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Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish, popular for breakfast but delicious enough to enjoy at lunch or dinner as well. Chilaquiles make a great meal on Cinco de Mayo, or anytime you are craving something tasty with lots of Mexican flavors!
Chilaquiles
This Mexican breakfast is a delicious and unique way to start your day. This recipe only takes 30 minutes to make using 5 simple ingredients. You can customize your Chilaquiles with your favorite salsa and toppings. I’ve included toppings ideas at this post so you can decide what ingredients you want to include when serving this meal at your home. It is also an excellent way to use up leftover ingredients from previous meals.
If you want to start your day with a powerful and healthy breakfast, here are more than 33 tasty and filling breakfast recipes for you to check on.
Ingredients in Chilaquiles
This recipe is actually quite simple and uses only a few ingredients for the base. Then you can add all kind of delicious toppings. Here’s all you need:
- Lightly-Fried Corn Tortillas: First, you cut your corn tortillas into quarters and lightly fry them in about a tablespoon of olive oil or vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Then, you drain them on a plate with a paper towel and lightly salt them.
- Green or Red Sauce: Next, heat your sauce. You can use a green (chilaquiles verdes) or red sauce (chilaquiles rojos), I prefer green. Use a premade sauce, or make your own with tomatillos! I usually use salsa verde or even green enchilada sauce. Pour the sauce on the chips and toss until all the chips are coated.
- Protein: After you coat the chips in sauce, top the Chilaquiles with the protein of your choice. I like my Chilaquiles with eggs (fried or scrambled). However, sometimes if I have leftover pulled chicken or pork, I use that instead. For a vegetarian option, some people like to serve this dish with refried beans.
- Toppings: This is where you can get really creative. See our toppings list below for ideas!
Topping Ideas
Once you have the base of your chilauiles, you can go crazy with toppings! This would be such a fun breakfast to serve for birthdays, holidays, or any time! Just set up a topping bar and let your guests add anything they like. YUM!
- queso fresco
- cotija cheese
- shredded cheese
- avocado
- cilantro (stems removed, just the leaves)
- crema
- pickled red onions
- radishes
- diced tomatoes
- green chiles
- black beans
- bacon
- hot sauce
- lime wedges
- lime juice
- tomatillo salsa
- chipotles
- side of refried beans
Recipe Tips
If you are pressed for time, you can use store-bought tortilla chips instead of frying your own.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chilaquiles
They are similar to nachos, but not quite the same. Chilaquiles are made with fried tortillas that are coated in a rich sauce and topped with a variety of toppings (see above).
This depends on who you ask! Some people like their Chilaquiles more crunchy, and some like them on the tender side. For a crispier crunch, add only half of the sauce to the recipe.
Yes! I have added pulled pork and pulled chicken to my Chilaquiles before and it is delicious! I have also seen bacon and chorizo as toppings.
To give the corn tortillas that crispy, chip-texture, don’t skip the step of frying them in oil. Make sure they’re puffy and slightly browned. They’ll crisp up as they dry on a paper towel.
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They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s easy to get stuck in a breakfast rut. Sometimes you just need a few ideas to get the wheels turning. Here are more than 33 tasty and filling breakfast recipes for you to browse. We are sharing easy breakfast recipes in 6 categories: Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas, Breakfast Sandwiches, Egg Breakfasts, Sweet Breakfasts, Breakfast Breads, and Grab-and-Go Breakfasts. Each recipe is a tried and true family favorite your family will love. In addition, we’ve included a recipe for our hearty Breakfast Quesadillas.
How to Make Chilaquiles
Easy Chilaquiles
Video
Ingredients
- 6 corn tortillas
- 1/4 cup canola oil for frying
- 10 ounces salsa verde or green enchilada sauce
- 2 eggs fried or scrambled
- optional toppings: avocado, crema, cilantro
Instructions
- Cut the corn tortillas into quarters.
- In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Lightly fry each side of the tortilla quarters until they are golden brown and crispy. Place the fried chips on a plate covered with a paper towel to drain the oil. Remove the oil from the skillet.
- In the skillet, heat the green sauce over medium heat. Add chips and toss until all the chips are coated.
- Add eggs and any additional toppings and serve immediately.
Notes
- queso fresco
- cilantro leaves
- cotija cheese
- shredded cheese
- avocado slices
- cilantro (stems removed, just the leaves)
- Mexican crema
- pickled red onions
- radishes
- diced tomatoes
- green chiles
- black beans
- bacon
- hot sauce
- lime wedges
- lime juice
- tomatillo salsa
- sour cream
- Diced green pepper
- chipotles
- side of refried beans
Wow! What a way to start the day. This recipe was so incredibly delicious and is definitely one of my favorite breakfast recipes!
I can’t wait to make this! I’m so tired of the same ol’ breakfasts!
The fresh fried tortilla chips are key! Nothing worse than soggy chilaquiles! This is a great base recipe. I often make it with leftover pulled meat from dinner!
Great breakfast recipe! I’m always looking for new things to make. This will be a great addition to the rotation