Every day is like Cinco de Mayo when you make these delicious vegan Mexican recipes!
By Lora O’Brien
Forget Taco Tuesdays or Cinco de Mayo – I could eat Mexican food every single day. Tacos, nachos, burritos…you name it, I just LOVE it! But of course, with the 5th of May around the corner, I was inspired to do this article now.
In case you’re not familiar with the holiday, the 5th of May is celebrated to mark the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. But today in the United States, Cinco de Mayo means much more. It’s basically a celebration of Mexican American culture, and of course, acts as a great excuse to gorge on all kinds of tasty food!
Here, I’ve found over 30 vegan Mexican recipes, most of which are authentically Mexican, but some of which are also a hybrid of Mexican-American cuisines, or have a vegan twist. Which is fine, right?
To get started, you’ll probably need a few basics, below:
But once you’re ready to cook, I can guarantee you’ll be making these dishes again and again! All of these recipes are fun and filling enough for a party, and are easy enough to make for a delish weeknight dinner or lunch. Enjoy!
Simple Vegan Mexican Recipes To Try
1. Make-Ahead Vegan Breakfast Tacos
Vegan Mexican recipes for breakfast? Um, hell to the yes! These would get me out of bed for sure. They’re high in protein and are topped with lentil chorizo, chickpea flour scrambled eggs, and juicy tomatoes. But that’s not all! Add creamy avocado, crispy red onions and tart cilantro and you’ve got the perfect dish. Is anyone else drooling a bit?!
Get the recipe here.
2. Lentil Chilli Cheese Nachos
There are a few ways to make nachos, but my personal favourite? The messier, the better! And these lentil chili cheese nachos are fabulously dirty and loaded with ingredients. From the gooey nacho cheese to the lentil chili and pickled jalapeños, every single bite of these bad boys are like a little party in your mouth.
Get the recipe here.
3. Easy Peasy Guacamole
What are vegan Mexican recipes without a little guac to dip ’em into? It’s perfect with quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, you name it. What can I say? I love me some guac. And this recipe shows you a super simple and cheap way to whip some up in nanoseconds.
Get the recipe here.
4. Vegan Queso Blanco Dip
Another of the most basic vegan Mexican recipes to have on hand is for a vegan Queso Blanco. This is a soft cheese used for a variety of things in Mexican cooking, including making a creamy and spicy dip. Think: super gooey cheese is deeply infused with Mexican flavours. Now go use it on everything!
Get the recipe here.
5. Grilled Corn with Sriracha Aioli
It’s common to see corn like this for sale in the streets, usually roasted over an open grill and then coated with salt, chili powder, butter and lime juice. This vegan version keeps it super fresh and delicious, adding a sriracha aioli which has a cashew base. Why not serve this up with a vegan burger? Just make sure you avoid using GMO corn, of course!
Get the recipe here.
6. Vegan Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles is a dish made from corn tortillas that are lightly fried and topped with either salsa or mole. This dish kicks things up a notch by adding in some tofu scramble and a chipotle cheese sauce on top. The end result is crispy, eggy, creamy and 100% plant-based!
Get the recipe here.
7. Vegan Tamales
The tamale is another of those vegan Mexican recipes that’s a super-classic. They’re made of a dough that is streamed in a corn husk or banana leaf. The wrapping is either discarded prior to being eaten or even better: it can be used as a makeshift plate. Although you can stuff them with loads of options including salsa, vegan cheese or fried onions, these vegan tamales are stuffed with a delicious ‘meaty’ jackfruit filling and topped with a creamy tomatillo salsa.
Get the recipe here.
8. Jackfruit Vegan Pozole
Pozole is a super hearty, spicy, satisfying Mexican soup. It is traditionally made with pork shank, trotters and shoulder. Yuk! Luckily, this vegan version saves the piggy’s life by using jackfruit. This is one of the best vegan Mexican recipes to cure a hangover – perfect if you indulged over the weekend!
Get the recipe here.
9. Vegan Burritos
The famous Mexican burrito is super easy to make vegan! This one is filling, hearty and absolutely loaded with delicious flavours from the black beans, corn, rice, vegan sour cream and guacamole. These make for a great lunch or dinner option, and are healthy, too. Why not pop these in a lunch bag and take to school or work? In addition, if you want to reduce the carbs in your burrito, you could always sub the rice for quinoa.
Get the recipe here.
10. Vegan Baked Jalapeño Poppers
These poppers – otherwise known as jalapeño bites – are simply jalapeño peppers that have been hollowed out and stuffed with a mixture of vegan cheese and spices. They are then breaded and deep fried. These vegan babies have all the deliciousness of authentic poppers, just without the meat or dairy!
Get the recipe here.
11. Vegan Burrito Samosas with Guacamole & Cashew Dip
Ok, so these vegan burrito samosas are actually an interesting fusion of Indian and Mexican cuisines. But since those are two of my favourites, I couldn’t resist! They’re stuffed with a Mexican filling of rice, beans, corn and peppers to create a crunchy, baked snack that is perfect for any type of occasions.
Get the recipe here.
12. Mexican Potato Skins
Again, this isn’t 100% authentically Mexican (more like Tex Mex?). But…aren’t you tempted? They’re wonderfully crispy and delicious, and these skins are topped with a spicy bean filling and topped with vegan sour cream, avocado slices and chopped chilis.
Get the recipe here.
13. Easy Vegan Tostadas
A tostada is a fried tortilla that is traditionally topped with refried beans, meat, salsa, sour cream, and vegetables. Basically, anything that goes into a taco, can be used to top a tostada. Here, tostadas are topped with refried beans, vegan sour cream, soy curls and veggies. How could you say no?
Get the recipe here.
14. Vegan Mole Enchiladas
Mole is a highly complex, traditional sauce in Mexican cuisine. It usually takes dozens of ingredients and loads of time to create. This vegan version is much simpler, though, and goes wonderfully with some rice.
Get the recipe here.
15. Easy Baked Taquitos
Never heard of taquitos? They’re just rolled corn tortillas filled with refried beans and cheese and then baked until they’re crispy and yummy. And this vegan version is just as good, if not better! Serve as an appetizer or a side dish alongside some salsa and guacamole. Yum!
Get the recipe here.
16. Vegan Guacamole Pizza
Guacamole pretty much goes with everything. Even pizza! Add on some roasted portobello mushrooms and you’ve got the best darn guacamole pizza, ever! Sure, it may not be 100% authentic Mexican. But tell me you’re not tempted to make this!
Get the recipe here.
17. Roasted Chiles Rellenos with Black Beans
This version of a traditional dish is made lighter with the addition of black beans and is simplified by roasting the peppers instead of frying them. Serve with rice, sour cream, toasted pumpkin seeds and a sprinkling of cilantro. Of course, keep it vegan by using dairy-free cheese!
Get the recipe here.
18. Lentil Tacos with Mango Guacamole
What would life be like without tacos? Dull, boring, and tasteless, if you ask me! There’s no need for meat when you can pack these babies with lentils. But the tasty guacamole here really is the gift that keeps on giving. Amen!
Get the recipe here.
19. Vegan Chipotle Pot Black Bean Dip
This easy peasy Mexican bean dip is made from just a few ingredients: black beans and seasoned with cumin, chipotle and fresh lime. It’s one of those vegan Mexican recipes that’s really diverse, too. For example? It’s delicious served alongside some toasted tortillas, veggies, potato chips or even spread on a sandwich.
Get the recipe here.
20. Pico de Gallo Salsa
What is Mexican food without a little pico de gallo? This fast and easy sauce is simple to assemble and makes a tasty topping or dip. In addition, this fresh salsa is the perfect side dish for many Mexican dishes. For me, the spicier, the better!
Get the recipe here.
21. Portobello Mushroom Fajitas
These simple fajitas are made vegan by ditching meat in favour or Portobello mushrooms and poblano bell peppers. Served with a generous topping of creamy guac, these are meat-like in texture, yet wonderfully light. And the best part? This is one of the easiest vegan Mexican recipes to make! In fact, you can even tailor it to what you have in the kitchen. No peppers? Sub in some iron-rich spinach. No mushrooms? Use some non-GMO soy strips instead. You get the idea!
Get the recipe here.
22. Veggie Enchiladas
Enchiladas are another Mexican dish that is pretty easy to make vegan – simply swap the meat out and choose veggies to use in their place. This dish uses mushrooms, red pepper, onion, jalapeños and garlic. It’s all lashed with vegan cheese and baked to gooey goodness!
Get the recipe here.
23. Mexican Rice Fajita Bowl
This is one of the cheapest and easiest of all the Vegan Mexican Recipes here. Not only is it loaded with flavour, thanks to its base of tomato rice, grilled vegetables and a dollop of guacamole, but it also costs under $2 to make! In addition, this makes a super hearty, healthy lunch or dinner.
Get the recipe here.
24. Taco Salad with Walnut Meat
Many popular Mexican dishes rely heavily on meat. But I promise you that you’ll barely miss it in this vegan dish! Meat is replaced with a lentil walnut mixture that has the perfect texture for tacos. This is one of those vegan Mexican recipes that even the biggest carnivore will devour happily!
Get the recipe here.
25. Crispy Potato Tacos
Ok, potato tacos may be a bit unusual in Mexican cuisine. But we’re talking vegan Mexican recipes here. And the spuds give the same texture as cheese. And get this: these are made with – wait for it – just 3 ingredients! Top them up with whatever takes your fancy. But I’d say shredded lettuce, cilantro, guacamole and salsa are guaranteed to be a winning combo.
Get the recipe here.
26. Vegan Tortilla Soup
This may be one of my favourite soups. And it’s a ‘must include’ for a list of Vegan Mexican Recipes! Rich tomato soup is perfumed with cumin and flavoured with garlic, whilst crunch tortillas, chewy jackfruit ‘chicken’ and soft avocado add loads of texture.
Get the recipe here.
27. Fully Loaded Vegan Quesadillas
When you’re simply starving, and when a basic sandwich just won’t cut it – try these fully loaded quesadillas! Not only are they packed with crunchy veggies like zucchini and peppers, but they’re also creamy, thanks to the mashed avocado. Everything is then grilled to crunchiness, til they’re ready to be dipped in saucy salsa goodness.
Get the recipe here.
28. Healthy Vegan Churro “Unfried” Ice Cream
Get the recipe here.
29. Vegan Mexican Chocolate Chilli Muffins
If you’ve never combined chilli with chocolate, you really need to give it a go. It’s surprisingly good! And these stunning muffins may look chocolatey and sinful, sure. But they yield a secret ingredient that keeps them moist whilst also eliminating the need for eggs. Want to know what it is? Click on the recipe!
Get the recipe here.
30. Vegan Conchas
Concha is a typical Mexican sweet bread roll. It has a crunchy sugary topping and is popular in bakeries. This classic recipe gives the concha a vegan twist. They’re the perfect treat for accompanying a cup of coffee.
Get the recipe here.
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