Vegan Cinco de Mayo Recipes

If you’re celebrating Cinco de Mayo, or just looking for Vegan Mexican Recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Here you’ll find Vegan Cinco de Mayo Recipes that taste incredible and are made with wholesome, healthy ingredients too.

Cinco de Mayo Recipes: 9 grid of photos: Avocado dressing, southwest quinoa salad, enchilada casserole, mexican street corn salad, fresh tomato salsa, veggie fajitas, black bean soup, enchilada sauce, black bean burrito.

This post has been updated from the original, posted April 30, 2021.

Jump to:

What is Cinco de Mayo?
Mexican Appetizer Recipes
Vegan Mexican Main Dishes
Side Dishes for Cinco de Mayo
Mexican Salads, Dressings and Sauces

What is Cinco de Mayo?

Although it’s a holiday not widely celebrated in Mexico, it commemorates the victory of the Mexican military over France in 1862. Fiestas and celebrations are largely an American tradition filled with food and Margaritas. In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is observed by celebrating the Military with parades, and reenactments of Mexico’s battle for freedom.

For me, Cinco de Mayo is a great excuse to make delicious Mexican inspired recipes and invite friends over. You too? Awesome! We’re going to get along great. Make sure you leave me a comment and let me know your favorite recipe from this post. I’d love to hear from you.

The best Mexican Recipes are loaded with flavor and easily customizable to dietary restrictions. Trust me, these recipes all taste incredible, you won’t even know they’re healthy! I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Vegan Mexican Recipes just for you! They’re all gluten-free, made with whole, real ingredients in easy to follow recipes.

Whether you’re going to a fiesta, a potluck, a picnic or just enjoying a quiet evening at home, you’re going to love this selection of plant-based recipes inspired by traditional Mexican dishes.

You’re definitely going to want to make a batch of dairy-free sour cream to go with whatever is on your fiesta menu. It’s smooth and creamy, rich and tangy and uses just 5 wholesome ingredients.

Do yourself a favor and make a double batch of this no salt taco seasoning and keep it in your spice drawer. You’ll use it all the time! It’s especially good added into vegan ground beef and turned into a batch of loaded plant based nachos…trust me on that one….just incredible, and nobody will miss the meat.

Happy cooking….and don’t forget to have some fun!

Mexican Appetizer Recipes

What would a Cinco de Mayo celebration be without Healthy Vegan Mexican Appetizers? Here you’ll find all kinds of appetizers from cold dips and condiments to easy Hors D’Oeuvres recipes that you can make at home with simple plant based ingredients, and flavorful Mexican spices.

1. Homemade Guacamole Recipe

Close up of a bowl of chunky vegan guacamole sprinkled with red pepper flakes. The bowl is surrounded by tortilla chips and assorted color strips of bell peppers.

Homemade Guacamole Recipe

No matter what else is on you Cinco de Mayo menu, it's just gotta include guac….right? This is THE BEST guacamole recipe out there. Make extra cuz everyone is going to love this easy healthy recipe.

Homemade Guacamole Recipe

2. Tofu Satay Recipe

Round plate with grilled tofu satay skewers. One skewer with grill marks dipping into a small dish of peanut sauce.

Tofu Satay Recipe

Substitute the peanut sauce with chipotle dressing for dipping and you're all set with a delicious hot appetizer for a fiesta!

Recipe for Tofu Skewers

3. Lentil Stuffed Mini Peppers

Lentil Stuffed Mini Peppers

Satisfying and delicious….you'll love these mini peppers, stuffed with lentils that are seasoned to perfection. 5 stars for yum factor.

Vegan Lentil Stuffed Peppers Appetizer

4. Homemade Tomato Salsa

close up of a bowl of homemade fresh tomato salsa in a white bowl with scallion, tomato, cilantro, jalapenos and served with corn chips

Homemade Tomato Salsa

Homemade Pico de Gallo type Salsa is a must for a fiesta! This easy recipes uses fresh tomatoes, is easy to make and super tasty.

Homemade Tomato Salsa Recipe

5. Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

Green tomatillo salsa verde in a small bowl, surrounded by tortilla chips with a lime, a fresh tomatillo and some cilantro surrounding.

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

Tomatillos get tender and tasty when roasted….then blend with some simple spices for a green salsa verde that's insanely delish! You can eat it alone or add it to your favorite burritos, tacos or enchiladas.

Easy Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

Vegan Mexican Main Dishes

Vegan Mexican Main Dishes that are delicious….and also nutritious! These easy vegan main dish recipes are perfect for dinner, lunch, brunch, potlucks, picnics or parties!

6. Lentil Taco Recipe

Bright colorful tacos filled with lentils, pickled onions, cabbage, tomatoes and drizzled with hot sauce.

Lentil Taco Recipe

Taco for the Cinco de Mayo Buffet win! Vegan Taco “meat” made with hearty and healthy lentils and all the taco spices and flavors you'd expect in a yummy taco.

Vegan Lentil Tacos

7. Vegan Ground Beef Recipe

Vegan ground beef in a cast iron skillet with wooden spoon, showing textrure.

Vegan Ground Beef Recipe

This vegan ground beef is super easy to make, and the perfect substitute for hamburger meat in all your favorite Mexican recipes. It's made with simple, plant-based ingredients without any TVP.

Vegan Taco Meat

8. Vegan Enchilada Casserole

Casserole Dish with enchiladas, garnished with avocado slices, jalapenos and radishes.

Vegan Enchilada Casserole

Delicious sauteed veggies rolled into tortillas along with a bean and salsa mixture, then topped with enchilada sauce and baked to perfection….the perfect make ahead casserole for your fiesta. My favorite Mexican Recipe for Entertaining.

Vegan Enchiladas

9. Black Bean Vegan Burgers

Veggie burger with red sauce, lettuce and a sesame bun on a plate.

Black Bean Vegan Burgers

This easy black bean burger recipe is easy to make and loaded with Mexican spices and simple ingredients.

Black Bean Burger Recipe

10. Sheet Pan Vegetable Fajitas

Sheet Pan Vegetable Fajitas

Veggie Fajitas are simple to make on a sheet pan. They are vegan, gluten-free and use wholesome unprocessed ingredients. Set up a “taco bar” and let everyone make their own with these fajita veggies as the centerpiece.

Recipe for Fajita Veggies

11. Easy Black Bean Soup Recipe

Easy Black Bean Soup Recipe

Love this easy vegan soup recipe made with canned black beans. Build a toppings bar and make this easy black bean soup as the main event. Beautiful and Brilliant.

Easy Black Bean Soup Recipe

Side Dishes for Cinco de Mayo

If you need an easy side dish recipe to go with Mexican Themed Food, I’ve got you covered here. Cinco de Mayo Side Dishes are flavorful and fun, and there are so many healthy side dish ideas for you!

12. Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Bowl of cauliflower rice with black beans, corn, tomatoes and jalapeno.

Mexican Cauliflower Rice

This easy recipe for Mexican Cauli-Rice is made on a sheet pan for easy clean up! Cauliflower rice is a great alternative to traditional Mexican Rice…and this recipe has the flavor and texture you'd expect, plus some beans, tomatoes and corn for a vegan recipe that's satisfying and delicious.

Mexican Baked Cauliflower Rice Recipe

13. Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans

Close up of a white bowl of pinto beans in a tomato based sauce, topped with jalapeno slices and sprinkled with cilantro

Instant Pot Mexican Pinto Beans

So easy to make these pinto beans from scratch using the instant pot. They're perfectly spiced and go well with all your favorite Mexican recipes….no worries if you don't own an instant pot, I've got directions for the stove top and the crock pot too.

Mexican Pinto Beans Recipe

14. Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad

This vegan street corn recipe is just what you're craving…recipe comes with a dairy-free cojita that's so delicious you'll want to put it on ALL THE THINGS!!

Vegan Street Corn Recipe

15. Quick and Easy Pickled Red Onions

A forkful of pickled red onions coming out of a jar of more.

Quick and Easy Pickled Red Onions

Pickled red onions are quick and easy to make with this no boil recipe…and a must have topping for all your favorite Mexican recipes.

Quick Pickled Red Onions Recipe

Mexican Salads, Dressings and Sauces

Healthy Cinco de Mayo Food Ideas include salad. Here you’ll find yummy salad dressing recipes and easy salads that can be made ahead and enjoyed by everyone. It’s good to have balance between nutrition and great taste….lots of tasty options to choose from here.

16. Mexican Chopped Salad with Chipotle Dressing

White bowl filled with colorful chopped salad and an orange dressing, plus sunflower seeds. There is a small white bowl with same orange chipotle dressing on the side.

Mexican Chopped Salad with Chipotle Dressing

This fresh and flavorful salad is crunchy and crisp, hearty and satisfying, plus it's paired with a delicious chipotle dressing to make all your salad dreams come true.

Mexican Chopped Salad Recipe

17. Vegan Taco Salad with Baked Tortilla Strips

Baked Tortilla Strips on a tasty and healthy taco salad

Vegan Taco Salad with Baked Tortilla Strips

Homemade baked tortilla strips make this vegan taco salad crunchy, interesting and delicious. This simple recipe is so easy to make, you'll be adding it to your weekly rotation STAT.

Vegan Taco Salad Recipe

18. Creamy Vegan Chipotle Dressing and Dip

small white bowl filled with chipotle salad dressing that's light orange with extra chipotle powder sprinkled on top and swirled around with fresh chopped cilantro.

Creamy Vegan Chipotle Dressing and Dip

Dairy-free and delicious. This creamy vegan chipotle salad dressing is flavorful and fun….can be used as a dip or a dressing, and you'll want to drizzle it on everything from fries to roasted veggies.

Creamy Vegan Chipotle Salad Dressing

19. Vegan Avocado Lime Cilantro Dressing

Black and white checkered cloth with a glass pitcher filled with avocado cilantro lime dressing, plus cilantro, jalapeno and a lime on the side.

Vegan Avocado Lime Cilantro Dressing

Call it green goddess, or avocado dressing…whatever you call it, you'll be making this creamy vegan dressing on repeat. If you don't have enough or ripe enough avocados to make guac, then make this instead and drizzle it on all the things. You can even use frozen avocado chunks to make it…oh yeah!!

Avocado Cilantro Dressing

20. Dairy-free Cashew Sour Cream

Hinged glass container filled with vegan sour cream and topped with scallions. A lemon half, some cashews and a spoon of salt on the wooden board too.

Dairy-free Cashew Sour Cream

Hands down, the best vegan sour cream out there….it's smooth and creamy, rich and tangy…uses just 5 wholesome ingredients too! Ditch the processed store bought junk and make this instead.

Vegan Sour Cream Recipe