19 Insanely Delicious Tex-Mex Recipes that are Light & Flavorful- Healthy Inspiration

While Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican holiday celebrating it’s 1862 victory over France, it might be safe to say that Americans enjoy celebrating it just as much! At least according to some statistics, Mexican/Hispanic food remains one of the most popular cuisines among Americans. But the ‘Americanized’ tex-mex restaurants we know and love often leave us feeling ‘heavy’ and overstuffed.

Flavorful, amazing tex-mex dishes are not off limits. In fact, you can cook up some mouth-watering dishes that are good for you without a lot of time or energy. A few keys to lightening up your tex-mex favorites:

Choose lean cuts of protein (skinless poultry, lean beef/pork, fish and seafood)
Select beans and refried beans that do not have added lard, fat or oil
Buy 100% whole grain or corn tortillas that have a simple ingredient list AND do not have hydrogenated oils
Use sharp, flavorful cheeses so that a little bit will give a big flavor boost
Watch out for sodium- cheese, jarred salsa, enchilada sauce, condiments, seasoning packets, prepared beans- all of these contribute a significant amount of sodium to a recipe
Use lime for an acidic punch to reduce the need to add salt
Make up your own seasoning blend at home and avoid the packaged ones
Don’t forget to add fresh herbs like cilantro for vibrant flavors
Avoid the bottomless bowls (or bags) of chips on the table

Most individuals I know enjoy tex-mex at least 1 night each week so whether you are hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta or just looking for some new recipes for ‘Taco Tuesday’, here are 19 healthy tex-mex recipes you and your family are sure to love!