Vegan Cinco de Mayo Recipes

These easy vegan Cinco de Mayo recipes showcase all your favorite Mexican recipes, veganized! Get your Cinco de Mayo menu on point with bean dips, nachos, margaritas, tacos, guacamole, and so much more.

A baking dish full of vegan enchiladas fresh from the oven.

Celebrating the holidays can be a lonely time for vegans. That’s because so many holidays focus on dishes that are not always easy to veganize. It’s one of the reasons we started this site, because Shawn and I want you to know how easy and delicious vegan can be!

Cinco de Mayo is one of the best holidays for vegans because it’s so easy to create delicious plant-based Mexican dishes.

If you’re curious about what all the Cinco De Mayo celebrations are all about, it literally means May 5. This day commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory at the Battle of Puebla. So, in the spirit of the holiday, we can all find our own victories to celebrate as well!

Below you’ll find salsa recipes, enchiladas, tacos, nachos, dips, and more.

Easy Vegan Mexican Appetizers

Every time I think of Cinco de Mayo, I immediately crave chips and salsa. In fact, I think you can judge the quality of a Mexican restaurant based on that one simple appetizer. How good are the chips and salsa?

The good news is that there’s a variety of delicious plant-based appetizers you can make at home that are easy and delicious.

Fancy Appetizers for Cinco de Mayo

When you want to take your snacking up a notch, say for your Cinco de Mayo party food, these fancy vegan appetizers will come in handy.

Mexican Side Dishes

I love the idea of creating a vegan burrito bar or taco bar. That means creating several side dishes people can use to build their own burritos. This makes the best vegan Mexican party food!

Here, you’ll find a variety of side dishes to serve alongside your favorite “South of the Border” dishes! Also, make your party low-carb friendly with this easy cauliflower rice recipe.

Mexican Cocktails and Beverages

It’s not only food for Cinco de Mayo that’s on our minds. We’re looking for tasty beverages too. And speaking of beverages, who doesn’t like a margarita?

Even if you don’t drink, you can leave out the tequila and still enjoy the delicious and refreshing fruity flavors of this favorite drink. Here are some delicious variations of Mexican cocktails and beverages.

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

If you’re looking for a non-alcoholic beverage to serve for your Cinco de Mayo party, these are the go-to drinks you’ll love!

Vegan Taco Recipes

Tacos are so easy to veganize! You can serve black beans, pinto beans, or a variety of different plant-based meat options on tacos. Add your favorite toppings like guacamole, salsa, and more.

Vegan Mexican Sauces and Condiments

Add these sauces and condiments to your tacos, burritos, and enchiladas… But you don’t have to stop there, serve any of these with some tortilla chips and enjoy them as an appetizer!

Burritos and Enchiladas

Whether you’re serving them for lunch or dinner (or even breakfast?), you can’t go wrong with vegan burritos and enchiladas. Here are some recipes that take advantage of these flavors and ingredients in several different dishes.

Cinco de Mayo Dinner Recipes

If you’re ready for the main course, you’ll love these plant-based Mexican dinner recipes. You’ll find everything from soups to enchiladas, tacos, and taquitos. Don’t forget to add your favorite toppings, such as salsa, and guacamole!

Vegan Mexican Desserts

We can’t have the best vegan Cinco de Mayo recipes without having some desserts included. That’s right, your celebration doesn’t have to end with dinner and margaritas. You can enjoy these delicious Mexican-themed sweets with your Cinco de Mayo celebrations!

A vegan enchilada is topped with chopped lettuce and jalapeños with a bowl of salsa behind it.

30+ Vegan Cinco de Mayo Recipes + Vegan Enchiladas Recipe

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with these tasty plant-based Mexican recipes! You'll enjoy everything from burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and more! All vegan! Plus, make yourself some easy vegan enchiladas, made with veggie crumbles, black beans, and sweet potatoes. Simply roll the filling in tortillas and smother them with a savory sauce and lots of vegan cheese. As always, serve it with your favorite tortilla chips.
5 from 1 vote
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 enchiladas
Calories: 327kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 cup cubed sweet potatoes
  • 2 cups veggie crumbles
  • 15 oz can black beans , rinsed and drained
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 6 large tortillas (see note)
  • 15 oz can red enchilada sauce
  • 8 oz package vegan cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C. Tear off a sheet of foil large enough to cover a 9×13 inch baking dish. Give the bottom side of the foil a light coat of vegetable spray.
  • In a large skillet, add the vegetable oil, chopped onions, and cubed sweet potatoes over medium heat. Cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Add the veggie crumbles, black beans, and spices. Stir to combine and cook for another 3 minutes, until veggie crumbles are heated through. 
  • Pour 2 tablespoons of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of the prepared pan. Tilt the pan back and forth to spread the sauce evenly across the bottom of the pan.
  • Smear 2 tablespoons of enchilada sauce across the top of one of the tortillas. Then add about ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons of the veggie crumble mixture across the center of the tortilla. Sprinkle with some of the cheddar shreds. Roll the enchilada by turning one side up, followed by the other side—place in prepared pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the top of each enchilada. Top with remaining vegan cheddar shreds.
  • Cover the pan with the prepared foil (sprayed side down so that the foil won't stick to the cheese) and place it on the highest rack of the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, until cheese, is melted. Serve immediately with your favorite toppings, like chopped fresh cilantro, chopped avocados, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and more!
  • To store, transfer enchiladas to a storage container, cover, and refrigerate for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Recommended Equipment

(The products above contain sponsored links to products we use and recommend)

Notes

I love using Mission Gluten-free Tortillas for this recipe. It can be difficult to find larger corn tortillas. Alternatively, use flour tortillas if that works best for you.
Old El Paso enchilada sauce is gluten-free. Be sure to read the labels of the enchilada sauce that you use to ensure it’s gluten-free.
Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1130mg | Potassium: 422mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3620IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 4.3mg

The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

This post was originally published in 2018 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2022.

12 Responses to Vegan Cinco de Mayo Recipes

  1. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyKayla Reply

    I am training to be an athlete, are these foods good enough to provide proper nutrition while training?

  2. Avatar thumbnail image for Marlybhaingan bharta Reply

    Thank you very much your blog is very useful.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Thanks!

  3. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMia Olivia Reply

    Thank You a lot. Wonderful Recipe. I am just going to bookmark your site for future recipes.

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Hi Mia. So glad you like these recipes!

  4. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyLyla Reply

    thanks for the best collected list of vegan cinco de mayo recipes.
    These look soooooooo good! I’m definitely pinning this so I can make them soon! My family loves all recipes, so this will be a hit. Thanks again!

  5. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyAlissa Reply

    What a delicious collection! I want to try them all! Thanks so much for including my sweet potato tostadas, and Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

  6. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyRoxana Reply

    Love this! Sharing the link with my favorite vegan/vegetarians!

  7. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyKelly @ TastingPage Reply

    Cinco de Mayo or not, I’ll be working my way through this list. So many great options!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      I know! That’s what I love about this holiday – it’s food we can eat YEAR ROUND! <3

  8. Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyJenn @ Peas and Crayons Reply

    I need those Jackfruit Tacos in my life stat! Thanks so much for including me in this GORGEOUS and super tasty round-up Marly! Can’t wait to share it!

    • Avatar thumbnail image for MarlyMarly

      Tacos!! YAS! For example, YOUR Roasted Cauliflower Tacos! Can’t wait to try them. xoxoxo!!

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