Delicious Mexican Options for Vegetarians

By on November 1, 2023

Mexican cuisine is a fan favorite around the world for its rich flavors and distinct taste. Not only does Mexican food taste great, but it’s also easy to adapt into vegetarian options, making it a great choice for those avoiding meat.

Here’s our favorite recipes that are rich in flavor, wonderfully filling, and beautiful to look at—all without any meat.

7-Layer Burritos

Bean burritos are an easy, favorite homemade meal, but they can become a lot healthier and tastier with additional ingredients. 7-layer burritos are made with Mexican rice, refried beans, shredded lettuce, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and cheese. The final burrito is an abundance of flavor that doesn’t leave you feeling shorted because it doesn’t include meat.

Elote

You haven’t lived until you’ve had Elote, a kind of street food made by grilling corn on the cob. Although it may sound ordinary at first, the seasoning and rich buttery goodness of a freshly picked and grilled corn on the cob cannot be understated.

Top with a creamy mayo sauce to add to the glory of this delicious snack.

3-Cheese Enchiladas

Enchiladas can be stuffed with chicken or shredded beef, but it can also be made with cheese. Cheese enchiladas allow the sauce to carry through more, and can give new flavors as the different types of cheese vie for attention.

Eat this with a spicy or fruity salsa to change up the taste.

Black Bean Nachos

Nachos are a classic tail-gate party food, and a delicious meal idea for a busy weekday. On their own, cheese and chips aren’t very filling, but by mixing in some black beans and red or green salsa, you can make it into a meal.

Nachos make a wonderful canvas for trying new ingredients. Don’t be afraid to try black olives or throw in some onions to give your nachos an added kick.

Vegetarian tortilla soup

There’s nothing like a bowl of soup to cozy up to on a cold, wintery day. There’s meany different types of soup available in the Mexican cuisine, but probably the most popular type is tortilla soup.

Spicy and flavorful, tortilla soup is another great meal that can easily skip the meat. The crunch of the fried chips added at the last minute pair well with the hot, pepper soup for a naturally vegetarian meal. Add black beans and fire roasted red peppers to give the soup more substance.

Churros

What’s a good meal without dessert? Churros are an authentic Mexican dessert, and incredibly delicious especially when slathered in a bitter chocolate sauce. If you don’t already know, churros are an eggy batter that is deep fried and then dusted in cinnamon and sugar for a decadent dessert. Serve with Mexican hot chocolate or a chocolate sauce for the ultimate experience.

Although carnitas or carne asada tends to be our first thought when we think of Mexican food, there are actually quite a few options that are vegetarian. Even foods that often have meat added to them, such as burritos or enchiladas, can easily be remade in a vegetarian way that still looks and tastes authentic.