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20 Tex-Mex Recipes for a Taste Of Southwestern Comfort

The winning combo: beans, beef, and cheese!

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Tex-mex recipe of a meat and rice dish topped with fresh vegetables.
Gordon Sawyer

Tex-Mex is one of those irresistible cuisines that's tough to pin down, but that's part of its magic! Rooted in the bold flavors of traditional Mexican cooking and shaped by the hearty appetite of the American Southwest, Tex-Mex has carved out its own delicious identity. The best Tex-Mex dishes include cowboy-approved fare packed with spicy, cheesy comfort, along with a punch of cumin, chili powder, and even more cheese. Sizzling fajitas, stuffed enchiladas, crispy tacos, gooey quesadillas, and crunchy nachos are a few favorites, but our list of Tex-Mex recipes also features zesty updates on classic dishes like a green chile cheeseburger.

Whether you’re throwing a Cinco de Mayo celebration or looking to switch up your weeknight dinner rotation, these Tex-Mex dishes are crowd-pleasing, comforting, and easy to make. If you’re on the hunt for a family-friendly meal, serve up Ree Drummond’s staples like chicken tacos or get creative with a chicken fajita pasta. Hosting a backyard cookout? Prepare a batch of Southwestern pasta salad that’s loaded with all the goods. And for a Cinco de Mayo get-together with friends, bowls of chips and queso (with a pitcher of margaritas) will get the party started. Keep scrolling for all the Tex-Mex inspiration you’ll need!

1

Chicken Quesadillas

Tex-mex recipe with chicken quesadillas on a green plate with lime wedges
C.W. Newell

Crispy quesadillas stuffed with gooey cheese, tender chicken, and sizzling veggies is a Tex-Mex dream come true. If you want to make this recipe even more low-maintenance, opt for rotisserie chicken. Once it’s plated, a squeeze of lime or a dash of hot sauce will up the ante.

Get Ree’s Chicken Quesadillas recipe.

2

7-Layer Casserole

7 layer casserole tex-mex recipe
Gordon Sawyer

In just 45 minutes, you’ll have a cozy casserole on the table that’s brimming with Tex-Mex flavors—seven layers of it! This recipe is jam-packed with rice, beans, corn, tomatoes, green chiles, ground beef, cheese, and all the toppings you can imagine (avocado, cilantro, Cotija cheese, and more).

Get Ree’s 7-Layer Casserole recipe.

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3

Shrimpo de Gallo

shrimp de gallo tex-mex recipe
C.W. Newell

Consider giving pico de gallo a fun twist by adding shrimp! This Tex-Mex dip has all the classic fixings, plus the addition of creamy avocado and tangy olives. Let it sit in the fridge for an hour before serving it with chips for the ultimate Cinco de Mayo snack.

Get Ree’s Shrimpo de Gallo recipe.

4

Chicken Tortilla Soup

chicken tortilla soup tex-mex recipe
Antonis Achilleos

If you’re craving a Tex-Mex dish that’s warm and satisfying, Ree’s chicken tortilla soup is just the thing. This soup yields eight servings, so it’s great for a group. If you happen to have leftovers, they’ll keep in the fridge for three days!

Get Ree’s Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.

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5

King Ranch Chicken

king ranch chicken casserole
Stacy Allen

This Tex-Mex recipe is a cheese lover’s dream! Soft tortillas are layered with shredded chicken, a creamy sauce, and a boatload of cheese that turns gooey and golden in the oven. To save yourself a step, prep the ingredients a day ahead and refrigerate the dish until you’re ready to bake it.

Get Ree's King Ranch Chicken recipe.

6

Cowboy Stew

cowboy stew tex mex recipe
Stacy Allen

Here's another cowboy-approved Tex-Mex recipe to try. This cozy stew is basically a cross between chili and beef stew, plus a few chunks of smoked sausage for extra flavor. Also in the mix are ranch-style beans, potatoes, corn, and diced tomatoes with green chilis.

Get Ree's Cowboy Stew recipe.

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7

Southwestern Pasta Salad

southwestern pasta salad tex mex recipe
Caitlin Bensel

There are so many classic Tex-Mex flavors in this creamy pasta salad. For starters, the sweet corn, shredded cheese, and pinto beans are paired with a smoky chipotle pepper and cumin dressing. Then, there's avocado and cilantro for a burst of freshness!

Get the Southwestern Pasta Salad recipe.

8

Beef Fajitas

beef fajitas tex mex recipe
Ralph Smith

These grilled flank steak fajitas have all the fixins, like sizzling peppers and onions, grated cheese, salsa, and sour cream. It's one of Ree's "favorite things on earth!"

Get Ree's Beef Fajitas recipe.

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9

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

slow cooker chicken tacos tex mex recipe
Stacy Allen

Next Taco Tuesday, let your slow cooker do the hard work for you. In this recipe, juicy chicken breasts simmer low and slow in a bold, spiced tomato sauce. The result? Tender, pull-apart chicken that's ready to be tucked into soft tortillas and dressed up with your favorite toppings!

Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos recipe.

10

Queso Dip

queso dip tex mex recipe
Will Dickey

Kick off any Tex-Mex party with this classic cheesy dip. The ooey-gooey goodness comes from two types of cheese: white American and pepper jack for a spicy kick.

Get the Queso Dip recipe.

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11

Southwestern Salad

southwestern salad tex mex recipe
Will Dickey

This veggie-packed salad is light and refreshing, but you can also add some heft by topping it with grilled steak slices or even BBQ chicken. Either way, you won't want to leave off the zesty avocado dressing.

Get the Southwestern Salad recipe.

12

Chicken Fajita Pasta

chicken fajita pasta tex mex recipe
Ralph Smith

Can't decide between fajita night and pasta night? Now you don't have to pick just one. This fun cuisine mash-up takes Tex-Mex to a whole new level.

Get Ree's Chicken Fajita Pasta recipe.

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13

Chicken Nachos

chicken nachos tex mex recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

These nachos are saucy, spicy, and cheesy—what's not to love? You can get creative with whatever fixings you like, or simply dive right in without any fuss.

Get Ree's Chicken Nachos recipe.

14

Cowboy Beans

cowboy beans tex mex recipe
Caitlin Bensel

If you love baked beans and you also love chili, get ready to try your new favorite cowboy dish. It's a big pot of comfort with smoky spices that's perfect for serving up with a hunk of cornbread.

Get the Cowboy Beans recipe.

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15

Tamale Pie

tamale pie tex mex recipe
Ralph Smith

This Tex-Mex comfort food starts with an adobo-seasoned filling of ground beef, chorizo, and beans. Then, it's topped with a fluffy, cheesy corn muffin mix. The whole thing is cooked in a cast-iron skillet that can go straight from the oven to the table.

Get Ree's Tamale Pie recipe.

16

Cowboy Caviar

cowboy caviar tex mex recipe
Caitlin Bensel

This colorful dip is sometimes referred to as Texas caviar, named after the state in which it was invented. It's a combination of black eyed peas and black beans, along with crunchy veggies, Tex-Mex spices, and fresh herbs.

Get the Cowboy Caviar recipe.

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17

Green Chile Cheeseburgers

green chile cheeseburgers tex mex recipe
Ralph Smith

If you've ever wondered what it means to serve up your burgers Southwestern-style, just look at Ree's recipe that's topped with melted pepper jack cheese and grilled chile peppers. Oh, and there's also a delicious garlic-lime mayo!

Get Ree's Green Chile Cheeseburgers recipe.

18

Texas Chili

texas chili tex mex recipe
Will Dickey

A true Texas chili has no beans in sight. Instead, it's made with all beef, two types of dried chiles, and plenty of spice. Top it off with pickled jalapeños and corn chips.

Get the Texas Chili recipe.

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19

Instant Pot Carnitas with Cornbread

instant pot carnitas with cornbread tex mex recipe
Ralph Smith

Put your Instant Pot to work to make this spicy, tender pork carnitas dish. It's best served over a big piece of cornbread with fresh toppings, like radishes, cilantro, and pico de gallo.

Get Ree's Instant Pot Carnitas with Cornbread recipe.

20

Green Chile Enchiladas

green chile enchiladas tex mex recipe
Ryan Dausch

This might just be the easiest enchilada recipe you've ever tried. There's no rolling or filling of tortillas. Instead, it's all layered into a cast-iron skillet and baked until hot and bubbling.

Get Ree's Green Chile Enchiladas recipe.

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