30 Cuban Classic Recipes (2024)

Your family and friends will love these Cuban classic recipes! Here are more than 30 of my all-time favorites and hopefully, you’ll love them just as much.

You’ll find everything from beans, rice, soups, dessert recipes, and everything in between.

30 Easy Cuban Recipes

1. Ropa Vieja

Flank steak pressure cooked to perfection then shredded and simmered in a spiced tomato sauce. Ropa vieja is the national dish of Cuba.

2. Sopa de Pollo

A hearty chicken noodle soup made with corn, potatoes, egg noodles, spices, and bone-in chicken. Just like Abuela makes it!

3. Vaca Frita

Crispy shredded flank beef made with lots of lime juice and fresh garlic. Super easy to make, delicious, and requires just a handful of ingredients.

4. Rabo Encendido

Cuban braised oxtail made with carrots, potatoes, spices, and beef oxtails. An authentic and very popular recipe.

5. Arroz con Leche

Super creamy, perfectly sweet, and the ultimate Cuban dessert. This rice pudding is made with sweetened condensed milk, lime, coconut milk, and rice.

6. Cuban Picadillo

This traditional Cuban recipe consists of ground beef, raisins, olives, and spices. A personal favorite of mine!

7. Arroz con Salchichas

Yellow fluffy rice with Vienna sausages and corn. A sweet and savory dish that can be served as a side dish or main course.

8. Papas Rellenas

Deep-fried mashed potato balls stuffed with ground beef. The perfect appetizer!

9. Churrasco with Chimichurri

Grilled skirt steak topped off with homemade chimichurri. This recipe is a must at every Cuban barbecue!

10. Cuban Shrimp Creole (Enchilado de Camarones)

This meal cooks in under 30 minutes and requires minimal ingredients. Goes perfectly with white fluffy rice.

11. Pan con Bistec

A popular steak sandwich made with caramelized onions and potato sticks. The ultimate lunch or dinner recipe.

12. Arroz con Pollo a la Chorrera

A soupy chicken and rice made with beer, chicken, rice, and veggies. Super flavorful, delicious, and easy to make.

13. Frituras de Malanga (Malanga Fritters)

Deep-fried fritters made with malanga, eggs, garlic, and fresh parsley. A great appetizer or snack option.

14. Enchilado de Langosta ( Cuban Lobster Creole)

This lobster dish is packed with flavor and goes great with white rice. The easiest lobster recipe you can make.

15. Congri

Although my Cuban family calls this dish “congri” other folks call it “Moros y Cristianos”. A vegetarian rice and bean dish that can be served as a side dish or main course.

16. Pernil

This is pork shoulder is marinated and roasted to perfection. Pernil is typically served on Christmas Eve but most people enjoy it year-round cause it’s that good!

17. Carne con Papa

This meal is the ultimate cold weather comfort food. A Cuban beef stew made with beef, potatoes, spices, and lots of garlic. The beef is super tender and just melts in your mouth.

18. Cuban Spaghetti

Easy weeknight-friendly pasta and sauce made entirely from scratch! This is made with ground beef, spaghetti, peppers, onions, and olives.

19. Tostones

Crispy and savory fried green plantains with garlic sauce. Most Cubans serve tostones with almost every single meal.

20. Cuban Red Beans (Frijoles Colorados)

There’s nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of Cuban red beans. I like to make these at least once a week and they taste even better the following day!

21. Pastelitos de Carne

These have a sweet flaky crust and a savory filling. The best breakfast, snack, or lunch you can have! I enjoy these with hot coffee or tea.

22. Pastelitos de Guayaba y Queso

These pastries are made with guava paste, cream cheese, and puff pastry. The ultimate breakfast or dessert.

23. Cuban Black Beans

These are my go-to beans! Made in the instant pot entirely from scratch with dried black beans, garlic, spices, and dry white wine.

24. Fricase de Pollo

Cuban chicken stew simmered until the chicken falls off the bone. This goes perfectly with white rice.

25. Cuban Stuffed Peppers

These bell peppers are stuffed with ground beef and rice. They’re so satisfying and very easy to make.

26. Arroz Imperial

This rice dish is made with shredded chicken, mayo, cheese, and rice. A Cuban classic recipe that never dissapoints!

27. Arroz con Pollo Cubano

This chicken and rice is the ultimate one-pot meal. I like to make this often because it’s easy to make and packed with flavor!

28. Flan

A creamy custard dessert made with sweetened condensed milk, eggs, evaporated milk, and cream cheese. This is easily one of my favorite desserts!

29. Chicharos Cubanos

These chicharos can be served as a soup or a side dish with rice. Made with smoked pork, potatoes, green split peas, and butternut squash.

30. Camarones al Ajillo

Garlicky shrimp made with just a handful of ingredients in under 10 minutes! Enjoy this as an appetizer, side dish, or main course.

Tried any of these recipes? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me onFacebook,Instagram,orPinterest!

30 Cuban Classic Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a traditional Cuban dish? ›

One of the most popular entrees in Cuban cuisine is ropa vieja. This stewed shredded beef dish is slow cooked in fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic and wine to create a mouthwatering meal. And following its origins, the dish is accompanied by white rice, black beans and sweet plantains.

Is Cuban food spicy hot? ›

While some dishes may have a slight kick, most Cuban dishes are not considered spicy by international standards. Cuban cuisine is influenced by Spanish, African, and Caribbean cultures, and it typically features flavorful herbs and spices such as garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves.

What is the number 1 Cuban dish? ›

Best known for being the national dish of Cuba, ropa vieja actually originated in Spain. This classic beef stew features shredded flank steak tossed in a flavorful sauce of tomato, onion, and pepper.

What are 4 unique Cuban foods? ›

10 Cuban Dishes To Try On Your Next Trip Abroad
  • Ropa Vieja. ...
  • Vaca Frita. ...
  • Tostones. ...
  • Arroz con Pollo. ...
  • Moros y Cristianos. ...
  • Medianoche. ...
  • Picadillo. ...
  • Fricase de Pollo.
Aug 26, 2022

How is Cuban food different from Mexican? ›

Sassy Spoon blogger Jamie explores the topic further: “Unlike Mexican cuisine, Cuban food is not spicy because it's a mix of Spanish, African, and other Caribbean cuisines. Chilies are not even grown in Cuba which is why 'heat' has never really been a key ingredient in Cuban cuisine. Cuban food is not bland though.

Why do Cubans eat so much pork? ›

Cuban food is a reflection of the country's melting pot history and has roots in African, Spanish, Italian, American, Chinese and Taino cuisines. The key influences came from Spanish country cooking with plenty of beans, loads of garlic and pork.

What are 2 Cuban foods eaten in Florida? ›

Vaca frita, or “fried cow,” is a close cousin of ropa vieja, but the beef is marinated in lime and garlic, then seared until crispy. Not a beef fan? Arroz con pollo is a one-pot meal that pairs chicken with seasoned rice. Lechon asado is a citrus-marinated roasted pork.

What was the original Cuban sandwich? ›

Cut Cuban bread in half lengthwise. Layer sliced meats and cheese in the following order: ham, pork, salami and then cheese. Place pickle chips evenly on top. Spread mustard on top half of bread.

What is Cuban food like to eat? ›

Cuban food is what the locals call “comida criolla”, or creole food. It is soul food to be eaten with a large group of family and friends, with an emphasis on quantity and gutsy flavours. “Comida criolla” will typically entail a table brimming with a variety of different dishes and will always include rice and beans.

What is Cuba best known for? ›

Cuba is famous worldwide for its vibrant culture, stunning cities, heavenly beaches and beautiful parks so there is no surprise that there are currently 9 UNESCO sites in Cuba. The country's picturesque cities, beautiful national parks and the geological wonders of Cuba are among its UNESCO sites.

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