15 Mexican Recipes You'll Want To Make All Winter Long

For me, wintertime is synonymous with Mexican cuisine. While I eat Mexican food daily due to my heritage, winter is when I really indulge myself. At my family’s Christmas gatherings, we don’t have ham like other folks. We eat warming bowls of menudo, hot tamales, and pozole—this is what wintertime means for me. So if you’re looking for new recipes to try out this winter or you simply need a break from the usual holiday suspects, then you’re in luck. Here are some of my favorite Mexican recipes to keep you warm and cozy all season long.

Caldo de Res (Mexican Beef Soup)

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While I’m more of a fan of caldo de pollo, you can’t go wrong with either version. The beef is tender, juicy, and packed full of flavor—which helps you forget all about how gloomy it is outside.

Menudo

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

This is a classic in my household. Some of my fondest memories are watching my Nana prepare this dish before Christmas, cozying up next to the burner and oven because of how warm it was. Top this soup off with cilantro and limes for an extra burst of flavor.

Authentic Mole Sauce

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This sauce is literal heaven. While it might be more on the spicy sauce, it’s definitely worth the heat. I like to drizzle this on enchiladas or tacos.

Churros

Allrecipes/Diana Chistruga

I always wait in line for hours just to get a taste of this dessert. Invoke the feeling of a summer fair when you make these churros, complete with a chocolate or caramel dipping sauce!

Tamales Oaxaqueños

Tamales are typically the first to go at my dinner table. If you’re able, I highly recommend gathering the family together to make these for the holidays—it truly takes a village to make this dish. But if you’re like my family and tried one year but got quickly tired of the labor, you can always support small businesses and order your tamales there.

Authentic Mexican Chile Rellenos

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According to one of our community members, this dish is “very delicious. I use cheddar cheese and also cream cheese in mine and they’re delicious. Very big hit here in our home.” Is there anything left to say about this?

Authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate

What’s the difference between Mexican hot chocolate and regular hot chocolate? The difference lies in the spice level and the chocolate. Typically, Mexican hot chocolate uses Mexican chocolate, like Nestle Abuelita, and it has some level of spice. This recipe in particular uses dried chile de arbol.

Sopa De Lima (Mexican Lime Soup)

“This was very light and delicious!” user Sherbear1 wrote in their review. “I did not have 6 limes so, I just grated some lime peel into the soup when I boiled the chicken and it turned out great! I love the strong lime flavor in this. I will make this again for sure! Thanks for the great recipe.”

Slow Cooker Pozole

Menudo possesses a certain texture that some people don’t like, so to please everyone at the table, my family always makes pozole as another option. My mom practically claims one pot of this soup just for herself, resulting in us usually making more to accommodate her.

Arroz con Leche

Arroz con Leche is basically a rice pudding with a touch of cinnamon. While you can eat it cold, it’s better hot and straight off the stove when it’s gloomy outside.

Flan Mexicano (Mexican Flan)

I’ve previously written about my love for this dessert and how every time I go home, my mom insists I make it for her while I’m there. Similar to Arroz con Leche, this dessert can be eaten cold but is much better warm.

Fideo

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“Fideo is quick and easy to make with toasted pasta, tomatoes, and spices,” wrote user TINYANT1. “This recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law. It goes great with any meat dish, including carne asada. I use fideo in place of rice as my side dish.”

Mexican Christmas Punch (Ponche Navideno)

For the adults at your Christmas gathering, this one is for you. “This traditional Mexican fruit punch is spiked with rum and best served during the Christmas season.” user FOODBEAST wrote. “Garnish each mug with a fresh hibiscus flower and a sugar cane (or cinnamon) stick.”

Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)

If you’re a fan of monkey bread, meet its even sweeter cousin: capirotada. This bread pudding is a lovely mix of walnuts and cinnamon, and is best served warm.

Beef Enchiladas with Spicy Red Sauce

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You can never go wrong with enchiladas, especially during the winter. “These are the best enchiladas I’ve ever made,” Allrecipes community member Joni Hoffman wrote in their review. “I think the homemade sauce makes a world of difference in the taste.”