The 5th of May marks the popular Mexican celebration, Cinco de Mayo, where millions of Americans and Mexican Americans alike, will come together to celebrate the festivities.
There are an estimated 37.2 million Mexican-Americans across the US, with Mexican food deemed the second most popular cuisine, Cinco de Mayo is a chance for all Americans to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage with street parades, delicious food and drinks.
But as the day quickly approaches, what recipes are Americans looking forward to creating?
YorkTest has collated Google Keyword Planner data over the past year to determine which popular Cinco de Mayo recipe each state has a growing appetite for.
The Mexican classic ‘Enchiladas Verde’, a spicy chicken tortilla covered in cheese, saw a 150% increase in searches in the last year – making it the most popular recipe overall in the US.
Below, YorkTest reveals which is the most popular Cinco de Mayo-inspired dish in each state this year, for those keen to recreate your state’s favorite Mexican food and drink dishes.
The most popular Cinco De Mayo recipes in each state in 2023
| State | Recipe | Increase in appetite for 2023 |
| Alabama | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 52% |
| Alaska | Homemade Tortillas | 39% |
| Arizona | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 39% |
| Arkansas | Enchiladas Verdes | 100% |
| California | Lime Chicken Quesadillas | 50% |
| Colorado | Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa | 75% |
| Connecticut | Chicken Taquitos | 57% |
| Delaware | Chicken Taquitos | 50% |
| Florida | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 81% |
| Georgia | Chipotle Carne Asada Tacos | 23% |
| Hawaii | Beef Enchiladas | 67% |
| Idaho | Enchiladas Verdes | 150% |
| Illinois | Paloma | 50% |
| Indiana | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 51% |
| Iowa | Chipotle Carne Asada Tacos | 55% |
| Kentucky | Instant Pot Refried Beans | 75% |
| Louisiana | Enchiladas Verdes | 67% |
| Maine | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 89% |
| Maryland | Beef Enchiladas | 24% |
| Massachusetts | Tres Leches Cake | 25% |
| Michigan | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 39% |
| Minnesota | Cadillac Margarita | 55% |
| Mississippi | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 55% |
| Missouri | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 50% |
| Montana | Guacamole | 57% |
| Nebraska | Chicken Taquitos | 75% |
| Nevada | Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa | 100% |
| New Hampshire | Homemade Tomatillo Salsa | 52% |
| New Jersey | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 50% |
| New Mexico | Beef Enchiladas | 27% |
| New York | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 39% |
| North Carolina | Chicken Taquitos | 24% |
| North Dakota | Homemade Tomatillo Salsa | 56% |
| Ohio | Chicken Tostadas | 50% |
| Oklahoma | Enchiladas Verdes | 40% |
| Oregon | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 50% |
| Pennsylvania | Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa | 29% |
| Rhode Island | Cadillac Margarita | 50% |
| South Carolina | Chipotle Carne Asada Tacos | 86% |
| South Dakota | Chipotle Carne Asada Tacos | 40% |
| Tennessee | Chicken Taquitos | 100% |
| Texas | Restaurant-Style Salsa | 75% |
| Utah | Enchiladas Verdes | 40% |
| Vermont | Chicken Tortilla Soup | 80% |
| Virginia | Posole | 100% |
| Washington | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 39% |
| West Virginia | Spicy Jalapeño Margarita | 100% |
| Wisconsin | Tres Leches Cake | 67% |
| Wyoming | Guacamole | 40% |
Have a quick and tasty fiesta
Being the host of the festivities can be stressful but the top two dishes are quick to whip up and are sure to be crowd-pleasers. Searches for “Spicy Jalapeño Margarita recipes†saw a 100% increase in searches across 13 states and “Enchiladas Verde recipes†saw the biggest increase out of all the recipes.
Both are simple to make with only a few ingredients making it easier to enjoy the experience of the day. For those who have a food sensitivity to certain meals, why not create a vegan version using black beans and dairy-free grated cheese alongside a spicy mocktail margarita?
Easy snack
Chicken taquitos, a fried corn tortilla filled with shredded chicken and cheese, and loaded with sour cream, salsa and guacamole, is a convenient party snack. They have soared in popularity, with multiple states seeing a 100% increase across the US.
Instead of frying, these can be baked to create a healthier and more nutritious version.
Kerri Ferraioli, expert nutritionist at YorkTest, commented on the research:
“Cinco de Mayo is a great day to celebrate by eating the delicious Mexican classics and the good thing with these most popular dishes is that the majority can be made to be gluten-free and vegan. Substituting with black beans not only creates a tasty alternative but it is packed with antioxidants and fiber, which might be a good option for those who have different diets. If experiencing symptoms of food sensitivity, taking a food sensitivity test may help to understand your dietary needs better.
“When you’re in full swing of the festivities, a lot of drinks and foods will be mixed, which could lead to early tiredness and bloating. It’s important during celebratory days such as this to stay hydrated and have some fruit to get some natural sugar which will boost energy levels.â€
Methodology
YorkTest analyzed Google Keyword Planner data from the US over the course of a year, to determine which Cinco de Mayo recipes have had the biggest change in searches, to reveal the most popular Cinco de Mayo recipes for 2023. Data is up to date as of March 2023.
