What is chorizo?

Chorizo is a seasoned sausage that is frequently used in both Spanish and Mexican cooking. Each culture has its own version, with noticeable differences between the two.

Spanish Chorizo

Sausage is dried and cured.
Like salami or pepperoni, it is a firm sausage that can be sliced.
Taste can be mild or spicy.
Typically seasoned with smoked paprika and garlic.

Mexican chorizo

While it can be made with beef or poultry, it is usually made from pork.
Like ground beef or ground turkey, it is loose meat.
Like other sausages, it can come in casings that will need to be removed before eating.
The meat is uncured and raw and will need to be cooked before eating.
Typically seasoned with chili peppers and vinegar.

16 Of The Best Chorizo Recipe Ideas

While chorizo is typically a very fatty sausage, it is low in carbs, making it acceptable for any keto or low-carb diet. It is full of flavor and can be used in a variety of ways.

To get you started with this tasty sausage, 16 of the best recipes ideas for chorizo dishes are listed below.

Mexican chorizo recipes

Easy Mexican Chorizo From Scratch

With this recipe, you will be amazed at how easy it is to make your own homemade chorizo!

The best part? You are totally in charge of everything, from the flavoring to the heat level to even the fat content. In just a few simple steps, you can have this flavorful chorizo dish on the table in under 20 minutes.

For an amazing breakfast taco, scramble a few eggs into the mixture, add a bit of cheese and wrap it in a tortilla.

Mexican Chorizo Recipe

Creating the flavors of Mexico at home does not simpler than this.

Simply mix the spices together (most of which you probably already have in your pantry), then mix them in with the ground pork, vinegar, and garlic.

From that point, you can either refrigerate or freeze the chorizo mixture or use it immediately.

If storing for later use, make sure to store in an airtight container or bag. It can be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and the freezer for three months.

Nacho fan? One of the most appetizing ideas for chorizo dishes is to top your nachos with chorizo.

BEST Homemade Mexican Chorizo

This is one of the best recipes with chorizo around. It is easy to make and full of flavor.

The little bit of prep required for this recipe is well worth it, so make sure that you plan ahead and take the time to drain the meat after mixing the spices in.

Once you have done that, this mixture will work for all recipes using chorizo. How will you use it?

Tip: Do yourself a favor and make a double batch of this, so that you can use some immediately and freeze the rest for later use.

Mexican Chorizo Rice

Looking for a dish full of Mexican flavors and meat? Look no further, this chorizo recipe idea is for you.

Long grain rice is kicked up a few notches with spicy seasoning and a pound of chorizo sausage.

This versatile side dish goes great with many Mexican staples, like tacos or burritos, and would be delicious in stuffed peppers.

Tip: To further increase the flavor depth of the rice, cook it in chicken stock.

Chorizo sausage recipes

Shrimp Chorizo Pasta

This is one of those recipes with chorizo that can you make on a busy weeknight when you need to have dinner on the table fast.

All that is required for this easy dish is to make your pasta, fry up some chorizo and shrimp, add a few spices and then mix everything together.

What could be simpler than that? To make this a complete meal, pair this with a green salad. Don’t forget the bread to soak up any of the leftover sauce!

Cheesy Chorizo Pasta

Cheesy chorizo pasta – need I say more? This is one of the best chorizo dishes around and one you will definitely want to add to your menu rotation.

It is hearty and savory and comes together in under 30 minutes. Brown and season the meat, while the pasta is cooking, and then mix them together.

Serve this alongside some veggies or a garden salad for a quick weeknight dinner.

Orecchiette Pasta With Chorizo Sausage and Roasted Butternut Squash

Are you searching for a new way to serve butternut squash? Try serving it in one of these chorizo dishes.

The flavors of the butternut squash and chorizo complement each other surprisingly well in this homemade dish.

That combination paired with the creamy parmesan sauce that perfectly coats the orecchiette pasta, creates a restaurant-quality meal, with very little effort.

Tip: There are vegetarian versions of chorizo available that can be used to make this dish meat-free.

Easy Spanish rice with chorizo

Need a low-calorie meal that you can have on the table in no time? This is one of those chorizo recipe ideas that allows you to do just that.

Chorizo is sliced and cooked alongside rice and then veggies are added to the pan for a few minutes.

Once everything is fully cooked, the sausage, rice, and veggies are mixed together and topped with parsley. The end result is a diet-friendly meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Ground chorizo recipes

Homemade Mexican-Style Chorizo

Did you know you can make your ground chorizo at home that just taste as authentic as anything you would find in a Mexican restaurant? Not only is this one of those chorizo recipes ideas that do just that, but it does so using simple ingredients and very little time.

Tip: If you are not a fan of pork try swapping it out with ground beef or cut the fat and calories and use ground chicken.

Sauteed Potatoes with Chorizo

Sausage and potatoes? How could you go wrong? This is one of those one-pan recipes using chorizo that is easy to make and incredibly versatile.

You can serve it as is or try wrapping it up in a burrito. You can even serve it for breakfast by adding some eggs to the mix of chorizo and potatoes. If you like your food a bit spicier, try adding a few jalapenos.

Tip: If you like crispy potatoes, take the extra time to fry the potatoes up in the leftover chorizo oil, making sure that they develop a nice crunch.

Chorizo Enchiladas

Need a fast meal full of bold flavor? This is one of those recipes with chorizo that will not disappoint. While the star of this dish is the homemade enchilada sauce, in a time crunch you could use a store-bought version.

Both ground beef and chorizo are used, to prevent tortillas from becoming soggy from all the extra grease in chorizo.

The meat is cooked, seasoned, and placed in the fried tortillas. Tortillas are placed in a baking dish and topped with enchilada sauce and cheese and then baked. Pair the enchiladas with either rice or beans for a full meal.

Ultimate Chorizo Meatloaf

Are you bored of regular meatloaf? Kick things up a notch with one of the best recipes using chorizo around.

This dish combines ground beef, chorizo, carrots, corn, and red bell peppers to provide a new twist on an old dish.

The addition of the vegetables provides such a great crunch, that this is sure to become a new family favorite.

Low-calorie chorizo recipes

Shrimp and chorizo tapas

With minimal effort, this is one of those shrimp and chorizo dishes that can be on the table in no time, making it the perfect weeknight meal.

The secret to this easy dish is to sprinkle a bit of baking soda onto the shrimp before cooking.

This allows the shrimp to stay plump while cooking. The freshness of the lemon and shrimp pairs deliciously with the bold flavors of the chorizo.

While this dish can serve as either an appetizer or main course, one of the best serving ideas for it, is to place the mixture on bread and serve it as tapas.

Healthy Mexican Beef Chorizo

Love chorizo but not all the calories that come along with it? This is one of the few chorizo dishes out there that deliver on a true Mexican taste while being healthy and low-calorie.

The secret to this is swapping out high-calorie chorizo with lean ground beef. Not only does this swap, cut back on calories but it also cuts back on the grease commonly found with chorizo.

Don’t worry though, this version still packs a bold punch of flavor. To really enhance the flavor, leave the mixture for a few days in your refrigerator to allow all the spices to come together.

Chorizo Burrito Bowls:

Searching for a low-carb way to enjoy your favorite Mexican dish? With this easy chorizo recipe idea, you can.

This dish brings together all the flavors of burritos in a healthy version that is low in carbs. Regular rice is replaced by cauliflower rice and mixed with chorizo. The mix in then placed in a lettuce bowl and topped with your favorite toppings.

Tip: To further keep the carb count down on this dish, make sure to use sugar-free chorizo.

Low-carb chorizo taco soup

Don’t you just love it when a recipe is easy, delicious, AND diet-friendly? This is one of those recipes using chorizo that does just that!

The surprising ingredients that make this work are heavy whipping cream and cauliflower rice. Together they create a keto-friendly soup that is full of flavor.