Almost every conversation I have with my clients, they tell me they need more ideas for quick and easy Mexican meals.
They know how healthy Mexican food can be, but when it comes time to make dinner after a long day … they draw a blank.
And I don’t blame them! Part of the reason why I became a dietitian is because I saw how few resources there were for Latinos like me, who wanted to eat healthy and continue eating our favorite cultural foods.
Part of the mental block some of us face, if we live in the United States, is we’re used to eating our cultural foods for special occasions.
This means it’s really easy for us to forget about the basic day-to-day Mexican foods that are simple and nourishing. But simple Mexican meals like tostadas, quesadillas, even a quick nopal salad are super fast to make and very nourishing.
So I compiled this list of 12 quick and easy Mexican meals for the next time you need a fast dinner idea.
Let’s get started!
Quick and easy Mexican meals
Avocado tostada with chicken
I jokingly refer to this meal as my turkey sandwich, as a Mexican-American dietitian. This is because I eat it for lunch several times a week and it never gets old! Bonus: it takes 5 minutes to put together!
Sopa de fideo
A simple noodle soup, with the option to add extra veggies and chicken. If you use frozen veggies and pre-cooked chicken, you can have lunch in 10 minutes flat.
Nopal salad
Use canned nopales and canned black beans to make this salad in 5 minutes. Serve with tostadas for a simple, light lunch.
Chipotle shrimp
If you’re looking for a hot main dish, but still want to keep it quick and simple, try this chipotle shrimp recipe. Shrimp cooks so quickly, it’s my favorite when I want a from-scratch dinner without the time commitment.
Refried Bean Tostada
If the refried beans are already made, you can put this meal together in 5 minutes. Even if you have to make refried beans from cooked pinto beans … this process will still take you 20 minutes tops.
Quesadilla
A basic quesadilla is one of the simplest meals you can make! Serve with salsa and avocado slices for extra vegetables without extra time spent cooking.
Mushroom tacos
Mushrooms are an authentic vegetarian option in Mexican cooking! Vegetable tacos in general are super fast because you just need a few minutes to cook the vegetables, and you can heat the tortillas at the same time.
Salpicón
This salpicón recipe is fast once the meat is cooked. Luckily, the meat is cooked in a slow cooker so that’s mostly hands off. Then, once the meat is ready, the whole salad can come together in 20 minutes.
Tomatillo chicken
This tomatillo chicken recipe is simple, but pays off with lots of flavor thanks to the tangy tomatillos.
Camarones a la diabla
I already mentioned shrimp is one of the fastest proteins to cook. And this spicy tomato sauce is so flavorful, but not too involved to make.
Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles make a quick and flavorful way to use up leftover tortillas. Pair with a quick protein like eggs, or pre-cooked chicken for a complete meal that takes 15 minutes.
Huevos ahogados
I love breakfast for dinner! Partially because eggs are just so fast and easy. If you already have prepared salsa, you can make huevos ahogados in 5-10 minutes. Serve with corn tortillas for a complete (and delicious) meal.
Need more help with meal planning?
Lucky for you, you found yourself a dietitian who loves helping people plan healthy Latin American meals–me!
I talk a bit more about my strategies for meal planning with Mexican food in this blog post.
I also have a meal planning app just for Latino foods. Let me do the meal planning for you with weekly meal plans designed by me, and a library of over 50 healthy Latin American recipes.
Final Thoughts
There are so many quick and easy Mexican meals to choose from. From a quick tostada to chipotle shrimp–you can enjoy Mexican food and still get a nutritious meal on the table in less than half an hour.
As a Latina dietitian, I help fellow Latinos eat healthy without sacrificing their favorite cultural foods. In fact, I strongly believe our cultural foods can help support our health.
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