By Courtney Minor
Published Apr 24, 2024
I can’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo without a few margaritas and tequila cocktail recipes on the menu to pair with all of the tasty tacos. But I like to have some mocktails and non-alcoholic drink ideas ready to go too, including some traditional Mexican drinks that beg to be served every year when May 5th rolls around. These easy Cinco de Mayo drinks (with and without alcohol) are the perfect thing to serve with Mexican food for any fiesta!
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Easy Drink Recipes for Cinco de Mayo
When curating my Cinco de Mayo menu , I’m always thinking about the drinks and cocktails as much as the food. Classic margaritas are a must, of course, but why stop there?
This is the perfect holiday to pull out some tequila cocktails to pair with chicken tacos , empanadas, and my favorite queso . Plus I make every flavor of marg I can think of. And I can’t forget the traditional Mexican drink recipes, like fruity Mangonadas and refreshing agua fresca.
There’s plenty of room for mocktails and non-alcoholic Cinco de Mayo drinks too, plus frozen drinks to balance out the heat of my favorite Mexican dishes. Whenever it comes to celebrations, I never skimp on the drinks!
Cinco de Mayo Margarita Ideas
It wouldn’t be a real Cinco de Mayo celebration without a few margaritas, and these are my favorite margarita recipes to make (and drink) for the occasion.
- Skinny Margarita : You can’t beat a classic marg for Cinco de Mayo…unless you make this skinny version, which is just as tasty with about half the calories.
- Strawberry Basil Margarita : The mix of fruity strawberries and punchy basil creates a lightly sweet and herbal cocktail flavor.
- Blood Orange Margarita : I love the vibrant color that blood oranges add to this drink, and of course the flavor is great too!
- Spicy Cucumber Margaritas : Refreshing cucumbers and spicy jalapenos create the most deliciously addicting flavor twist. These are always a favorite on Cinco de Mayo!
- Watermelon Margaritas : Juicy, sweet watermelon is the best flavor for a quick cocktail. You’ll want to bring these back to make all summer long!
- Blue Margaritas : I used Blue Curacao to get the bold azul color of these fun margaritas. They’re sure to add a pop of color to the Cinco de Mayo drink menu!
- Spicy Mango Margaritas : The combo of a mango margarita with a spicy hot sauce and chili rim is reminiscent of Mangonadas, which makes it the perfect cocktail idea for Cinco!
Mangonadas
Mexican Drinks and Cocktails
These traditional Mexican drinks are a must for any Cinco de Mayo party. I also love putting a spin on these drink and cocktail ideas with unique flavor additions to spice things up.
- Mangonadas : If you’re looking for well-known Mexican drinks for Cinco de Mayo, this is the one you just have to try. A super refreshing mango drink with a sweet, spicy, and tangy twist.
- Pineapple Agua Fresca : You only need a few ingredients to make this fruity water, and it’s perfect for washing down chips and queso!
- Blood Orange Palomas : Palomas are a classic Mexican tequila cocktail, traditionally made with grapefruit-flavored soda. The addition of blood orange is a nice little twist, with a similar citrus-y flavor.
- Jalapeno Margaritas : Jalapeno peppers give just the right amount of heat to these ‘ritas. I love that extra kick of flavor while chowing down on guacamole!
- Mexican Hot Chocolate : This creamy, rich chocolate drink is mixed with cinnamon for a little kick of heat and spice that’s just irresistible.
Strawberry Palomas
Tequila Cocktail Recipes
Tequila is my liquor of choice for any fiesta, and these cocktails are all perfect for Mexican food, tacos, and all the delicious party food.
- Blackberry Palomas : Blackberries, honey, and mint create a new and amazing flavor for this traditional Mexican cocktail.
- Day of the Dead Cocktail : Though originally made with Dia de Los Muertos in mind, this unique tequila cocktail recipe is perfect for Cinco de Mayo too!
- Tequila Sunrise : This is such a fun and colorful cocktail, made with orange juice, Grenadine, tequila, and beer.
- Beer Margarita : No one can resist two greats in one! This 3-ingredient beergarita is perfectly lime-y, and just so darn tasty!
- Strawberry Palomas : I absolutely love strawberry anything–here it combines beautifully with grapefruit juice, tequila, and ginger beer.
Non-alcoholic Sangria
Non-alcoholic Cinco de Mayo Drinks
It’s always a good idea to have some mocktails and alcohol-free drink recipes to balance things out. Trust me, these recipes are just as exciting as the cocktails, plus they’re great for kids and adults alike!
- Mock Sangria : Cranberry and blood orange juices mingle with club soda for a refreshing non-alcoholic drink that’s made for a crowd.
- Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate : This treat is icy, chocolatey, and indulgent-ly delicious! Enjoy it after a feast of Mexican food for the perfect finish to the day.
- Simple Mango Smoothies : If the kids want a simpler alternative to the mangonadas on Cinco de Mayo, this quick 3-ingredient beverage will do the trick!
- Orange Julius : This sweet and creamy drink fills me with nostalgia, and it’s so good to sip on a warm day.
- Limeade : This is basically a margarita without the alcohol–just lots of deliciously sweet and tart lime flavor, and it goes well with tacos!
Strawberry Margarita Punch
Easy Cocktails for a Crowd
Why mix individual cocktails for every single party guest when you could quickly whip up enough for everyone in one go? These pitcher cocktails and party punches are a life-saver for holidays like Cinco de Mayo!
- Strawberry Margarita Punch : Strawberry margaritas and party punch in one beverage? Champagne and lemon-lime soda add a fizzy finish to this drink, making it perfect for a crowd at any Cinco de Mayo celebration!
- Pitcher Margarita : Bring out a pitcher of margaritas and you know it’s a party! This scaleable drink recipe means you can make as much as you need.
- Strawberry Lemonade Party Punch : The sweet and tart flavor of strawberry lemonade is mixed with your alcohol of choice and some bubbly soda. You only need a few minutes to whip this up!
- Sweet Tea Sangria : Sweet tea is the perfect beverage for Mexican food if you ask me–add some moscato and fruit, and you have an even more fun and fresh party drink!
- Pitcher Mojitos : I’m a big fan of any time-saving trick when hosting parties, so making a big batch of mojitos at once is way better than making one at a time.
- Rose Sangria : This sangria is light, sweet, and fruity. Just whip it up and let it sit in the fridge the night before Cinco so it’s ready to serve!
Frozen Margaritas
Frozen Cinco de Mayo Drink Ideas
I just love a frozen, icy, chilled drink for parties once we start nearing summer. So Cinco de Mayo is the perfect time to serve up frozen margaritas, frozen rose, and the rest of these frozen cocktail recipes.
- Frozen Margarita : May 5th is prime time to whip up an icy margarita. All you need is a few ingredients and a blender!
- Raspberry Mango Daiquiris : Raspberry and mango layer together in a creamy, icy, blended cocktail that’s just so fun to sip on.
- Frozen Strawberry Margarita : Add strawberry to your frozen margs for a sweeter, fruiter twist!
- Frozen Peach Margaritas : Don’t worry, we have yet another flavor for your frozen Cinco de Mayo margaritas! Peach adds a juicy, sweet flavor.
- Strawberry Frose : Grab a bottle of rose and some frozen strawberries, blend, and you’ll have a fun Cinco de Mayo cocktail idea ready to serve!
- Peach Frose : If peach is more your style, this fruity wine cocktail is the way to go. I like serving both flavors so everyone can choose their favorite.
- Pina Coladas : Coconut and pineapple blend together in this creamy frozen pina colada, and it’s sure to make you feel like you’re on holiday.
Cherry Limeade
Fun Cinco de Mayo Drinks (with or without alcohol)
Cinco de Mayo is all about having a little fun (and a lot of Mexican food), and these drink ideas let you control just how much fun you have. All of these drink recipes can be made with or without alcohol, so it’s up to you!
- Cherry Limeade : Sweet, tart, and a little bit sour, this fizzy drink is delightfully refreshing! The kids love the non-alcoholic version, and I love adding a bit of vodka for the adults.
- Peach Lemonade : A couple of ingredients and a blender are all you need to make this frozen, icy drink.
- Raspberry Sweet Tea : Like I said earlier, sweet tea and tacos go so well together. I always make a non-alcoholic version and a cocktail version when I serve this (of course, be sure to label them properly!).
- Strawberry Lemonade : I love how quickly this recipe comes together! It’s the perfect party drink for both kids and adults.
Add these easy Cinco de Mayo drinks to your menu and it’s sure to be a real fiesta!
More Recipe Ideas for Cinco de Mayo
- Cinco de Mayo Food
- Taco Night Ideas
- Summer Cocktails
- Margarita Recipes
- Cheese Dip Recipes
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
