Mexican Dinner Recipes

New Media PublishingMexican food often gets a bad rap as a guilty pleasure -- greasy, carb-based and laden with an excessive amount of cheese. But when you cook Mexican recipes at home, using a controlled amount of oil, salt and cheese, Mexican food can be surprisingly healthy -- and tasty, nonetheless. These Mexican dinner recipes -- most of which can be prepared in 30 minutes or less -- are simpler to execute than you might think, and contain a manageable list of ingredients. Armed with cilantro, chile powder, cumin and cinnamon, you'll be able to quickly whip up everything from enchiladas and huevos rancheros to leaner shrimp and steak dishes.

Mexican Dinner Recipes:

Shrimp with a Mexican Tomato Sauce (shown above)
A fragrant sauce containing onions, garlic, chiles, bay leaves and tomatoes liven up simply sautéed shrimp.

Enchiladas with Green Sauce and Cheese
You only need 6 ingredients to make these simple enchiladas. And the recipe calls for canned salsa verde, so you can enjoy this classic food even if you can't find tomatillos.

Melted Cheese and Refried Bean Toats
It doesn't get much simpler than this -- Portuguese rolls, butter, refried beans and Monterey Jack cheese. Delicious.

Grilled Chili Marinated Skirt Steak
Skirt steak gains tons of flavor from a garlic, salt, chili powder, brown sugar and cumin rub.

Mexican Chicken and Bean Sandwich
This authentic Mexican sandwich, torta de pollo, contains refried beans and thick cream as condiments.

Pork Braised in Red Chile Sauce
This recipe imitates the flavor of an adobo -- a sauce based on dried chiles -- with the use of chili powder, raisins, espresso and tomato paste.

Huevos Rancheros
A homemade ranchero sauce -- with fire-roasted tomatoes, chiles, garlic clove, cinnamon, salt, sugar and onions -- livens up this egg, tortilla and tomato sauce combo.

Quesadillas
This quick, easy recipe requires only the basics -- tortillas, Monterrey Jack and jalapeno chiles.

Shredded Chicken and Onion Tacos
Shredded chicken is given a boost with a few simple seasonings -- onion, oregano and thyme.

More Mexican Food:

• Get more Mexican recipes.
• See our favorite guacamole recipes.
• Finish off your meal with hot Mexican cocoa.
• Here's an easier way to make a chicken mole.
• These recipes from Rosa Mexicano will round out any Cinco de Mayo celebration.
• Want to get even more authentic? Plan a trip to Mexico with the help of AOL Travel.

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