Mexican food is one of the most popular cuisines in the United States. It’s easy to understand why, with its fresh and bold flavors, spectrum of simple to wildly complex preparations, and, not least of all, refreshingly low price point.
The cheapest way to enjoy Mexican food, other than being in Mexico, is to cook it at home, which also allows cooks to season and spice it to their liking. Shopping at a local Mexican grocery store will yield extra savings.
1. Enchiladas
This delicious baked entree is perfect for parties, casual brunches, and dinners. For lighter meals, two pieces is a good portion; dinner for hearty eaters requires three for a serving. They’re often cooked with chicken or a vegetarian substitute in corn tortillas, smothered in salsa, topped with shredded cheese, and baked.
Recipe: Allrecipes
2. Torta / Cemita
This Mexican sandwich will change the way you think about the ubiquitous lunchtime standby. Start by layering mayonnaise, avocado, jalapeños or chipotles, lettuce, and Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese on a roll. Enjoy as is or heated up in the oven for a toasty crunch. Add some variety with a spot of cooked chicken, leftover steak, sautéed mushrooms, or any preferred filling.
Recipe: The Spruce Eats
3. Tacos
Tacos are universally loved, and can be found across Mexico, often featuring delicious regional preparations and ingredients. In many places, a traditional taco is nothing more than a corn tortilla with about two tablespoons of filling made with meat or vegetables, topped with chopped cilantro and onion, and often accompanied by a spoonful of one or more salsas. The cost to make a single taco is roughly $1, and one serving usually includes three tacos.
Recipe: The Wholesome Dish
Related: 30 Cheap, Delicious Ways to Fill Your Tacos
4. Tostadas
This crunchy cousin of the taco is assembled using a flat, fried corn tortilla. The hard shells are easy to find but cost about twice the price of soft corn tortillas, so skip the expense and get a fresher flavor by frying the tortillas at home. Either way, make a classic tostada by spreading 2 tablespoons of refried beans on a tostada; top with shredded Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese, shredded lettuce and sliced avocado; finish with a flourish of cilantro, onion, and salsa. Figure two tostadas for a serving.
Recipe: Simply Recipes
5. Baked Chiles Rellenos
Traditional chiles rellenos are battered and fried, but this version is baked, which saves time, money, and calories. You’ll need to cut open the pepper carefully and remove the seeds and veins.
Recipe: Serious Eats
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6. Elote
A popular street snack in parts of Mexico, these ears of corn are a flavor explosion of sweet corn, salty cheese, creamy mayonnaise, and spicy chili. To make them, take a cooked ear of corn (ideally grilled), and dress it liberally with mayonnaise. Then dip it in grated Cotija cheese, and sprinkle it with powdered chili and maybe a squeeze of lime.
Recipe: Cookie + Kate
7. Burritos
Burritos are super filling and satisfying and an excellent way to use up extra vegetables or meat. In general, they’re just flour tortillas layered with cooked rice and beans, shredded lettuce, onion, jalapeño, and tomato — and often sautéed vegetables or cooked meat, served with salsa, sour cream, and sliced avocado.
Recipe: The Seasoned Mom
8. Taco Salad
This healthy spin on a taco takes everything we love about that basic Mexican food and adds a nutritional boost. For a cheap vegetarian meal, substitute hearty greens, such as kale or spinach, for the protein used in a regular taco. Serve with a handful of store-bought tortilla chips.
Recipe: Wholesome Yum
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9. Quesadilla
Simple and quick, this Mexican grilled cheese can be made with flour or corn tortillas and are often as simple as putting shredded cheese and chopped jalapeños between two, heated until the cheese melts and served with salsa and sliced avocado. Adding chicken is just the start of how to get creative with the dish. The corn tortillas make a smaller quesadilla, so figure two for each serving.
Recipe: Delish
10. Tamales
Tamales are easy and inexpensive to make, but also time-consuming. Traditional party fare, they’re typically prepared in large batches, with a masa corn mixture and fillings layered on soaked corn husks, rolled like a burrito and steamed for 1 to 1.5 hours.
Recipe: Food.com
11. Tortilla Casserole
Turn old tortillas into an appetizing, filling, and inexpensive meal for four to six diners.
Recipe: Taste of Home
12. Black Bean and Corn Salad
This is a tasty and light salad that’s packed full of protein and fresh vegetables. Raechel Ray makes her version especially colorful with red pepper.
Recipe: Food Network
13. Molletes
Essentially an open-faced sandwich, molletes are made with warmed bread and topped with various ingredients, such as cheese, sauce, or meat. The traditional bread, bolillo, can be difficult to find unless there is a Mexican bakery nearby. Italian rolls or baguettes can be used instead.
Recipe: Tablespoon
14. Cucumber Botana
Cucumber can be turned into a tasty appetizer quickly and inexpensively. Start by peeling the cucumber and removing the seeds. Cut the cucumbers into finger sized sticks and arrange on a plate. Top them with a generous squeeze of lime and chili salt, such as Tajin, or your own blend of salt and chili powders.
15. Guacamole
This quintessential Mexican dip is one of the more expensive Mexican preparations thanks to the price of the central ingredient: avocados. To keep the cost within budget, use equal proportions of the cheaper (by about half) Dominican avocado and the pricier Hass avocado.
Recipe: Cooking Classy
16. Mexican Pizza
A delicious south-of-the-border take on an American favorite — which many people probably can’t think of without also thinking of Taco Bell. The homemade version will be far more convenient, as well as satisfying.
Recipe: Barbara Bakes
17. Nachos
Crunchy, cheesy, spicy — nachos have a way of disappearing quickly from any table. The key is to layer the toppings on the chips carefully and evenly so every bite is full of flavor. To assemble, lay out store-bought tortilla chips and top with 1 cup home-cooked black beans, chopped tomato, and onion, and a generous handful of grated cheese; place in a hot oven until hot and bubbly. Serve with sour cream and salsa. For carnivorous crowds, think big and add beef.
Recipe: A Pinch of Healthy
18. Nopal Salad
Nopales are cactus paddles, often sold fresh in Mexican grocery stores with the spines already removed. They are also sold pre-cooked in jars, with a slightly briny flavor. These cheap vegetables are full of nutrition and have a mild earthy flavor. Cutting them up into chunks to make a tangy salad topped with fresh cheese and onion in a tasty way to work them into your meal.
Recipe: The Spruce
19. Bean Dip
Another party favorite, especially around Cinco de Mayo, this dish is delicious and cheap. This classic recipe for seven-layer dip is a good place to start, but it’s really just a guide. Bean dip can be as few or as many layers as you like, and virtually any add-in works well.
Recipe: Food.com
20. Jicama Salad
Jicama is a refreshing root vegetable that has a slightly sweet taste and crunchy texture, kind of like a mix between a potato and an apple. Traditionally if can be served as a snack topped with lime and chili, or made into a crunchy simple salad with other fresh ingredients like citrus and avocado.
Recipe: Food & Wine
21. Chips and Salsa
This pairing is most likely the first edible that comes to mind when thinking about Mexican food. The combination of light corn chips with piquant and spicy salsa is an irresistibly satisfying appetizer or snack, and very easy to make (the salsa, not the chips).
Recipe: Kim’s Cravings
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