Dia de los Muertos is full of delicious Mexican treats. Here is a list of the traditional Day of the Dead food made on this special Holiday.
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Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of the deceased. A truly beautiful tradition that originated in Southern Mexico by the indigenous people of the area and popularized by the Disney movie, Coco.
Learn more about Day of the Dead!
Every November 2nd, altars filled with marigolds and sugar skulls are put up in homes throughout Mexico and parts of the US, honoring the dead. Women dressed up as La Catrina parade the streets in processions.
With every Mexican fiesta, there is always something yummy. These Day of the Dead Food Recipes are either placed on the altars or taken to the cemetery to be enjoyed with the deceased.
Table of Contents
- 1 Pan de Muerto
- 2 Red Pork Tamales
- 3 Champurrado
- 4 Camote Enmielado
- 5 Tamales Dulces
- 6 Buñuelos
- 7 Tamales de Frijol
- 8 Conchas
- 9 Beef Tamales
- 10 Pumpkin Empanadas
- 11 Jalapeno and Cheese Tamales
- 12 Cajeta
- 13 Masa with Oil
- 14 Pozole Blanco
- 15 Atole de Chocolate
- 16 Masa For Tamales
- 17 Pozole Rojo
- 18 Birria
- 19 Chicken Mole Tamales
- 20 Arroz con Leche
- 21 Pan de Elote
- 22 Instant Pot Chicken Tamales
- 23 😋 Hungry for More?
Pan de Muerto
The most traditional Day of the Dead food is Pan de Muerto. This soft and sweet bread is dipped in butter and topped with sugar. A Mexican dessert beloved by all the living and the dead. Look for Day of the Dead bread on nearly every altar next to calaveras and candles.
Red Pork Tamales
Red Pork Tamales (or Tamales de Puerco en Chile Rojo) is a perfect treat for the Day of the Dead celebrations. Without a doubt, this is one of the most loved favorite kinds of tamales.
What makes this one so special is that the masa is made with the very same sauce as the filling. It’s totally delicious with rich flavors and a distinctive red color.
Champurrado
Champurrado will bring warmth and happy memories to your Dia de los Muertos celebration. Your ancestors will love it too.
A thick and satisfying Mexican chocolate drink that’s perfect for chilly fall days or nights at the cemetery.
Camote Enmielado
Camote Enmielado is a yummy treat made of sweet potatoes cooked in warm spices like cinnamon and a sweet piloncillo sauce. A classic in Mexican cuisine.
Tamales Dulces
The sweetness of Dia de los Muertos and the memory of departed loved ones is each bite.
Tamales Dulces (or Sweet Tamales) are composed of both fruits and nuts. This dessert tamale is often found on Dia de los Muertos ofrendas, or day of the dead altars.
Buñuelos
More than just a Christmas thing, Buñuelos are a staple Day of the Dead food.
Dia de Los Muertos time is definitely Mexican Fritter time. This authentic Mexican dessert is a family favorite during any holidays.
Tamales de Frijol
This Day of the Dead food is both tasty and a classic. Tamales de Frijol are guaranteed to be enjoyed by everyone living or dead.
Conchas
When thinking of Day of the Dead food ideas, you can’t forget this one!
You will surely see these well-known Mexican sweetbreads everywhere, Mexican Conchas.
Not just for breakfast or dessert, this traditional pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread) is meant to be enjoyed at any time of the day. A treat for everyone living and for those who have passed away.
Beef Tamales
Every Mexican food lover knows that tamales are an absolute essential during Dia de Los Muertos. This Beef Tamales recipe is so delicious and rich in flavor.
Your deceased loved ones are sure to enjoy the sight of them on the ofrenda.
Pumpkin Empanadas
Not just for Halloween, these Pumpkin Empanadas are a sweet Day of the Dead food.
If this was a recipe that you and your beloved deceased made together, why not cherish their memories by making some. Not just for Dia de los Muertos, but something to indulge yourself in and enjoy all year long.
Jalapeno and Cheese Tamales
Even though these may be great to place on an altar, it’s probably better that you save some for stuffing your own tummy with these yummy Jalapeno and Cheese Tamales, or Jalapeño and Cheese Tamales.
This Mexican food favorite is clearly yummy and so satisfying.
Cajeta
This list of Day of the Dead food ideas wouldn’t be complete without this delicious Mexican caramel sauce.
When celebrating the sweetness of our dearly departed relatives, nothing beats the rich taste of Cajeta. It makes a great filling for pan de muerto, or even just on some toast.
Masa with Oil
Mexican always make a big batch of tamales during Dia de los Muertos. Some for the family, and some go on the ofrenda. This means you still may want to eat well during the holiday while avoiding excess fat.
For a healthier option, this tamale Masa Recipe with Oil is the perfect solution for creating healthy Mexican tamales. Every bite brings out its distinctly rich flavor.
Pozole Blanco
Some people take food to the cemetery on Dia de los Muertos or around the Holiday. It is typically a dish the deceased loved to eat like this Pozole Blanco, or White Chicken Pozole.
This traditional Day of the Dead food will bring you great hominy in your life and for those in the afterlife as well.
Atole de Chocolate
Looking for a yummy drink to take the chill off your cemetery celebration? This Atole de Chocolate is the perfect offering to your ancestors and your guests alike.
This Mexican hot chocolate drink is always a crowd-pleaser and especially delicious on chilly fall nights.
Masa For Tamales
Making homemade Masa for Tamales might conjure memories and stories of tamaladas with your deceased loved ones.
It is so much easier than you may realize. Made with just masa harina (or corn flour) and a few ingredients.
Pozole Rojo
One Mexican stew that is perfect for you to take to the cemetery is Pozole Rojo, or Red Pozole.
It’s both hearty and delicious. You’ll love every spoonful of this traditional Mexican dish! It makes for a great Day of the Dead food for all.
Birria
Your tastebuds will jump for joy when you gobble up a great big bowl of this Slow Cooker Birria de Res, or Mexican Beef stew.
Birria is the ultimate comfort food. Usually eaten on Sundays and full of rich family memories and Mexican flavors.
Chicken Mole Tamales
Holy Mole! One of Mexico’s most cherished food and truly authentic Mexican is mole.
Make some Tamales de Mole for your family and your ancestors. These incredibly delicious treats are the perfect addition to your Día De Los Muertos celebration.
Arroz con Leche
Another must-have Dia de los Muertos recipes is this sweet, creamy and delicious Mexican dessert, Arroz con Leche. If it was loved by your deceased loved one, be sure to place it on your altar.
Pan de Elote
Dia de los Muertos time is the right time to serve Pan de Elote, or Mexican Sweet Corn Cake. This delicious treat is also a perfect addition to the ofrenda. It also easily transports to the cemetery.
Instant Pot Chicken Tamales
If you have leftover chicken around Dia de los Muertos, this is the perfect Mexican recipe. Make Day of the Dead food recipes easy with an instant pot. They are done in ½ the cooking time!
For a little piece of heaven in your mouth, try these Instant Pot Chicken Tamales. They are so much more than finger-licking good.
😋 Hungry for More?
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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!
Fascinating. I didn’t know there were so many special dishes to celebrate the day of the dead. While I’m not familar with the holiday customs, the food looks amazing. Right now that hot chocolate followed by all the bread would be perfect. Yummy post. Thanks for sharing.
I love traditional food and this one look incredibly delicious! I would like to taste some of these! Yum!
These looks delicious great way to remembers our family members who left us. I have made that bread. I haven’t tried rest of the recipes. Bunuelos looks perfect I need to give it a try.
Sounds like a lot of great food. I’ve never celebrated, but always wondered more about it. I love that there are so many great foods.
I would love to try your Mexican stew and tamales. So much delicious Mexican dishes here!
Good to know about all these food because in my home country, the Philippines, we also have certain foods that we only prepare on the day of the dead. 🙂
All of these foods look so good! We were in Mexico one year during the Day of the Dead festivities. I’m so glad we were able to be there during that time.
These recipes look sooo delicious! I would love to have them right now. If only I could cook and eat them all at once.
While we don’t celebrate Day of the Dead, I certainly do love to indulge in delicious Mexican dishes. There are a few recipes posted here that I can’t wait to try!
We have Dia de los Muertos here in our place, too but we call it All souls Day! These recipes all look sooo delicious!
I love homemade tamales and I will have to find someone who makes them that I trust to buy from. Over the summer, I moved to a new area, so I don’t know anyone who makes them now.
The sweetbread sounds delicious too.
Yum, all of this food looks delish. I will have to make some of these dishes for sure. I do like tamales!
The foods you’ve posted looks amazing. The altar is so decorative. The perfect way to celebrate The Day of the Dead.
OMG that caramel sauce looks so delicious! Love this list of foods for Day of the Dead!