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Simple Mexican Dinner Recipes for Cinco De Mayo

April 26, 2019 by Susie Weinrich 11 Comments

I will always be in the mood for Mexican food! It is the cuisine that has all my favorite flavors and dishes- enchiladas, salsa, burritos, tacos, margaritas, and tequila… just to name a few. All delicious!

a picture of four mexican recipes - margarita, tacos, pico de gallo and guacamole

If you love Mexican food for dinner, like I do, then this post is for you. All the Mexican style recipes you need for a great Cinco De Mayo dinner.

Traditional Mexican Drinks

Nothing will start your party better than some great Margaritas on the Rocks! Make it with some Jalapeno Infused Tequila for a little kick.

But really any tequila based cocktail will pair perfectly with all the dishes you prepare.

a salt rimmed glass with a classic margarita garnished with a lime

If you have some guests that would prefer a virgin cocktail, check out this Margarita Mocktail, they will be delighted.

Here are some of our other favorite Mexican Style Cocktails:

Simple Mexican Appetizer Recipe

It doesn’t get more traditional than chips and salsa as an appetizer for a Mexican Dinner. I have created an easy salsa recipe that is full of delicious flavors. Blend together tomatoes, garlic, onions, cilantro, lime, salt, and a touch of sugar. It is perfect with salty tortilla chips!

homemade salsa in a bowl with cilantro and limes

Also check out these other salsa and dip recipes:

Easy Mexican Dinner Entrée Recipes

It is not just a name, this really is my favorite Chicken Enchilada recipe! This is a Mexican dinner entrée that is easy to make and super delicious. A great crowd pleaser.

Some other enchilada recipes to check out:

Mexican Food For A Crowd

If you are feeding a crowd for Cinco De Mayo, then Carnitas or Barbacoa will be your go to recipes! They make great tacos, rice bowls, burritos, or enchiladas.

barbacoa on a baking sheet with two forks

Ground Beef Tacos are another great options for crowds. You may want to double or triple the recipe depending on your group size.

Doubling and Tripling Recipes

On Mom’s Dinner you can easily double recipes. Simply hover over the serving size in the recipe card. Use the +/- slider that appears to change how many servings you need and the recipe card will update the amounts for each ingredient.

Healthy Mexican Dinner

You will love these healthy Enchiladas made in zucchinis. The nice thing is that you will not even miss the tortilla. They are completely filling and you will still feel like you are eating a traditional enchilada!

zucchini enchiladas in a white casserole pan

Some other Healthy Mexican Dishes to check out:

Amazing Mexican Side Dishes

I believe that a side dish should not take longer than the main dish. Right!? That is why I love this recipe for 15 minute refried beans. They are quick to make and just as delish as if you soaked your beans overnight.

We also love this Instant Pot Mexican Rice!

a baking dish full of refried beans topped with cheese, cilantro and tomatoes

Some other Mexican Side Dish Faves:

Mexican Dessert

Ok, I am pretty sure this Key Lime Cookies and Cream Ice Cream recipe isn’t actually a traditional Mexican Dessert, but the flavors are just perfect for the end of a Mexican dinner! Not to mention it could not be easier to make, you do not need any special ice cream making equipment. It is No Churn!

a loaf pan filled with key lime ice cream

We also love these Mexican Wedding Cookies for something a little more traditional.

a pecan snowball cookie that is broken in half to see the middle

Check Out All the Mexican Style Recipes on Mom’s Dinner!!

Extra Menu Planning Resources

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Easy Instant Pot Shredded Buffalo Chicken

April 16, 2019 by Susie Weinrich 9 Comments

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken is a little spicy mixed with herbs and seasonings to make the best buffalo chicken sandwiches! Grab your Instant Pot or Electric Pressure cookier and some chicken, fresh or frozen, cook it up in a tangy buffalo sauce, shred, and mix with ranch seasoning and cream cheese for the most flavorful buffalo chicken!!

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches topped with blue cheese crumbles and green onions

I can’t even type or read “buffalo” without my mouth watering. I love the vinegar tang of buffalo sauce as well as the subtle heat tingle that lingers on your lips! And if you are reading this post, then I am guessing you feel the same. You would also love this Buffalo Chicken Burger!

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Use Fresh or Frozen Chicken

How often do you forget to thaw the chicken to make dinner?? Totally guilty over here✋🏼!

That is one reason I love recipes for the Instant Pot- you can use your frozen chicken, and with just a little extra time it comes out just as great as fresh chicken. You can use fresh or frozen chicken in this buffalo chicken recipe. Both instructions are below in the recipe card.

How to Make Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

Grab 2 lbs. of either fresh or frozen boneless skinless chicken breasts. Place them in your Instant Pot (if you are using frozen make sure the breasts are not in one big block, they will not cook through that way. You may need to run a little warm water over them to separate).
Spray a little non-stick spray on the bottom of the pot, add the chicken and then pour 1 cup of Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce over the chicken.

buffalo sauce pouring into an instant pot

Cooking Times are as follows:

Fresh: if you are using fresh chicken set the Instant Pot to cook on pressure mode, on high, for 10 minutes

Frozen: if you are using frozen chicken set the Instant Pot to cook on pressure mode, on high, for 15 minutes.

After the cooking time is through, do a quick release of pressure by turning the pressure valve to “vent”.

buffalo chicken cooked in the instant pot being shredded with two forks

Remove the chicken from the pot, leaving the liquid behind. Shred the chicken using two forks. (Kitchen Tip- I like to shred my chicken on a rimmed sheet pan, that way any liquid on or in the chicken won’t run all over your countertops) Set the chicken aside, and make the buffalo sauce.
Back at the Instant Pot, set it to sauté mode. Whisk in the ranch dressing powder mix packet, and the cream cheese until it is completely incorporated. You can turn the sauté mode off.
Add the shredded chicken, celery, and green onions to the sauce. Give it a stir to coat the chicken with the sauce completely.

Chicken, celery, green onions, and buffalo sauce in the instant pot

Make Ahead & Storage

This buffalo chicken can absolutely be made ahead. You can make it up to 4 days in advance and store in the fridge.

The buffalo chicken is great warm, cold, or at room temp.

How to Use Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken

The very best way to use this Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken is heaped in a bun for buffalo chicken sandwiches. Toast some buns, top with the buffalo chicken mixture, add some blue cheese crumbles and ranch over top. This would also be amazing with this blue cheese and celery slaw over top!

You could also use this chicken for:

buffalo chicken wraps
buffalo chicken served over rice (or cauliflower rice)
spicy chicken tacos
buffalo chicken dip- just mix ½ the chicken in an extra 4 oz. cream cheese and some Monterey jack cheese, pop it in the oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

More Buffalo Style Recipes

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Teriyaki Beef Noodles (Instant Pot)

April 11, 2019 by Susie Weinrich 11 Comments

Teriyaki Beef Noodles is an amazing recipe to make in the Instant Pot. Rice noodles and tender beef are coated in an amazing Sweet & Spicy Teriyaki Sauce from Insta-Meals, then it is loaded with veggies that are cooked to tender-crisp perfection! This is a perfect Asian Instant Pot recipe to make for dinner.

Instant Pot Teriyaki Beef Noodles in a bowl with chopsticks

You will also love this recipe because it is an all-in-one pan dinner. It has your starch, protein and veggie all in one, no need to make any extra side dishes. Winning!!

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How to Make Jalapeno Tequila

April 9, 2019 by Susie Weinrich 19 Comments

This recipe for jalapeno infused tequila has the perfect balance of salty tequila flavor, spice from the jalapenos, mixed with a hint of the verdant/herby jalapeno flavor. Not to mention it is unbelievably easy to make! You just need a little time and these two ingredients: 2 Fresh Jalapenos, and your favorite, quality Silver Tequila.

jalapeno tequila in a bottle with a bottle of jose cuervo in the background

Then you will be making the BEST tequila cocktails at home that will give you just a hint of tingly spice in the back of your throat. Perfection!!

Jalapeno Tequila is absolutely my new obsession. I love how, in a cocktail, it gives you just the right amount of tingle and heat in your throat.

In restaurants you can enjoy the best spicy margaritas, or jalapeno palomas. But when it comes to making those drinks at home, it is surprisingly hard to find a good jalapeno infused tequila in the store! So, I got to making my own, and you should too.

RELATED: Hot Honey Margarita

Ingredients

It is super simple to make this Infused Jalapeno Tequila, you just need two very specific ingredients;

A silver tequila that you love.
Fresh jalapenos.

Jalapenos

For this recipe you can choose to use 1 or 2 jalapenos. I actually do not like a TON of spice, I like my spicy drinks to give just a little tingle, not an all out fire.

I use 2 medium sized jalapenos.

If you choose to use just 1 jalapeno you will have just a slight warmth and verdant/herby flavor in your tequila.

HOW TO PICK A SPICY OR MILD JALAPENO

When you are at the grocery store and there is a pile of jalapenos to choose from, you can actually choose a spicy or mild jalapeno! Here’s how:

For a super spicy jalapeno look for the ones that have lines or specks on them. They will almost look like stretch marks or little flecks of white or brown. Those are called heat marks and indicate a HOT PEPPER!
Also the peppers that have some red or are turning completely red are older peppers and can tend to be hotter.
For a more mild jalapeno pepper choose ones that have smooth bright green skin.

Tequila

For this recipe I use Jose Cuervo Especial Blue Agave Tequila or Jose Cuervo Tradicional. However, feel free to use whatever silver or blanco tequila you prefer.

TEQUILA BRANDS WE LOVE

If you are not super familiar with tequila, let me get you started with some different price points. These have all been (happily) tested by me:

Jose Cuervo Tradicional $
Costco Tequila (Kirkland) $ (some call it Costco-migos because it tastes like the much more expensive Casamigos!)
Cazadores $$
Espolon $$
Casamigos $$$
Patron $$$
Clase Azul $$$$

When you are making an infused tequila I would stick with a mid to low range tequila. Some of the higher priced ones should be sipped over ice or mixed in a martini or highball cocktail.

How to Make Jalapeno Infused Tequila

After you learn how to make jalapeno tequila at home you will be wondering why you have been paying $12 for each cocktail at a restaurant, when you can have an entire bottle for under $20 at home.

Pour Tequila Into Larger Bottle

You can pour the tequila into a larger glass bottle that has a lid. Or you can pour a little tequila out of the bottle, making room for the jalapenos.

Add Jalapenos

Slice the fresh jalapenos lengthwise, leaving all the seeds and ribs in the jalapeno. Place them in the jar/bottle with the tequila.

Steep The Tequila and Jalapeno

Let the mixture sit on the counter, covered, at room temp, for 10-12 hours. I find that is the perfect amount of time to allow some heat and flavor to steep into the tequila.

Strain!!

After 10-12 hours it is time to strain the jalapenos and seeds from the tequila. I like to do this with a small strainer that is held over a funnel placed into either the empty tequila bottle or another glass bottle with a lid.

Discard the used jalapenos. However, if you are making cocktails right away you can slice them for cocktail garnishes.

Storing Infused Tequila

Store your jalapeno tequila just as you would store normal tequila. I keep mine at room temp in a cabinet. It does not need to be refrigerated and should last up to 6 months.

Drinks to Make with Jalapeno Tequila

Any tequila drink that you want to add a little spice to will work well. Here are some of my faves, and of course there will be more recipes to come!

FIND MORE TEQUILA RECIPES HERE!

More Tequila Recipes To Love

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I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

Rate This Recipe→

Jalapeno Tequila Recipe

The best recipe for homemade jalapeno tequila that has just the right amount of spiciness to give you a little warmth in your cocktail.

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time: 5

Steeping: 12

Total Time: 5

Servings: mL

Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

▢ 2 fresh jalapenos, cut in half lengthwise, keep the ribs and seeds - for less heat, use 1 jalapeno
▢ 1 750 ml bottle of silver or blanco tequila - I use Jose Cuervo Especial Blue Agave Silver Tequila

Instructions

Combine the entire bottle of tequila and the cut jalapenos in a glass container or pitcher.
Let it sit at room temp, covered, for 10-12 hours.
Strain the jalapenos and seeds from the tequila using a fine mesh strainer (make sure there is a container under the strainer, don’t pour your tequila down the drain).
Store in a glass container with a lid (can use the tequila bottle) for up to 6 months.

Serving

Use in your favorite tequila drinks to give it a little heat!
I do not recommend the tequila for shots (LOL)

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Cocktails for Your Jalapeno Tequila:

FIND MORE TEQUILA RECIPES HERE!

Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!

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4 Ingredient Beer Bread

April 3, 2019 by Susie Weinrich 18 Comments

This Beer Bread recipe is easy to make and only requires 4 ingredients! It comes out of the oven with the most beautiful textured golden crust. By covering the dough in butter before you pop in in the oven you create a crispy, buttery top. When you bite into a fresh slice you can literally hear the crunch of the crust, followed by the soft bread inside.

beer bread on a cutting board with slices

The flavor is truly unique. It reminds me of a mellow sourdough with a hint of beer in the background. In a subtle, can't place the flavor, kind of way.

Easy Beer Bread Recipe

Is there a smell better that baking bread? I'm going to answer that for you, NO! Or how about the taste of a freshly sliced piece of homemade bread with (real, salted) butter melting over the top. My mouth is watering!

But let me quickly break you out of this carb trance with the the thought of kneading, proofing, kneading, proofing, waiting….exhausting….boring! I do not have time for all that. Do you??

A loaf of 4 ingredient beer bread cooling on a cooling rack

That is why I was thrilled when my sister gave me this recipe a few years ago!! It requires no kneading, no proofing, no waiting! You just sift flour, open a beer, pour, and mix. Anyone can do that. Even my husband can do that, maybe.

How to Make 4 Ingredients for Beer Bread

Yep, only 4 simple ingredients for this beer bread recipe. If you happen to have self rising flour (that is not expired) in your pantry then you can make this now! All you need is:

12 oz beer
3 cups self rising flour
2 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoon butter

Beer

Start by pouring a 12 oz beer into a large bowl. Pour it down the side of the bowl so it doesn’t get too fizzy!

Self Rising Flour + Sugar

Then in a separate bowl whisk together 3 cups of self rising flour and 2 tablespoon of sugar.

Combine

Pour the flour mixture into the beer. Stir lightly JUST UNTIL IT comes together. Over mixing will cause your beer bread to be tough.

Pour Into Loaf Pan + Bake

Pour the bread dough into a greased loaf pan. Then melt the 3 tablespoon of butter and pour over top of the dough. That is what will give you a golden crispy crust! YUM

beer bread dough topped with melted butter

Now bake the beer bread on 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Let the butter cool for about 5 minutes before digging in.

Variations on Beer Bread

This bread can be spiced up, literally, to go with the menu you are serving or to use up herbs you have in your fridge. Here are some ideas for adding flavors to your bread:

chopped fresh rosemary
italian herb mixture
fresh minced garlic
dill
shredded cheddar cheese and garlic
chopped chives
kalamata olives

Beer for Beer Bread

From the research I have done online it looks like you can use just about any beer you would like, pilsner, light beer, stout, IPA. Just like using wine in food, use a beer that you would like to drink. Although I would recommend staying away from some of the new flavored beers, like lime and orange.

slices of beer bread with butter smeared

I have used Miller Light, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra Light and Boulevard Pale Ale and they have all worked perfectly!

Let me know in the comments what type of beer you choose to use in the recipe!

Serving Beer Bread

4 Ingredient Beer Bread makes an amazing table bread, especially if you are able to serve it straight out of the oven when it is crispiest! If you choose to make this bread ahead follow these steps to make the most delicious golden toasty table bread:

Cut bread into thick slices
Butter both sides and place them on a sheet pan. Add any seasoning you would like (garlic).
Place in a 400 degree oven for 5-8 minutes, flipping the slices half way thru.

More Great Bread Recipes

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Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

Rate This Recipe→

4 Ingredient Beer Bread Recipe + Video

A super easy beer bread recipe made with only 4 ingredients. No kneading, proofing or waiting. Simply mix the 4 ingredients together and pop it in the oven. Customize the flavor with any herbs you would like.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 55

Servings: loaf

Calories: 1932kcal

Author: Susie Weinrich