21 Cinco de Mayo Appetizers for Any Kind of Party

Can you believe it takes only 20 minutes to make this multi-layered dip? And not only is it quick and easy to make, you can sub out any ingredients to suit your taste. Don't want to chop tomatoes? Use your favorite salsa for that layer. Don't want to use store-bought taco seasoning? Make your own taco seasoning so it's a mild or spicy as you like.

Flour tortillas are cut into rounds small enough to fill muffin tins and baked to form little cups. After they cool, you can fill them with beans, cheese, and salsa, or add shredded chicken for a heartier bite.

Guacamole is a must-have on your Cinco de Mayo menu, and this recipe comes together in just 10 minutes. "Yum! This was my first attempt at making gauc and I was not let down by the high rating on this recipe," says CLINK1833. "I adapted it a little to my taste by adding more cilantro and garlic and adding some ground cumin."

Ceviche is perfect for individual cups or glasses, making serving a breeze. Reviewer Aja says, "I tried this ceviche because there was an addition of red and yellow peppers which I had on hand. I really liked the addition of the peppers- it gives an extra crunch and color. Overall, great appetizer to share with friends or inhale on my own with a side of tortilla chips!"

A pandemic-friendly party dish, these pre-portioned elote cups are sure to please. Recipe creator Muy Bueno explains this dish "is sweet, crunchy, fiery, and juicy. Feel free to adjust the proportions of lime juice, crema, cheese, and spices to taste!"

"If you enjoy the gut-bombs that are classic, bacon-wrapped, jalapeño poppers, I think you'll love these shockingly light puffs," says Chef John. "All the same flavors are there, especially when served with the easy cream cheese dip, and the prep is much easier." We like easy. Watch the video to see how to make them.

"A great appetizer with good flavor served warm or cold," says bd.weld. "We served these with avocado ranch."

On the heartier end of the appetizer spectrum, serve this cheesy pinto bean casserole with tortilla chips as recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Yoly suggests. If you have any leftovers, dinner's all done for the next day!

A solid five-star rating and dozens of glowing reviews mean that this taquito recipe is sure to be a party hit. The slow cooker keeps it easy!

Watch out -- everyone's going to be standing around this cheesy dip until it's gone. "This is better than our local Mexican Restaurant offers," says poshlynne. "I made exactly as written, using half white Cheddar and half Monterey Jack. It is so super easy and quick to make."

Here's fun take on chile rellenos done as finger food. Canned green chiles are stuffed with cheese, encased in egg roll wrappers, and fried until they're golden brown on the outside and melty on the inside.

Listen to these tips from recipe creator Mexican Sweetheart for an authentic Mexican shrimp cocktail: "Being a Mexican family, we always add Mexican hot sauce and serve with saltine crackers on the side. The trick is to start with well-chilled shrimp, ketchup, and tomato juice cocktail so it can be ready after only chilling 1 hour in the fridge."

Spicy Mexican chorizo mixed into warm queso for a dip that puts plain ol' queso to shame!

Serve this pulled pork with mini tortillas or tostadas, or even as sliders. Made in the slow cooker, this is one way to make a dish well in advance of your gathering!

To make these into appetizers, use the smallest flour tortillas you can find. If you'd like to bake them instead of fry them, here's what Lisa Milhoan did: "I put the chicken mixture in the tortilla and added about a tablespoon of grated Cheddar cheese, then rolled them up. I baked them uncovered at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes until the tortillas were crisp."

To make these for a party, cook the meat and shred the cheese ahead of time (it takes only a few minutes). Then come party time, assemble the nachos and put them under the broiler for a quick three to five minutes. To make clean-up easier, follow bd.weld's lead and line your baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil.

Here's a clever alternative to tortilla cups or chips. Use mushroom caps to hold the fillings of your choice. Here, they're filled with beans, cheese, and homemade corn salsa. To save time, make the fillings and stuff the caps ahead of time. When you're ready to serve, just broil them for a quick minute and top with salsa, chopped avocado, and tomatoes.

Recipe creator Yoly explains this dip is "very reminiscent of the Mexican street corn sold by cart vendors. Great served with Fritos or corn chips."

Roma tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet onion, cilantro, and lime join forces in this light, crunchy salsa. "This recipe was easy to make. It didn't have a lot of ingredients or require cooking. I used a food processor to dice, so it was a snap! The flavors are tasty and it's neither too spicy or bland," Heather K. says.

This creamy, tangy dip stands out in a sea of salsas. "This creamy chip dip is different from any I've ever had," recipe submitter Shawn Hoffman Zimmerman says. "Mix sour cream with tomatoes and green chilies, black olives and Cheddar cheese. Always a hit at parties."

Wrapped with salami and stuffed with cheese, these peppers have what it takes to be a popular appetizer. Grilling them adds a nice charred flavor. You can use jalapeños or habaneros. Just be sure to remove the seeds!