Mexico’s cuisine is one of the most kid-friendly options around. Even if your kids are picky, you may be surprised to see them embrace Mexican food. It’s not difficult to find the basic ingredients for the most popular Mexican dishes in your average grocery store, making it easy to incorporate them into your regular dinner routine. And if your children are studying Spanish, eating Mexican cuisine is a great way to help them learn new words and understand more about a Spanish-speaking culture throughout its food. Alternatively, if your family is preparing for a vacation to Mexico, sampling the cuisine is a fun way to get everyone even more excited about the upcoming trip! Here are some simple and delicious Mexican-inspired dishes you’ll want to try with your family.

1. Quesadillas

When it comes to kid-friendly foods, quesadillas are a guaranteed hit. Though the U.S. version we’re used to seeing in chain restaurants is far from the traditional Mexican version, the general idea is this: flour tortillas are stuffed with lots of cheese and other ingredients then grilled. Kids love that quesadillas are meant to be picked up and eaten with their hands–no utensils needed! Parents can take the idea of a quesadilla and modify it in an infinite number of ways. Try blending shredded cheddar with spinach and chicken, or black beans with red pepper and American cheese. With a gooey, cheesy center and a crispy, toasted outside, you can’t go wrong with a homemade quesadilla.

2. Tacos

Tacos have earned somewhat of a following in recent years with everyone from food truck cooks to chefs at upscale establishments getting in on the trend. But don’t worry too much about how to prepare the perfect taco–instead, just have some fun. Tacos are great for kids because they can get involved in the preparation. Let your kids help you set up a filling station that has bowls full of pinto beans, shredded cheese, sour cream, chives, diced olives, and lots more. Invite your kids to be part of the prep and planning process and they’ll be more excited about eating what they’ve helped create.

Photo Credit: Creative Commons, Ashwini Biradar

3. Tamales

Variations of this traditional dish can be found throughout Latin American, and few meals are prepared with as much love and effort as a batch of homemade tamales. In essence, a tamale is corn meal, broth, and a variety of ingredients packed inside corn husks, then steamed. Fortunately, you can customize tamales based on what your kids like. If they don’t like the usual shredded pork, olives, chiles, cumin and other fillings, try something a bit more basic. Make sure you get help from friends or senior family members as making tamales is most enjoyable when you’re doing it in a group.

4. Smothered Potatoes

Take inspiration from the basics found in many traditional Mexican dishes to come up with your own “Mexican-inspired” dish, like smothered potatoes. Pan fry diced potatoes and let your kids have fun covering them in the staples of Mexican cuisine–beans, cheese, shredded meat, cabbage, and maybe even a dash of hot sauce on top!

Photo Credit: Creative Commons, Juan Mejuto

5. Churros

Don’t forget dessert when it comes time to make a Mexican meal! Churros are fried dough, somewhat similar to an American-style donut. Buy a boxed mix at a Mexican grocery store or look up a recipe online if you’d rather make your own from scratch. This is one traditional Mexican food your kids are sure to enjoy!

Remember that we’re always just a quick email away if you decide you’d like to learn Spanish so you can explore Mexican culture even more and maybe even plan a visit. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about Spanish classes and private language instruction. Have fun trying all these Mexican dishes and good luck getting your kids excited about another country’s cuisine!