Budget-Friendly Mexican Dinner Ideas

The result of a pantry challenge, this recipe comes together with things you probably already have on hand. No canned sauces.

If you’re not entertaining a crowd, just freeze the extra pan before baking.

Poblano Chile Enchiladas – rich and spicy enchiladas filled with roasted poblano chiles and topped with a salsa verde-sour cream sauce – are a must-make for your meal plan this week!

Let the slow cooker do the work for you with these lazy cook enchiladas. Simply layer beans, meat, tortillas, cheese, and sauce, for the simplest delicious Crockpot Enchilada.

Cheese Enchiladas are quick and easy to prepare, but they taste like something special. They are a delicious, meatless meal you can make in a snap, freezer-friendly and even worthy of packing for work or vacation.

Love the Pork Carnitas Tacos that you order at the local taco shop? Bring that delicious goodness to your home kitchen. Using the slow cooker makes the process super easy. You will wow your crowd with these delicious homemade pork carnitas tacos.

If you’ve been buying those envelopes of taco seasoning mix, it’s time to just stop. Save money, yet enjoy great flavor with a homemade taco seasoning mix. It’s great for taco fillings, casseroles, marinades, and soups.

Home fried taco shells make the best tacos. Ever. They’re a bit of work, but the flavor can’t be beat! You won’t stop at just one of these Paso Mom Tacos.

Shredded beef tacos are a deliciously simple way to make taco night terrific. The tender beef cooks in the slow cooker while you assemble fresh toppings.

Enjoy an easy dinner with this recipe for Chicken Street Tacos. So simple, but so delicious, these tacos can easily feed a crowd or be adapted to a grain-free lettuce wrap.

Red Burritos, particularly those stuffed with savory beef and beans and topped with luscious enchilada sauce and cheese are so tasty. Even better, you can make them and freeze them in advance!

Make up a batch of these Green Chile Burritos for supper or to stash in the freezer at a later date. Either way, you’ll eat good and cheap.

Tender chicken, seasoned beans, and melting cheese, all wrapped up in a large flour tortilla, make for one quick and easy, and totally delicious supper.

Traditional tamales can be a bit tedious to prepare, but these lazy cook tamales take some shortcuts to get you to tamale goodness more quickly.

Feed a crowd and your hunger for loaded nachos all in one fell swoop. This One-Pan Chicken Nachos recipe will have you set for success.

A flauta is similar to a taquito, and these filled with chicken and cheese are absolutely delicious.

Homemade corn tortillas are not difficult to make and best thing — they will transform your taco night into something out of this world!

Pinto beans and rice are a good cheap eat, especially when you top them with chips, salsa, and some other goodies. They make a filling meal to help you save money and eat well.

Traditional refried beans are cooked pinto beans that are mashed and fried in oil, often times lard. Cook up a pot of healthier “refried” beans to serve as a side dish, to fill burritos, or to top nachos.

Beans are a frugal food, full of fiber and a good option for protein. Dry beans are cheaper than canned, but can be intimidating and time-consuming to prepare. These Easy Instant Pot Black Beans will transform your bean game.

If you’ve been buying salsa in a jar, it may be time to think about making Homemade Salsa. It’s cheaper and tastier than the commercial varieties. And so easy!

This recipe for Mexican sopa seca, dried soup, is basically a rice pilaf. Mexican rice makes for a fantastic side dish, a base for Burrito bowls, or a delicious filling for burritos or chimichangas.

All it takes is a little chopping to make a big batch of homemade pico de gallo. Full of flavor and texture, it's the perfect topping for tacos or dipping for chips.

Guacamole never came together so quickly. With just four ingredients, this easy guac recipe will have you dipping in minutes.

Give your tacos and other Mexican dishes a kick with this simple chipotle seasoning. More affordable than commercial blends, it's packed with flavor.

Load up your burrito bowl with tasty chicken, abundant toppings, and a drizzle of this amazing chipotle crema. Yum!

This taco salad is simple yet so delicious. It's also perfect for packing.

Barbacoa Beef might sound like an intimidating recipe, but this simple taco filling takes just minutes to prep in the instant pot. So tender and juicy, it's perfect for Mexican food night.

Baked tacos take a lot of the work out of taco night. This version features ground turkey and black beans making for a super affordable dinner.