28 Easy and Simple Nopalitos Recipes You NEED To Try

If you’ve never heard of nopalitos, you’re going to be a pro by the time you’ve finished reading this!

Nopalitos is a Mexican dish that is made up of numerous types of edible cacti from the genus Opuntia, which are commonly known as “the prickly pear”. 

Nopalitos are most often used as vegetables, so they are amazing in side dishes, or for adding bulk to your meal.

It might not sound that tasty, but once you give it a try for yourself, you’ll find yourself eating it again and again. 

If you want to give Nopalitos a try, then you’ve come to the right place! We’ve put together a list of 28 easy and simple nopalitos recipes you absolutely need to try! 

1. Nopalitos, Cactus With Red Chile

Kicking off this list we have these Nopalitos with red chile. If you love spicy food, then you are going to love this dish! This recipe goes really well with rice and works perfectly with your main dish. 

2. Creamy Rice With Nopalitos And Turkey

This is a great recipe for anyone who wants their Nopalitos to be a bit more than just a side salad. This dish contains turkey, rice, and vegetables, and actually works perfectly well as its own stand-alone dish. 

3. Cactus Relish (Salsa De Nopalitos)

If you already know how to make salsa and you want another salsa recipe, you should definitely try this recipe.

You’ll be using nopalitos, jicama, tomatoes, chiles, scallions, lime juice, and sugar to make this salsa, and it tastes absolutely incredible! 

4. Baked Tostadas With Roasted Nopalitos Recipe

This recipe is completely vegetarian, so if you’re looking for something a bit more inclusive, this is a great recipe for you to try.

For this recipe, you’ll be roasting your nopalitos with the other ingredients, which will really give the whole dish a whole new depth of flavor. 

5. Nopalitos Con Arroz Y Pollo

This is a baked recipe that is absolutely filled with flavor. If you love chicken, then this is a great recipe for you to sink your teeth into. The rice is also baked in salsa verde sauce with nopalitos, and lime juice. 

6. Southern Pickled Nopalitos

Pickling is a great method to use for nopalitos because it works so well and preserves them for longer.

You’ll be pickling these nopalitos in apple cider vinegar with salt, peppers, and garlic, and the results are absolutely delicious!

7. Ensalada De Nopalitos Recipe

This is a Mexican-inspired salad that works great as a side dish or a light appetizer.

You’ll be using tomato, onion, and lime juice with the cacti paddles in this recipe and the results are a tasty salad that pairs beautifully with whatever main course you decide to make. 

8. Cactus Salad Mexican Style Recipe

Here’s another Mexican-style salad recipe that you are absolutely going to love.

This dish is described as a “cactus salad” and while it seems like these two ingredients shouldn’t go together, they absolutely do in this case! 

9. Warm Nopalitos With Sauteed Corn And Guajillo

This is one of the easiest dishes to make on this list!

All you have to do is saute the nopalitos with fresh corn and guajillo and it’ll be ready to serve. You only need about 45 minutes to make this dish and it will bring you loads of comfort on a colder day. 

10. Classic Cactus Salad Recipe

This cactus salad recipe is made in a classic way and it’s a great food to have on a hot summer’s day.

You’ll be using onions, tomatoes, and cheese with the nopalitos and all of these ingredients taste fantastic together! 

11. Chile Con Queso With Nopalitos

A chili con queso is made up of melted cheese and chili peppers, making an incredibly creamy and mildly spicy dish that everyone can enjoy.

When you add in the nopalitos, it only makes the dish better! You will enjoy every mouthful of this dish! 

12. Grilled Nopales En Chile Rojo Recipe

Change your nopalitos up a bit by trying this grilled dish! Chili Rojo is also included in this dish, which is a red sauce made from tomatoes and chile peppers.

This dish is another one that has a bit of a kick to it, but that only adds to the overall flavor. 

13. Nopalitos

This recipe takes the basic nopalitos recipe and makes it even better!

Nice and simple, this recipe consists of yellow onion, chili, dried shrimp, garlic, and much more! You’ll find yourself making this side dish again and again. 

14. Nopalitos Con Huevos 

Nopalitos Con Huevos is another Mexican dish that is made by scrambling nopalitos and eggs together. It’s super tasty and super easy to make and is the perfect addition to whatever meal you plan on making. 

15. Nopalitos, A Pantry Special

This version of cactus salad is made using onion, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and of course, nopalitos. You’ll also be using some oregano and cilantro to really bring out the flavor even more.

There’s no spice in this dish either, so if you don’t like spice, this is the perfect dish for you. 

16. Stewed Nopales (Cactus Paddles)

Try something a little different by trying this stewed recipe. Because you’ll be stewing the ingredients, it will make the dish have a more intense, but beautiful flavor. 

17. Nopalitos

This recipe is nice and simple and works beautifully as a side dish to accompany your main course. This dish consists of onion, tomato, cilantro, chile serrano, and lime juice for an added kick. 

18. Nopalitos Tacos (Tacos De Nopalitos)

This is a vegetarian recipe for tacos and it tastes just as good as the meat version! The main filling of the soft taco shells is made up of tomato, onion, potato, and pepper.

If you want to add some spicy ingredients you definitely can, but it’s not required! 

19. Nopales A La Mexicana

This dish is made up of three main ingredients in the form of tomato, pepper, and onion, but you will also be using garlic, cilantro, and oil to create a fantastic salad you won’t be able to get enough of! 

20. Cactus Salsa

Also known as Mexican Nopalitos, this recipe consists of lots of delicious ingredients which include tomatoes, onion, jalapeno peppers, herbs and spices, and lime.

Cactus might sound like a strange thing to make salsa out of, but once you try it though, you’ll find yourself making it again and again. 

21. Fresh Nopalitos Recipe

Food is always better when it’s fresh, so you’re going to love this nopalitos recipe! All of the ingredients you’ll be using in this recipe are 100% fresh and you can definitely taste it in every mouthful. 

22. Nopalitos Salsa

Here’s another cactus salsa you’re going to absolutely love. If you’re looking for a fun and tasty dip to make for get-togethers and parties, this is definitely one that will impress your guests! 

23. Nopalitos Con Papas Recipe

This recipe is mainly made out of potatoes and cactus, and it is truly an authentic Mexican-style dish. If you want to make this recipe a bit spicier, then you can add in some jalapenos! 

24. Mexican Cactus Salad (Nopalitos)

There are so many ways for you to enjoy cactus salads, and this is another fantastic recipe for it. Super colorful and incredibly tasty, even your children will love this recipe when it’s served up! 

25. Nopalitos With Tomatoes And Onions

This recipe will have you combining nopalitos with sauteed onions and tomatoes and you’ll also be adding garlic and jalapenos for a bit of spice.

This particular dish is super healthy as well as tasty, so you can enjoy it guilt free! 

26. Charred Nopales With Jalapeños And Spring Onions

Take your nopalitos to the next level with these charred nopales. The inclusion of jalapenos and spring onions gives this dish a fantastic flavor you’ll enjoy again and again. 

27. Nopales Summer Salad

This recipe is the perfect cactus salad to enjoy on a hot summer’s day. It’s incredibly refreshing and filled with all the ingredients cactus salads are known best for. 

28. Nopales With Pork And Red Chile Sauce 

If you want to use nopalitos in your main dish, then look no further than this recipe!

It’s filled with beautiful flavor and it’s incredibly filling, making it the perfect comfort food for you and your family. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Make Nopales Not Slimy?

In order to make your nopales less slimy, just put them in a bowl and toss them with salt. Then, put them in a colander and let them drain for 10-20 minutes. Finally, rinse them in cold water and rub them to remove the excess slime. 

What Are Nopalitos Good With?

You can eat nopalitos with practically anything, but they work especially well with tacos and scrambled eggs. 

What Are Nopales Called In English?

The English name for nopales is “Prickly Pear”. 

Conclusion

Give these recipes a try for yourself and see which ones you love the most!