Chicken Empanadas

Empanadas come in many different forms with many different fillings. This version is a flavor bomb, with tender chicken thighs, peppers, and olives, bolstered by tomato paste and paprika. Yum!
Get the Chicken Empanadas recipe.
Pan de Muerto

Pillowy-soft and fragrant with anise and orange flower water, this Mexican sweet bread is eaten during the weeks around Dia de Los Muertos. This recipe yields 1 very large loaf, but you can also divide the loaf in half to make 2 smaller loaves, which will bake in around 35 minutes.
Get the Pan de Muerto recipe.
Chicken Mole

Pollo mole is a Mexican dish that may be easily intimidating with its infamous long list of ingredients, but the truth is it’s very straightforward, and you’ll end up with something very special on your dinner table. Our sauce has very earthy, bittersweet, and spiced flavors you’ll love, so make extra!
Get the Chicken Mole recipe.
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Champurrado

Unlike the plain, watery version you make with the powdered stuff, this hot chocolate is thick, rich, and decadent, thanks to masa harina. Instead of tasting like a Choco Taco, the masa lends a delicately sweet corn flavor and gives the champurrado a delightful richness.
Get the Champurrado recipe.
Tamales

Mexican tamales aren’t just fun to eat, they’re a great solo or group project for anyone who loves to cook. Tamale making is a joy, and tamales are a great canvas for different kinds of fillings. Make it a party by involving your friends, or get the whole family involved.
Get the Tamales recipe.
Day Of The Dead Cookies

These colorfully decorated sugar cookies reminiscent of traditional sugar skulls are almost too pretty to eat. Use your favorite colors and decorate each skull to your own desire—these are like snowflakes, with each face different from the next.
Get the Day Of The Dead Cookies recipe.
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Cadillac Margarita

A Cadillac margarita is basically a higher-end margarita made with a high-quality tequila (typically a reposado) and Grand Marnier. Reposado tequila will have notes of oak and vanilla, making this margarita really stand out (perfect for honoring ancestors this Dia de los Muertos).
Get the Cadillac Margarita recipe.
Roasted Kabocha Squash

We took inspiration from calabaza de tacha for this roasted squash, adding caramelized umami-sweet flavor through a maple-soy brown butter. Feel free to use pumpkin or butternut here, but we love it with savory and nutty kabocha if you can find it!
Get the Roasted Kabocha Squash recipe.
Candied Pepitas

We took inspiration from the traditional Dia de los Muertos candied pumpkin (or calabaza en tacha) for these pepitas. They’re crispy, crunchy perfection with a dash of warm spice to make them ideal for snacking, tossing in salads, or topping desserts this November.
Get the Candied Pepitas recipe.
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Best-Ever Pozole

Don’t let the time commitment on this fantastically flavorful pozole recipe scare you. It’s as easy as bringing water to a boil and letting it simmer away while you multitask on other things going on in your life. The longer you let the soup simmer, the better it will be. With time, the meat will turn tender, soft, and buttery, the aromas will deepen, and the color will become as rich as the soup tastes.
Get the Best-Ever Pozole recipe.
Mezcal Margarita

With an earthy, slightly smoky flavor, mezcal brings a uniquely savory quality to the typically tequila-based margarita. To spice things up, we add a colorful salt rim spiked with grapefruit zest and red pepper flakes. Tweak the mixture to your preference with different citrus (orange would also be delicious!) or other spices.
Get the Mezcal Margarita recipe.
Queso Fundido

Queso fundido is a true party trick. It’s likely the lowest-effort, highest-reward party dip. Go for Mexican chorizo here instead of the Spanish, which is usually dried.
Get the Queso Fundido recipe.
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Bean & Cheese Taquitos

These crispy, cheesy vegetarian taquitos are quick and easy to make, and are great for everything from a tasty appetizer to a low-key dinner alongside rice and salsa this Dia De Los Muertos. We’re particularly proud of the green chile sour cream sauce—you might never serve Mexican food without it again.
Get the Bean & Cheese Taquitos recipe.
Horchata

This classic Mexican version, horchata de arroz, is made by soaking rice and almonds with cinnamon and blending everything together with milk and sweetener. You can easily make it vegan by sticking with water or a nut milk, and if you want to make it a more decadent treat for Dia de Los Muertos, add more sugar.
Get the Horchata recipe.
Best-Ever Flan

Similar to crème brûlée or panna cotta, flan never goes out of style. The addition of egg yolks makes for a particularly rich version that’s lovely for special occasions. (Psst… make sure you’re unmolding your flan onto plates with a small rim, so you don’t lose any of the good stuff!)
Get the Best-Ever Flan recipe.
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Concha Bread

Pan dulce means “sweet bread” in Spanish—think of these little breads as the brioche of Mexico. While not quite a Mexican dessert, conchas have a delicious sugary topping, often flavored with vanilla, chocolate, or cafe con leche. Try coloring the topping with bright colors to celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Get the Concha Bread recipe.
Salsa Verde Enchiladas

Cheesy, savory enchiladas can be a project. But mixing store-bought ingredients with fresh stuff speeds everything up without sacrificing flavor. The major “hack” here is using jarred salsa verde but punching up the flavor (and nutrients!) by adding a whole bunch of cilantro, fresh garlic, and jalapeños. It gives it a made-from-scratch taste but in a fraction of the time.
Get the Salsa Verde Enchiladas recipe.
Best-Ever Guacamole

Whether you serve it as a simple dip, load it on top of your tacos, or smear it on a bun as a burger topping, we can all agree—it’s not a party without Mexico’s most famous dip.
Get the Best-Ever Guacamole recipe.
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Bean & Cheese Arepas

Here we’re sticking to a simple blueprint of basic arepas with easy fillings—black beans, cheese, avocado—but feel free to customize to your liking by switching up the cheese or your vegetarian filling (roasted sweet potato would be a delicious option).
Get the Bean & Cheese Arepas recipe.
Tres Leches Cake

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