Make Cinco de Mayo Healthier, with 30+ of Our Best Mexican Recipes

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, we rounded up our favorite Mexican-inspired recipes. Let's get this party started!

Main Meals

  Chicken Taco Soup
  Chef Meg's Chicken Enchilada Stacker
  Chef Meg's Creamy Green Enchiladas
  Chef Meg's Grilled Perch with Citrus Salsa, Cilantro Sauce and Salsa Verde
  Chef Meg's Trim Tamale Pie
  Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup
  Mexican Seitan
  No Guilt Cheese Enchiladas: SparkRecipes Un-Chained Recipe Contest Finalist
  Salsa Chicken
  Southwestern Chicken Soup
  SP_Stepf's Baked Veggie Burritos
Stepf's Mexican Pizza
  Stepfanie's Quinoa-Black Bean Casserole
  Taco Soup (Chef Meg's Makeover)


Appetizers, Veggies, and Side Dishes

  Avocado-yogurt dressing
  Black Bean 'Hummus'
  Chef Meg's Black Bean Spread
  Chef Meg's Cheesy Grilled Banana Peppers
  Chef Meg's (Leftover) Chicken Nachos
  Chef Meg's Mini Taco Cups
  Chef Meg's Peachy Pepper Poppers
  Chef Meg's Roasted Corn and Pepper Soup
  Chef Meg's Skinny Fiesta Dip with Baked Lime Chips
  Chef Meg's Spicy Stone Fruit Salsa
  Chef Meg's Taco Seasoning
  Cowboy Caviar
Pico de Gallo (Authentic Mexican Salsa)
  Pineapple Salsa
  Stepf's Queso (Sin Queso) Dip
  Stepf's Spicy Vegan Quinoa-Cornbread
  Stepf's Veggie-licious Guacamole
 
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo? Don't forget the lower-calorie margaritas, if you choose to imbibe. And click here to learn how to make great salsa!

Heading out for Mexican? Check out SparkPeople's Dining Out Guide first.

Whether you're craving Chipotle, Taco Bell, or a local restaurant that has Mexican cuisine, we've got you covered! 

Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Are you a fan of Mexican food? How do you make it healthier?
 

Click here to to redeem your SparkPoints
  You will earn 5 SparkPoints

Comments

REDROBIN47 5/5/2018
Great choices for healthy eating Report
EVILCECIL 12/1/2017
Great recipes. Report
_CYNDY55_ 11/20/2017
Delish, Thank you! Report
J2740LOU
I love Cowboy Caviar served as an appetizer with Taco Scoops. Report
PAT262
Can't wait to try the crock pot tortilla soup. Thanks for sharing your recipes. Report
SUPERSYLPH
I don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but I am a fan of Mexican food. I don't make it healthier... lol Report
DAHLEEA
My family just had 'make your own soft taco bar' last Sunday. Options were mayacoba (yellow) beans, grilled onions, mushrooms and peppers, soyrizo, avocado, salsa, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. We also had queso fresco, a salty skim milk Mexican cheese - a little goes a long way. So good...and healthy. A winner of a dinner for all!
I'm looking forward to trying Chef Meg's Grilled Perch with Citrus Salsa, Cilantro Sauce and Salsa Verde. Thanks! Report
LAURIETAIT
BONNIEBONNEAU How is a compilation of favorite recipes misinformation. If you don't like Mexican food. Don't eat it. Nobody twisted your arm to read this blog. I personally welcome healthier versions of food I enjoy. I'd ask you who P****** in your Cheerios today but I bet you don't eat those either. Report
BONNIEBONNEAU
i am so tired of Americans catering to the mexican culture, and this "book "is another example of this. The goal of this is not to promote healthy eating. There have been many studies that have been published , that confirm , the best diet to follow is the Mediterranean one. I am very unhappy to see SP following like a blind mouse, to the sound of common misinformation , like all the rest of the junk cook books out there. I expect a higher standard from SP. Report
THEEASYKILL30
Everything is going to be home-made so I can control the salt! Turkey tacos, home-made salsa, home-made guacamole. And I'm going to make a "skinny" margarita too. For me, it's not Cinco de Mayo without the maragaritas :) Report
ESMOMMY13
I do not celebrate Cinco De Mayo however I do love Mexican Food! I do not make it much though. Basically just plain ol tacos is what I make. I am hoping to make though some salsa this summer and can away for the rest of the year. I am also going to make the guacamole and cowboy caviar sometime. :) They both sound yummy! Report
HEALTHYBOOMER
Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!
I enjoy my friend Ned's fabulous guacamole. It's easy - 4 very ripe avocados, 1/4 red onion finely chopped, 4-5 large garlic cloves also finely chopped and the juice of 1/2 lime. Salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a tiny bit of tabasco. Yummy! Report
NANCYSINATRA
Mexican food has always been one of my favorites. My make over includes baking mission thin tortilla chips, 80 calories for two. I have a taco salad most days for lunch. I just wish there wasn't so many carbs in beans. :) Report
DONTGOAWAYMAD
I agree with what others have said. Keep it authentic, and you should be fine in regards to calorie and fat content. I admittedly like some of the Americanized takes with tons of cheese, but those definitely aren't what Dad used to make. Report
WALLINMW
Exercise is a great mood lifter! Report
ASH2HEALTH
Our office is having a pot luck today. I'm not sure what healthy food I'll find, but I'm bringing cinnamon sugar tortilla chips with a fruit "salsa" - basically just fruit: strawberries, blackberries, kiwi, pineapple with a lime juice, lime zest and touch of honey "sauce". It's a delicious snack! Report
CHICA_BORICUA
5 de mayo is a day like any other, I don't understand why american people celebrate this day. Report
BLUEC5KITTEN
I made "healthier" tacos tonight, using ground turkey...mmmm...tasty! Report
JSKIPPY11
I plan to try at least a couple of these.. YUM!
Report
CROWLEY123
So many to choose from! How will we ever decide? Report
RICKYDAF
everything looks delicious which do I pick first to try.. Report
SEXYSMMECH
Awesome ideas, I will definitely be trying some of them :) Report
GORIANA
Authentic Mexican food is pretty healthy as is because it doesn't have mountains of melted cheese like is typically found in these dishes in the US. I do enjoy Mexican food and there isn't much of need to make it skinny as it already is quite healthy. Report
See More Comments Log in to leave a comment
 
Close email sign up
Our best articles, delivered Join the millions of people already subscribed Get a weekly summary of our diet and fitness advice
Sign Up
We will never sell, rent or redistribute your email address.

Magic Link Sent!

A magic link was sent to Click on that link to login. The link is only good for 24 hours.