Popular Mexican Christmas Food and Drinks

Christmas is a busy, lively holiday celebrated all over Mexico. It’s a time to gather with friends and family, dance, laugh, and—of course—feast on all kinds of delicious dishes. This list explores some of the most popular Mexican Christmas food and drinks.

How is Christmas celebrated in Mexico?

Mexican Christmas traditions are unique. They’re a blend of Spanish colonial religious practices and indigenous cultures. The holiday is truly one-of-a-kind.

For starters, Christmas isn’t just one day—it’s a whole season. Celebrations start on December 12th (Our Virgin of Guadalupe Day) and last until January 6th (Three Kings’ Day).

The highlight of the season, though, is Christmas Eve—or Nochebuena. On December 24th, people attend midnight mass and return home to a large feast. Extended family members all sit together at the table to share a traditional Mexican Christmas dinner, chatter, and laughter.

After celebrations that stretch until the early hours of the morning, Christmas Day is all about winding down and eating leftovers that are even more delicious the next day.

20 traditional Mexican Christmas food and drinks

Mexico is a large country with many traditions, but these dishes and drinks are staples almost everywhere.

1. Pozole rojo

Pozole rojo (or red pozole) is a comforting stew made with pork, hominy corn, and red chiles. It’s often topped with cabbage, radish, cilantro, and lime juice. This iconic dish is spicy, brothy, but filling.

2. Pozole verde

Pozole verde (or green pozole) is another variation of the popular stew. Made with chicken, hominy corn, tomatillos, and serrano peppers, it’s lighter than the red variety but just as delicious.

3. Bacalao novideño

Bacalao novideño (Christmas dried salted codfish) is also a beloved dish. Served with onions, garlic, tomatoes, olives, and chiles, it’s a centerpiece for households who ditch meat on holy days.

4. Tamales

Tamales are a mainstay of Christmas feasts. They can be stuffed with pork, chicken, beans, corn, and even cheese. Each family puts its own spin on them.

5. Pavo navideño

Turkey is native to Mexico, so it’s no surprise that pavo navideño (Christmas turkey) shows up on millions of dinner tables every year. Slowly roasted until it’s golden and sometimes doused in mole, it’s well worth the long cooking process.

6. Carne asada

Although not as popular as pozole, carne asada is also eaten on Christmas. This beef steak is marinated, grilled, and charred to bring out the most daring meaty flavors. It’s best served alongside a light, zesty salad.

7. Birria consome

Birria soup is a traditional dish from Jalisco. While it’s originally made with lamb meat, beef is also sometimes used. Either way, the meat is cooked until tender and simmered in a spiced broth.

8. Pierna de puerco adobada

Another popular Mexican Christmas food is roasted pork leg covered in adobo sauce. The intense marinade, slow oven roast, and rich sauce make this a much-beloved sumptuous dish.

9. Romeritos

Romeritos are wild-growing plants that look like rosemary but taste nothing like it. Traditionally, they’re boiled until soft and served as plain sides. Yet, they can be covered in a rich mole sauce with shrimp, too.

10. Ensalada de Nochebuena

A light, refreshing salad pairs well with all these hearty dishes. Each family combines whatever veggies and fruits they have (oranges, carrots, beets, pineapple, and so on) to make this Christmas Eve salad.

11. Buñuelos

Moving on to desserts, buñuelos is one of the most traditional. Small disks of dough are deep-fried until golden and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

12. Marranitos

Marranitos are pig-shaped cookies you can find in most Mexican homes and bakeries during the Christmas season. They’re soft, cakey, and sweetened with brown sugar and rich molasses.

13. Polvorones

Also called Mexican wedding cookies, these treats are beloved up and down Mexico. They’re heavy like a stodgy cake yet crumbly. The chopped pecans give them a nutty flavor while the powdered sugar on top makes them sweet and addictive.

14. Pumpkin empanadas

Some families stuff empanadas with a spiced pumpkin puree filling for Christmas. They’re best enjoyed with a drizzle of dulce de leche and a glass of milk or horchata on the side.

15. Rosca de Reyes

The Rosca de Reyes is a sweet bread crown topped with candied fruit and powdered sugar. It’s similar to the New Orleans King Cake and eaten throughout the entire holiday season.

16. Fruit salad

Fresh fruit salads are served alongside indulgent Christmas desserts. There’s no 1 recipe to follow: people use whatever fruits are available and in season. They’re the perfect palate cleanser.

17. Champurrado

Champurrado is a thick, sweet, creamy beverage that dates back to the time of the Aztecs. It’s made with Mexican chocolate, cinnamon, sugar, water, cornflour, and sometimes milk. Think of it as an old, delicious hot cocoa with a twist.

18. Ponche navideño

Christmas fruit punch is another popular hot beverage. It can be made from a variety of seasonal fruits (oranges, guavas, pears, and more) and with or without alcohol. Many families simmer a large pot and enjoy the drink for several days.

19. Rompope

Rompope is Mexico’s take on eggnog. At first, it was only made in convents, but it quickly became popular all over the country. It’s made with egg yolks, sugar, cinnamon, alcohol, and a wide variety of flavorings—including nutmeg and vanilla.

20. Horchata

A traditional plant-based milk, horchata is the perfect companion to all kinds of rich foods. Since it’s made with rice or coconut and only lightly sweetened, it’s quite light and refreshing. It pairs especially well with decadent Christmas desserts.

Start preparing your Mexican Christmas feast

You can take inspiration from these lively Mexican Christmas foods to switch things up at your next family gathering. While some ingredients may be hard to find at your local store, you can order them via Instacart. All it takes is a few clicks and, thanks to same-day delivery, you could get them on your doorstep in less than 2 hours. This way, you have more time to plan your feast.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Bush's Best White Hominy (15.5 oz)

La Costeña Tomatoes, Whole, Green (28 oz)

Goya Boned Salted Codfish (16 oz)

Dona Maria Mole Mexican Sauce (8.25 oz)

La Costeña Adobo Sauce (8.25 oz)

Fresh Romerito (per lb)

Pecans Halves, Bulk (1 lb)

La Lechera Dulce de Leche (13.4 oz)

Simply Organic Ceylon Cinnamon (2.08 oz)

Guava (1 each)

McCormick® Ground Nutmeg (1.1 oz)

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