Mexican picnic food: 7 Best recipes for your perfect picnic

A Mexican picnic food can be a delightful and flavorful experience, filled with a variety of delicious dishes and snacks.

Mexican cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes suitable for picnics. You can choose from classics like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, or opt for lighter options like ceviche, fruit salads, and elote (Mexican street corn). You can set up a DIY taco or burrito station, allowing each picnic-goer to create their perfect meal with their choice of fillings and toppings.

So, a Mexican-style picnic offers the opportunity to savor dishes with a combination of spicy, savory, and tangy flavors.

These Mexican picnic recipes should make your outdoor gathering a flavorful and enjoyable experience. Don’t forget to pack some tortilla chips or tortillas to go with your dishes!

Tacos

Prepare a taco bar with various fillings like grilled chicken, carne asada (grilled beef), or vegetarian options like grilled vegetables or beans. Provide tortillas, salsa, guacamole, and toppings like shredded lettuce, cheese, and sour cream.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
  • 1 cup salsa (your choice of heat)
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup diced onions
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 8 small tortillas
• Instructions:
  1. Warm the tortillas on a griddle or in a microwave.
  2. Assemble the tacos by placing chicken, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cheese on each tortilla.
  3. Fold the tortillas in half and serve.

Burritos

Make burritos with your choice of fillings, such as seasoned ground beef, rice, beans, cheese, and salsa. Wrap them in foil to keep them warm.

For the Filling:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (15-ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can of diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

For Assembling:

• 6 large flour tortillas
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or your choice of cheese)
• Sour cream (optional)
• Salsa (optional)
• Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Filling:
   • In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until it’s browned and cooked through. Break it apart into crumbles as it cooks.
   • Remove any excess fat from the skillet.
   • Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the cooked beef. Sauté for a few minutes until the onion becomes translucent.
   • Stir in the drained black beans and diced tomatoes.
   • Season the mixture with chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Adjust the seasonings to taste.
   • Allow the filling to simmer for about 5-7 minutes, or until it’s heated through and the flavors have melded. Remove it from the heat.
2. Assemble the Burritos:
   • Warm the flour tortillas by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving for about 20-30 seconds or by heating them briefly on a hot skillet.
   • Lay out a tortilla, and in the center, add a generous scoop of the beef and bean filling.
   • Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the filling.
3. Roll the Burritos:
   • To roll the burrito, first fold in the sides of the tortilla over the filling.
   • Then, fold up the bottom of the tortilla over the filling, tucking it tightly.
   • Roll the burrito from the bottom to the top, keeping it snug as you go.
4. Serve and Garnish:
   • Place the seam-side down to hold the burrito together.
   • Optionally, you can warm the assembled burritos on a hot griddle or skillet for a minute or two on each side until they’re lightly browned and the cheese melts.
   • Serve the burritos with sour cream, salsa, or chopped cilantro if desired.

Tamales

Tamales are a portable and traditional Mexican dish made of masa (corn dough) filled with various fillings, often wrapped in corn husks.

Ingredients:

For the Masa Dough:

• 2 cups masa harina (corn flour)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil or lard
• 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (warm)

For the Filling (Choose one or more):

• Cooked and shredded chicken or pork
• Refried beans
• Cheese (such as queso fresco or cheddar)
• Salsa (green or red)
• Roasted vegetables

For Assembling:

• Dried corn husks, soaked in warm water to soften
• Kitchen twine

Instructions:

Prepare the Masa Dough:

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the masa harina, baking powder, and salt.
2. Gradually add the vegetable oil or lard to the dry ingredients. Mix well until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Slowly pour in the warm chicken or vegetable broth while mixing continuously. The dough should come together and be spreadable but not too sticky. If needed, adjust the consistency by adding a little more masa harina or broth.

Assemble the Tamales:

4. Take a softened corn husk, shake off excess water, and lay it flat with the wide end facing you.
5. Spread a thin layer of masa dough (about 2-3 tablespoons) evenly over the center of the husk, leaving some space on the sides and at the top. The exact amount will depend on the size of the husk.
6. Add your desired filling in the center of the masa. Be careful not to overfill, as it can make it challenging to wrap the tamale.
7. Carefully fold the sides of the corn husk over the masa and filling, then fold up the bottom, creating a rectangular shape. Secure the tamale by tying it with a strip of kitchen twine.
8. Repeat the process with the remaining husks, masa dough, and fillings.

Guacamole

Guacamole is a popular Mexican dip or condiment made primarily from ripe avocados, along with various seasonings and additional ingredients. It is known for its creamy texture and rich, savory flavor.

Ingredients:

• • 3 ripe avocados, peeled and mashed
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (adjust to taste)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. 1. 1. In a bowl, mash the avocados until mostly smooth.
      2. Add the chopped onion, diced tomatoes, minced jalapeño, minced garlic, and lime juice.
      3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
      4. Mix everything together and serve with tortilla chips.