MrChuy’s video: “How my Mexican mom sings English songs” (Plus COCINA’s easy recipes insights!)
We at the COCINA Team are still laughing about MrChuy’s video “How my Mexican mom sings English songs.” If you haven’t seen it yet, imagine your mamá in the kitchen, simmering something delicious while butchering classic English lyrics—but in the funniest, most loving way possible. Instead of singing “I want it that way,” it becomes “Yo quiero tamales ya,” and suddenly your abuela appears in your head nodding in approval. It’s comedy. It’s culture. It’s home.
But beyond the laughs, there’s something deeper here: cooking is joy, rhythm, and memory—especially for young Mexican-Americans trying to hold onto roots while navigating modern life. So we’re embracing this vibe with some of our favorite easy recipes perfect for singing along in the kitchen.
Why singing (and cooking) go hand in hand
There’s a rhythm in cooking. Stirring, seasoning, waiting, tasting—it’s tempo. Many Mexican moms intuitively understand this tempo. For our community, the kitchen isn’t just where meals happen; it’s where stories, laughter, and language blend. A splash of salsa, a dash of sass, and suddenly “La Bamba” becomes “La Barbacoa.”
Maybe you’re prepping dinner after a long day at school or work. Maybe your playlist is on shuffle, and suddenly Justin Bieber meets Las Mañanitas in the same breath. You might not hit every note, but you’ll hit that heartbeat connection to your culture. That’s what we call culinary karaoke therapy.
Turn up the tunes with these easy recipes
Here are three easy recipes we recommend for your kitchen karaoke sessions. They’re fun, they’re forgiving, and they pair perfectly with a remix of English-language lyrics in Spanish—or vice versa.
🎵 Creamy Chipotle Chicken
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This recipe is creamy, smoky, and unapologetically bold—just like the aunt who insists everyone take otra probadita before leaving the table. It’s one of our favorite easy recipes when you want a crowd-pleaser without breaking a sweat.
Read the full recipe here.
🎶 Three-Course Dinner in Under 30 Minutes
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Yes, you read that right—three courses in under 30 minutes. This is the cheat code for busy nights, Zoom calls, homework battles, and spontaneous singalongs. Think salad, entrée, and dessert that feel fancy but cook simply. These easy recipes are the soundtrack to your multitasking kitchen.
Read the full recipe here.
🎤 Fajitas That Sizzle: Simple, Flavorful, Irresistible
@wearecocina Craving that sizzling, smoky goodness? Look no further than these epic steak fajitas! This classic Tex-Mex dish is easy to whip up at home and is sure to please the whole familia. 👉👉👉 For more Latin food to enjoy with your loved ones go visit wearecocina.com Ingredients 🌮: - 1 lb. Boneless Steak - 1/3 cup Vegetable Oil - 1/3 cup Lime juice - 2 tbsp. Honey - 2 cloves Garlic - 4 tbsp. Adobo Seasoning - Salt & Pepper - Pinch of Cumin - 1 Green Bell Pepper - 1/2 Onion - Corn Tortillas Method🍴: 1. Cut steak into thin strips, and reserve. 2. In a bowl mix the vegetable oil, lime juice, honey, garlic, adobo seasoning, salt, pepper, and cumin. 3. Place the strips of steak inside a plastic bag and coat with the marinade. Refrigerate for 2 hours. 4. Cut the vegetables into thin strips, and reserve. 5. Cook the steak strips on medium heat with a tbsp. of olive oil. 6. Add the vegetables and cook for 5-7 mins. 7. Heat the tortillas in a pan, medium heat for 3-5 mins. 8. Serve fajitas with warm tortillas immediately. #ChefTip 👉Garnish with 2 tbsp. Queso Fresco and Mexican crema on top. #WeAreCocina #TexMexRecipes #SpicyFoodLover #TexMexFood ♬ One Side (Remix) - Iyanya & Mayorkun & Tekno
Sizzling fajitas are basically music in a skillet. The sizzle, the spice, the heat—if that doesn’t make you want to break out into song, we don’t know what will. And yes, these fajitas are among the best easy recipes to make while belting out your version of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” as “Sweet Chile en Mi Carne.”
Read the full recipe here.
Tips for cooking with joy (and perhaps a little chaos)
Here’s what we’ve learned from watching countless moms in the kitchen:
Embrace the mess.
The counter may get flour, the salsa may splatter, and your remix lyrics may be wildly off-key. That’s okay. It’s all part of the experience.
Choose easy recipes
When the steps are straightforward, your focus stays on laughter and love—not stress. That means pre-chopped veggies sometimes, or ready-made salsa when you need a break.
Let the music lead
A song isn’t just a song here; it’s your timer, your mood booster, your family nostalgia trigger. Play it loud. Don’t worry about pitch. Worry about flavor.
Sing to heal and to connect
Whether you’re cooking with siblings, parents, or solo, that musical moment becomes memory. One day you’ll remember it like we remember abuela’s kitchen, laughing at how she sang every English chorus with Spanish flair.
Final bites of wisdom
We at the COCINA Team are convinced it’s not just about making food—it’s about feeling it. MrChuy’s video reminds us to slow down, smile at the imperfect, and find joy in the everyday routine of cooking. Even if your English song lyrics are questionable, your love for food—and the people you feed—is unmistakable.
So go ahead. Play your favorite playlist. Sing off-key. Cook these easy recipes with gusto. And remember: in every chorus and sauté, you’re feeding your soul.
Forks up, volume up, and let the kitchen karaoke begin.