Morning

JIM FRANCO

Kick off a day of Mexican eating with breakfast burritos and eggs in purgatory.

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16 Mexican Appetizers to Get the Party Started

CHRISTINA HOLMES

Guacamole with charred jalapeño and scallions is one of many fiesta-starting appetizers on this list.

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11 Traditional Mexican Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

TODD PORTER & DIANE CU

For a traditional Mexican fiesta, make sure to serve dishes like spicy pulled pork enchiladas with mango salsa, pico de gallo, gorditas and, of course, amante picante margarita.

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10 Authentic Mexican Recipes

DANA GALLAGHER

This Cinco de Mayo, try a tomatillo-poblano guacamole, Mexican black bean soup with sausage, enchiladas and more authentic dishes.

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17 Quick Mexican Recipes for a Last-Minute Fiesta

CHRISTOPHER TESTANI

Forgot to prep your Cinco de Mayo celebration? Whip up quick dishes like chicken and cabbage tacos with cilantro cream and black-bean soup with avocado salsa.

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22 Healthy, Festive Mexican Recipes

JOSEPH DE LEO

You can celebrate Cinco de Mayo in a healthy way with recipes like beer-braised turkey tacos and tuna ceviche with avocado and cilantro.

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7 Vegan Mexican Recipes for a Meat-and-Cheese-less Cinco de Mayo

CON POULOS

Mexican food can easily be made vegan by omitting cheese or meat. Here, some of the best vegan Mexican recipes, from a vegan take on enchiladas topped with cashew crema and tomato sauce to chunky guagamole with cumin.

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10 Best Margarita Bars to Go for Cinco de Mayo Drinks

GAMMANINE

Here are 10 of the country’s to tequila-centric bars.

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17 Tasty Margaritas to Mix for Cinco de Mayo

TODD PORTER & DIANE CU

Mix yourself a delicious margarita this Cinco de Mayo. You deserve it.

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5 Landmarks in the History of the Margarita

© MARIANO MARTINEZ

The makings of a historic margarita road trip.

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Top 10 Blanco Tequilas to Sip on Cinco de Mayo

Courtesy of Espolòn Tequila

Mexico’s famous spirit is the perfect choice for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. Here, our favorite bottles to sip in a glass with a rock or without.

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5 Smoky Cocktails for a Cinco de Mayo Party

PHOTO © LUCAS ALLEN

Skip the fruity margaritas.

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Recover from Cinco de Mayo with These Refreshing Drinks

PHOTO © TINA RUPP

Cure your hangover with these delicious nonalcoholic drinks.

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5 Tequila Punches for Cinco de Mayo

PHOTO © JOHN KERNICK

Mix things up during Friday’s celebration with these festive tequila cocktails.

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16 Tequila Mixed Drinks for Cinco de Mayo

David Malosh

We love a good margarita, but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up. Try one of these delicious cocktails this Cinco de Mayo.

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9 Mexican Desserts for a Sweet Cinco de Mayo

PETRINA TINSLAY

From a dulce de leche roasted banana split to the classic combination of churros and hot chocolate, here are our favorite Mexican desserts.

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5 Incredible Cinco de Mayo Desserts

PHOTO © TINA RUPP

Celebrate the 5th of May with these five terrific, Mexican-inspired desserts.

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9 Must-Have Accessories for Your Cinco de Mayo Party

Courtesy of Lulu & Georgia

Opt for big, bold colors and bright accessories. (Guac not included.)

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