23 Vegetarian Cinco De Mayo Recipes
These vegetarian Cinco de mayo recipes are not only perfect for May the fifth celebration, but also for any Mexican party menu.
You’ll find everything you need here to full fill that Cinco de mayo menu. Appetizers & side dishes, salads, main courses, tacos & their family, and last but not least undeniably delicious desserts.
This list is a great place to start if you’re a beginner vegetarian, are looking for vegetarian items for Cinco de mayo menu, or are finding Mexican vegetarian lunch and dinner ideas for your family.
I also have these absolutely amazing vegan eggplants recipes if you want to mix and match with Cinco de mayo theme. Though they are not Mexican or anything Mexican related, they’ll still make an awesome item in your party, I guarantee.
Vegetarian Cinco de mayo appetizers & side dishes
These appetizers and side dishes are so awesome. They not only taste good but also look amazing. That makes them a perfect Cinco de mayo food for kids. Not to mention they are super easy to make and hassle-free when it comes to ingredients buying. You probably have these in your pantry already.
1. Air fryer cheese quesadilla
This simple recipe for an authentic Cheese Quesadilla is the easiest and quickest way to get food on the table! Stick to the classic version and fill your tortilla with gooey, melty cheese. Or let your imagination run wild and create your own fillings!
- Total cooking time: 7 minutes
- Special equipment: air fryer
2. Garnachas
If you’re a fan of tasty snacks, garnachas Mexicanas should be at the top of your list to try! Fried corn cakes are topped with spicy red salsa, shredded jackfruit, and a tangy cabbage slaw to create a unique blend of flavors and textures.
- Total cooking time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Special equipment: cast iron skillet, stockpot, tortilla press
3. Mexican potato skins
Meet your new favorite appetizer! Mini vegetarian Mexican Potato Skins are baked mini potato skins stuffed with Mexican ingredients, making this a hearty and delicious appetizer that’s perfect for nibbling on while celebrating May the fifth.
- Total cooking time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Special equipment: baking pan
4. Easy elotes
There will be no Cinco de mayo without this famous Mexican street corn. These easy elotes come together very quickly for a perfect Cinco de mayo item. These are a crowd-pleaser! Make sure to make more than you expect, these go quick!
- Total cooking time: 14 minutes
- Special equipment: baking pan
Vegetarian Cinco de mayo salads
These vegetarian Mexican style salads are super refresh and look amazing. Your guests will absolutely love them not only because of their taste but also because of their appealing plating. These salads are crowd-pleasers and super fast, all under 30 minutes, to put together.
5. Mixed beans salad
Mexican Bean Salad uses 3 types of beans and is quick, simple, and packed with protein, fiber, flavor, and texture! It’s not only a good pick for your Cinco de mayo celebration but it’s also a perfect choice for potlucks, BBQs, picnics, and any lunch menu.
- Total cooking time: 20 minutes
- Special equipment: large mixing bowl
6. Charred corn & poblano salad
The perfect complement to any Mexican main dish, Charred Corn and Poblano Salad has all the flavors you crave: a little sweet, little spicy, tangy, salty, smoky – what more could you want? Oh and it’s healthy, too!
- Total cooking time: 25 minutes
- Special equipment: cast iron skillet, large mixing bowl
7. Grilled corn and avocado salad
Corn on the cob is pretty awesome on its own, but a corn salad? Even better! This grilled corn and avocado salad is the perfect Cinco de mayo side dish to enjoy. It is packed with bright flavors, and is a great way to jazz up corn while it is still fresh, sweet and in season.
- Total cooking time: 20 minutes
- Special equipment: cast iron skillet
8. Mexican watermelon salad
This watermelon salad gets a Mexican makeover with crunchy toasted pepitas, salty queso fresco, fresh cilantro and a tangy lime vinaigrette. Serve with tacos or any grilled meat for an easy Mexican feast!
- Total cooking time: 20 minutes
- Special equipment: cast iron skillet, large mixing bowl
Cinco de mayo street tacos and their extended family
Lets get creative and delicious with these one of a kind tacos and their family members: burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas.
9. Vegan chimichangas
These baked vegan Chimichangas are a healthier twist on the traditional deep fried burrito. A large flour tortilla is filled with pinto beans, brown rice, veggie crumbles, and topped with the most delicious creamy green chili sauce this side of the border!
- Total cooking time: 35 minutes
- Special equipment: none
10. Vegetarian quesadilla
This Vegetarian Quesadilla recipe uses black beans, veggies, a healthy amount of cheese and a whole wheat tortilla for a tasty meal that’s easy to make and ready in 30 minutes! Look at that melted cheese, everybody will love a bite on those tasty, oozy, cheesy quesadilla.
- Total cooking time: 30 minutes
- Special equipment: large mixing bowl, baking sheet pan
11. Vegan burrito
12. Lentil tacos
These vegan Mexican Lentil Tacos are so good, even carnivores won’t notice they’re meat-free. You will love these tacos because they are so simple to make, are frugal yet tasty, and can be made ahead which is the most advantage point for this wonderful celebration.
13. 7 layers tostadas
These simple, customizable 7 layer tostadas are a crowd-pleaser for meatless Cinco de mayo celebration!! They take just 20-minutes to prepare, are easy on the clean-up, and are also gluten-free.
- Total cooking time: 20 minutes
- Special equipment: baking sheet pan
14. Buffalo cauliflower tacos
Cauliflower’s versatility never fails to impress us. Not only does it make a delicious rice substitute for fried rice dishes but, in today’s recipe, it becomes crispy, delicious nuggets as an awesome alternative to chicken. These buffalo cauliflower tacos will spice up your May the fifth celebration.
- Total cooking time: 25 minutes
- Special equipment: large mixing bowl, muffin pan
15. Sweet potato and black bean tacos
Vegetarian main dishes
Lets fulfill your vegetarian Cinco de mayo menu with these lips smacking main dishes. They not only taste super delicious, but also look very attractive. From burger to fajita, you have them all in one plate.
16. Butternut squash and mushroom empanadas
These savory Butternut Squash and Mushroom Empanadas are delicious, healthy, and easy to make. They’re stuffed with roasted squash, caramelized onions and mushroom, then baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a crowd!
- Total cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Special equipment: baking sheet pan, food processor, cookie cutters
17. Vegan Mexican quinoa burger
This Vegan Mexican Quinoa Burger is a hearty veggie burger with delicious southwest flavors. Easy to make, gluten free, and plenty of protein! Eat it on a bun or with a fork and top it off with my Spicy Mayo and all your favorite garnishes!
- Total cooking time: 50 minutes
- Special equipment: food processor, cast iron skillet
18. Vegetarian fajitas
These vegetarian fajitas are an assortment of peppers, onions and mushrooms, all cooked together with the perfect blend of spices. A quick and easy meatless meal option that’s packed with flavor!
- Total cooking time: 25 minutes
- Special equipment: cast iron skillet
19. Pambazos
Pambazos are an exceptionally tasty Mexican sandwich featuring chile-brushed bread filled with chorizo, potatoes, lettuce, salsa, crema, and queso. Try this plant-based version for a delicious twist on a classic!
- Total cooking time: 40 minutes
- Special equipment: cast iron skillet, cooking steamer, blender
20. Mexican casserole
A wonderful Cinco de mayo casserole recipe. Healthy Vegetarian Mexican Casserole with Rice & Beans is easy to make and filled with cheesy goodness along with brown rice and lots of veggies. It can be made ahead and frozen, so it is easy and quick to throw together.
- Total cooking time: 40 minutes
- Special equipment: cast iron skillet, baking sheet pan
Vegetarian Cinco de mayo desserts
And last but not least are these three simple, yet super delicious, vegetarian desserts. Now you have quite many options for your Cinco de mayo menu. You can mix and match or better yet, make all of them and create such an exceptional and unforgettable May the fifth buffet celebration.
21. Tres leches cake
Tres Leches Cake, a sponge cake soaked with sweetened milk and topped with whipped cream? It sounded like a dream to everyone and it tasted like one too. This easy keto tres leches cake recipe is also low carb, gluten-free, grain-free, and better yet sugar-free.
- Total cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Special equipment: 9×13 baking pan
22. Mexican street cornbread muffins
Mexican street corn meets easy moist cornbread muffins for an amazing combination. This is the ultimate side dish recipe that is sweet, savory, creamy, and spicy. Some may call it elote, but Mexican street corn has become popular recently thanks to how delicious and easy recipes like this can be.
23. Sweet Mexican corn cake
A lightened up, gluten-free, vegan, & top 8 allergy-free recipe for ‘Pastel de Elote’ Sweet Mexican Corn Cake! This traditional dessert is moist, dense, with a bread pudding like texture. Baked in a Bundt pan, with fresh corn, and topped with a light glaze, this treat will be gone in a flash!
- Total cooking time: 30 minutes
- Special equipment: Bundt cake pan