Easy Huevos Rancheros. Say whaaaat? Here’s a translation. Huevos means eggs. Rancheros means Ranchers. So Huevos Rancheros translates to “Rancher’s Eggs.”
What these traditional Huevos Rancheros provide is a delicious, hearty classic Mexican breakfast that you and your family love and will fill you up!
I have lived in Texas all my life. So I love a filling, spicy Mexican breakfast like Breakfast Tacos, Chile Relleno Casserole, and these Huevos Rancheros. It is a bonus when it is easy to prepare. These Mexican Huevos Rancheros will likely become one of your favorite Mexican Food Recipes, and I daresay even likely one of your favorite Breakfast Recipes.
These authentic Huevos Rancheros are great for a relaxing weekend breakfast, but it is so quick and easy that you could enjoy them for a weekday breakfast as well.
Table of Contents
What Is Huevos Rancheros?
Huevos Rancheros is a Mexican breakfast dish made with fried eggs with runny egg yolks, corn tortillas, refried beans, and a Huevos Rancheros Sauce, which is a homemade salsa that is a salsa roja, or red salsa.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. This easy huevos rancheros recipe is easier to make than they look. You can whip them up in no time, and they are easy to make whether it is for 1 person or for the whole family.
- Hearty. These ranch-style eggs are hearty and filling. You won’t go away hungry after eating this breakfast.
- Naturally Gluten-Free. This recipe uses simple, naturally gluten-free ingredients, especially if you make the refried beans yourself.
- Spicy and Flavorful. The Huevos Rancheros Sauce includes a serrano pepper to provide a little spicy kick to the eggs.
Why This Recipe Works
- Tried and True Recipe. I have eaten huevos rancheros since I was a kid. The recipe is simple and has been made for decades. It is a tried and true recipe that has been thoroughly tested by many people.
- Easy Step by Step Instructions with photos. I try to make the instructions easy to follow and provide photos so you can see what it is supposed to look like during each step of the process. It makes this easy recipe even easier to make.
- Recipe Tips. I include some tips to help ensure successful results each and every time you make it.
- Variations. If you are like me and like to change things up every once in a while, I have included some delicious variations to keep things interesting so it is never boring.
What Is In Huevos Rancheros?
Huevos Rancheros consists of eggs, corn tortillas, refried beans, and a tomato-based Huevos Rancheros sauce, which is a fresh salsa. For more detail on each of the ingredients, see below.
Huevos Rancheros Ingredients
Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.
- Refried Beans. While you can use canned refried beans, if you have time, I recommend making them from scratch using my Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe. In the photos, I used refried black beans. Of course, you can also use refried beans made with pinto beans instead.
- Eggs. I used large eggs. However, if you are interested in reducing cholesterol, then you could use only egg whites.
- Corn Tortillas. We are fortunate that we can find several places that make corn tortillas on site. However, if all you can find is packaged corn tortillas, I recommend buying the corn tortillas with the fewest ingredients. If you don’t have corn tortillas, you could substitute flour tortillas instead.
- Oil. I used avocado oil. But you can use vegetable oil, olive oil, or your oil of choice.
- Salt and Pepper. I used sea salt and black pepper. However, if you prefer, you could use white pepper.
- Cilantro. I use fresh cilantro as a garnish. However, if you love cilantro, you could also add a tablespoon of chopped cilantro to the sauce. If you don’t have cilantro, you could use chopped green onions.
- Cotija Cheese. (Optional) As a garnish, you can top the Huevos Rancheros with a Mexican cheese like crumbled cotija cheese, or queso fresco.
- Huevos Rancheros Sauce. You can make this homemade ranchero sauce using the ingredients below, or you can use a store-bought sauce, or use your favorite red salsa.
Huevos Rancheros Sauce Ingredients
- Tomatoes. I used large tomatoes. You could also use roma tomatoes.
- Serrano Pepper. I used 1 serrano pepper for some heat and flavor. However, if you want it spicier, you could add more serrano peppers. If you want it less spicy, you can remove the seeds, or you could use jalapeno peppers, or leave out the peppers altogether if you don’t want any spicy heat.
- Onions. I used a white onion. However, you could use a yellow onion, Vadalia onion, or sweet onion.
- Garlic. I used 1 garlic clove. If you like more garlic, feel free to add more.
- Oil. I used avocado oil. But you can use vegetable oil, olive oil, or your oil of choice.
- Salt.
How To Make Huevos Rancheros Sauce
- In a medium saucepan add 2 tomatoes and a serrano pepper(s). Add water until you cover the tomatoes.
- Place the saucepan over medium-high heat, and bring the two tomatoes and serrano pepper(s) to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and let them cook for 5 – 10 minutes, or until you notice the skin of the tomatoes tearing.
- Once they are ready, peel the tomatoes and add them, along with the serrano pepper, chopped onion, garlic clove, salt, and pepper into a blender.
- Add ¼ cup of the water used to boil the tomatoes.
- So you should have water, tomatoes, serrano pepper, chopped onion, garlic clove, and salt and pepper in the blender.
- Blend until smooth.
How To Make Huevos Rancheros
- Heat the Tortillas. In a medium skillet, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Once it’s hot, add a tortilla to the hot oil and lightly fry it on both sides. This will take around 2 minutes.
- Set Tortillas On A Plate. Once it’s ready, set the crispy corn tortillas on a plate and repeat the second step for the other tortilla.
- Add Refried Beans. Warm the refried beans and spread some of the refried beans onto each warm tortilla.
- Cook The Eggs. Add the other tablespoon of oil into the skillet, and fry one egg at a time. Let it cook between 2 and 4 minutes depending on how much you want it cooked. Ideally, have your yolk a little runny.
- Add the Eggs. Once it’s ready, place it over the tortilla with beans. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the other egg.
- Add the Huevos Rancheros Sauce. Spoon some of your sauce over your eggs. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and Cotija cheese if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Fewest Ingredients. When shopping for refried beans and corn tortillas, look for the ones with the fewest ingredients that don’t contain artificial preservatives for the best taste.
- Cheese Please. Crumble some cotija cheese or queso fresco on top of the huevos rancheros.
- To Make Less Spicy. Serrano peppers are spicier than jalapenos. If you want to reduce the spiciness of the Huevos Rancheros Sauce, you can 1) deseed the serrano peppers, 2) use 1/2 a serrano pepper, 3) switch to jalapeno peppers, or 4) leave out the peppers altogether.
- More Cilantro Please. If you love cilantro, add a tablespoon of chopped cilantro to the Huevos Rancheros Sauce, in addition to adding fresh cilantro as a garnish.
- Crispy Tortillas. If you prefer your tortillas crispy, fry the corn tortillas a little longer in the hot oil. Then carefully, remove the fried tortillas and place them on a serving plate.
Variations
- Huevos Rancheros with Chorizo. To add chorizo to the Huevos Rancheros, cook 1/2 pound of chorizo before you cook the eggs. Then remove the chorizo and add on top of the refried beans. Then cook the eggs in the same pan that you cooked the chorizo.
- Huevos Rancheros with Pulled Pork. If you have leftover pulled pork, you can reheat the pulled pork and place it on top of the refried beans, and then continue with the rest of the recipe.
- Vegan Huevos Rancheros. Instead of real eggs, you can substitute Vegan Eggs. You will also need to check to ensure that the refried beans are vegan.
- Salsa Verde Huevos Rancheros. Instead of using the tomato-based Ranchero sauce, try using Salsa Verde instead.
- Scrambled Huevos Rancheros. This recipe includes fried eggs. However, scrambled huevos rancheros are one of my favorites. You can serve the eggs scrambled, over easy, or sunny side up. You can cook your eggs so the egg yolks are a little runny, or well cooked. However you like your eggs, whether, with runny yolks or hard-boiled, you can be your own home chef and serve the eggs the way you like them.
What To Serve With Huevos Rancheros
Huevos Rancheros is a main dish served primarily at breakfast or brunch. Therefore, it doesn’t really need a side dish. However, if you want to serve it with a side dish, below are a few suggestions.
- Texas Style Breakfast Potatoes
- Candied Peppered Bacon
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Hash Brown Casserole
- Hot Sauce
- Lime Juice
FAQs
Can I Make Huevos Rancheros Ahead of Time?
You can make certain ingredients ahead of time. For example, the Huevos Rancheros Sauce, as well as the refried beans can be made ahead of time. However, for heating the corn tortillas, and cooking the eggs, I recommend doing that immediately before serving.
How To Store Leftover Huevos Rancheros?
I recommend storing each ingredient separately. The ingredients that you can make ahead of time are the same ingredients that you can store, which are the refried beans and Huevos Rancheros sauce. I recommend only cooking the number of eggs and heating the number of tortillas that you need for the one meal. I don’t recommend storing cooked eggs or heated corn tortillas.
Can I Freeze Huevos Rancheros?
You can freeze individual components of the recipe. You can free refried beans, Huevos Rancheros sauce, and corn tortillas. I don’t recommend freezing the eggs.
What Is The Correct Huevos Rancheros Pronunciation?
It is pronounced like “way vohs ran cher ohs.” Listen to Huevos Rancheros in Spanish to hear the correct pronunciation.
What Does Huevos Rancheros Mean?
Huevos Rancheros means Rancher’s Eggs.
How Many Calories in Huevos Rancheros?
This Huevos Rancheros recipe has 479 calories per serving.
Is Huevos Rancheros Vegetarian?
Yes, it could be considered vegetarian but because it has eggs, it is not vegan.
Give this simple dish a try, and I’m certain that it will become your favorite Mexican breakfast.
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Recipe
Traditional Huevos Rancheros Recipe
Ingredients
Huevos Rancheros Ingredients
- 4 corn tortillas
- 4 eggs
- 1 (15-ounce) can refried beans (or use Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe)
- 1-1/2 cups Huevos Rancheros Sauce (See Recipe Below)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 cup white mexican cheese or feta cheese (optional)
- chopped cilantro as garnish
Instructions
Make the Huevos Rancheros Sauce
- In a medium saucepan add 2 tomatoes and a serrano pepper(s). Add water until you cover the tomatoes.
- Place the saucepan over medium-high heat, and bring the two tomatoes and serrano pepper(s) to a boil. Lower the heat to medium and let them cook for 5 – 10 minutes, or until you notice the skin of the tomatoes tearing.
- Once the tomatoes are ready, peel the tomatoes and add them, along with the serrano pepper, chopped onion, garlic clove, salt, and pepper into a blender. Add ¼ cup of the water used to boil the tomatoes. Blend until smooth.
Make The Huevos Rancheros
- Place the corn tortillas between two paper towels on a plate. Microwave on high for about 45 seconds to warm the tortillas.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil, and then add the 4 eggs. Fry the eggs for about 3 to 5 minutes depending on how runny or firm you like your eggs. Salt and pepper to taste.
- In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, empty a drained can of refried beans or 15-ounces of Instant Pot Refried Beans. Cook for about 5 minutes until the refried beans are heated through.
- On each plate, place 1 corn tortilla, top with refried beans, 1 egg, Huevos Rancheros sauce, and cotija cheese. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro, if desired
Renee's Kitchen Adventures says
these do look super easy and a great breakfast or lunch any day! nom, nom, nom!
Michele says
Thanks Renee! These are super easy and delicious! Thanks for visiting.
Heather says
I’ve always wanted to try and make (nope never had it…only drooled over it before on the internet) and can’t wait to try making this. This sauce looks amazing!!
Devan says
These eggs were fantastic! I loved the addition of the re-fried beans – Mmmmmm! Thanks for sharing!
Natalie says
Surprised my family with this delicious breakfast recipe. It looked, smelled, and tasted divine, thank you!
Marta says
I’m in the land of amazing Mexican food and huevos rancheros are one of our favorite breakfasts. This recipe was so easy to follow and resulted in some of the best huevos rancheros we’ve tasted.
Andrea says
I always order huevos rancheros but have never made them at home. Thanks for the recipe, I’m going to try them! They look pretty easy.
Jennifer says
I never knew that the corn tortillas were pan fried for this. They look so appetizing. Can’t wait to try, looks delicious and filling.
Amanda Mason says
In general, this is one of my all time favorite recipes out there but this particular recipes is so absolutely delicious! The flavor combinations were fantastics! I plan to make this again!
Lauren Michael Harris says
Huevos rancheros is one of my favorite breakfasts! I love this simple recipe and that’s is vegetarian but even my meat-eating husband enjoys it!
Tammy says
Look amazing! My brother and I make this on weekends for the family. It’s one of our favorites…love how easy this is!