17 Dinners on Rotation That My Mexican Husband Loves: With Recipes
In my first year of marriage, I felt so nervous about cooking for my husband! He’s been a Mexican/Italian food cook for about 7 years, and his food is SO GOOD. I wanted to impress him so bad, lol!

Every time I cooked something, I judged his reaction, and if he loved it, I added it to a roster of meals in my notes app. This took a huge weight off of my mental load. If I didn’t know what to make for dinner, I would just pick one of the items off of the “menu”!
Why I Keep These Meals on Rotation
- Most of these are pretty simple recipes. The more I cook them, the faster I get at making them too!
- My husband and I both love these dishes. This rotation works for the both of us.
- There’s a variety of different cuisines, like Asian, Mexican, and Italian.
- These meals are healthy-ish or can be made healthy with a few ingredient swaps.
1. Chicken Tinga
If my husband were to pick one thing to eat for the rest of his life, it 100% would be Chicken Tinga. The best thing is that this meal is pretty simple to make. The base is shredded chicken in a delicious spicy chipotle sauce.
The best way to eat it is on top of a tostada spread with sour cream, then adding shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced avocado, and queso fresco.
I always use this recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch; it’s so good!
2. Albondigas en Chipotle
I love how quick and easy this Mexican dish is. I usually have all of the ingredients already on hand, and it’s one of my favorite ground beef recipes.
“Albondigas” are meatballs in Spanish, and these are covered in yet another chipotle sauce (can you tell we love chipotle?). Serve with rice or a salad to take the meal up a notch.
This recipe from Mexico in My Kitchen is my go-to.
3. Bistec a la Mexicana con Papas
Another super simple recipe, this is one of my favorites to make when I’m feeling lazy and need something that comes together quickly.
Made with steak, tomatoes, and poblano pepper as the main ingredients, it’s not only delicious but healthy too! I first found this recipe on Instagram from the creator below.
4. Steak Tacos

You can’t go wrong with tacos, ever. I use any cut of steak that I have in my freezer, usually flank steak or skirt steak, and marinate it for a few hours before making them.
Just use any carne asada marinade recipe (like this one from Pinch & Swirl) and marinate your chopped-up steak for at least an hour.
Serve with tortillas, lime, diced onions, and cilantro.
5. Calabacitas con Puerco y Elote
We are big into pork, so for this recipe I substitute the pork for chicken breasts or thighs. Calabacitas con Puerco y Elote is essentially a Mexican veggie stew with protein. It’s a delicious and comforting warm dinner.
I love this recipe because I consider it a pretty well rounded, healthy meal for our family! I got the recipe from Mexico in my Kitchen.
6. Copycat Chipotle dinner
I’m obsessed with this viral TikTok recipe I found from an ex-Chipotle employee. It tastes so much better to make all of the sides and mains from home!
This video includes instructions on how to make cilantro lime rice, pico de gallo, guacamole, and chicken. I also sometimes will add homemade salsa, corn salsa, or copycat Chipotle veggies.
7. Milanesa de Res/Pollo
Another recipe from Mexico in my Kitchen, Milanesa de Res or Milanesa de Pollo is a family favorite in our house! It’s perfectly crispy, thin cuts of beef or chicken served with a side salad, rice, or vegetables (or all of the above!)
It’s healthy-ish and pretty simple which is why I love to keep it on rotation.
8. Pineapple fried rice
Years ago in college I had my first taste of pineapple fried rice and omg it was life changing! Still one of my husband and I’s favorite foods, I occasionally will make this pineapple fried rice recipe.
This delicious dinner is just fried rice with pineapple and cashews, and you can add either chicken or shrimp, or both, to incorporate some protein.
9. Flautas with sopa de fideo
Ugh these are soo good! My husband made me sopa de fideo for the first time and I fell in love. It’s a noodle tomato soup that pairs perfectly with crunchy chicken flautas.
There are so many recipes out there, but this TikTok video below is perfect for instructions and ingredients.
11. Mediterranean bowls
Back when I was pregnant with my first baby, my husband and I were obsessed with Cava! These copycat Cava bowls, or Mediterranean bowls, are so good and so nutritious.
I love making these bowls when I have leftover sides or veggies like rice, cucumber, tomatoes or lettuce. Just throw all of the ingredients together in a bowl, whip up or buy a sauce, and voila! Dinner is ready.
12. Marry me chicken
A classic millennial favorite, lol! If you have sundried tomatoes that you don’t know what to do with, make this dish! It’s so creamy and satisfying, and you can pair it with rice, vegetables, or pasta for a complete meal.
Try this recipe, I know you will love it!
13. Mississippi mud roast
One of my friends from college gave me this recipe! It’s like pot roast, but a hundred times better.
It’s best in the slow cooker, and you can add in potatoes and carrots too. I also love eating this pot roast with mac n cheese, it’s so delicious!
I follow the below recipe, but also add a packet of onion soup mix for extra flavor.
14. Marry me chicken soup
I discovered this soup when I was trying to make some classic chicken noodle soup for my sick husband. I saw this “marry me” version and I was instantly hooked. It’s a more hearty version of your favorite chicken noodle soup, just creamier and made with sun dried tomatoes.
15. Lo mein
@cassyeungmoney on TikTok is one of my FAVE creators on the platform. Her recipes are so good and foolproof, especially her Lo Mein recipe.
I make this at least a couple of times a month and we almost never have leftovers. I dare say, it’s actually so much better than eating at Panda Express.
16. Cherry Tomato & Basil Shellbows
I love pasta so much, and this spicy Cherry Tomato & Basil Shellbows is top 5 favorites for sure. It’s creamy, spicy, and so yummy. I add grilled chicken on the side for a balanced and complete meal, and don’t forget the wine!
18. Tacos gobernador
I’ve made this very recently but it was such a success that i’ve gotta make it again!! I always have tortillas, cheese, and chicken in my fridge, so Tacos gobernador are perfect for when you don’t know what to make but you also don’t want to go to the store!
I follow the ingredients in the recipe except I swap the shrimp for chicken.
19. Beef & Broccoli
Another Chinese takeout favorite from @cassyeungmoney! I’ve made this so many times that it gets easier and easier to pull together quickly. If I don’t know what to cook with the steak in my fridge, this is my go-to meal.
Pair it with white rice, and it’s BOMB!
Why I Love Learning to Cook New Things for My Husband
I hope this list is helpful for all of you newlyweds or if you just want to start cooking for your husband (Mexican or not, haha!). In my husband’s culture, food is a BIG deal, and it’s a sacred time for families to get together. I love following this tradition, and learning how to cook wholesome, fun, and delicious meals for my man is my way to contribute.
God bless y’all!