25 Tex-Mex Recipes That Are Cheesy and Delicious

In the United States, Tex-Mex can often get confused with authentic Mexican recipes. Thanks to its large Mexican population and close proximity to the country, food from the Southwestern region of the United States definitely has its roots in Mexican cooking. However, Tex-Mex cuisine has evolved into its own category, and can be distinguished by heartier ingredients like cheese, beef, powdered spices and flour tortillas.

Whether you're serving up a plate of sizzling fajitas or a pile of cheesy nachos, Tex-Mex is always welcome on the table. Take, for example, this Instant Pot nod to chili con carne. This 5-star stew gets its Tex-Mex flair from chili powder, cumin, coriander and smoked paprika. And don't leave out the cinnamon—it adds warm notes you never even knew your beef stew needed.

Trisha’s sweet-and-smoky fajitas are a great way to incorporate veggies, like bright bell peppers, into meals that even picky eaters will love.

Mashed pinto beans get transformed into a satisfying Tex-Mex staple with big flavor thanks to the addition of aromatics and spices! Though typically made with lard, olive oil stands in as a great substitute.

This saucy tray of burritos is perfect for a busy weeknight or a potluck party. Ready in just 35 minutes, each burrito is packed with ground beef, cheddar cheese and refried beans. When ready to serve, drizzle over extra sauce and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Hot breakfast sausage and green chiles lend a spicy kick to Ree's decadent queso dip. For ultra-creamy results, use a soft, processed cheese that will melt quickly and evenly.

Break out your blender to make Katie's homemade enchilada sauce. Fans say it’s so good you’ll want it all over these enchiladas and a whole lot more.

Taquitos are the ultimate finger food—mini rolled tacos that are warm, cheesy and super crunchy! An air fryer makes this crowd-pleasing snack (or appetizer) surprisingly easy to cook up at home. We fill them with chunks of chicken and melty Colby Jack, but you can customize the ingredients to please even the pickiest of eaters with different proteins and cheeses. And while you have the air fryer fired up you can make a delicious charred salsa to serve alongside.

Whether cooking for game day or a weeknight meal, this dish will always knock it out of the park! Using jarred salsa makes this dish quick, easy, and flavorful.

This recipe uses a rice cooker to get a full rice dinner on the table in a fun, fast, hands-off way. We used a Japanese-style cooker, but you could do this with almost any version. The tomato gets super soft and stirs right into the rice, making an instant sauce. Feel free to play with the ingredients and flavor profiles once you have the technique down.

Elevate this cheesy tortilla with homemade lime-cilantro sour cream. It's a fresh and tangy addition—perfect for spreading and dipping.

No tortillas required: this beef-and-bean packed soup has all the flavors of a taco, all in one pot. It's a great quick weeknight dinner for the whole family. If you really miss that taco shell crunch, sprinkle your bowl with some crushed tortilla chips.

Barbacoa is typically cooked in a pit over several hours. Don’t worry, your grill provides a mouthwatering shortcut alternative for slowly braising beef! This juicy beef makes a great filling for tacos, but also enchiladas, burritos and more!

Perfect for busy weeknights, this mash-up bake of hash browns, ground beef, canned tomatoes and green chiles, taco seasoning and gooey cheese can't be beat. It's the ultimate hands off meal. And since everything's tossed together right in the baking dish, there's very little cleanup. Simply garnish with your favorite taco toppings and dinner is served. If you're lucky enough to have leftovers, try wrapping them in a tortilla for a quick burrito.

If your weeknights are packed with sports, activities and school events, you need a quick and easy dinner you can rely on to feed the whole family. These chipotle chicken burritos are the perfect thing—they can be ready in under a half hour, they’re filled with protein and pack tons of flavor into every bite. Store-bought rotisserie chicken is the speedy secret to saving time in the kitchen.

Who can resist cheese-stuffed poblano peppers that are battered and fried until golden brown, and served with a savory tomato sauce scented with cinnamon and coriander? We made a simple beer batter to create a crispy finish.

This set-it-and-forget-it chili is so key for busy weeknights. The sweet barbecue flavor is mild enough for kids to devour—and they’ll love the corn chips that go on top!

Ree's cheesy casserole is a foolproof dinner for busy weeknights. If you want to spice things up a little, you can replace the poblano pepper with a jalapeño or add a dash of hot sauce!

Ree's one-pan dish is a tried-and-true family favorite. She packs her chicken and rice with flavor from diced green chiles, onions, garlic and plenty of spices. The whole dish gets covered with Pepper Jack cheese for pure deliciousness!

Who can resist melty golden corn tortillas filled with pickled jalapeños, chicken and cheese? As is commonly done in Mexico, serve these mouthwatering quesadillas with fresh salsa and sliced avocado.

These protein-packed fajitas cleverly use a foil-lined baking sheet and broiler to make a quick and healthy weeknight meal with easy cleanup.

Sunny takes enchiladas to new heights with this tall, layered pie- well-seasoned beef gets stacked with red sauce, corn tortillas and two kinds of cheese. Put the baking dish on a baking sheet in the oven to catch any cheese drips-this pie's a bubbly one.

You can’t go wrong with Ree’s 16-minute pulled chicken. She roasts tomatoes peppers and onion, then blends the veggies until smooth to make a quick and delicious sauce.

Rachael's meaty nachos are ready in just 25 minutes! She uses aromatic spices, like chili powder and cumin, to infuse all the flavors of chili into this party-perfect dish.

Topping crispy seasoned chips with beans, jalapeños and crumbled Cotija would surely give you a dinner to please all palates. But when you take it one step further and bake eggs into the mix, you've got the ultimate breakfast nacho offering.