The best chilaquiles recipe
These chilaquiles verdes, topped with fried eggs, make for a delicious breakfast or brunch that you can load up with crema and fresh garnishes before digging in!
In my book, this chilaquiles recipe is the ULTIMATE Sunday brunch, as it satisfies my craving for spicy and bright breakfast dishes after years of living in Austin, leaving pancakes, waffles, and French toast in the dust.
What are chilaquiles?
Chilaquiles, a traditional Mexican dish similar to migas, was created to use up stale tortillas and consist of fried tortillas cooked in a flavorful sauce, typically salsa verde or salsa roja.Chilaquiles can be topped with eggs for breakfast or brunch, but they can also include various toppings like crema, onions, cheese, beans, or meats such as shredded chicken, beef, or pork.
Chilaquiles can easily transcend breakfast and be enjoyed as lunch or dinner, depending on the toppings you choose.
I call for my favorite fixings in this chilaquiles verdes recipe—eggs, avocado, fresh veggies, Cotija, and a zippy cilantro lime crema—so start by making it as written, but don’t hesitate to customize it since there’s no one right method for making chilaquiles.
Chilaquiles Verdes Recipe Ingredients
To make this chilaquiles recipe, here’s what you’ll need.
- Salsa verde–You can use your favorite store-bought green salsa or make homemade salsa verde using roasted tomatillos, onions, and jalapeños.
- Water or vegetable broth–Water or vegetable broth loosens the salsa, allowing it to evenly coat the chips.
- Thick tortilla chips-To streamline this recipe, I use store-bought tortilla chips instead of fried stale corn tortillas, but make sure they are fairly thick to prevent them from getting soggy in the salsa.
- Fried eggs –I love how the runny yolks create a rich sauce that perfectly complements the chilaquiles.
- Avocado-The great creamy contrast to the crispy tortilla chips makes for a delightful combination.
- Sliced radishes – For crunch.
- Jalapeño-If you’re sensitive to spice, it’s best to skip them for heat.
- Fresh cilantro-This hearty dish is elevated by a burst of fresh flavor.
- Cotija cheese -For a salty, tangy flavor, crumbled feta or queso fresco would also work great here!
- Cilantro lime crema –This zesty, creamy sauce, made easily in a blender or food processor with Greek yogurt, mayo, fresh herbs, lime juice, garlic, onion powder, and salt, perfectly balances the tangy salsa.
- To make all the flavors pop, add sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Make chilaquiles rojos!
If you prefer red salsa to green salsa, make chilaquiles rojos by simply replacing the salsa verde in the recipe with your favorite tomato salsa or red chile sauce, like my delicious salsa roja!
How to Make Chilaquiles
My method for how to make chilaquiles is simple, and here’s how it goes:oes:
To make a homemade salsa verde, follow my recipe, but if you’re using store-bought salsa, you can skip this step.
Roast tomatillos, onion, garlic, and jalapeños, then blend them with lime juice, cilantro, and salt to make a super straightforward salsa that you can prepare up to 4 days in advance.
Combine the salsa and water in a large skillet, bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes until it thickens slightly.
Add the tortilla chips to the pan and fold them to coat in the sauce.
Variation
If you want to fry the tortilla wedges yourself, you can replace the store-bought chips with my homemade fried tortilla chips.
Once the chips are coated, quickly load them up with toppings like eggs, drizzles of crema, Cotija, avocado, and fresh garnishes for a delicious finish.
Season to taste and enjoy your meal!
Tip
To keep the chips crunchy rather than soggy, wait to add them until right before serving and consider cooking your eggs first to minimize the time they have to soften in the sauce.
How to Serve Chilaquiles
The most enjoyable aspect of making chilaquiles is the toppings; I’ve shared my favorites in this recipe, but feel free to mix them up with some delicious variations to suit your tastes.
- Use guacamole as a substitute for avocado.
- Sprinkle some pico de gallo on top.
- You can add either diced white onion or pickled red onions.
- You can either use scrambled eggs instead of fried eggs or skip the eggs altogether.
- You can replace the cilantro lime crema with regular Mexican crema or a dollop of sour cream.
Round out the meal with a side of black beans or refried beans for an enjoyable finish!
More Favorite Mexican Recipes
If you love this yummy Mexican breakfast, you should try making one of these Tex-Mex or Mexican recipes next.
- Austin-Style Migas
- Breakfast Burrito
- Homemade Tortillas
- Mushroom Tacos
- Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
- Homemade Taquitos
- Easy Enchiladas
- Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
The best chilaquiles recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These chilaquiles verdes, topped with fried eggs, make for a delicious breakfast or brunch that you can load up with crema and fresh garnishes before digging in!
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) jar tomatillo salsa or 2 cups homemade Tomatillo Salsa Verde
- 1 cup vegetable broth (for added flavor)
- 6 ounces thick tortilla chips (about 4 handfuls; consider using the El Milagro brand or your favorite)
- Cilantro Lime Crema (for drizzling)
- 4 poached eggs (for a lighter option)
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- 2 radishes, thinly sliced
- ½ jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced (adjust based on heat preference)
- Feta cheese (as an alternative to Cotija)
- Fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- Lime wedges (for a zesty finish)
Instructions
- Combine the salsa and water in a large skillet, bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook for 5 to 10 minutes while stirring occasionally until slightly thickened, then fold in the chips to coat them in the sauce.
- Remove from the heat and top with drizzles of cilantro lime crema, fried eggs, avocado, radishes, and jalapeños, then sprinkle with Cotija cheese and cilantro, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve with more crema on the side.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes