Food Recipe Collections & Favorites This Is the Perfect Menu for a Mexican Dinner Party Lots of spices here—followed by a sweet and classic finale. By Dawn Perry Dawn Perry Dawn is the author of Ready, Set, Cook; How to Make Good Food With What's on Hand. She served as the food director for Real Simple and has worked in the test kitchens of Everyday Food, Bon Appétit, and the meal kit delivery service Martha & Marley Spoon. Dawn is the author of Short Stack Editions' Cucumbers and her recipes and writing have been featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post among other publications. She recently started Superkind Cookies, a premium cookie company shipping treats nationwide. Highlights: * Author of Ready, Set, Cook; How to Make Good Food With What's on Hand. * Former food director for Real Simple * Worked in the test kitchens of Everyday Food, Bon Appétit, and Martha & Marley Spoon * Recipes and writing have been featured in the LA Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 3, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Charles Masters Looking for an excuse to invite friends over? Hoping to upgrade your Tuesday Taco night? We're glad to hear it because we're brimming with Mexican food party ideas. Here's a full menu for your next crowd-pleasing Mexican fiesta, spiced up with surprising yet simple dishes. 01 of 05 Southwestern Stuffed Peppers Jonny Valiant These stuffed peppers are the perfect dinner party appetizer because you can make them a day ahead. Fill bell peppers (green, red, yellow...choose your vibrant color) with rice, corn, cheese, and beef flavored with cumin. Toss fresh scallions on top for extra flavor—and put the whole dish in the refrigerator. When prepping your dinner the day of, just slide the foil-covered tray of peppers into the oven for 40 minutes. Then remove the covering, heat them for another five to seven minutes, and serve. Get the recipe: Southwestern Stuffed Peppers 02 of 05 Mexican Grilled Corn With Cilantro Sang An Fresh cilantro is an essential Mexican ingredient, and Mexican cooks rely on it to give a flavor boost to everything from seafood to soups to cocktails. Cilantro and lime juice transform this grilled corn on the cob into a flavorful side dish that can be prepared in less than 15 minutes. Get the recipe: Mexican Grilled Corn With Cilantro 03 of 05 Pork and Pineapple Tacos Charles Masters You can't have a Mexican fiesta without that country's most popular food. With so many taco recipes to choose from, we decided to lean into the heat. Thinly-sliced jalapeños spice up these sweet and savory pork and pineapple tacos. This recipe requires marinating the pork for at least an hour before it hits the skillet. Get the recipe: Pork and Pineapple Tacos 04 of 05 Red Rice Jonny Valiant Arroz Rojo (aka red rice) is a staple of Mexican cuisine and one of its most popular side dishes. Tomato sauce and chili powder give this rice its vibrant color and flavor. Using just the right amount of chicken broth will ensure a fluffy consistency. Get the recipe: Red Rice 05 of 05 Mexican "Fried" Ice Cream Jen Causey This popular dessert item at Mexican restaurants isn't supposed to be the healthiest part of your meal. But when we added it to our Mexican dinner menu, we decided on a lighter version of the classic treat. It uses browned panko and is sweetened with sugar, cinnamon, and honey. Get the recipe: Mexican "Fried" Ice Cream Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit