Want to impress your guests at your next party? Ditch the usual appetizers. Serve something that will really kick up the flavor and keep people talking – like these 15+ Mexican appetizers.
15+ Easy Mexican Appetizers Everyone Will Be Obsessed With
1. Mexican Street Corn Fritters
Everyone will be obsessed with these fritters, which are surprisingly easy to make. Fresh corn, chives, lime juice, queso fresco and spices add tons of flavor.
But it’s the cilantro lime yogurt sauce that takes the cake here. Tangy yogurt mixed with lime juice, cilantro and green onions – it’s the perfect topping for your fritters.
You can cook these fritters in a cast-iron skillet or an air fryer if you want.
2. Vegan Mini Guacamole Tacos with Mango Salsa
These bite-sized treats are bursting with freshness and flavor. Mini tacos stuffed with guacamole, mango salsa and a tasty garnish of cilantro and radishes.
If you can’t find mini taco shells, you can use those large cup tortilla chips instead.
The mango salsa is the real MVP here. It’s got fresh mango, red onion, red bell pepper, jalapeno, lime juice and zesty cilantro.
The best part about this appetizer is that you don’t even have to do any cooking.
Related: Mexican Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (Vegan)
3. Mexican Street Corn Dip
Dip is always a crowd-pleaser, and this Mexican-style recipe is no exception. It’s got everything you love: bubbly cheese, bold chili, zesty lime and sweet corn.
Don’t let the ingredient list intimidate you – this recipe is so easy to make. Make sure you use a cast iron skillet to char the corn because it really does make a difference.
Serve these with sturdy tortilla chips, crusty bread or veggie sticks.
4. Antojitos
Antojitos is one of the most delicious Mexican appetizers on this list. They’re ready in 30 minutes or less, and you can easily modify the ingredients to your liking.
These little wrap bites are filled with a zesty mixture of:
- Red onion
- Bell pepper
- Cream cheese
- Green chilis
- Spices
- Cheddar cheese
- Sour cream
Just spread the filling mixture across a tortilla, roll it up, slice it into bite-sized pieces and bake.
They’re served with pesto as a dipping sauce, which really mixes the flavors up.
5. Mexican Chicken Pinwheels
Fresh, tasty and filling, these pinwheels are delicious, and your guests will devour them. Each pinwheel bite is filled with a mix of shredded chicken, sour cream, taco seasoning, lime juice and cilantro.
To assemble, just spread the mixture across the tortilla, roll and slice.
You can even pop them in the oven for a few minutes on each side to crisp them up.
I like to spread these out on a platter and serve with guacamole or sour cream for dipping.
If you’re pressed for time, you can prepare these up to 24 hours in advance. And if you want to make them a little spicier, you can add diced jalapenos or some hot sauce to the mix.
Want a vegetarian version? Use black beans instead of shredded chicken.
6. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs may not be the first thing you think about when it comes to Mexican appetizers, but these are delicious and are sure to be a hit with your guests.
The yolk filling is the real star of the show. It’s a blend of egg yolk, corn kernels, sour cream, mayo, chili powder, lime juice, cumin, garlic powder and salt.
Before serving, garnish with crumbled queso fresco and cilantro.
I recommend popping these in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to make sure they’re set.
7. Tortilla Espanola Bites with Manchego
Here’s something new and exciting to serve at your next gathering. It’s a potato and onion omelet served with a tasty smokey herb cheese aioli for dipping.
It’s a super simple dish, but it’s delicious and can even be made a day in advance.
You’ll need just a few ingredients: russet potatoes, eggs, onion, manchego cheese, Spanish chorizo, heavy cream, butter and herbs.
Follow Always Order Dessert’s directions to make the aioli from scratch.
8. Mexican Street Style Jalapeno Dip
One of my favorite Mexican appetizers because this is a substantial dip that everyone will be raving about.
This is a hot dip that you’ll prepare a little bit at a time. You’ll start by roasting the jalapenos until they’re charred, and then cook in a pan with onions, poblano peppers and spices.
From here, you’ll mix in the cream cheese until creamy and then add the sour cream and other ingredients.
The end result? A delicious, bubbly dip that will be devoured in minutes.
Be sure to serve this with thick chips for scooping.
9. Tortilla Corn Appetizer
Here’s an appetizer that’s easy to make and will please everyone on your guest list. You’ll need to warm the tortillas a little to make them pliable so that they won’t crack when you roll or fold them.
The filling is a delicious mix of corn kernels, cheese, peppers, black beans, onions and spices.
When cooked, they make a delicious gooey appetizer. Serve with guacamole or sour cream on the side for dipping.
Related: 20+ Mexican Side Dishes to Spice Up Your Meals
10. Mini Cheese Quesadillas
These mini quesadillas are adorable and deliciously bite-sized. You’ll need some street taco flour tortillas and just two ingredients for the filling: grated cheese and salsa verde.
Super simple but so rich in flavor. The melted cheese will hold these quesadillas together, which will make them so easy to snack on.
I like to serve these with guacamole, sour cream or pico de gallo.
11. Mexican Street Corn Fritters
Mexican appetizers don’t get much more delicious than these fritters. Sweet corn, jalapenos, green onions, lime, cotija and spices fried in a batter.
They’re the perfect size for dipping, and your guests will certainly make them disappear in no time.
You can serve these with any dipping sauce you like, but I love Closet Cooking’s sauce, which is a mix of mayo, sour cream, lime juice, chili powder, salt and pepper.
12. Easy Mini Burritos
Ground beef, taco seasoning mix, refried beans, salsa, shredded cheddar cheese and burrito-sized tortillas come together with these burritos. You’ll also need butter, sour cream, salsa and guacamole for your toppings.
Add beef into a large skillet, brown and then drain. Stir in your taco seasoning and water. Remove from heat after a few minutes and stir in your cheese, salsa and refried beans.
Quarter your flour tortillas with a pizza slicer, spoon on your mixture, fold and place on a cookie sheet. Brush your burritos with melted butter and bake until your burritos are warm.
13. Vegan Tex Mex Egg Rolls
Firm tofu, black beans, corn, cilantro, taco seasoning, egg roll wrappers and cilantro make up the main ingredients. But you’ll also make a delish avocado buttermilk ranch dip with avocado, almond milk, green onions, garlic cloves, parsley, dill, spices and juice of a single lemon.
Rabbit & Wolves walks you through this 12-step recipe and even provides another variation that adds vegan cheese to the egg rolls before frying them in a frying pan.
14. Shrimp Tostada Bites
Mouthwatering tostada bites pack a lot of flavor into two bites. While easy to make and assemble, you will need quite a few ingredients, including:
- Lime juice and zest
- Salt and pepper
- Paprika, ground cumin, granulated garlic and Creole seasoning
- Cherry tomatoes, red onions, avocados, cilantro and lime wedges
- Tortilla chips, Cotija cheese, hot sauce (optional)
- Shrimp
The Cozy Apron provides a variety of tips to help you make the most of this recipe, such as the size of shrimp and the right type of corn chips for the tostada base.
15. Mexican Street Corn Jalapeno Poppers
Mexican appetizers are always tasty, but this has to be one of my favorites. Street corn is always flavorful. Add in jalapeno poppers, and you have a bold flavor with some crispy bacon, too.
Slice your jalapenos lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and remove the stem. Cook your bacon in a large skillet until crisp, allow to cool and then crumble. Add your corn into the same skillet and saute for 2-3 minutes before stirring in your Tajin seasoning.
Once mixed well, combine cheddar cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, mayo, cilantro and cumin. Simmer until all of your cheeses are melted and then transfer the mixture to a large zip-top bag so that you can pipe the mix into your jalapeno halves.
16. Taco Stuffed Mini Peppers
Herbs & Flour’s taco stuffed mini peppers are the perfect finger food. Start by cutting mini peppers lengthwise and then remove the seeds. Place them face up on a baking sheet (lined with parchment paper) and then preheat your oven to 350℉.
Heat a skillet and brown your ground beef. Once cooked, add your taco seasoning and salsa. Stir until all ingredients evenly coat the meat. Add salt and pepper as necessary.
Finally, add ½ cup of shredded cheese into the mixture and stir well before scooping into your peppers. Top with the remaining cheese and bake until the cheese is properly melted. Sprinkle green onion or cilantro on top.
Related: Easy Mexican Inspired Bean Salad Bowl
17. Fire Roasted Corn and Avocado Bites
Thirty minutes is all you need for these delightful snacks. Place lime juice, avocado and salt into a bowl. Mash them up with a fork and set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the following:
- Black beans
- Corn
- Cumin
- Salt and pepper
Scoop your avocado in the tortilla first, followed by your fire-roasted corn mixture. Top with cilantro and serve.
