Using a culturally responsive approach to an undergraduate microbiology lab, students at a Hispanic-serving institution devised experiments to test whether home remedies developed by their own families affected growth of bacteria implicated in common illnesses. Students interviewed family members to learn about the home remedies, then designed experiments to test whether these remedies affected growth of bacteria commonly implicated in gastrointestinal distress (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli) or sore throat (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae). As a final assessment, students presented findings at a class symposium. Student feedback indicated increased engagement, increased confidence in communicating science and a deeper understanding and appreciation for microbiology. Taken together, the results indicate that students appreciate a more culturally responsive and student-centered approach to learning in microbiology and encourage expansion of this approach to other modules in the course. In addition, students were able to relate the concept of the microbiome to their personal experiences by learning about human gut bacteria commonly implicated in illnesses and how bacterial populations are affected by the foods we eat.