Huevos Rancheros is a traditional Mexican breakfast of crispy corn tortillas, refried beans, and warm salsa, with a fried egg on top. This recipe, which won first prize in a contest, adds roasted mini peppers and uses salsa verde instead of the more traditional red salsa.
For 30-minute huevos rancheros, use jarred salsa verde and canned refried beans, or spend more time making your own using the links in the recipe for a winning meal. You can also make the fresh salsa verde and refried beans ahead.
by Susan Pridmore
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Mexican food is popular with crowds of all ages, and when I have house guests who I know love anything Mexican, or it's Cinco de Mayo, I make huevos rancheros or this Mexican twist on shakshuka. I serve it with a light orange mango smoothie with lime. If I make it for dinner, I serve it with my favorite Jiffy Mexican cornbread.
🤷♀️ What are huevos rancheros?
Huevos rancheros is a traditional, classic Mexican breakfast that's translated as rancher's eggs. It's one of my favorite breakfast recipes, and I almost always order it anytime it's on the menu.
The authentic version is warm corn tortillas, fried eggs, and warmed red salsa, but I typically see restaurants include refried beans. Served like this, you can easily have it for dinner too!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- It's hearty enough for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
- Make ahead friendly. Make the salsa and refried beans ahead.
- Shortcuts. If you need a shortcut, use store-bought salsa and refried beans to make this dish in 30 minutes.
- This dish is a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
🧅 Main Ingredients + Notes
The secret to faster and easier meals often lies in the ingredients. For example, store-bought items and ingredients you make ahead and store in the refrigerator (or freezer) can turn a 60-minute recipe into a 30-minute meal or less.
For all of the ingredients, measurements, and directions, go to the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post.
- Corn tortillas - you can substitute flour tortillas if you prefer.
- Tomatillo Avocado Salsa - or use a store-bought mild salsa, such as Herdez Salsa Verde.
- Refried Beans - or use store-bought, such as Rosarita.
- Mini sweet bell peppers
- Eggs
🔪 Recommended Equipment
Having the right equipment for recipes makes prepping much easier.
- Food processor - if you make homemade salsa.
- Medium skillet - to make the refried beans.
- Air fryer or toaster oven - optional ways to broil the mini peppers.
- Large skillet or griddle - to fry the eggs.
📝 Instructions Overview
Detailed instructions for making huevos rancheros are in the recipe card below, but here's an overview! If you make the salsa and refried beans ahead, this dish comes together very easily and quickly.
Step 1
Make the salsa. If you make your own salsa, it takes about 15 minutes to make and can be made ahead. Just pour it into an airtight container, such as a mason jar, and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Step 2
Make the refried beans. The refried beans take about 20 minutes to make and can also be made ahead. Transfer the finished beans to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Allow them to cool to room temperature before putting on the lid and storing. They can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
Step 3
Roast the peppers. Roast the mini peppers either whole or sliced in half in the oven under the broiler, in a toaster oven, or air fryer.
Step 4
Fry the eggs. If you have a crowd, it's more efficient to fry the eggs on a griddle. The heart of this dish is runny egg yolks, so it's best to break eggs one by one in a small bowl before adding them to the griddle. Otherwise, you may have broken yolks running all over on the griddle.
Step 5
Warm. Crisp the tortillas in the oven and warm the salsa in the microwave oven or on the stove.
Assemble.
💡Ideas for Possible Variations
- Use black beans instead of the pinto beans in the refried beans recipe.
- Make this an easy huevos rancheros recipe that's ready in 30 minutes by using store-bought salsa verde and refried beans.
- Swap out the salsa verde for pico de gallo salsa or even an enchilada sauce.
- If you like cheese, add grated queso fresco or cotija cheese on top, or serve it with a dollop of sour cream.
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Easy Huevos Rancheros Recipe (Award Winner!)
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups Tomatillo Salsa Verde or store-bought, such as Hendez Salsa Verde
Refried Pinto Beans
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ¾ cup diced white onion
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 30 ounces (2 cans) of pinto beans or 3 cups cooked pinto beans
- ¼ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ cup liquid either from cooking the beans, water, or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon lime juice or from ½ medium lime
Final Dish
- 16 mini-sweet peppers
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 8 corn tortillas or flour
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 large eggs
- 1 ½ avocadoes
Instructions
- Make the salsa verde if not using store-bought.
Refried Pinto Beans
- Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the onion and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 5 - 7 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients except the lime juice and cook until the beans are warm all the way through, about 10 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender to partially purée the bean mixture. Stir in the lime juice and adjust for any seasoning.
- Pro-tip: If you don't have a stick blender (immersion blender), mash them with a potato masher or transfer them to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade and pulse until partially puréed.
Final Dish
- Peppers. Halve, lightly oil, and roast the mini peppers under the broiler on a baking sheet until softened and crisped around the edges. This can be done in the oven, a toaster oven, or an air fryer.
- Tortillas. Brush the tortillas with oil and arrange on a baking sheet. Turn the oven from broil to 250˚F and slide the tortillas in to slightly crisp, about 10 minutes.
- Eggs. Melt the butter on a griddle or skillet over medium-low heat. Crack the eggs, one at a time, into a small bowl before sliding them onto the griddle. When the egg whites firm up, gently flip them over using a thin spatula. Fry the eggs until the egg whites are firm but with runny yolks. This is called Sunny Side Up Eggs.
- Assemble. Spread the crispy tortillas with Refried Pinto Beans, followed by the Tomatillo-Avocado Salsa and roasted mini-peppers. (As an option, warm the salsa in the microwave oven for 30 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave.)Place the fried eggs on top of the roasted peppers, and add a couple of slices of avocado on the side.
- Optional Condiments. For a little extra kick, serve with a bottle of hot sauce. Other condiments you might want to add are a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, sliced green onions, diced fresh tomatoes, or chopped cilantro.
Choc Chip Uru
Rancheros for breakfast? I will take it this looks fantastic 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Renee
Now this is a meal I could eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Wow at the flavors! Love all the homemade components too.
MealDiva
Yes please! Your recipe is absolutely mouthwatering!
Alida
I love the tomatillo-avocado salsa...actually I just love everything about this dish. It looks incredible!
Nichole C
I'll take one to-go please 🙂 This looks so good!
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom
one of my fave dishes to enjoy for breakfast or brunch, love this!!! beautiful!
Betsy @ Desserts Required
Thank you for taking the time to explain the health benefits of eggs. Very interesting.
Love each component of your recipe. What a gorgeous and delicious breakfast and brunch option!
Katie
Huevos rancheros are seriously one of my favorite dishes for a breakfast or brunch! The flavor combination is so killer; yours looks fantastic!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers
YUM!! Your huevos rancheros is calling my name! Looks just amazing!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Yes, please, I want to eat the rainbow on that plate!
Deanna Samaan
Ohhh this looks so yummy!!!
Liz
What a gorgeous plate! Makes me yearn for a second breakfasts...scrumptious!!!
Courtney @ Neighborfood
Your egg looks absolutely perfect! There's nothing like a perfectly fried egg. I love heuvos rancheros but have never made it at home. Can't wait to try this!
apuginthekitchen
Next to eggs benedict this is one of my favorite foods. I won't say breakfast because I can eat it any time of day. Delicious and great to use safe eggs!!
Family Foodie
mmmm.... I am over here drooling over this beautiful recipe!
cheri
Hi Susan, love dishes like this, the salsa and refried beans sound divine. I have eggs a couple of nights a week for dinner on a veggie bowl. One of my favorites!
Cindys Recipes and Writings
I keep saying that I want to try tomatillos now I have a great reason!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Wow, eating runny eggs is GOOD for me! Yay! I'll have to make more dishes like your awesome Huevos Rancheros!
Shaina
That is one gorgeous plate of food. I love the flavors in your salsa!
Constance Smith
These look so yummy - love all the color in there!
Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom)
This looks incredible! Love the roasted mini peppers too!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons
Preach it, sister! Eggs are a huge part of my diet, especially because I eat many vegetarian meals. I don't know what I'd do without them, and I hate to hear nasty things about them 😉 I LOVE huevos rancheros, but I've never made a "real" version like this. I have a lazy-man's version I make in five minutes. It's quick....but it's nowhere near as tasty as I'm sure that this would be. I need to try your version, and I may never go back to my old way!
Hezzi-D
Oh wow! You did an amazing job making everything from scratch! I'd love to have this for breakfast tomorrow!
laurasmess
This looks absolutely delicious! Unfortunately we can't get Davidson's eggs over here in Australia but I will be trying your recipe nonetheless. That salsa sounds incredible... yumm!
Cathy
Hi Susan -- better late than never in commenting on your post -- the photo is drop dead gorgeous! I can't wait to try your take on this dish
Susan
So many interesting facts Susan! Also makes my yolk love even more a reason to keep eating those runny eggs! I'm loving that salsa on top of these Huevos!
mjskit
Can't say Huevos Rancheros in this house without having to make them! I love your tomatilla avocada salsa and I bet it is delicious with the eggs and beans. What a great dish!
Run DMT
This is one of my favorite dishes! I love that you make the salsa and the refried beans from scratch. Totally pinning this!
Terra
Love your version of one of my favorite recipes! The addition of avocado tomatillo salsa sounds awesome! Gorgeous, Hugs, Terra
Run DMT
Congratulations on your Davedson Safe Eggs winning recipe! It's a winner with me because I pinned it.