13 Mexican Dinner Ideas Using What You Already Have In Your Pantry

I’ve asked and you’ve answered. Over the last few days you guys have flooded my Instagram Stories with the ingredients stocked in your refrigerators and pantries and I’ve responded with Mexican dinner ideas that make the most of those staples.

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As we all try to stay at home as much as possible, we need to get creative in the kitchen. Luckily, that is what I do best! I have a gazillion Mexican food recipes that use basic pantry ingredients or only need simple substitutions to make them work.

I’ve noticed a common theme in your cupboards. Chicken, tortillas, canned tomatoes, and beans are typical things in your kitchens. Knowing that most of you have many of the same ingredients, I thought it would be so much easier to keep them all in one spot!

That being said, if you are wondering what to have on hand to make Mexican dinners happen on a regular basis, make sure to check out my Ultimate Mexican Pantry Guide.

Keep reading for 13 easy Mexican dishes you can make tonight!

13 mexican dinner ideas you can make tonight

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Slow Cooker Caldo de Pollo {Mexican Chicken Soup}

Healthy Mexican recipes like this slow cooked chicken soup is packed with flavor from lots of fresh herbs like mint, marjoram and cilantro. Use shredded chicken from a store-bought rotisserie chicken to make it even easier and faster on the stove top.

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Stacked Chicken Enchiladas Suizas

Weeknight dinner has never looked so good! These Stacked Enchiladas Suizas combine layers of corn tortillas, poached chicken, and two kinds of cheese all smothered in a creamy sauce made from sour cream and green chiles. The best kind of comfort food!

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The Best Spicy Lime Jalapeño Chicken Soup

Make a double batch of this ultimate cold-busting soup, freeze half for later. Use canned green chiles if you don’t have fresh jalapeños and substitute lemon juice for the lime if need be. Easy chicken soups are the get-well comfort food we all need right now.

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Mexican Picadillo Recipe

This seasoned ground beef with potatoes and carrots makes exquisite Mexican tacos and is a family favorite. Use homemade taco seasoning (recipe included) with spices you already have or season simply with chili powder, salt, and pepper. Serve with homemade salsa or your favorite store-bought salsa.

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Tangy Green Tomato Chili with Beef

Everyone always loves a good Tex Mex chili recipe. This one is for all you gardeners out there who inevitably have a few green tomatoes at the end of the summer season. Use them here or sub tomatillos instead!

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Huevos Rancheros

Easy Mexican recipes like simple Huevos Rancheros are just the kind of cozy meals we need right now and rely on very simple ingredients. This recipe includes instructions for a delicious Hatch Chile Salsa, however most of you don’t have a can of Hatch chiles laying around or green tomatoes, so use salsa verde or hot sauce instead.

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Salt and Pepper Shrimp Tacos

Last week I stocked my freezer with frozen vegetables, fruits, and shrimp and many of you did the same. Pull out a bag of shrimp and make these quick and easy Mexican tacos of sautéed shrimp with lots of black pepper and lime juice. No tortillas? Serve over steamed rice, with beans, or another grain like quinoa.

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Deep Dish Black Bean Enchilada Casserole

At first glance, this may seem like a laundry list of ingredients and you may not have a lot of them at home, but keep in mind many of them are used to make an easy enchilada sauce for the casserole. If you have store-bought enchilada sauce you can substitute that instead. Also, roast any vegetable you have instead of the ones listed as well as whatever cheese you have in the fridge can be used too.

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Sopita de Letras

Healthy Mexican recipes like this simple Vegetable-Pasta Soup is pure joy for kids (who like to make words with the letters) and parents who love that you can make the entire recipe for under five bucks. No cute pasta letters? Use rice or other small pasta like orzo instead. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping.

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Chicken Milanesa Sandwiches

Mexican chicken recipes like these crispy breaded chicken sandwiches are the perfect way to use up any boneless, skinless chicken breasts you may have in your freezer or fridge. No fluffy buns? No problem. Eat the chicken Milanesa on it’s own with a simple salad and boiled potatoes.

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Roasted Squash and Kale Quesadillas

This is more of a formula than a recipe. Use any veggie and cheese combo you’d like to make simple Mexican dinner ideas like this one. I do recommend one roasted root vegetable (sweet potatoes, carrots, or potatoes would be great) and one green vegetable (try chard, broccoli, or spinach). No flour tortillas? Make into tacos with corn tortillas or serve the veggies with rice or beans and sprinkle the cheese on top.

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Simple Stewed Green Beans

Many Mexican food recipes are magic at making something out of nothing and these stewed green beans are no exception. Easy side dishes like this one call for fresh green beans, but turn frozen or canned green beans into something special with just a few basic ingredients.

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Chipotle Chicken Flautas

Easy Mexican dishes like these Chipotle Chicken Flautas feed a crowd and score major brownie points with the fam using ingredients you already have in the fridge and pantry. The recipe calls for a whole chicken but you can use whatever you have in the fridge or freezer—chicken breast, thighs, or even drumsticks would work. Serve with pico de gallo.

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even more pantry recipes to try

Plant-Based Recipes

• Green Chile Vegan Pozole Recipe
• Fried Green Tomato Burritos
• Black Bean Pupusas with Lime Curtido
• Sweet Potato Nachos with Black Beans and Smoked Cheddar

Meat-Based Recipes

• Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Radish Pico de Gallo
• Chicken Empanadas with Garlic Mojo Sauce
• Shredded Beef for Tacos {Carne Deshebrada}
• Oven-Roasted Cochinita Pibil

Bean Recipes

• Crock Pot Borracho Beans

Salad Recipes

• Autumn Harvest Cobb Salad
• Mango Cucumber Salad

Soup Recipes

• Instant Pot Beef and Chipotle Chili
• Thai Carrot Soup

Pasta Recipes

• Pasta with Spicy Vodka Tomato Sauce

Breakfast Recipes

• Quinoa and Queso Breakfast Tacos

Cozy Baking Recipes

• Soft Ricotta Banana Bread
• Polvorones

Cocktail Recipes

• Spiced Fig Tequila Sour

we’re in this together

I want you to know I am here for you during this difficult time and I want to help in any way I can. Keep sending me your ingredients on Instagram and I will keep dishing out things you can make. Make sure to tag @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno on Instagram when you make them so I can see!