45 Copycat Mexican Restaurant Recipes You Have to Try

Flavorful Chicken Fajitas

This chicken fajitas recipe is definitely on my weeknight dinner rotation. The marinated chicken in these popular wraps is mouthwatering. The fajitas go together in a snap and always get raves! —Julie Sterchi, Campbellsville, Kentucky

Copycat Chipotle Queso

Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients in this recipe. Once everything is chopped and prepped, it comes together quickly. Plus, you can make the dip ahead of time and reheat when ready to serve. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch

In this home version of a Tex-Mex restaurant favorite, a warm tortilla with melted cheese is wrapped around a crunchy taco filled with seasoned beef and spicy ranch dressing. Add toppings of your choice and dig in to the deliciousness! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Salmon Tacos

You can have a restaurant-style dinner in less than 30 minutes with these easy salmon tacos. In addition to the zesty coleslaw, add your favorite toppings like sliced avocado, radishes or jalapeno peppers. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Cilantro-Lime Rice

My family’s favorite Mexican restaurant serves a similar rice as a side dish. I threw this together one night when I was making fajitas, and everyone loved it! It’s such an easy side dish and pairs well with kabobs on the grill, too. —Robin Baskette, Lexington, Kentucky

Homemade Tortilla Chips

I make these tortilla chips to serve with roasted tomatillo salsa. They have a little heat from the chipotle. If you prefer, omit the chipotle and just sprinkle with salt after frying. Try adding a squeeze of lime to your chips right before serving for a tajin flavor. —David Ross, Spokane Valley, Washington

Seasoned Taco Meat

I got this recipe from the restaurant where I work. It’s famous in our town for the blend of seasonings, and now the secret is out! —Denise Mumm, Dixon, Iowa

Chicken Chimichangas

Our chicken chimichangas recipe is simple, delicious and baked rather than fried, which makes them healthier than similar fried dishes. It's oh so easy to assemble these so you just may skip the restaurants from now on!

Spinach Burritos

I made up this recipe a couple of years ago after trying a similar dish in a restaurant. Our oldest son tells me these burritos are awesome! It's an added bonus that they're inexpensive and easy to make. —Dolores Zornow, Poynette, Wisconsin

Corn Tortillas

Nothing comes close to fresh, homemade corn tortillas. Follow our corn tortilla recipe with step-by-step photos, tips and tricks that will forever change taco night.

Sopa de Camarones (Shrimp Soup)

My daughter and I came up with this shrimp soup recipe when she was younger, and it's been a favorite with family and friends ever since. This sopa de camarones may even be tastier as leftovers the next day! —Patti Fair, Valdosta, Georgia

Fried Ice Cream

It doesn't seem possible to have a warm, crispy shell around a scoop of cold ice cream. But that's exactly what fried ice cream is! Here's how to make the magic happen.

Breakfast Tacos

Any taco can be a breakfast taco if you want it to be, but it's hard to beat breakfast tacos filled with migas, fluffy scrambled eggs with soft bits of corn tortillas folded in. They're a lovely way to start your day.

Fried Cinnamon Strips

These sweet chips are a must for your next party. You can use holiday cookie cutters to shape the tortillas into fun shapes. Kids just love them. —Nancy Johnson, Laverne, Oklahoma

Vegan Taco Salad

The best salads are made with ingredients that have different textures and complementary flavors. In this vegan taco salad, you'll love the crunch of the tortilla chips mixed with the sweet, crisp lettuce and "meaty" crumble mixture. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken enchilada casserole is melty, cheesy comfort in a pan. Made with rotisserie chicken and store-bought sauce, it's a weeknight dinner that you can pull together quickly without a lot of heavy lifting.

Southwestern Shrimp with Salsa

I prefer grilling in the summer because you don't need to turn on the stove and heat up the house. If you want to get fancy, serve it in a chilled martini glass for a beautiful presentation. The rice and/or shrimp can be cooked a day ahead and refrigerated until serving. —Lindsay Matuszak, Reno, Nevada

Peppered Cilantro Rice

This colorful confetti rice is a traditional dish in Puerto Rico. We enjoy it in the summer alongside grilled shrimp kabobs, but it is good with most any entree. —Laura Lunardi, West Chester, Pennsylvania

Homemade Churros

These fried cinnamon-sugar homemade churros are best when fresh and hot. Try them with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Don’t be surprised if people start dunking…and then go back for more. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Chicken Street Tacos with Corn-Jicama Salsa

Here’s a light, speedy meal you can enjoy anytime. Preparation is so simple—there’s nothing to it. These chicken street tacos are quite tasty, and adding jicama to the salsa boosts the nutritional value. Win-win! —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida

Sopapillas

A quick dough for sopapillas can be made with very few ingredients. The light, crispy pastry puffs are wonderful served with honey.

Queso Fundido

Dig in to this one-skillet dip and enjoy the gooey cheese and the spicy kicks from chorizo and pepper jack. —Julie Merriman, Seattle, Washington

Homemade Guacamole

I always judge a Tex-Mex restaurant by its guacamole. And although it's simple to prepare, it can go wrong oh, so easily. I've spent many years perfecting mine, to the point where I think it's better than most restaurants. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Here are some easy-to-make gluten-free Mexican recipes that you must try.

Fish Tacos

A cool sauce with just a bit of zing tops these breaded fish tacos (that are actually healthy!). This recipe is a delicious guilt-free dish that doesn't break the bank. —Lena Lim, Seattle, Washington

Beef Enchiladas

Our crowd-pleasing beef enchiladas recipe features a homemade enchilada sauce and a spiced ground beef filling. Don't be fooled by the ingredient list. It's actually quite simple to prep!

Homemade Tortillas

Beautifully browned, soft homemade tortillas are just four pantry ingredients away. Once you learn how simple this recipe is, you may never buy the store-bought stacks again!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

My daughter has the best sour cream and cream cheese chicken enchiladas recipe I've ever tried. She brought 10 pans of it to my wedding reception and they were the biggest hit of all the food. So many guests wanted the recipe, we sent it out with our Christmas cards. —Pat Coffee, Kingston, Washington

Mexican Corn Chowder

Creamy, savory, cheesy and bold, Mexican corn chowder is a definite crowd-pleaser that will make a happy addition to your winter soup recipe arsenal.

Cantina Pinto Beans

Cumin, cilantro and red pepper flakes lend southwestern flair to tender pinto beans in this dish, which was inspired by one we had at a restaurant in Dallas. It makes a terrific Tex-Mex side or a filling lunch when served with cornbread. —L.R. Larson, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Taco Soup

Love chili? Give our easy taco soup recipe a try. Filled with ground beef, chiles, beans and stewed tomatoes, this one-pot meal is a snap to put together. Everyone in the family will have fun adding their favorite toppings!

Burritos

Packed with beans, your choice of protein and a myriad of other potential fillings, this easy burrito recipe is your launchpad to unlimited flavor combinations.

Slow-Cooked Carnitas

Simmer up succulent pork the slow-cooker way. Sometimes, instead of using tortillas, I put the seasoned meat on top of shredded lettuce for a tasty salad. —Lisa Glogow, Aliso Viejo, California

Flan de Queso

A creamy, cheesy dessert with homemade caramel sauce on top? Count us in! This Puerto Rican specialty offers a perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors and is surprisingly simple to prepare.

Slow-Cooked Pork Tacos

Sometimes I'll substitute Bibb lettuce leaves for the tortillas to make crunchy lettuce wraps instead of tacos. —Kathleen Wolf Naperville, Illinois

Jalapeno Poppers

This jalapeno popper recipe is just what you need when there's a game on or company coming. They're quick and easy to assemble, and make a delicious complement to your other party-food favorites.

Lime-Chipotle Carnitas Tostadas

Here’s a terrific recipe for your next weeknight dinner. Set out various toppings and garnishes so your family members can customize their own tostadas with the lime-kissed shredded pork. —Jan Valdez, Chicago, Illinois

Avocado Salsa

This avocado salsa is smooth, cool and downright refreshing. Scoop it with chips, spoon it over chicken or steak—or just eat it on its own!

Chicken Chili with Black Beans

Because it looks different than traditional chili, my family was a little hesitant to try this dish at first. Thanks to the full, hearty flavor, it's become a real favorite around our house. I like to serve it with warm cornbread. —Jeanette Urbom, Louisburg, Kansas

Baja Pork Tacos

This delicious pork tacos recipe is my copycat version of the most excellent Mexican food we ever had, when we were visiting Flagstaff, Arizona. The original recipe used beef instead of pork, but this comes mighty close to the same taste. —Ariella Winn, Mesquite, Texas

Fresh Lime Margaritas

This basic fresh margarita recipe is easy to modify to your tastes. Try it frozen or with strawberries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Corn with Cilantro-Lime Butter

I like to use fresh cilantro from my garden in this lime butter I created especially for grilled corn. —Andrea Reynolds, Westlake, Ohio

Instant Pot Black Beans

Instant Pot black beans are the key to a lot of my family’s meals, whether for a weekend breakfast or for taco salads and burritos throughout the week. For years, I’ve tried to find a homemade recipe as creamy and tasty as Mexican restaurant beans. This is that recipe. —Helen Nelander, Boulder Creek, California

Baked Chicken Burritos

Our baked chicken burritos recipe is wonderfully delicious thanks to loads of cheese, a delightful blend of spices and chicken broth that keeps the filling perfectly moist.

Margarita Chicken Quesadillas

Quesadillas have never tasted as good as when they are filled with slightly sweet onions and peppers and topped with lime butter and salt. It's the perfect balance of sweet and savory. This version is the perfect recipe for a summer party—or a fantastic way to bring a little bit of summer into the cold winter months. —Stephanie Bright, Simpsonville, South Carolina

White Chili

Creamy, dreamy and packed with spices and seasoning, this white chili recipe will be your new favorite for cozy nights and game-day gatherings.

Mexican Restaurant Recipes FAQ

What kind of cheese do Mexican restaurants use?

It depends what regional cuisine is featured. In the north, the most common cheeses include Cotija, queso fresco and queso Chihuahua. Toward central Mexico, you’ll find quesos tipo Manchego, which are similar to Spanish Manchego, but they’re made with cow or goat milk instead of sheep. In southern states like Oaxaca, the stringy, melty Oaxaca cheese also called quesillo is popular. In the southernmost state, the Yucatán, queso de bola is renowned.

How do Mexican restaurants make their rice?

Mexican rice gets its savory kick from cooking in chicken broth as well as a puree made from the quartet of Mexican cuisine: chile, tomato, onion and garlic. It’s red-orange color and fluffy texture differentiates it from Spanish rice, which is more orange-yellow from saffron and heartier in texture.

What other ingredients do I need to make authentic Mexican recipes?

If you have one near you, it’s worth it to visit a Mexican or Latino grocery store. You’ll find the ingredients you need, as well as the brands that are most authentic or popular in Mexico. That said, the cornerstone ingredients of Mexican cuisine are corn and chiles. Importantly, corn can be divided into two categories: fresh and nixtamalized, the latter of which is used for making masa harina-based dishes like tamales and tortillas.

As for chiles, you’ll find them dried, fresh, sweet, smoky, spicy, mild and everything in-between. You can build up and include other well-known ingredients like beans, national cheeses and avocado. Pantry staples include herbs like epazote, cilantro and mint, as well as spices like clove, cinnamon and achiote.