Over 20 Fabulous Gluten-Free Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Happy almost Cinco de Mayo, folks! If you’re looking for gluten-free Cinco de Mayo recipes to enjoy at your own fiesta—Fiesta! Sin Gluten—you’re going to find many “delicioso” recipes to choose from here. Over 20 of them. Almost 30 in fact, and that doesn’t count all the recipes included in the best gluten-free tortilla recipe roundup that I’ve included.

You may even be inspired to decorate your table as my friend Johnna (In Johnna’s Kitchen) did a few years ago when she hosted an amazing fiesta at a gluten-free retreat at my house. (By the way, be sure to check out Johnna’s highly praised (and rightly so!) cookbook, Gluten-Free Baking for Beginners! You can read more from Johnna herself here.)

These are some of my favorite Mexican recipes—gluten-free Cinco de Mayo recipes—some from gfe and some from other talented gluten-free friends. I was happy to update this collection of recipes with even more festive deliciousness for you! And I’ve got you covered with recipes in every category—from appetizers, soups, and main dishes, to beverages.

I’ll admit that the beverages are my favorite. Haha! Oh, how I love a really good margarita, some excellent sangria, or a special Mexican hot chocolate moment!

Favorite Gluten-Free Cinco de Mayo Recipes from gfe

~ Chicken Enchilada Casserole  ~ gluten free, egg free, with dairy-free option

We enjoy this recipe all year long. It’s one of my very favorite ways to use leftover chicken or turkey.

~ Chocolate Tamales ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, vegan

If you enjoy tamales, don’t forget this divine dessert version!

~ Green Chile Chicken Casserole ~ gluten free, egg free

One of my most popular recipes of all time, my version is only slightly adapted from the original from my New Mexico “born and bred” friend, Tavie.

~ Easy Mexican Casserole ~ gluten free, egg free

This casserole is nice and hearty, and yes, easy to put together.

~ Pantry Black Bean, Corn, and Salsa Soup  ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, sugar free, with vegetarian and vegan options

Just like the name says … so easy to pull the ingredients for this one out of your pantry, and it’s really good!

~ Sangria  ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, vegan

This Sangria is my friend Tavie’s recipe … really, really good and pretty inexpensive to make, too.

~ Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken from Kalyn’s Kitchen ~ gluten free, grain free, egg free, sugar free, low carb

You need just a handful of ingredients to create this delicious and mouth-watering dish!

~ Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas from Kalyn’s Kitchen ~ gluten free (if you use gluten-free tortillas), dairy free, egg free, sugar free

If you’re a fan of sheet pan meals, this is a terrific one to add to your repertoire!

~ Taco Popover Supper ~ gluten free

The crust is on top; you flip over each piece on the plate before you serve. It’s another easy, fun, and tasty dish!

~ Tortilla Soup ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free

This recipe is terrific with chicken and chicken broth or made as vegetarian/vegan.

You’ll also want to check out the Top 30 Best Gluten-Free Tortilla and Wrap Recipes. (These recipes are part of my Bountiful Bread Basket series. Find many more bread-y recipes here.)

More Gluten-Free Cinco de Mayo Recipes from My Friends

~ 10-Minute Enchiladas ~ gluten free, egg free

The only thing that can make enchiladas better is getting them on the table in 10 minutes, right? Thank you, Flippin’ Delicious!

~ Favorite Burrito Bowls ~ gluten free, egg free, with dairy-free option

Is your mouth watering? Mine sure is! Talk about a bowl of fresh goodness from Mama Knows Gluten Free!

~ Festive Red Chile Enchiladas (Casserole Style) ~ gluten free, egg free

Melissa of Gluten Free for Good gives you the scoop on getting that “from scratch” taste with a frozen red chile puree and how she changes up this “launching pad” recipe for different occasions.

~ Mexican Lasagna~ gluten free, egg free

You won’t believe how easy this tasty dish from Gluten-Free Homemaker is to make! (Linda’s site is no longer active so I have linked to her recipe via the Wayback Machine.)

~ Jalapeno Popper Casserole ~ gluten free

Although you might have seen this casserole recipe shared on other sites, Alea of Premeditated Leftovers is the originator of this recipe. Stick with the original and you won’t be disappointed!

~ Mexican Cauliflower Rice Skillet ~ gluten free, grain free, egg free, keto

Carolyn of All Day I Dream About Food said she worried that her kids would turn up their noses at a cauli-rice dish, “But mixed with ground beef, taco seasoning and cheese? They absolutely devoured it!”

~ Mexican Street Corn Salad ~ gluten free, vegetarian

Esquites, Elotes … what do you call it? Everyone seems to have very specific rules on the usage of those terms. All I know is that I call this salad from In Johnna’s Kitchen, “AMAZING!”

~ Margarita Cupcakes ~ gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, vegan

I’ve never been big on cupcakes before … until NOW! These cupcakes—with just a bit of tequila “infusion”—are heavenly creations from In Johnna’s Kitchen.

~ The Only Margarita Recipe You’ll Ever Need ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, vegan

Need I say more? Well, you know me … I just have to! There’s one surprise ingredient that Sarah of Celiac in the City says makes these classic margaritas very smooth. I like smooth in so many things, just not men. LOL

~ Jalapeno Margaritas ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, vegetarian, vegan

As Kristina of Spabettie says: this is “everyone’s favorite summer cocktail with a spicy kick! naturally sweetened, this no-mixer margarita will be your summertime staple!”  I say try one right now to “warm up” before summer arrives!

~ Spicy Hot Chocolate ~ gluten free, grain free, dairy free, egg free, refined sugar free, vegetarian, vegan

Here’s another way to warm up—one that I love! This delicious recipe comes from Valerie of City | Life | Eats.

~ Super Quick and Easy Mexican Rice ~gluten free, dairy free, egg free, sugar free, vegetarian, vegan

Even rice lovers need a new version to spice things up from time to time and this version from In Johnna’s Kitchen makes a fabulous side dish, especially for a Mexican-themed meal!

~ Taco Shell Salad ~ gluten free, egg free

Did you know you can make your own Taco Shell Salad using a gluten-free tortilla? Carol Fenster tells you how here.  Carol uses a fluted tortilla shell pan, also known by some as a taco salad mold. You can probably find one at a local store, but you can also order them online. I love this idea as well as Carol’s recommendations on which ready-made gluten-free tortillas worked best!

~ Tres Leche Cake ~ gluten free, vegetarian

Jeanne of Art of Gluten-Free Baking first made this recipe for a Cinco de Mayo potluck and reported that everyone had at least two pieces—wow! Luckily, as Jeanne noted, the recipe makes a 9 x 13 sheet cake.

~ Tres Leches Cake from Mama Knows Gluten Free ~ gluten free, vegetarian

Audrey describes her Tres Leches Cake: “Authentic homemade gluten-free Tres Leches Cake. A sponge cake soaked in a sweet milk mixture and topped with fresh whipped cream and cinnamon. You are going to love this traditional Mexican gluten-free dessert!”

~ The Tot-Tada–A Waffled Tater Tots Tostada ~ gluten free, egg free, sugar free, vegetarian

If you have or can get tater tots, you should definitely give this recipe a go!

Buen precho! Salud!

p.s. If you need more dessert options for your festivities, check out my gluten-free Cinco de Mayo dessert recipes. There are even some last-minute options, which we all need occasionally, right? 

Originally published May 3, 2016; updated May 2, 2022.