23 Mexican Dinner Recipes for Families

These Mexican-inspired dinners are the ones I reach for when I want to shake things up and introduce some new flavors without making whole separate meals for my family! Think Mexican street corn chicken chili, easy sheet pan chicken fajitas, budget friendly chicken birria tacos, cheesy nacho taco casserole, and creamy Tex-Mex chicken fajita pasta. Big flavors, simple ingredients, and meals that still feel doable on a busy weeknight!

I’m not going to promise that every recipe here is perfectly authentic. I love trying out different cuisines, but I’m not professing to be an expert in all things Mexican. But what I am an expert in is creating weeknight-approved, family friendly dinners that everyone will actually eat! Easy enough for a Tuesday. Good enough that nobody’s asking for something different. These make life a little easier, and they’re all totally delicious. 

Mexican Steak Torta Sandwiches

These Mexican steak torta sandwiches bring serious street food flavor to the dinner table! Juicy, flavorful carne asada gets piled into toasted, crusty rolls with melty cheese, creamy guac, and all the toppings for a sandwich that’s messy in the best way. It’s a fun way to switch up taco night while still keeping everyone happy.

Cheesy Nacho Taco Casserole

This cheesy nacho taco casserole is one of those dinners that disappears fast. Slow cooked for ease, it’s layered with seasoned meat, melty cheese, and all the bold taco flavors everyone loves. Pile on your favorite toppings like sour cream, salsa, avocado, and crushed tortilla chips, and you’ve got a fun, family-winning meal that feels like taco night in casserole form.

Easy One Pot Mexican Street Corn Chicken Chili 

A little different from the usual bowl of chili! Tender shredded chicken simmers with sweet corn, mild chilies, and warm spices, then gets finished with cream cheese and a squeeze of lime for a rich, cozy flavor. It’s hearty, family-friendly, and perfect for an easy weeknight meal with toppings piled high.

Bold & Zesty Mexican Pulled Pork 

A slow cooker dish that can have dinner sorted for days. The pork braises for hours in a bright mix of lime juice, broth, garlic, green chiles, and warm spices until it’s so tender it practically falls apart. Pile it into tacos, stuff it into sandwiches, or spoon it over rice and salads for a simple, flavor-packed meal everyone can customize their own way.

Mexican Street Corn Soup

Sweet corn, tender potatoes, smoky chipotle peppers, crispy bacon, and plenty of creamy queso fresco simmer low and slow until everything comes together. It’s hearty enough for dinner and perfect with warm bread or tortillas on the side.

Quick Chicken Quesadillas for Dinner

These chicken quesadillas are a weeknight staple in my home. Crispy on the outside and loaded with tender chicken and melty cheese inside, they come together quickly in one skillet with minimal prep. Serve them with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole on the side for an easy dinner that everyone at the table will happily eat.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

This Mexican street corn salad starts by charring the corn in a hot skillet to bring out its natural sweetness and give it that classic street corn flavor. Once it cools slightly, it’s tossed with fresh herbs, jalapeños, and a creamy lime dressing that ties everything together. It’s hearty enough for a light dinner on its own, or perfect served alongside grilled meats for an easy family meal! 

Cheesy Chicken Birria Tacos 

These cheesy chicken birria tacos bring serious flavor to the table. The chicken cooks low and slow in a rich, spiced sauce until it’s completely fall-apart tender, then gets tucked into tortillas with plenty of melty cheese. Crisp them up in a hot pan and serve with that savory cooking broth on the side for dipping. It’s hands-on, a little messy, and completely worth it!

Super Easy Mexican Chicken Tacos

These Mexican chicken tacos bring big flavor without a complicated process. The chicken marinates in smoky adobo and lime, then gets pan-seared until golden and juicy before being piled into warm tortillas. Add a scoop of creamy, zesty street corn on top and you’ve got a fun, flavor-packed dinner that feels a little special but is still easy enough for a weeknight.

Classic Crispy Beef Tacos

These classic crispy beef tacos are made even easier thanks to the slow cooker. The seasoned beef cooks low and slow until it’s tender and full of flavor, ready to be spooned into crunchy taco shells and loaded with everyone’s favorite toppings. Set everything out on the table and let the family build their own. 

Mexican-Inspired Beef Chili

This slow cooked chili is the kind of dinner you throw together in the morning and let simmer all day. It’s rich and hearty with tender beef, beans, and warm spices that lean into those classic taco-night flavors. Spoon it into bowls and load it up with shredded cheese, avocado, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime to tie it right into your Mexican dinner rotation.

Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Everything roasts together — tender chicken, peppers, onions — and comes out sizzling and ready to pile into warm tortillas. It’s easy, colorful, and perfect for a low-effort family dinner that still feels fun!

Set-It-and-Forget-It White Chicken Chili

Throw together in the morning, and and you don’t have to think about it about again until it’s time to eat. It cooks up creamy with just a little kick, and the chicken turns tender enough to shred right into the pot. Set out some toppings and let everyone load up their own bowl. Easy, filling, and exactly what a busy night calls for.

Shrimp Tostadas 

Crispy shells piled high with juicy shrimp, something creamy, a little heat, and plenty of fresh flavor. They’re messy in the best way and perfect for when you want dinner to feel fun without taking all night.

Tex Mex Chicken Fajita Pasta

Taco night meets comfort food! Tender shredded chicken, colorful peppers, and smoky fajita seasoning get tossed in a creamy, cheesy sauce and wrapped around pasta for a dinner that feels big and satisfying. It’s bold, cozy, and very family friendly. 

Street Corn Dip for Family Snack Night 

This Mexican street corn dip is the kind of Friday night snack dinner everyone gets excited about. It’s creamy, cheesy, and just a little spicy, with all those smoky street corn flavors baked into one scoopable dish. Set it out with warm tortilla chips, soft tortillas, sliced veggies, or even quesadillas for dipping, and let everyone graze and build their own plates.

Shrimp Fajita Bowls

If you want something that feels fresh but still filling, these shrimp fajita bowls do the trick. The shrimp cook fast, then everything gets spooned over rice for an easy build-your-own dinner situation. Add a squeeze of lime, a scoop of guac, and call it a night!

Ground Beef & Rice Burrito Bowl

Seasoned beef, fluffy rice, and whatever fresh toppings you’ve got on hand make it easy to keep things lighter without feeling like you’re missing anything. It’s fast, flexible, and great for a no-fuss weeknight.

Easy Slow Cooked Birria Chili 

This easy slow cooked birria chili gives you all that deep, rich flavor without committing to a whole roast. Using ground beef keeps it quicker and more budget-friendly, but you still get that smoky, slightly spicy depth that makes birria so good. It’s hearty, cozy, and a solid pick when you want something different for family dinner without making it complicated.

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef, browned and drained

• 1 large onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 (14-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes

• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

• 1 (1-ounce) envelope birria seasoning mix

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1 teaspoon onion powder

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

• 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

• 3 cups beef broth

• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo, chopped

• Salt and black pepper, to taste

• Fresh cilantro, diced onion, and lime wedges, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Add the ground beef, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker.

2. Stir in the fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, birria seasoning mix, sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until everything is coated and well mixed.

3. Mix in the black beans, pinto beans, beef broth, and chipotle pepper. Stir well.

4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours, stirring halfway through.

5. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

6. Ladle into bowls and top with cilantro, diced onion, and lime wedges before serving.

Chicken Tinga

This slow cooker chicken tinga brings serious flavor without a complicated process. The chicken simmers in a smoky chipotle and fire-roasted tomato sauce until it’s tender enough to shred, soaking up all those bold, savory spices along the way. Pile it into warm tortillas with fresh cilantro and jalapeño, or spoon it over rice. 

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds skinless chicken thighs
• ½ cup fire-roasted diced tomatoes 
• ½ cup chipotles in adobo sauce 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup water/chicken stock
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 3-4 cloves garlic chopped
• 1 tsp chili powder 
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 jalapeno pepper sliced and chopped cilantro for serving

Instructions

1. Season the chicken thighs with salt & pepper and set aside.
2. Turn the heat to “sauté” and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and cook for about 2 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cook for another 1 minute, until fragrant.
4. Add the chicken and brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.
5. You can brown the chicken with onion and garlic in a pan over medium-high heat and transfer it to your slow cooker.
6. Blend the fire-roasted tomato, chipotles in adobo sauce, chicken stock, cumin, chili powder and oregano until smooth.
7. Pour the blended mixture onto the chicken.
8. Cook for 2-3 hours on HIGH until it’s cooked through and tender.
9. Remove the chicken and shred it with the help of two forks. Return the shredded chicken into the cooker.
10. Simmer in the sauce for another 25 -30 minutes. Serve with warm tortillas.

Saturday Night Chicken Enchilada Casserole

One of those dinners I come back to again and again. You layer tender chicken, corn tortillas, and plenty of cheese with a creamy white sauce, then let the slow cooker do its thing all day. By dinnertime, it’s bubbly, scoopable, and guaranteed to keep everyone happy.

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 ounce can green chilis
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• ¾ cup sour cream
• 12 corn tortillas
• 2 1/2 cups pepperjack cheese, shredded, divided

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl mix the chicken with the garlic salt, chili powder, cumin and minced onion, set aside.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat add your garlic, green chiles and chicken broth. Bring up to just a bubble.
3. In a small bowl whisk together the milk and cornstarch.
4. Whisk the milk mixture into the broth mixture until combined.
5. Bring back up to a bubble and add in your sour cream. 
6. Remove from heat and set aside.
7. Now it is time to assemble your enchilada casserole in the slow cooker.
8. Set aside ½ cup of the shredded pepper jack cheese.
9. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray. 
10. Spread a thin layer of sauce down the bottom of the slow cooker.
11. Next layer 4 of the tortillas down, then ⅓ of the chicken, then ⅓ of the remaining pepper jack cheese and ⅓ of the sauce.
12. Repeat until all your ingredients are gone. 
13. Top with the ½ cup of pepper jack cheese.
14. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. 
15. Garnish with cilantro, jalapenos, scallions, anything you like
16. Serve!

Slow Cooker Loaded Nacho Soup

Super fun and family friendly! Basically all the flavors of nachos, but in a scoopable soup form. I like getting creative with extra toppings, and it’s great for letting fussy eaters help themselves to a bit of whatever they fancy. 

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jalapeño, diced
• 1 (10 oz) bag frozen corn
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (10 oz) can tomatoes with green chiles
• 1 (1 ounce) envelope taco seasoning
• 3 ½ cups chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Garnish with jalapenos, scallion, tortilla strips, etc

Instructions:

1. To the slow cooker add your cooked ground beef. 
2. Add onion, red bell pepper, garlic, jalapeño, corn, black beans, tomatoes with green chiles, taco seasoning, and broth. Stir to combine.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
4. About 30 minutes before serving, whisk heavy cream and flour together in a small bowl until smooth. Stir into the soup.
5. Stir in the cheddar cheese. 
6. Cover, and let cook for 20–30 more minutes until slightly thickened.
7. Stir well and serve hot with tortilla chips and your favorite nacho toppings.

Cheesy Beef Enchilada Casserole

Layers of corn tortillas, seasoned ground beef, corn, black beans, enchilada sauce, and plenty of cheese cook together in the slow cooker until everything is hot and bubbly. It’s an easy dump-and-go dinner that feels like a win on a busy weeknight! 

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
• 1 (1 ounce) envelope taco seasoning
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 10.5 ounce can tomatoes with green chilies
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 (15 ounce can) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 (10 ounce) cans red enchilada sauce
• 12 corn tortillas
• 3 1/2 cups colby jack cheese, shredded, divided
• Tomatoes, scallions, cilantro for toppings

Instructions:

1. To a bowl add your cooked ground beef, taco seasoning, garlic, tomatoes with green chiles, corn and black beans. 
2. Spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Pour one can of enchilada sauce into the slow cooker.
4. Next layer 4 tortillas.
5. Next 1/2 of the meat mixture.
6. Next 1 1/2 cups of cheese.
7. Next another layer of 4 tortillas.
8. Then another can of enchilada sauce. 
9. The rest of the meat mixture and another 1 ½ cups of cheese and another layer of 4 tortillas.
10. The final can of enchilada sauce and the rest of the cheese.
11. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
12. Garnish with scallions and tomatoes or anything else you like and serve!

If you’re stuck in a dinner rut (I’ve been there so many times, believe me!) then I hope that these will give you some inspiration to get out of it, and bring some new flavors to your table. Let me know which ones you tried, and what the feedback was like round your dinner table! You can leave a comment below, or tag me in your pics on Instagram @slimmingviolet and #slimmingviolet.