10 of the Best Mexican Grilled Recipes

The smell of meat cooking over charcoal is one of the pleasures of an evening stroll through a town in Mexico. Here are 10 ways we’ve tried to capture that experience in a range of recipes, from a pretty classic carne asada to sangría made with grilled fruit. Buen provecho!

1. Grilled Shrimp Tacos

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Grilled shrimp are a lighter alternative to meat for tacos. Toss them quickly in spicy chipotle powder, cumin, and lime juice, then grill to develop a flavorful char. Stuff into warm corn tortillas and top with fresh avocado-corn salsa. Get our Grilled Shrimp Tacos recipe.

2. Mexican BBQ Chicken

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A recipe inspired by Mexico’s pollo al carbon, chickens marinated and cooked on huge charcoal grills. The marinade contains achiote paste, chopped cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, lime, and orange juice. Get our Mexican BBQ Chicken recipe.

3. Grilled Chile Salmon with Lime Crema

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Salmon fillets marinate quickly in chili powder, garlic, lime, and olive oil. After grilling, the salmon is served with a sauce of Mexican crema or sour cream, lime, cilantro, and green onions. Get our Grilled Chile Salmon with Lime Crema recipe.

4. Carne Asada

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FLank steak marinated with beer, lime and lemon, garlic, red onion, salt, and a bit of sugar. Then grill, slice, and slip into tacos. Get our Carne Asada recipe.

5. Guacamole Turkey Burgers

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Turkey burgers can be dry and tasteless, but not these. Dark-meat turkey lends juiciness and flavor, while additions of chili powder, lime zest, and cilantro lend character. A topping of tangy guacamole finishes things off in vivid style. Get our Guacamole Turkey Burgers recipe.

6. Mexican Grilled Steak Salad

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For this healthy Mexican grilled flank steak recipe, medium-rare slices of beer-marinated beef mingle with romaine lettuce, canned black beans, cherry tomatoes, avocado, queso fresco, and cilantro in an avocado-yogurt dressing. Get our Mexican Grilled Steak Salad recipe.

7. Grilled Tofu Torta

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Grill marinated tofu, then top it with smashed black beans, salty crumbles of Cotija cheese, pickled jalapeños, creamy avocado, and shredded lettuce, all inside a soft bun. Get our Grilled Tofu Torta recipe.

8. Grilled Sangría

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Sangria is technically Spanish (its Mexican cousin is clerico), put it’s perfect with Mexican food. Adding grilled fruit gives it a bit of smoky flavor that complements the red wine and brandy, but also mellows out the booziness. Get our Grilled Sangría recipe.

9. Grilled Rib-Eyes with Chile-Lime-Tequila Butter

Steaks on the grill are the iconic summertime meal. We top ours with a Mexican-style compound butter spiked with chiles, black pepper, lime juice, and tequila. Get our Grilled Rib-Eyes with Chile-Lime-Tequila Butter recipe.

10. Pork and Chorizo Chile Burger

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Top these burgers of ground pork and spicy Mexican chorizo with grilled chiles and a grilled avocado mash; wash it all down with a refreshing beer cocktail. Get our Pork and Chorizo Chile Burger recipe.