Cinco de Mayo Recipes for the Grill or Smoker
Apr 27, 2020, Updated Oct 25, 2024
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Cinco de Mayo is definitely one of my favorite food holidays. Below are our top Cinco de Mayo recipes for your grill or smoker!
Table of contents
Salsas, Dips, & Nachos
1
My Mama’s Basic Blender Salsa Recipe
An easy basic homemade salsa made in the blender. This is a family recipe that has been around for decades and is made in less than 5 minutes.
Check out this recipe
2
Smoked Tomatillo Salsa
An easy tomatillo salsa verde using smoked tomatillos and made in the blender. A delicious topping for sausages, grilled chicken, or simply with chips.
Check out this recipe
3
Smoked Guacamole With Bacon and Tomatillo
Recipe for Smoked Guacamole with bacon and tomatillos. Take your guacamole to the next level by adding smoked bacon and smoked tomatillos! Smokey, creamy, delicious!
Check out this recipe
4
Smoked Beef Brisket Nachos
Brisket Nachos are the perfect use for leftover smoked beef brisket. Create a rich chili out of leftover brisket and use that chili to make indulgent, spicy, cheesy, nachos.
Check out this recipe
5
Ultimate Pulled Pork Nachos Recipe
An incredible use for leftover pulled pork. Pulled Pork Nachos. These were made with smoked pulled pork, but you don’t have to have smoked pork to make these indulgent nachos. Can be cooked in the oven or directly on the grill.
Check out this recipe
6
Authentic Red Chile Sauce Recipe (Enchilada Sauce)
An authentic dried chili based red sauce that is mixed in a blender and can be used as an easy enchilada sauce or enhanced for other recipe options.
Check out this recipe
Fajitas & Enchiladas
7
Grilled Flank Steak Fajitas Recipe
Tequila and Soy Marinade and grilled flank steak with cast iron seared peppers and onions.
Check out this recipe
8
Easy Grilled Tri-Tip Fajitas Recipe
How to get smoke flavor into your fajitas. Grill a Tri-Tip and slice thinly for these incredible, tender, smoky, and savory steak fajitas.
Check out this recipe
9
Grilled Chicken Fajitas Recipe with Chipotle Marinade
A tasty and slightly spicy garlic chipotle marinade for chicken, and how to use it for Grilled Chicken Fajitas.
Check out this recipe
10
Beef Enchiladas made with Smoked Brisket
Beef Brisket Enchiladas are the ultimate use for leftover brisket for any Mexican food lover! These beef enchiladas are made with smoked brisket, but you can sub almost any cut of beef for these indulgent enchiladas.
Check out this recipe
11
Smoked Pulled Pork Enchiladas
A great use for leftover smoked pulled pork. Smoked pulled pork enchiladas.
Check out this recipe
Tacos, Tacos, and more Tacos
12
Carne Asada Skirt Steak Tacos Recipe
Carne Asada made with marinated skirt steak, then grilled hot and fast and sliced thin for the ultimate Taco Night meal.
Check out this recipe
13
Smoked Mexican Shredded Beef Tacos Recipe
Smoked chuck roast finished in a Mexican inspired beef braise, and then shredded and made into tacos.
Check out this recipe
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14
Smoked Beef Brisket Tacos
A simple and delicious brisket taco recipe for leftover smoked brisket. Easy to modify and scale up.
Check out this recipe
15
Ribeye Steak Tacos Recipe
Ribeye Steak Tacos are a great option to elevate a taco with the tender and delicious flavor of ribeye.
Check out this recipe
16
Grilled Spicy Chicken Tacos with Avocado Crema
Grilled Spicy Chicken Tacos start with chicken breasts marinated in a simple chipotle marinade, then quickly grilled and topped with a cooling avocado crema. Perfect for a weeknight family meal.
Check out this recipe
17
Chipotle Honey Marinade with Grilled Chicken Tacos
An easy and delicious recipe for spicy and sweet Chipotle Honey Grilled Chicken. Grilled marinated chicken, shredded and perfect for tacos, sliders, sandwiches, and so much more.
Check out this recipe
18
Verde Chicken Tacos Recipe
Super quick and easy restaurant style grilled chicken tacos braised in green chile salsa, made in less than 20 minutes using a simple hack.
Check out this recipe
19
Grilled Corn Tacos Recipe with Chicken and Tarragon Sauce
A great corn taco recipe with chicken and a fresh tarragon sauce. Best with Corn Tortillas.
Check out this recipe
20
Grilled Fish Tacos Recipe with Citrus Marinade
An easy and healthy recipe for grilled fish tacos topped with a grilled corn slaw and creamy avocado sauce. Comes with wine pairing recommendations.
Check out this recipe
21
Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Lime Crema
Grilled shrimp over hot lump charcoal finished with a soothing lime crema and your favorite taco sides.
Check out this recipe
22
Smoked Pulled Pork Tacos
A simple, quick, and delicious use for leftover smoked pulled pork. Smoked pulled pork tacos.
Check out this recipe
23
Grilled Cauliflower Tacos Recipe with Blackened Seasoning
A delicious taco with charred cauliflower seasoned with savory blackened seasoning.
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Mexican-Inspired Mains
24
Smoked Mexican Burgers with Chorizo and Smoked Poblanos
How to smoke burgers with incredible smoky flavor and moisture with the perfect char on the outside. Plus a recipe for Smoked Mexican Burgers with Chorizo and Smoked Poblanos.
Check out this recipe
25
Homemade Mexican Chorizo Recipe with Pork
An easy and flavorful way to make your own homemade chorizo using dried spices and ground pork.
Check out this recipe
26
Vegetarian Chorizo Recipe with Cauliflower
A mild heat vegetarian chorizo made with sautéed chopped cauliflower in a pan. Perfect vegetarian substitute for chorizo breakfast burritos or any recipe calling for Mexican-style chorizo.
Check out this recipe
27
Beef Empanadas Recipe using Smoked Brisket
Beef Empanadas are an incredible use for leftover smoked brisket and great appetizer idea for the holidays. Combine brisket, sautéed vegetables, herbs and spices rolled in puffed pastry dough and served with a creamy crème fraîche BBQ dip.
Check out this recipe
You can find more of our favorite recipes for Cinco de Mayo in our cookbook, Fire + Wine, including our Fire Roasted Queso Dip.
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About Vindulge
Mary (a certified sommelier and recipe developer) and Sean (backyard pitmaster) are co-authors of the critically acclaimed cookbooks — Fire + Wine and Fire + Wine Backyard Pizza — and have been creating content for the IACP-nominated website Vindulge since 2009. They live in Oregon on a farm just outside Portland.
I basically want every single item on this list!!! It may need to be a Week-o de Mayo.