25 Cinco De Mayo Bites That Pair Perfectly With Your Favorite Margarita

Cinco de Mayo is about bold snacks that hold their own next to a strong margarita. You need salt, spice, crunch and maybe something sweet to round it out. These bites will keep the drinks flowing and the vibe going however you’re celebrating.

Spicy Shrimp Tostadas

Crisp tostadas topped with spicy shrimp and a creamy jalapeño avocado sauce bring big flavor without a lot of effort. They’re light, crunchy, and bold enough to keep up with your drink without weighing you down.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Shrimp Tostadas

Carne Asada Nachos

Loaded with grilled steak, melted cheese, guacamole, lime crema, and pico de gallo, these nachos hit all the right notes. They’re hearty enough to count as dinner but still casual enough to snack on with a margarita in hand.
Get the Recipe: Carne Asada Nachos

Pineapple Habanero Salsa

This salsa strikes a great balance between sweet pineapple and the slow burn of habanero. It’s a great option for tortilla chips but also adds a punch to grilled meat or tacos if you want to mix things up.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Habanero Salsa

Mango Habanero Salsa

Sweet mango, spicy habanero, and bright lime come together in a chunky salsa that’s equal parts refreshing and bold. It’s quick to make and easy to serve next to a pile of chips or as a topping for just about anything else on the table.
Get the Recipe: Mango Habanero Salsa

Plantain Chips

Baked until crispy and naturally just salty enough, these plantain chips bring crunch without needing any extra seasoning. They’re great on their own, but even better when used to scoop up all the dips you’ve got in rotation.
Get the Recipe: Plantain Chips

Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels

These crispy, golden pinwheels are loaded with bacon, cheddar, jalapeños, and cream cheese, all rolled in puff pastry and baked until perfectly flakey. They’re just spicy enough to keep things interesting and exactly the kind of finger food you want when margaritas are in the mix.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Popper Pinwheels

Stuffed Jalapenos

Jalapeños stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon check all the boxes—salty, creamy, crispy, and spicy. They’re easy to prep, crowd-pleasing, and pack the punch you want alongside something cold and citrusy.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Jalapenos

Pickled Mexican Hot Carrots

These tangy carrots bring a kick with every bite and balance out heavier snacks with their crunchy texture and vinegar punch. Scoop them into a bowl and they’re good to go—no heating, no fuss, no leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Pickled Mexican Hot Carrots

Mexican Chicken Pinwheels

These tortilla roll-ups are stuffed with seasoned chicken, salsa, and cheese. They hold their shape well, travel easily to the table, and hit that flavor sweet spot between snack and full-on dinner bite.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Chicken Pinwheels

Mexican Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs get a bold upgrade here with spices and a little heat, giving them more edge than the usual mayo-heavy tray. They’re easy to prep ahead and grab in one bite with zero mess.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Deviled Eggs

Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

This chilled shrimp cocktail combines juicy shrimp, avocado, cucumber, and a spicy tomato-lime sauce that’s bold and refreshing. It’s the kind of dish that tastes like it belongs next to a salty margarita.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

Mini Taco Bites

These bite-sized tacos are layered into crunchy cheese cups with meat and fresh toppings, no napkins required. They look great on a tray and disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: Mini Taco Bites

Queso Dip

Melted cheese, spices, and a smooth texture make this a guaranteed favorite. It’s fast to throw together, holds up on the table, and works with chips, veggies, or even straight off a spoon.
Get the Recipe: Queso Dip

Fresh Guacamole

Ripe avocados mashed with lime, onion, and salt. It’s simple, bold, and perfect for dipping chips between sips without trying too hard.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Guacamole

Jalapeño Cornbread

This cornbread has a soft bite with little pops of heat from the jalapeños and richness from cheddar. Slice it into squares and you’ve got a snack that holds up well on a plate or in your hand.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Cornbread

Puff Pastry Jalapeno Poppers

These poppers come wrapped in puff pastry, which means they’re flaky, golden, and way more fun than the standard version. The cream cheese filling balances out the heat, making them a great addition to a Cinco de Mayo table stacked with snacks and drinks.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Jalapeno Poppers

Cajeta Empanadas

These soft little empanadas are filled with sweet, caramel-like cajeta that melts perfectly into the dough while they bake. They’re easy to grab, great with a margarita, and give you something sweet without needing utensils or a plate.
Get the Recipe: Cajeta Empanadas

Avocado Pico de Gallo

This chunky dip takes the freshness of pico de gallo and adds creamy avocado for extra richness. It holds up well on chips and keeps the flavor balanced when everything else on your plate is cheesy, fried, or heavy.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Pico de Gallo

Mango Corn Salsa

Mango and corn bring sweetness and crunch, while lime juice keeps it all bright and punchy. This salsa makes a great dip but also works on top of anything grilled if your table leans more hearty.
Get the Recipe: Mango Corn Salsa

Marranitos

These pig-shaped cookies made with molasses and warm spices are soft in the center and crisp on the edges. They’re perfect as a grab-and-go dessert that feels nostalgic and playful, especially when everyone’s looking for one last bite after all the snacks.
Get the Recipe: Marranitos

Jalapeño Popper Tacos

This recipe puts all the best parts of a jalapeño popper into a taco shell with melted cheese, chorizo, and a cooling avocado cilantro sauce. They’re bold, spicy, and made to pair with strong drinks and loud music.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Tacos

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Bacon brings the crunch, shrimp brings the bounce, and the grill pulls it all together in a single bite. These are perfect to prep ahead and sear quickly before serving to a crowd who’s already on round two of margaritas.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

Blackened Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

The charred mahi mahi is tender and flavorful, while the mango salsa brings just enough sweetness to round it out. Lime crema ties everything together, making this a great light option to mix into a heavier snack spread.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa

Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn

Corn gets blasted in the air fryer until crisp, then slathered with creamy sauce, cotija cheese, and chili powder. You don’t need a grill or a mess to get that elote-style flavor. Break it into halves or thirds for easier sharing.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

These bring the heat, the crunch, and the creamy center all in one bite. They’re simple to prep and always one of the first trays to disappear at any gathering where margaritas are being poured.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers