Start your next gathering off right with our mouthwatering selection of Mexican appetiser recipes! From traditional favourites like chips and salsa to more creative dishes like queso fundido and ceviche, we have something for everyone. These starters are perfect for adding complementary flavours and textures to your meal, and they’re sure to satisfy everyone’s hunger.

Mexican Starters finished dish

Gran Luchito Best

Mexican Starter

Our most popular Mexican appetisers are sure to please everyone! From our renowned Air Fryer Taquitos to our enticing Air Fryer Empanada and delightful Paloma Cocktail, these are sure to tantalise your taste buds. And while they’re perfect for sharing between two people, they can easily be scaled up to feed a crowd.

So gather your friends and family and enjoy a delicious Mexican feast! You won’t be disappointed.

Jump to all our Mexican Starters.

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Mexican Soup

Why don’t you make a big batch of one of our delicious Mexican soups to try this winter? Choose from a hearty Mexican Chicken Soup, or traditional Pozole Soup, made with ox cheeks or brisket.

Or for something slightly lighter try our silky and slightly spicy Black Bean Soup, or our Tortilla Soup, made with a tomato and chicken broth.

Top ingredients to stock up on for Mexican soups are Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste, Salsa Macha and Cantina Beans. Here at Luchito we also love to crumble Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips on top of our soups for added crunch!

Everything you need to make Mexican starters at home

With a few pantry staples from Gran Luchito, you can make delicious Mexican starters at home!

Get yourself some Gran Luchito Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips, that can be dunked in our guacamole and queso dip recipes as well as chicken soup, or used for nachos!

Some of our signature Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste and some of our black Cantina Beans can be used in chicken soup, empanadas, Mexican salad, and your meat scattered over nachos.

Finally some Gran Luchito Tomatillo Salsa can be served alongside chicken taquitos, dolloped on vegan nachos, or hidden inside quesadillas as well as guacamole!

Find Gran Luchito. in the Mexican Section

Easy & Satisfying

Mexican Starters
Dishes

Looking for a delicious and easy Mexican starter? Look no further than our collection of recipes! We have something for everyone, from quick and easy dishes like guacamole and quesadillas to more labour-intensive options like tamales and chicken taquitos.

shrimp tostada

Shrimp Tostada

Shrimp tostadas are a mouth-watering Mexican dish that is sure to transport your taste buds to the sunny beaches of Mexico. These crispy tortillas are piled high with plump and juicy shrimp, fresh veggies, and zesty salsa, creating a delicious flavor explosion in every bite. ... See full recipe

Guacamole

Homemade Guacamole

A super fresh and easy to make at home guacamole recipe made with mild tomatillos, jalapeños and creamy avocados that tastes delicious - you should try it!... See full recipe

Ceviche

Ceviche

This prawn ceviche is light, delicious and fresh, and is a great intro to making ceviche at home as it uses cooked prawns. Accompany with Tortilla Chips to scoop up the goodness.... See full recipe

Mexican Starters - Paloma Cocktail - finished drink

Paloma Cocktail

Palomas are a traditional Mexican cocktail known for its combination of tequila and grapefruit soda, which creates a tart and citric flavour profile.... See full recipe

Mexican Starter - Air Fryer Taquitos finished dish

Air Fryer Taquitos

Air fryer taquitos are delicious tortillas filled with a savoury filling, folded into a flute-like shape, then shallow-fried in vegetable oil till golden brown.... See full recipe

Mexican Starters - Air Fryer Empanadas finished dish

Air Fryer Empanada

Air fryer empanadas are ideal if you're looking for a quick and easy way to satisfy a craving, providing a healthier, tastier, and more convenient way to enjoy your favourite food.... See full recipe

Tetelas

Tetelas

Potatoes filled with onion and flavoured with Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste fill our Tetelas! Serve these tasty Mexican snacks with creme fraiche and our Gran Luchito Tomatillo Salsa.... See full recipe

Tlacoyos

Tlacoyos

We think you'd like to try these tlacoyos at home as the perfect appetizer alongside some refried beans and tomatillo salsa for the perfect Mexican snack! ... See full recipe

Black Bean Soup

Black Bean Soup

An easy homemade black bean soup recipe that uses Gran Luchito Cantina Beans and Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste. A creamy and slightly spicy soup, this one is delicious! ... See full recipe

Guide to Pacific Coast Mexico with Aguachile

Aguachile

Here's our beautiful Aguachile recipe - raw fresh prawns cooked in lime juice and covered in a spicy marinade using our special blend Habanero & Lime Fajita & Taco Mix.... See full recipe

Tamales, Mexican street food

Tamales

Here is our special hot tamales recipe where we use our Chipotle Paste to cook the beef and make it into delicious and succulent meat, ready to go into the traditional tamales.... See full recipe

Vegan Nachos finished dish

Vegan Nachos

Looking for a recipe with layers of flavour and textures - look no further. Whether you are vegan or just fancy a meat-free meal, our Vegan Nachos really hit the spot.... See full recipe

Mexican food - Tacos Al Carbon Finished dish

Tacos Al Carbon

Tacos al Carbon are a popular Mexican dish consisting of grilled and thinly sliced marinated meat, typically served with warm tortillas and a variety of flavourful toppings. The smoky and charred flavours from the grill give these tacos a distinct and delicious taste that keeps people coming back for more.... See full recipe

fideo soup finished dish

Fideo Soup

Fideo soup is a traditional Mexican dish known for its comforting and flavourful qualities. It typically consists of toasted noodles (called fideo) cooked in a tomato-based broth along with various vegetables and seasonings. ... See full recipe

finished dish of chicken nachos

Chicken Nachos

The perfect movie night in nacho! Delicious nachos layered with flavourful chipotle chicken thighs, Refried Beans, cheese and a salsa that packs a punch.... See full recipe

authentic mexican food

Pozole Soup

This authentic Pozole Soup recipe is cooked slow 'n low with Chipotle Paste for a rich, spicy brothy soup with lots of veggies - perfect for a cold night.... See full recipe

Vegan Pozole finished dish

Vegan Pozole

Vegan pozole is a traditional Mexican soup crafted without animal products, replacing pork with ingredients like hominy, vegetables, and flavourful spices. It offers a rich, hearty taste, complemented by the essence of herbs and chilli peppers.... See full recipe

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

“Chiles rellenos” are stuffed poblano peppers, covered in a light batter made of egg whites whisked until stiff, then shallow fried and served with a homemade tomato sauce.... See full recipe

Albondigas Soup finished dish

Albondigas Soup

Albondigas Soup is a traditional Mexican dish that features savoury meatballs (albondigas) made from a mixture of ground meat, rice, herbs, and spices. These flavourful meatballs are simmered in a broth alongside vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and zucchini.... See full recipe

Chicharron en Salsa Verde finished dish

Chicharron en Salsa Verde

Chicharrón en verde is a popular Mexican dish known for its rich and flavourful preparation. This dish consists of tender pork cracklings (chicharrón) simmered in a vibrant green sauce made from tomatillos, green chili peppers, and aromatic herbs and spices. ... See full recipe

Sopes

Sopes

Sopes are thick masa shaped discs, pinched on the edges to form a vessel. They’re lightly fried and typically topped with refried beans, fresh cheese and salsa.... See full recipe

authentic mexican food

Tuna Tostadas

A crispy corn tostada is topped with smoky Chipotle Mayo, then a delicious fresh tuna ceviche marinated in lime and soy and topped with crispy leeks - an epic starter!... See full recipe

Mexican Street Food Recipes - Classic Tostada

Classic Tostada

Indulge in the warm and delicious flavours of a classic tostada, a beloved and traditional Mexican dish featuring a crispy corn tortilla, refried beans, and an array of toppings to create a fulfilling and enjoyable dining experience.... See full recipe

Camarones a la Diabla

Camarones a la Diabla

Camarones a la diabla is a popular Mexican dish that translates to "deviled shrimp" in English. It is a spicy and flavorful preparation of shrimp that is often enjoyed as a main course or served as a filling for tacos, burritos, or tostadas.... See full recipe

Gorditas

Gorditas

Gorditas are one of those perfect quick Mexican recipes that you can have on the go and eat with your hands. Made of masa, ours are loaded with traditional beef picadillo.... See full recipe

Pulled Pork Chimichanga

This pulled pork chimichanga recipe is basically a crispy deep-fried burrito with pulled pork and it tastes as good as it sounds! Serve with homemade guacamole.... See full recipe

BBQ Corn

BBQ Corn

A popular way of eating corn on the cob in Mexico is barbecued! Our BBQ Corn recipe is served with Chipotle Butter, a squeeze of lime juice, and freshly chopped coriander.... See full recipe

finished dish

Cheese Empanadas

These Cheese Empanadas with sweet potato and brie are easy to make using pre-made shortcrust pastry sheets, full of flavour and spice and a total crowd pleaser.... See full recipe

Tortilla Soup

Tortilla Soup

One of the loveliest soups in Mexico is tortilla soup. We prepare it with our Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips, fresh avocado, fresh coriander and our Crunchy Salsa Macha.... See full recipe

Mexican Chicken Soup

Mexican Chicken Soup

There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of hearty warm soup during a cold winter's day. Well this is exactly what we had in mind when we created this recipe.... See full recipe

Mexican Corn finished dish

Mexican Corn

This tasty Mexican corn salad recipe is plucked straight from the streets of Mexico City. We love the sauce made with parmesan, lime juice, Chipotle Mayo and coriander.... See full recipe

Finished dish of Mushroom Molletes

Mushroom Molletes

Have you ever had Molletes? They're a beloved Mexican open toastie normally enjoyed as “almuerzo” or “brunch” in English. This recipe has delicious, buttery girolles.... See full recipe

Chicken Taquitos

Chicken Taquitos

A sure fire way to get the party started is to whip up a batch of our easy chipotle Chicken Taquitos! These can be made as a starter, party snack or tasty dinner!... See full recipe

Cheese Quesadilla finished dish

Cheese Quesadilla

Quesadillas are super easy to make and in this recipe, the humble Cheese Quesadilla gets taken up an authentic notch with the addition of Sliced Mexican Green Cactus.... See full recipe

Michelada

Michelada

Part beer, part cocktail, this "beertail" is full of flavour and fun. Like a Bloody Mary, Micheladas are perfect for hangovers, and very refreshing on a hot summer's day.... See full recipe

Mexican Brussel Sprouts finished dish

Mexican Brussels Sprouts

Mexican Brussels sprouts offer a tantalizing twist to traditional recipes, infusing these petite greens with the vibrant flavors of Mexico. They bring a delightful fusion of Mexican zest.... See full recipe

Chipotle Margarita

Chipotle Margarita

The margarita is a guaranteed party starter. With a touch of smoky Chipotle Paste, tequila, and balanced with zesty lime and orange liqueur, it's got a zing to get you going.... See full recipe

Grilled Shrimp

Grilled Shrimp

Looking for a very tasty recipe for shrimp or prawns, then this is it! A marinade using our Crunchy Salsa Macha gives a spicy-smoky taste to these deliciously charred shrimps.... See full recipe

Enchilada Soup

Enchilada Soup

Bring the coziness of enchiladas to your home with this recipe for Enchilada Soup! We guarantee that you'll love this lovely and hearty soup that you'll be making again and again.... See full recipe

Caldo Tlalpeno

Caldo Tlalpeño

Caldo Tlalpeño is a hearty Mexican soup made with a chicken and tomato based broth, shredded chicken, vegetables and rice. It's seriously nourishing and satisfying, perfect for the cold!... See full recipe

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Gran Luchito Mexican

Mexican Starters
FAQs

Take a look at our frequently asked questions about Mexican starter recipes. If you have questions of your own not shown here, please ask them in the comments section underneath the recipes. To learn more about authentic Mexican cooking check out the Gran Luchito Youtube Channel.

What appetisers go with guacamole?

Try serving guacamole as a topping on our Chicken Fajitas or Beef Nachos recipes. You could also put it into Chicken Burritos or a Breakfast Burrito. Or simply serve on the side of Steak Fajitas.

What goes with chips and salsa?

Our recipe for a Chipotle Margarita! You could also make a batch of fresh homemade guacamole, and also serve with some tacos.

What goes with margaritas?

A fresh homemade batch of guacamole and some Gran Luchito Lightly Salted Tortilla Chips!

Are corn tortillas gluten free?

Yes they are. Corn tortillas are a healthier alternative to flour tortillas, providing more whole grains and are a good choice for those with a gluten intolerance.

How to set up a mexican buffet?

Add all of the following into pretty bowls to the table so everyone can make tacos: warm soft flour tortillas (covered with a tea towel), rice, a marinaded meat such as carnitas, barabacoa, slow-cooked chicken, salsa, homemade guacamole, black or refried beans, sour cream, shredded cheese, chillies and some tortilla chips.