36 Tex-Mex Recipes Perfect for Weeknights

I’ve rounded up 36 easy Tex-Mex recipes that the whole family will love. These flavorful dishes are simple to make and perfect for everything from busy weeknight dinners to casual gatherings.

Tex-Mex originated along the Texas-Mexico border and combines Mexican flavors, cooking techniques, and recipes with ingredients commonly found in Texas. Compared with traditional Mexican cuisine, Tex-Mex often features more melted cheese, hearty meats, and flour tortillas. From tacos and cheesy favorites to crowd-pleasing party dishes, these recipes are perfect for Taco Tuesday, game day, family meals, parties, or Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos

These easy slow cooker chicken tacos come together with minimal effort and are packed with delicious flavor, making them perfect for a simple family dinner.

Baked Ground Beef Tacos

Crispy baked ground beef tacos are an easy crowd-pleaser that can be ready in about 35 minutes.

Brisket Tacos

Slow cooker brisket tacos are simple to prepare and filled with tender, flavorful shredded beef.

Crispy Shredded Chicken Tacos

These crispy shredded chicken tacos are quick, delicious, and ready in around 30 minutes for an easy weeknight meal.

Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos

These 30-minute air fryer shrimp tacos make a quick and flavorful dinner when you’re short on time.

Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos

Slow-cooked pork is finished under the broiler to create crispy edges while keeping the inside juicy, tender, and full of flavor.

Cod Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw

Flaky cod, crunchy cabbage slaw, garlic-lime cilantro sauce, and cotija cheese come together for fresh and flavorful fish tacos.

Crispy Refried Bean Tacos

With just five ingredients and a few simple steps, these crispy refried bean tacos are an easy choice when you don’t feel like spending much time in the kitchen.

Easy Steak and Pico Tacos

These tacos combine citrus-marinated steak with fresh pico de gallo and warm tortillas for a simple and satisfying meal.

Enchiladas

Chicken Enchiladas with Corn Tortillas

Corn tortillas make these comforting chicken enchiladas flavorful, hearty, and perfect for a family dinner.

Tex-Mex Shredded Beef Enchiladas

Tender shredded beef is wrapped in tortillas, covered with enchilada sauce, and finished with plenty of melted cheese.

Pork Carnitas Enchiladas

These pork carnitas enchiladas may sound fancy, but they’re surprisingly simple to prepare and packed with savory flavor.

Chicken Enchiladas with Green Sauce

Corn tortillas are filled with shredded chicken, sour cream, green chiles, taco seasoning, and Monterey Jack cheese before being covered in green enchilada sauce.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Creamy and comforting, these sour cream chicken enchiladas take a little extra time but are well worth the effort. Serve them with rice and refried beans for a complete meal.

Quesadillas

Brisket Quesadillas

These cheesy brisket quesadillas are loaded with Oaxaca cheese, onions, cilantro, and tender brisket coated in flavorful BBQ sauce.

Shredded Chicken Quesadilla

Sautéed onions, bell peppers, shredded chicken, Oaxaca cheese, and a flavorful spice blend make these quesadillas anything but ordinary.

Ground Turkey Quesadillas

These quick 30-minute ground turkey quesadillas are hearty, flavorful, and perfect for an easy lunch or dinner.

Carnitas Quesadilla

Crispy pork carnitas and melted cheese make these quesadillas an irresistible Tex-Mex favorite that’s easy to enjoy any night of the week.

Burritos

Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito

Inspired by a fast-food favorite, this cheesy bean and rice burrito is affordable, easy to make, and packed with comforting flavors.

Carnitas Burrito Recipe

This loaded carnitas burrito combines crispy pork, cilantro rice, cheese, beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, and lettuce for a satisfying meal.

Fajitas

Chicken Fajita Rice Bowl

This easy rice bowl features sheet-pan fajita chicken and vegetables served with simple cilantro-lime rice. Add avocado and sour cream for extra flavor.

Easy Chicken Fajitas

These easy chicken fajitas are packed with colorful vegetables and flavorful chicken, making them a delicious dinner that can be ready in under 30 minutes.

Steak Fajitas

Sizzling steak fajitas make a quick and flavorful dinner. Serve them with warm tortillas, salsa, and guacamole for a complete meal.

Other Dinner Ideas

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

These stuffed poblano peppers are filled with shredded chicken, creamy cheese, corn, tomatoes, and flavorful spices for a comforting family meal.

Salsa & Dips

Tex-Mex Queso

This creamy homemade queso requires just a few simple ingredients and can be prepared in about 15 minutes, making it perfect for parties and snacking.

White Queso Dip

Smooth, creamy, and easy to prepare, this homemade white queso dip is ideal for gatherings, game days, or a quick snack with tortilla chips.

Guacamole

Fresh homemade guacamole is a versatile Tex-Mex favorite that’s delicious with tacos, nachos, tortilla chips, or even toast.

Homemade Pico de Gallo

Fresh tomatoes, onions, and other simple ingredients make this pico de gallo a perfect topping for tacos, game-day snacks, and avocado dishes.

Pineapple Mango Salsa

Sweet pineapple and mango combine with a touch of spice to create a refreshing salsa that’s perfect with chips or Tex-Mex meals.

Avocado Dipping Sauce

This creamy avocado dipping sauce is quick to make and pairs especially well with quesadillas, tacos, and other Tex-Mex favorites.

Slow Cooker Beef Queso

This hearty ground beef queso is a party classic and works perfectly as a quick appetizer or game-day snack.

Homemade Salsa

Fresh homemade salsa is perfect with tortilla chips or as a flavorful topping for tacos, enchiladas, and other Mexican-inspired dishes.

Sides

Refried Beans

Simple homemade refried beans made with real ingredients are an easy and delicious side dish for tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.

Cilantro Lime Rice

This flavorful cilantro-lime rice is inspired by a popular restaurant favorite and makes an excellent side for chicken, beef, pork, or Tex-Mex bowls.

Mexican Rice

Mexican rice is a classic side served with many Mexican and Tex-Mex meals. It’s easy to prepare and pairs well with almost any main dish.

Jiffy Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins

Jalapeños, cheddar cheese, and buttermilk give classic cornbread mix a flavorful twist. These muffins make a delicious addition to any dinner table.

Margaritas

Ingredient Margarita

This simple margarita requires just three ingredients and can easily be prepared as a single serving or made in a pitcher for a gathering.

Frozen Margarita

Cool, frosty, and refreshing, this frozen margarita is a great choice for warm-weather celebrations and requires only a handful of ingredients.

Appetizers

Layer Dip

This colorful seven-layer dip combines salsa, beans, guacamole, cheese, and more for a creamy, flavorful appetizer that’s perfect for parties.

Air Fryer Chicken Flautas

Chicken, bell peppers, green chiles, and cheese are rolled into tortillas and cooked until crispy in the air fryer. They’re great for serving right away or freezing for later.

Bean Dip

Creamy bean dip made with salsa, cheese, and spices is an easy appetizer that’s perfect for scooping up with crunchy tortilla chips.

Nachos

These loaded Tex-Mex nachos feature beef, beans, guacamole, salsa, and melted cheese for a satisfying snack, party appetizer, or casual meal.

Breakfast

Frozen Breakfast Burritos

These freezer-friendly breakfast burritos are packed with turkey bacon, green onions, eggs, bell peppers, and cheese for an easy make-ahead breakfast.

Tex-Mex Turkey Scramble

Smoky chipotle turkey, crispy potatoes, fluffy eggs, melted cheddar, and salsa come together in this hearty Tex-Mex breakfast scramble.