When you’re hungry for breakfast, it’s hard to beat the classic Mexican favorite, Huevos Rancheros. It’s a hearty breakfast, perfectly filling and delicious, enough so that we like to serve them up for dinner sometimes.
Huevos Rancheros - the Ultimate Breakfast
The name “Huevos Rancheros” translates to “rancher’s eggs”, where the recipe originated and served on farms. Eggs are traditionally fried and served over corn tortillas then smothered in zesty ranchero sauce and fresh salsa. Refried beans were sometimes served on the side. Even though it’s a traditional recipe, there are many ways you can alter it to your own tastes, by cooking the eggs differently or varying up your toppings and accompaniments. You’ll find different versions of the recipe depending on the region. There really are many ways to make them, with recipes varying from cook to cook. Mine is a simple version with eggs, homemade pico de gallo and a homemade ranchero sauce that is huge on flavor. Patty has fallen in love with my ranchero sauce and requests it often. Yep, it’s that good. We both love it! Can’t get enough Mexican food. Other variations of Huevos Rancheros can include other ingredients like avocado or guacamole, spicy chorizo, refried beans, black beans, hot sauce, or crema. The choice is yours, though I’m sure you’ll like this simple version. Let’s talk about how to make huevos rancheros, shall we?
How to Make Huevos Rancheros - the Recipe Method
First, heat a large pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil your corn tortillas with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Fry them in the pan about 1-2 minutes per side, or until they lightly brown and get a bit puffy, but not crispy. Remove from heat, set them onto 2 plates, and spread the refried beans mixture onto them. Next, add a bit more olive oil to the same pan and heat through. Add the eggs and splash them with a bit of salt and pepper to taste. Fry them lightly, until the egg whites are set, lifting up the edges a bit to distribute the oil. Cook them 2 at a time if needed. Sunny side up for me, please! I love a good runny yolk. Set the fried eggs over the heated tortillas and beans. Top with pico de gallo and warmed ranchero sauce (or use warmed salsa or your favorite hot sauce). Garnish with cilantro and white crumbly cheese and serve! Boom! Done! Easy enough, right? Delicious. Tasty. All the good things in life are Huevos Rancheros. I love them. One of my favorite Mexican breakfasts.
Recipe Tips & Notes
Recipe Variations
You can serve these up with flour tortillas if you’d prefer. Corn tortillas are traditional, especially lightly fried in a skillet over medium heat, but flour will hold up nicely to the heft of the refried beans and the runny egg yolks. Frying the tortillas is common. They’re also great with salsa verde, charro beans (frijoles charros), crumbled chorizo, green onion, queso fresco, and served with diced or sliced avocado or guacamole. Also, feel free to hit it with your favorite hot sauce. I greatly enjoy adding roasted jalapeno peppers to the mix. Add a few dollops of sour cream as well.
Fresh Pico de Gallo
Pico de gallo is the ultimate fresh Mexican salsa, and it really makes huevos rancheros stand out. It’s a mixture of fresh chopped tomatoes, onion and jalapeno peppers (or serrano peppers) with lime juice and cilantro. Every bite pops with flavor, and it gives the dish a lot of visual appeal. Check out my homemade pico de gallo recipe. Homemade salsa is the best.
Ranchero Sauce is a Must
Ranchero sauce is a flavorful sauce made with tomatoes and peppers, seasoned with a mixture of chili powders and herbs. You’ll find it in many Mexican and Tex Mex dishes around the border between the southern U.S. and Mexico, though because of its awesome flavor, it has quickly spread north through the states. It is what makes huevos rancheros “rancheros”. Check out my homemade ranchero sauce recipe. Sub in enchilada sauce as an alternative.
Don’t Forget the Refried Beans
Refried beans round out your huevos rancheros, make the recipe heartier and more satisfying. It’s the final piece in the perfect combination of flavors. There are many store bought products you can purchase, though I enjoy making my own. I’ve included the recipe steps for this, but check out my Easy Homemade Refried Beans recipe to make your own. Or make authentic Mexican refried beans, so good! That’s it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my huevos rancheros recipe. Let me how you make it your own. I’d love to hear how it turned out for you. Keep it spicy!
Try Some of These Other Popular Breakfast Recipes
Migas - Scrambled Eggs with Crispy Tortillas Shakshuka Jacked-Shuka – Extra Spicy Eggs in Hell Chilaquiles Rojos with Ancho Chili Sauce Chorizo con Huevos Menemen (Turkish-Style Scrambled Eggs with Peppers) Spicy Pepper Lover’s Omelet Loaded Mexican Omelette Huevos Rancheros Casserole Chile Relleno Casserole Spicy Breakfast Tacos
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H. This recipe was updated on 12/20/21 to include new photos and information. It was originally published on 12/1/14.
