What is Isabel Eats?

Updated

Isabel Eats is a recipe website focused on traditional Mexican, Mexican-inspired, and Tex-Mex home cooking. It was started in 2015 by Isabel, a first-generation Mexican American, as a way to document her family's recipes and stay connected to her Mexican roots. If you're looking for everyday Mexican dishes you can cook at home — from tacos and enchiladas to soups, sides, and desserts — this is the kind of site built for that.

What you'll find on the site

The recipes are organized into browsable categories rather than a single feed, so you can go straight to the type of dish you want.

Category Examples from the site
Dinner Arroz con Pollo, Carne con Papas, Birria Tacos, Pambazos, Chile Colorado, Pork Chile Verde
Chicken Chicken Enchilada Skillet, Creamy Chipotle Chicken Pasta
Healthy / Vegetarian Black Bean Tostadas, Sofritas, Spinach Enchiladas, Mexican Vegetable Soup
Basics Homemade Corn Tortillas, Blue Corn Tortillas, Cemita Buns, Telera Bread
Soups and Stews Pozole Rojo, Pozole Verde, Lentejas, Black Bean Soup
Sides Cemita Buns, Telera Bread
Appetizers Boozy Grapes (Tequila Grapes with Chamoy)
Desserts Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake, Pumpkin Tamales, Pumpkin Conchas, Pumpkin Arroz con Leche
30 Minute Meals Mexican Tuna Salad, Bean and Cheese Taquitos

There are also seasonal collections, such as fall favorites (pumpkin desserts and tamales) and a Hispanic Heritage Month section featuring dishes like Mole Sauce (Mole Poblano) and Chiles en Nogada.

Beyond recipes: ingredients and kitchen guides

The site isn't only recipes. It includes a "Kitchen Tips" section that explains Mexican ingredients and how to use or substitute them — for example, guides on Mexican oregano, epazote, cotija cheese (including substitutes), and Oaxaca cheese. These are useful if a recipe calls for something you don't have or don't recognize.

Who it's for

Isabel Eats suits home cooks who want to make Mexican and Tex-Mex food from scratch without restaurant experience. The mix of quick options (30-minute meals) and longer projects (pozole, tamales, mole) means it works for both weeknight cooking and weekend or holiday cooking.

What's available to use

  • Free recipes and articles across the categories above.
  • A free email series, "5 Secrets to Mexican Cooking," which requires signing up with a name and email.
  • Paid ebooks: a three-book collection (Essentials, Main Dishes, and Drinks & Desserts) with 120 recipes. The site links to a purchase page, so these are a paid product rather than free downloads.

If you want to start somewhere, the Basics category (homemade corn tortillas) and the 30 Minute Meals section are the most practical entry points for a first cook.