Fideo is a traditional Mexican dish that is rarely found in Mexican restaurants. Fideo is something that most Mexican families make and, honestly, have their own variations of it. It’s something that is passed down from generation to generation. There’s no one “right way” to make Mexican fideo recipes. With that in mind, I’ve collected some of the most popular and delicious Mexican fideo recipes to share with you.
What is Mexican fideo?
“Fideo” is the general Spanish word for “noodles” or “pasta” and in many Latin American countries that’s how it’s used. However, in Mexican cuisine, fideo almost always means a short, thin pasta similar to vermicelli.
It’s always toasted before cooking to bring out the nutty flavor of the pasta adding to the soup’s depth of flavor.
Where to find fideo
Fideo can usually be found in the international section of most grocery stores or in the pasta section. If you can’t find Mexican fideo noodles, you can use vermicelli or use angel hair pasta or thin spaghetti. If you use long noodles, you’ll need to break the noodles into shorter lengths – about 1-inch long.
If you want to use alternate noodles, La Moderno and other Mexican pasta makers make various small pastas such as alphabet, flowers, stars, and even tiny shells and elbow pasta – any of these will work in fideo recipes.
Mexican fideo basics
Traditional fideos start with toasting the fideo noodles in olive oil or vegetable oil. Also the noodles are cooked in the soup broth with the meat and vegetables, they aren’t cooked separately in water, drained and then added to the soup like noodles often are.
Broths – Chicken broth is usually used but you can use chicken bouillon and water. For a vegan dish, use vegetable broth.
Meats – Meat isn’t always used in fideo but if it is used, it’s usually chicken or ground beef.
Tomato mixture – Usually tomato sauce is used to make a tomato-based broth, but you can use tomato paste that has been thinned or powdered tomato bullion to make tomato broth.
Add-ins and garnishes – Usually fideo has onion added to it. For a spicy fideo you can add chopped jalapeno, chipotle peppers, cayenne pepper powder or pepper flakes. Salt, black pepper, garlic, and cumin are common spices in fideo. Use fresh cilantro, chopped fresh tomatoes, queso fresco, a squeeze of lime juice or avocado slices to garnish.
Variations of Sopa de Fideo
As I mentioned earlier, there are tons of ways to make Mexican fideo. I make fideo con carne that is drier than a soup because that’s how my stepmom and my Hispanic neighbor made it.
That being said, fideo can be made as a soup (sopa) or more dry (seca). Fideo can be brothy soups, casseroles, or something in between.
You can make it with chicken, ground beef or without any meat. And this is one of the things I love most about Mexican fideo – you can use whatever pantry staples you happen to have to make a comforting, delicious meal.
Mexican Fideo Recipes
Fideo is an inexpensive pasta that is used in Spanish and Mexican dishes. Try these Mexican Fideo Recipes next time you need a tasty main course or side dish.
Fideo con Carne
Fideo means "noodles" and this fideo with ground beef recipe is a frugal and tasty Mexican one-pot main dish.
How to Make Sopa de Fideo (Fideo Soup)
This savory soup is similar to chicken noodle soup but made with a tomato sauce broth and Mexican spices.
Fideo Seco
This simple side dish uses fideo pasta and vegetable broth to pack tons of flavor in this frugal dish.
Fideo con Papas
This soup is super frugal, filling and tasty with the addition of potatoes.
Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Noodle Soup)
This simple fideo soup with tomato based broth is comfort food at it's best. Just what you need on a chilly night!
Sopa de Pollo con Fideos
This fideo is a hearty chicken soup that is perfect as a one pot meal.
How to Make Sopa de Fideo
This is one of the easiest soups to make and super flavorful with a tomato base and golden brown noodles.
Vegan Sopa Seca de Fideo
This fideo is more of a casserole than a soup. Perfect for a side dish or pot luck dish. Because this recipe uses vegetable stock it's a perfect vegan version of fideo seca.
Instant Pot Sopa de Fideo
If using an instant pot is your thing, you're going to love this adaptation of traditional sopa de fideo for the instant pot.
Sopa de Fideo with Leftover Turkey
This fideo is a great way to use up leftover turkey (or chicken).
Mexican Alphabet Soup (Sopa De Letras)
Trade out the traditional thin noodles that usually made fideo with small alphabet noodles for a fun twist.
Sopa De Fideo Recipe - Mexican Noodle Soup
This is a filling and savory soup with a robust flavor that cooks up in minutes, making it an easy choice for weeknight dinners or as a quick make ahead meal on a Sunday afternoon.
