A Mexican breakfast eggs recipe that will keep you going right up to lunch. This Huevos Rancheros recipe is an easy and healthy vegetarian breakfast dish that is ready in just 5 minutes.
Huevos Rancheros translates to "Rancher's Eggs" and is a traditional Mexican breakfast. The basic dish consists of fried eggs served on lightly fried or charred tortillas, topped with a tomato salsa. Common accompaniments are refried beans, rice, guacamole or sliced avocado.
This isn't necessarily an authentic huevos rancheros recipe, so we have included some non-traditional accompaniments too, include cheese, sour cream and lettuce.
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What you will need
- Oil
- Eggs - Use fresh eggs for best results. We always choose high welfare eggs.
- Tortilla wraps - We use flour tortillas, as they are more flexible. But corn tortillas would still work.
- Refried beans - You could make your on, but we used a really good quality can.
- Salsa - We have provided the recipe for our homemade salsa, however you could save yourself some time and use a good quality store bought one.
- Avocado - Make sure your avocado is ripe (but not too ripe) for the best flavour.
- Cheese - We used mature cheddar, as it has a strong flavour. But you could use Monterey jack instead.
Step by step
One: Add the oil to a pan and then crack in 2 eggs. Cook for 3 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.
Two: Heat a separate dry pan and heat each tortilla on both sides.
Three: Spread a tablespoon of refried beans on to each tortilla.
Four: Add the egg and then top with salsa.
Five: Add and extra toppings you like.
Why should you try it?
- Ready in 5 minutes
- Something different for breakfast
- Less than 300 calories per serving
- Easy to adapt with different toppings
How to build it
Here are some suggestions for traditional (and non-traditional), ways to make huevos rancheros:
- Base: Use corn or flour tortillas and warm each one on both sides in a dry frying pan or skillet. You could use our Wholewheat Tortilla Wrap recipe, or even our Easy Flatbreads.
- Beans: Refried beans are the way to go, because they spread easily. You can use store bought or see below for instructions of how to make them.
- Salsa: The choice of salsa varies depending on how spicy you want to start your day. Again, you can use store bought, or use either our Pico de Gallo (mild), Restaurant Style Salsa (medium) or Salsa Picante (hot).
- Eggs: The fresher, the better. Fresh eggs hold together better and they also taste better. With eggs, you do get what you pay for, so make sure you use a good quality, free-range egg. They should be cooked so that the yolk is still runny.
- Extras: Add some grated cheddar or crumbled feta. Slices of avocado or some Guacamole always go well. Or maybe even some Spanish Rice.
How to make refried beans
- Cook a finely chopped onion until it has softened.
- Add garlic powder, chilli powder and cumin. Mix well. Add a can of drained pinto beans and 120ml (0.5 cup) of water. Stir and cover. Leave for 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and remove the lid. Using a potato masher, mash the beans, until you are happy with the consistency. Continue to cook the beans, uncovered for another 3 minutes. Stir regularly.
- Remove from the heat and stir in chopped coriander (cilantro) and juice of a lime.
What to serve this with
This is a nice filling start to your day, so nothing else is really needed. You could of course eat this for lunch (or dinner), so if you want to make it into a larger meal, try some of the following with it:
How to store it
Huervos Rancheros is such a quick meal to rustle up (providing you have the salsa and beans already made), that you won't need to store it. Once made, it really should be enjoyed immediately.
FAQs
Huevos rancheros is a healthy meal and a great start to your day. Each portion is less than 300 calories, there is protein from the egg and cheese and healthy fats from the avocado. Using store bought salsa and refried beans will make this less healthy, but by making your own you can keep the calories lower.
The only thing not gluten free in this recipe is the flour tortilla. Simply swap for a corn tortilla and you will have yourself gluten free huevos rancheros.
Traditionally, huevos rancheros is a vegetarian breakfast, but there is nothing to stop you from adding meat if you wanted. Add some chopped bacon, chopped chorizo, shredded chicken or pulled pork to make this into a more filling meal. Not a meat eater? Add some mushrooms, grilled halloumi, tofu or extra beans.
More Mexican recipes
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Recipe
Huevos Rancheros
Ingredients
- 0.5 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 Eggs
- 2 tortilla wraps
- 2 tablespoon Refried beans
- 4 tablespoon salsa
- 0.5 Avocado - sliced (optional)
- 20 g Cheese - grated (optional)
Instructions
- Add the oil to a pan and then crack in 2 eggs. Cook for 3 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.0.5 tablespoon Olive oil, 2 Eggs
- Heat a separate dry pan and heat each tortilla on both sides.2 tortilla wraps
- Spread a tablespoon of refried beans on to each tortilla.2 tablespoon Refried beans
- Add the egg and then top with salsa.4 tablespoon salsa
- Add and extra toppings you like.0.5 Avocado, 20 g Cheese
Notes
- You don't have to use a fried egg - scrambled or poached egg work just as well.
- You can use store bought refried beans or make your own using the method above.
- Either flour, wholewheat or corn tortillas will work.
- We used grated cheddar for this, but crumbled feta also works really well.
Diane
A really tasty recipe!