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You are here: Home » Christmas & New Year's

Mexican Christmas Foods

Published: Dec 18, 2014 · Updated: Sep 29, 2022 by Mely Martínez

Nothing brings family and friends together like Christmas in Mexico, especially if Mexican Christmas Foods are involved. The whole family gets together on Christmas Eve to eat and enjoy the traditions of cooking together and sharing food. Therefore, if you are missing a taste of home or just looking for inspiration for your next Mexican-themed celebration, here is a collection of over 25 traditional recipes you will love!

Mexican Christmas Foods

What are some traditional Mexican Foods around Christmas?

There is not just one traditional Mexican Christmas Dinner but a diversity of dishes depending on localities. Therefore, you won't find one popular or traditional meal prepared all over the country, but many dishes depending on taste, budget, and family size.  

Another significant factor in traditional Christmas meals is the climate of the area. The winter brings cold weather to the whole country except for some coastal towns. But, like in many countries, winter means comfort foods. For people in Mexico are pozole, tamales, pork legs, and seafood in coastal warmer towns. 

One tradition the whole country shares is dinner on Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) versus Christmas Day. On this day, families, extended family, and friends come together to share dishes past from old relatives to enjoy together. 

Mexican Christmas Main Dishes

This extensive list of Mexican Christmas recipes includes traditional ones, from savory dishes to spicy and sweet ones. Each recipe has step-by-step instructions to help create the perfect Mexican holiday with your family.

Tamales

In Mexico, Families prepare many types of tamales for many celebrations, especially for Christmas. You will find many flavors and fillings, small pork tamales in the northern region, and large tamales steamed with banana leaves in the South of the country. If you feel like you are gaining weight after reading the list, don’t worry, I have some healthy alternatives too. 

Savory Sweet Corn Tamales perfect for your Mexican Christmas and Holidays
Tamales

Sweet Corn Tamales: It doesn't get more authentic than this! Sweet corn tamales with pork. A family recipe passed down from generation to generation. One single bite will make you a believer!

Beef Tamales: My mother’s favorite recipe is homemade beef tamales filled with ground beef and vegetables.  

Traditional Tamales: Another favorite is the pork tamales, stuffed with juicy pulled pork and served with your choice of salsa. 

Mexican Christmas Foods

Tamales in Green Salsa: The famous chicken tamales in the sweet and tangy tomatillo sauce are an effortless recipe. These tamales in green salsa are a great dish on their own or an excellent companion to carne asada. 

Tamales de Rajas: For a spicy and smokey flavor, we recommend the tamales de rajas, traditionally made on a special occasion like Christmas. Filled with queso fresco and poblano peppers, make these tamales a perfect meatless addition to any crowd-worthy dinner. 

Vegan Tamales: For a healthier twist to the traditional tamales, we recommend  vegan tamales. Prepared without lard and stuffed with vegetables, make this more nutritious alternative a great choice. 

Pork and Beef Main Dishes

Roasted Pork: The most challenging part of this Roasted Pork Leg is waiting for it to cook. Your delicious pork will impress your guests with beautiful pineapple decorations. 

Pork in Adobo: Marinaded for a few hours, then slathered in homemade adobo, this Roasted Pork in Adobo Sauce is perfection.  

Add this Christmas Roasted Adobada Pork Leg or Shoulder to your holiday recipes.
Pork in Adobo

Yucatan Style Pork Leg: To impress your guest, prepare this flavorful Pork Leg cooked with orange juice, oregano, and spices that only takes 15 minutes of prep time.

Carne Asada: Carne Asada is like tamales, a favorite for any occasion, and always a great choice. Try our easy and flavourful recipe for your perfect carne asada. 

Roasted Pork Leg
Yucatan Style Pork Leg (Roasted Pork Leg)

Pozole Rojo: Tasty and brothy Pozole (posole) soup made with pork, hominy, and red dried chiles is just perfection. Pile your bowl with toppings like shredded cabbage, radishes, lime, and cilantro. 

Beef Birria: Rich stew Birria simmered with spices and chiles is a great option for a Christmas eve dinner and excellent for next-day tacos. 

Mexican Christmas Dishes
Mexican Red Pozole

Poultry and Fish

Turkey: A Popular and Traditional dish is Stuffed Turkey, a roasted turkey to perfection stuffed with pork or beef, among other ingredients. 

Salted Cod: Another popular dish is the Salted Cod (Bacalao Navideño), also used as a side dish. 

Salted Cod Mexican Style

Mexican Christmas Side Dishes Food

These family-friendly side dishes will be a hit in your next holiday celebration, from salads to pasta. 

Chicken salad Mexican

Chicken Salad: The most popular dish at every party is the Mexican Chicken Salad. Excellent by itself, enjoy this meal as a side dish or as an appetizer. The combination of mayo, chicken, and vegetables creates a creamy blend of excellent flavors. 

Mexican Mac and Cheese: Spicy and full of flavor, the mac and cheese recipe is a favorite side dish everybody loves. The roasted bell peppers and cheddar gives a boost of flavor to the macaroni for a perfect combination.    

Spaghetti with Cream: This creamy and effortless Spaghetti with cream is ready within minutes. With only a few ingredients, it is an excellent and savory companion to any main dish. 

Mexican Christmas Salad
Christmas Eve Salad

Christmas Salad: The traditional fruity Christmas eve salad made with seasonal fruits and vegetables is light and used as a side dish or appetizer.

Apple Salad: Similar to the Waldorf Salad, this crunchy Apple Salad is a fantastic concoction of fruit, nuts, and mayo. 

Christmas Drinks

From chocolate to fruity flavors, we have a drink for everybody. So find your new favorite Christmas cocktail below!

Mexican Fruit Ponche Navideño
Christmas Punch (Ponche)

Ponche: The traditional Christmas Punch (Ponche), a concoction of fruit and spices mixed to perfection.

Champurrado: If chocolate is more of your preferred choice, try the Champurrado, a Mexican hot chocolate with a little bit of piloncillo and cinnamon.

Mexican christmas drinks
Rompope (Mexican Eggnog)

Rompope: Finally, the famous Rompope (Mexican eggnog) is a creamy festive drink you can enjoy with or without rum. 

Christmas Desserts

And finally, to end with a sweet treat, Buñuelos (Bunuelos) are a must for Christmas, and maybe even some sweet tamales. Powder with sugar, Mexican wedding cookies, and sopaipillas are a kid's favorite. And lastly, the traditional crunchy Buñuelos de Viento, our Christmas Rosettes cherished by all. 

Mexican Christmas Foods

There are many more dishes to be added to this list, but I hope these here will help you add a little bit of the Mexican tradition to your Christmas Menu.

¡Feliz Navidad!

I hope you make them. If you do, please come back to let me know your experience.

PROVECHO!

Mely Martínez,

Leave a comment and share your experience with the recipe. Mexican Christmas 

Are you looking for other Mexican celebration recipes after Christmas and New Year?

Around the corner is January 6th - King’s day, where we eat Rosca de Reyes and wait for the wise man to deliver presents to the kids. Check the step recipe to prepare your own King’s Day Bread. 

For more ideas and recipes, visit Us on Pinterest; check our boards with hundreds of delicious ideas I'm pinning for you! Or, if you are on Instagram, check out the meal pictures or story ideas.

Para recetas en espanol, siguenos en las redes sociales y en Mexico en mi cocina.  

More Mexican Christmas Recipes

  • Torrejas Mexican French toast
    Torrejas Mexican French Toast
  • Sopaipilla Recipe
    Authentic Sopaipillas Recipe
  • Mexican Tamales
    Homemade Gifts from the Mexican Kitchen
  • Chiapas Style Pork
    Cochito al Horno

Reader Interactions

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  1. Family of bonilla

    December 07, 2022 at 10:42 am

    Que bonita pensamiento de comier
    What a wonderful thought of holiday food

    Reply
  2. Isabel Diez

    October 14, 2022 at 11:01 pm

    Finally and list of Mexican dishes made by a Mexican. Thank you for sharing our culture.

    Reply
  3. Maria

    November 06, 2019 at 10:28 pm

    Hi Mely,
    I was wondering if you know how to make a coffee that I've had during christmas time in Mexico. Usually when we go to the posadas they would serve it. Its like coffee with a chocolate and cinnamon flavor.

    Reply
    • Mely Martínez

      November 18, 2019 at 8:29 am

      Hello María,
      Maybe you are referring to "Café de la Olla", a very popular drink around Christmas time, but great all year. Here is the link to the recipe. https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/cafe-de-olla-recipe/

      Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Ernest Contreras

    December 11, 2017 at 1:18 pm

    Very Nice I will post on my blog and link to your site, for any recipes, your the best.
    Chef Ernesto`

    Reply
  5. LISACAMMON MARCUSWATLEY

    December 30, 2014 at 2:52 am

    How do you make Loco Rice?

    Reply
    • Mely Martinez

      December 30, 2014 at 8:47 pm

      Hello Lisacammon,

      There are many ways to cook rice in the Mexican Gastronomy, but we don't have a dish called "Arroz Loco". Sorry!

      Reply
      • Laura

        December 18, 2021 at 3:13 pm

        that's a very diplomatic reply -- but maybe that recipe is in the Speedy Gonzalez cookbook?

  6. Sandy Mars

    December 19, 2014 at 1:50 am

    yummy!

    Reply
  7. Rebecca Subbiah

    December 18, 2014 at 7:16 pm

    cool will share

    Reply

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About me

Hi, I'm Mely Martinez, a former Mexican school teacher, home cook, and food blogger. I moved to the United States about ten years ago, after living in Mexico my whole life. Now I love to share home-style recipes for authentic Mexican food.
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