25 Authentic Mexican Recipes For Christmas

There’s nothing like good food to make your Christmas merry and bright. Celebrate with a few of our favorite authentic Mexican recipes! From quick to cozy, here are all the dishes you’ll want to make this holiday season.

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Post first published June 27, 2022 and last updated December 17, 2022.

Whether you’re hosting a potluck or a private party for two, if it’s the holidays, it’s all about one thing—the food!

For us, it isn’t Christmas until the tamales have been made and the Ponche is flowing. These Christmas dinner ideas are perfect for celebrating Noche Buena, Las Posadas, all the way through New Years!

Check out 25 of our most popular Mexican recipes below then leave me a comment and let me know how they turned out!

Looking for more holiday inspiration? Check out all our Christmas, Las Posadas, and New Year’s Recipes!

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25 Must-Try Mexican Appetizers
2 Easy Mexican Side Dishes

The Best Authentic Mexican Recipes For Christmas

1. Pork Tamales with Mole Colorado

If there is one Mexican food you must eat during the holidays, it is tamales. Learn how to make this classic pork version with this step-by-step recipe—video included!

Two pork tamales on a wood plate topped with red salsa sitting on a blue and yellow and green and white tablecloth.

2. Ponche Navideño {Mexican Mulled Fruit Punch}

If you love mulled apple cider or wine, then you must try Ponche! Made with guava, tejocote (a type of crab apple), citrus, and hibiscus, this is a popular warm drink that can be served non-alcoholic or add a splash of tequila or brandy.

A woman in a pink sweater holding a cup of ponche with a cinnamon stick sticking out of one side with red and pink nails.

3. Pork Pozole

The spices, the chewy hominy, the tender pork, I mean who can resist? Make a big batch and serve with all the toppings: minced onion, dried oregano, shredded cabbage and lots of lime.

A white bowl filled with pork pozole topped with shredded cabbage, sliced radishes, cilantro leaves and a spoon sticking out.

4. Black Bean and Cheese Vegetarian Tamales

Always good to have a vegetarian option, these tamales are filled with creamy black beans, green chilies, and Oaxaca cheese. Top with Charred Tomatillo Salsa and Guacamole.

A black bean tamal on a yellow dish topped with salsa verde sitting on a wood table.

5. Chicken Enchiladas Verdes

Great for feeding a crowd! Top this cozy pan of enchiladas with cilantro and sour cream or try my Picadillo Enchiladas filled with ground beef seasoned with chili powder, cumin, and beer.

A glass dish of enchiladas sitting in a wicker basket topped with sliced onions, chopped cilantro, and crema.

6. Strawberry Tamales with Horchata Sauce

Don’t stop with only savory tamales, make these strawberry ones for dessert! Watch the video on how to make these beautiful sweet tamales.

Two bright pink strawberry tamales topped with horchata sauce and sliced strawberries sitting on a pink plate.

7. Buñuelos

A popular Mexican street food during the holiday season, these light and airy crisps are drenched in piloncillo syrup or dusted with sugar.

Several bunuelos sitting on a wood cutting board dusted with sugar and anise seeds.

8. Bacalao A La Mexicana

This Mexican-style salt cod is stewed with pickled jalapeños, tomatoes, and olives. I like to serve it as an appetizer on toasted bread.

A wood table with pieces of toasted bread on it and a bowl with bacalao made with green olive slices, parsley leaves.

9. Ginger Cardamom Rompope

If you like eggnog then you’ll love Rompope. It is a mixture of milk, egg yolks, sugar and spices. Serve non-alcoholic or with a splash of rum.

A glass of rompope filled with ice cubes and a cinnamon stick sticking out of the glass on a wood table next to some spices.

10. Mexican Chocolate Sweet Tamales

Another awesome dessert tamales recipe. This one is rich and chocolatey and served with a drizzle of spicy honey on top! There’s no filling in these tamales so they are easier to make than most tamales recipes.

Two chocolate tamales sitting on a white plate with a spoon drizzling honey over the tamales sitting on a wood table.

11. Mexican Wedding Cookies

These nutty, crumbly cookies covered in powdered sugar are a staple at our house on Christmas. They’re pretty on a cookie plate with their snowy-coated tops.

A santa plate with Mexican Wedding Cookies on it and a few more cookies sitting on the wood table next to the plate.

12. Champurrado!

If the weather has turned cool where you are maybe you might enjoy a warm cup of Champurrado. Similar to Mexican hot chocolate but with a base of masa harina.

Two cups of champurrado on white saucers sitting on a rainbow placemat next to a plate of chocolate tamales with a fork.

13. Authentic Chorizo and Eggs

Don’t forget about breakfast! This recipe features our homemade Mexican chorizo, sautéed onions, garlic, fresh tomatoes and scrambled eggs. Serve with refried beans as breakfast tacos or in a breakfast burrito. Don’t forget about my other favorite Mexican breakfast, Huevos Rancheros.

A brown bowl filled with chorizo and eggs and refried beans sitting on a purple and white checkered tablecloth.

14. Vegan Pozole Verde

One of our most popular soups, this vegan version of Pozole swaps tender pinto beans for the meat. Top with diced avocados, fresh squeezed lime juice, and warm corn tortillas.

A blue bowl of pozole topped with diced onions, sliced radishes and a few tortilla chips on the side.

15. Chile Verde Chicken Tamales

Tamales are the hallmark of Mexican cuisine during the holidays so you can never have too many. These Chile Verde Chicken Tamales have tender chicken in chile verde sauce.

Two chicken tamales sitting on a white plate with a fork next to one of the tamales. The tamales are covered in salsa.

16. Atole

Pronounced ah-toh-leh, this warm Mexican drink is a classic accompaniment to sweet tamales. Made with masa harina, cinnamon, and vanilla it is rich, sweet, and creamy. Perfect for warming up on a cold winter day.

A girl in a pink sweater holding a blue mug of atole with a cinnamon stick sticking out of one side and a blanket wrapped around her.

17. Mezcal Holiday Punch

Just the recipe you need to fill that punch bowl. Mezcal, ginger beer, pineapple juice, and orange juice, plus a festive ice ring to keep it cold all night long. Use a tube pan or bundt cake pan to make the ice ring.

A red bowl with mezcal punch in it and an ice ring with citrus slices and two cocktail glasses with cranberries.

18. Authentic Tres Leches Cake

Not only is this a family favorite, but the advanced soaking time makes it the perfect dessert to make for a party. Bake it and drench the cake in the milky syrup the day before then top with whipped cream right before serving.

A metal pan on a wood table filled with tres leches cake and topped with whipped cream and dusted with cinnamon.

19. The Best Paloma Recipe

How to make the Best Paloma Recipe! The most popular cocktail in Mexico. This is the classic recipe: reposado tequila, freshly squeezed lime and grapefruit juice and the only way to make Palomas—with Squirt.

A glass filled with a paloma cocktail topped with lime zest and a lime wedge sitting on a wood table next to a knife.

20. Chicken Mole Verde

Another awesome make ahead recipe this chicken mole verde is even better the next day. Serve with elote (Mexican corn on the cob), sofrito black beans, and coconut rice.

Several dishes sitting on a white tablecloth including chicken mole verde, lime wedges, guacamole, and more.

21. Authentic Chiles Rellenos

This Authentic Chile Relleno Recipe takes you step-by-step on how to make this traditional Mexican dish of poblano peppers stuffed with cheese, dipped in egg batter and lightly fried. Serve with frijoles de olla, green rice, and salsa ranchera—Ugh, so good! Check out the video.

A Chile relleno sitting in tomato sauce.

22. Pork Tamales with Salsa Verde

The filling for these tamales is tender pork stewed in tomatillo salsa but I’ve also used my Instant Pot Carnitas as a filling. Serve with my favorite side dish, Mexican rice and extra salsa verde for spooning over the tamales.

A plate of pork tamales tied with a corn husk string.

23. Chicken Flautas Mexicanas

Serve these extra-crispy flautas with a few dips like pico de gallo, mango salsa, and (my personal favorite) smoky chipotle guacamole. The filling is easy Salsa Verde Chicken but you could swap any cooked meat, beans, or even mashed sweet potatoes.

A plate of flautas topped with pico de Gallo, crumbled queso fresco, and crema.

24. Arroz Con Leche

Warm and creamy, this is a classic holiday dessert but super easy, with only 5 ingredients. In the winter I love serving Arroz Con Leche warm with plump raisins and canela.

A red pot filled with arroz con leche with cinnamon sticks floating on top with a wood spoon in the rice pudding.

25. Authentic Churros Recipe with Chocolate Sauce

The ultimate authentic Churros recipe–this is the one you’ve been searching for! Crispy, cinnamon and sugar dusted outside, soft and buttery inside with a special technique that makes them even easier to make! Don’t skip on the Mexican Chocolate Sauce either, it’s the perfect accompaniment. Video included!

A tray with several churros on it and a blue pan of chocolate sauce.

More Mexican Ingredients To Explore

Mexican Recipes Win Every Time

If you are ever in doubt on what to make for guests, just consult this list. No matter which recipe you choose it will be a guaranteed hit! Leave me a comment below and let me know which ones you tried or even better, take a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno. Also, sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!