Huevos rancheros

Fried eggs on crisp tortillas, covered in warm tomato-chile salsa and served with refried beans. It is a satisfying farmhouse breakfast.

Huevos rancheros

Mmm...huevos rancheros: jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Where it comes from

This dish comes from rural Mexican kitchens as a hearty late-morning meal for farm workers. It spread across Mexico and the American Southwest.

Explore the cuisine of Mexico.

Recipe

Make Huevos rancheros at home

Serves 2-4Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 corn tortillas
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups ranchero sauce (tomato, chile, onion, garlic)
  • 1 cup refried beans
  • 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • Cilantro
  • Lime

How it's made

  1. Warm the ranchero sauce in a pan.
  2. Fry tortillas in a little oil for 20 seconds per side until lightly crisp; keep warm.
  3. Fry the eggs sunny-side up in the same pan.
  4. Spread beans on each tortilla.
  5. Top with an egg and spoon over the sauce.
  6. Garnish with cheese, avocado and cilantro.

Variations

  • Huevos divorciados: red and green salsa.
  • Huevos motulenos: with ham, peas and plantains.
  • Scrambled version: eggs scrambled in the salsa.

Cook’s tip: Cook the eggs in a nonstick pan with just enough oil for neat whites.

Related dishes

Chilaquiles
ChilaquilesBreakfast · Mexico
Eggs Benedict
Eggs BenedictBreakfast · United States
Tacos
TacosStreet food · Mexico
Burrito
BurritoStreet food · Mexico
About this page

Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.

Photo credit
  • Mmm...huevos rancheros: jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)