✔ Updated · 40 appetizers: dips, nachos, bites, fresh starters + soups
Chips, dips and crispy little bites are the best part of any Mexican meal, if you ask me. Here are 40 easy Mexican appetizers for taco night, game day and parties.
The most popular Mexican appetizers are guacamole, pico de gallo, queso dip, nachos, jalapeno poppers, chicken taquitos, quesadillas, elote and seven-layer dip. For an easy Mexican dinner starter, serve chips with one fresh salsa, one warm cheesy dip and one crunchy bite like taquitos or poppers. Most of these 40 recipes take 30 minutes or less.
- Quickest: pico de gallo, guacamole, jicama with chili-lime
- Crowd-pleasers: queso, nachos, seven-layer dip
- Finger foods: poppers, taquitos, mini tacos, empanadas
- Make ahead: salsas, bean dip, empanadas
Mexican Dips and Salsas
1. Guacamole
Ripe avocado mashed with lime, onion, cilantro, jalapeno and salt. Make it right before serving so it stays bright green.
2. Pico de Gallo
Fresh chopped tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro and lime. Crunchy, bright and ready in 10 minutes.
3. Restaurant-Style Salsa Roja
Blender salsa with tomatoes, onion, garlic, chiles and lime. Smooth, scoopable and better than the jar.
4. Salsa Verde
Tangy tomatillos blitzed with jalapeno, garlic, cilantro and lime. Roast the tomatillos first for a smoky edge.
5. Qdoba-Inspired Queso Dip
Silky, spicy three-cheese queso with peppers. Keep it warm in a small slow cooker for parties.
Get the recipe →6. Queso Fundido With Chorizo
Bubbling melted Oaxaca and Monterey Jack cheese topped with crumbled chorizo. Scoop it with warm tortillas.
7. Cream Cheese Bean Dip
Refried beans, cream cheese and taco seasoning baked until hot and creamy. Only a handful of ingredients.
Get the recipe →8. Seven-Layer Dip
Beans, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese, olives and green onions in pretty layers. A potluck legend.
9. Black Bean Dip
Black beans blended with garlic, lime, cumin and a little chipotle. Smoky, creamy and naturally dairy-free.
10. Mexican Street Corn Dip
Charred corn, mayo, cotija, lime and chili powder in a warm, cheesy dip. Elote you can scoop.
11. Jalapeno Popper Dip
Cream cheese, jalapenos and cheddar baked under a crunchy topping. All the popper flavor, none of the stuffing.
12. Velveeta Sausage Dip
Melty Velveeta with browned sausage, tomatoes and chili. A Tex-Mex game-day favorite.
Get the recipe →13. Chicken Enchilada Dip
Shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, cream cheese and cheddar baked until bubbly.
14. Peach and Strawberry Salsa
Sweet fruit, red onion, jalapeno, lime and mint. A fresh, light contrast to all the cheesy dips.
Chips and Nachos
15. Homemade Tortilla Chips
Corn tortilla wedges fried or baked until crisp, then salted while hot. About 15 minutes.
16. Taco Bell-Inspired Nachos Bell Grande
Chips loaded with seasoned beef, beans, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream and tomatoes.
Get the recipe →17. Sheet Pan Nachos Supreme
Layer chips, beef, beans and cheese on one pan, bake, then pile on the toppings. Feeds a crowd fast.
18. Taco Bell-Inspired Nacho Fries
Crispy seasoned fries with a warm nacho cheese dip. Snack-bar fun at home.
Get the recipe →19. Jicama Sticks With Chili-Lime Salt
Cool, crunchy jicama sprinkled with chili powder, lime and salt. No cooking, very refreshing.
Mexican Finger Foods and Bites
20. Oven-Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and cheddar, baked until golden. Always the first plate empty.
Get the recipe →21. Chicken Taquitos
Corn tortillas rolled around spiced chicken and cheese, baked or fried until crunchy. Dip in guac.
22. Beef Flautas
Long, crispy rolled flour tortillas stuffed with shredded beef. Top with crema and salsa verde.
23. Mini Chicken Chimichangas
Bite-size fried burritos stuffed with saucy chicken and cheese. Perfect party finger food.
24. Spicy Chicken Empanadas
Flaky hand pies filled with spiced chicken. Bake a big batch; they reheat well.
25. Taco Bell-Inspired Mini Quesadillas
Cut cheesy chicken quesadillas into small wedges for easy grab-and-go appetizers.
Get the recipe →
26. Jack in the Box-Style Mini Tacos
Crispy little beef tacos with American cheese and taco sauce. Fun, retro and very snackable.
Get the recipe →
27. Mini Chipotle Shrimp Tacos
Smoky chipotle shrimp in small tortillas with slaw. Cook shrimp until opaque, to 145°F.
Get the recipe →28. Tostada Bites
Tortilla chip-size tostadas topped with beans, chicken or chorizo, lettuce and cotija.
29. Sopes
Thick masa cups, pan-fried and topped with beans, meat, salsa and crema.
30. Fried Guacamole Bites
Chilled guacamole balls coated in crushed tortilla chips and fried until crunchy. A real showstopper.
31. Jalapeno Corn Cakes
Golden corn fritters with a gentle jalapeno kick. Serve with lime crema.
Fresh and Light Mexican Starters
32. Elote
Grilled corn on the cob slathered in mayo, cotija, chili powder and lime. Classic street food.
33. Esquites
Elote in a cup: charred corn kernels with lime, mayo, cotija and chile. Easy to eat at a party.
34. Mexican Shrimp Cocktail
Cooked shrimp in a chilled, zesty tomato-lime sauce with avocado, cucumber and onion.
35. Cooked-Shrimp Ceviche
Chopped cooked shrimp tossed with lime, tomato, onion, cilantro and jalapeno. Serve on tostadas.
36. Rajas con Crema
Strips of roasted poblano pepper and onion in a creamy sauce. Spoon onto warm tortillas.
Mexican Soups and Warm Starters
37. Crockpot Taco Soup
Ground beef, beans, tomatoes and taco seasoning in a cozy slow cooker soup. Serve in small cups.
Get the recipe →38. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Brothy chicken soup with tomato and chile, topped with crispy tortilla strips, avocado and lime.
39. Chipotle Black Bean Soup
Smoky, thick and hearty. Serve small portions so everyone saves room for dinner.
40. Tamale Pie Dip
Cornbread-style masa topping over a cheesy, chili-spiced chicken filling. Tamale flavor, dip format.
Best Appetizers for a Mexican Dinner
Planning a taco night or a Mexican dinner party? Pick three: one fresh salsa, one warm cheesy dip and one crunchy bite. Chips with guacamole and pico de gallo, a pot of queso and a plate of taquitos or jalapeno poppers is my never-fails trio, and it leaves room for the main event.
- Make ahead: salsas, bean dip, seven-layer dip and empanadas.
- Last minute: guacamole, nachos and quesadillas.
- Keep warm: queso and sausage dip in a small slow cooker on low.
Tips for Serving Mexican Appetizers
- Stop browning guac. Press plastic wrap right onto the surface and add a squeeze of lime.
- Warm the chips. Five minutes in a 350°F oven makes store-bought chips taste freshly fried.
- Safe temps: cook ground beef and chorizo to 160°F, chicken to 165°F and shrimp to 145°F.
- Two-hour rule: don't leave dairy dips or meat appetizers out for more than 2 hours.
More Mexican Favorites
Keep the fiesta going with what to serve with tacos, what to serve with fajitas, Mexican desserts and Mexican breakfast recipes. Made too much guac? Here's whether you can freeze guacamole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular Mexican appetizers?
The most popular Mexican appetizers are guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa with tortilla chips, queso dip, nachos, jalapeno poppers, taquitos, quesadillas and elote. Seven-layer dip and bean dip are favorites for parties because they can be made ahead and feed a crowd.
What appetizer goes with a Mexican dinner?
Chips with guacamole and pico de gallo are the classic choice before a Mexican dinner. Add one warm dip, like queso or bean dip, and one crunchy bite, like taquitos or jalapeno poppers. Keep portions small so everyone still has room for tacos, enchiladas or fajitas.
What Mexican appetizers can I make ahead?
Salsas, pico de gallo, bean dip, seven-layer dip, empanadas and tamale pie dip can all be made a day ahead and chilled. Bake or reheat warm dips to 165°F just before serving. Guacamole is best made shortly before serving, but plastic wrap pressed onto the surface helps it stay green.
What are some easy Mexican finger foods?
Easy Mexican finger foods include jalapeno poppers, mini quesadilla wedges, taquitos, flautas, mini tacos, empanadas, tostada bites and fried guacamole bites. They are all easy to grab with one hand, and most can be baked in batches so you are not stuck at the stove.
How many appetizers do I need for a Mexican party?
For a party before dinner, plan on 3 to 5 appetizers and about 4 to 6 bites per person. If appetizers are the whole meal, serve 6 to 8 options and 10 to 15 bites per person. Include at least one fresh salsa, one warm dip and one hearty finger food.
