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Easy Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
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Easy Ground Beef Tex Mex Cornbread (With Jiffy)
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Texas Roadhouse Steak Rub Recipe
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Texas Ranch Water Recipe
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Quick Easy Baked Blackened Tilapia (Tex Mex Flavors)
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Air Fryer Tortilla Strips (Easy, Crispy, Homemade)
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Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing Recipe-No Mayo
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Better Than Store Bought Authentic Fajita Seasoning Recipe
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How to Make Bean and Cheese Air Fryer Tostadas
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New Mexican Huevos Rancheros
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Homemade Mangonada Recipe
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One Pan Chicken Burrito Bowl
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Corn Soup with Potato and Bacon
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Easy Taco Seasoning (Old El Paso Copycat)
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Taco Sauce
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Cilantro Lime Green Chile Grilled Chicken
Whether you're craving ground beef tacos, chicken spaghetti, or an air fryer version of chicken fajitas, my recipes capture the heart of Texas cooking and brings together the best authentic Tex-Mex recipes you can make at home.
Having grown up in El Paso and re-locating to Fort Worth as an adult, I've spent years perfecting my homemade recipes and exploring the restaurants that inspired them.
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Easy Tex-Mex Recipes You Can Make Today
New to Tex-Mex cooking? Start with some easy classics that come together in less than 30 minutes.
Appetizers, Dips, and Party Foods
No Tex-Mex gathering is complete without a spread of dips and appetizers. These crowd-pleasers disappear fast at parties and game day celebrations.
Main Dishes and Dinner Recipes
From weeknight dinners to special occasions, these Tex-Mex main dishes deliver big flavor with practical cooking methods. Many are one-pan meals or slow cooker friendly for busy home cooks.
Enchiladas and Burritos
Casseroles and One Pan Meals
- Vegetarian Huevos Rancheros Casserole
- Easy Chicken Dorito Casserole
- Ground Beef Doritos Nachos Casserole
- Ground Beef and Biscuits (John Wayne Casserole)
- Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes (Picadillo)
- Ground Beef Salsa Rice
- Ground Turkey Enchilada Skillet Meal
- Amazing Cheesy Texas Chicken Spaghetti One Pan Recipe
Soups and Salads
Flavorful soups and salads make quick and easy lunches and light dinners.
Sides and Sauces
These essential Tex-Mex sides and sauces complement your main dishes and round out authentic meals. From beans to salsa, these recipes complete the plate.
Essential Tex Mex Ingredients
Understanding key ingredients elevates your Tex-Mex cooking from good to great. Here's what you need to know about the building blocks of this cuisine.
- Cumin: The signature smoky spice
- Chili powder: A robust, slightly spicy and earthy blend
- Cheddar and Monterey Jack: Gives that signature mild and creamy character to every dish
- Jalapeños: Fresh and pickled for a touch of heat
- Cilantro: Love it or hate it, it's eveyrwhere
- Lime: Brightens everything
- Tomatillos: A must for green salsas and sauces
- Flour tortillas: A Texas staple
- Avocado: A new essential full of healthy fat
IsTex-Mex authentic Mexican food?
Tex-Mex is its own authentic cuisine-a fusion created by Tejanos (Texans of Mexican descent) that evolved over 200+ years. Read more from the Texas State Historical Association.
What makes Tex-Mex different from Mexican food?
Tex-Mex uses wheat flour tortillas, yellow cheese, cumin-heavy spice blends, and combination plates-distinct from region-specific Mexican cuisine.
What cheese is used in Tex-Mex?
Primarily cheddar and Monterey Jack, unlike traditional Mexican cuisine which uses cotija, Oaxaca, and queso fresco.
Can Tex-Mex be made vegetarian?
Absolutely! Vegetarian recipes can include cheese and eggs. Huevos rancheros, bean burritos, veggie fajitas, and guacamole are naturally vegetarian or easily adapted.
Where did fajitas originate?
Fajitas were invented in Texas ranch country in the 1930s-40s, using skirt steak, and became restaurant fare in Houston in the 1970s.
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