75 Wildly-Good Tex-Mex Recipes That Practically Defy Definition

We'll be honest—you don’t really need a recipe to make a good quesadilla. That being said, if you’re looking for some guidance , then turn to this recipe. Filled with flavorful chicken, plenty of cheese and mix-ins (including avocado), this quesadilla is not only completely satisfying, but totally customizable.

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Everyone loves a good casserole, and this one doesn’t disappoint. It has all of the flavors of chicken enchiladas (with a few worthwhile additions), but eliminates the only tedious part of making enchiladas: all that rolling. In this recipe, you just layer all your components in a casserole dish, bake until melty and saucy, add your desired toppings, and serve!

Get the Enchilada Casserole recipe.

Our simple, flavor-packed cornbread provides the perfect base for the shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, and melty cheese in this recipe. If you're looking for the coziest weeknight dinner this September, this has gotta be next on your list.

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This truly has everything we could ever want in a dip: refried beans, homemade guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and cheese (😍) all topped with fresh veggies for an added crunch. You'll never buy the store-bought version again after trying this homemade dip.

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Filled with a creamy sauce, two kinds of cheese, and plenty of chicken, there’s something in this dish for everyone. While this is certainly not an authentic Mexican dish, it combines lots of flavors and ingredients that will remind you of tacos, enchiladas, and your favorite Mexican/Tex-Mex meals. Mmm.

Get the Mexican Chicken Casserole recipe.

Is there anything better than a one-skillet meal? We don’t think so, particularly if it’s as family-friendly and quick as this one, featuring spiced ground beef, flavorful rice, hearty beans, and lots of cheese. It all comes together in just 40 minutes with minimal prep too!

Get the Mexican Beef 'N' Rice Skillet recipe.

These super decadent fries are Tex-Mex in its truest form. Perfect for watch parties, game-day celebrations, and serious steak cravings.

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This Mexican street food staple, a close cousin to the taco (taquito literally means lil’ taco), is made by filling a corn tortilla with seasoned meat, rolling it tightly, and frying until crispity-crunchy. To keep this cheap and to lessen the mess, we turned to ground beef for the filling and included an option for baking the taquitos instead of frying them.

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We love a good ol’-fashioned casserole-style dinner, and this cheesy burrito rice fits the bill. We also love a burrito bar moment, but don't want extra dishes to clean. Instead, serve up this casserole dish and some tortillas, and you'll be in business. Cleanup is a breeze, and the leftovers are unbelievable.

Get the Cheesy Baked Burrito Rice recipe.

One-pot taco spaghetti is a fast-as-can-be weeknight dinner that pairs all your favorite taco fixin’s with spaghetti rather than taco shells. Everything comes together in one pot—from browning the beef to simmering the sauce, even boiling the spaghetti!

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We're so obsessed with Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme that we have not one, but 9!! copycat recipes. And while we love our twists (mmm, especially our Big Mac crunchwrap), we'll always have a special place in our hearts for the original.

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When you’re craving tacos but looking for something with a little more oomph and comfort, taco soup is the dinner for you. It’s hearty and filling, super-flavorful, and comes together FAST (we're talking 30 minutes fast!).

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Despite its name, the cornbread-ground beef combo is nothing like the husk-wrapped masa dish it's named after. Even calling it a "pie" is somewhat controversial. What it is: a cozy casserole, especially popular in the Southwest, that originated in the early 1900s.

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Everyone is obsessed with The Cheesecake Factory's Mexican tortilla salad, and for good reason: it gets piled high on a crispy tostada and looks so fun and exciting as it’s making its way to your table. There are a lot of components to this salad, but each is super-quick and easy to make at home too.

Get the Copycat Cheesecake Factory Mexican Tortilla Salad recipe.

This Taco Bell copycat isn't actually Mexican, nor is it a pizza. It's actually more of a Tex-Mex quesadilla, and we LOVE it for a lightning-fast dinner. Pair it with some Mexican rice, some corn salad, and some chips and guac or pico de gallo for a heartier meal.

Get the Mexican Pizza (Taco Bell Copycat) recipe.

The taco de Soto is a fried, crispy taco filled with sliced hot dog and cheese, and is a staple in borderlands cuisine. While on the surface it seems humble enough, this taco has a cultural significance that is deeply personal for some; for others, it’s a snack with plenty of nostalgic memories attached.

Get the Hot Dog Tacos (Tacos De Soto) recipe.

Cheesy, savory enchiladas that have a super-green sauce might sound like a project, but mixing store-bought ingredients with fresh stuff speeds everything up without sacrificing flavor. The major “hack” here is using jarred salsa verde to give it a made-from-scratch taste in a fraction of the time.

Get the Salsa Verde Enchiladas recipe.

If salads were people, this Copycat Quesadilla Explosion Salad would be a real party animal. Surrounded by wedges of quesadilla and bursting with fajita chicken, cheese, corn and black bean salsa, and tortilla strips, this Chili’s copycat is basically a fiesta on your plate.

Get the Copycat Chili's Quesadilla Explosion Salad recipe.

This versatile, flavorful corn salad is the perfect way to use up leftover grilled corn. Mix and match your favorite cheeses, herbs, and nuts, but keep the citrus for brightness and oil for a little richness. And if you like a little *kick*, add some sliced jalapeños or a big pinch of red pepper flakes.

Get the Grilled Corn Salad recipe.

When the craving for satisfying comfort food meets the need for a straightforward weeknight dinner, chicken enchiladas are a guaranteed winner. They’re easy, filling, and take less than an hour to prepare from start to finish.

Get the Chicken Enchiladas recipe.