Huevos rancheros is a classic Mexican breakfast and a delicious way to start your morning. A lightly fried tortilla is layered with bold ranchero sauce, oozy sunny-side-up eggs, and all of your favorite toppings!
Why You’ll Love It
- The ranchero sauce is incredible. I highly recommend making my homemade ranchero sauce. It’s bold, smoky, and very authentic.
- It’s surprisingly simple. “Huevos rancheros” literally translates to ranchers’ eggs, since it was traditionally served as a mid-morning meal on rural Mexican farms. And honestly, they knew that simple is best.
- Perfect for brunch entertaining. Although it’s easy enough to assemble for a quick weekday breakfast. I like to get extra fancy with toppings for a Sunday brunch. My family loves it!
I talk a lot about how much I love Mexican breakfast dishes, especially chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. They’re similar in that they both start with a tortilla base and are layered with a warm, roasted sauce. Though the sauces are different. The sauce I use for chilaquiles is salsa verde (aka green sauce), but whenever I’m craving something with a smoky, rich tomato flavor, I lean towards this huevos rancheros because of the red ranchero sauce.
If you want to cut corners on this recipe, you could, of course, buy ranchero sauce at the market, though I do think it’s worth the effort to make my homemade version. The flavor payoff is real!
Huevos Rancheros Ingredients
- Tortillas: I love using my cassava flour tortillas. They crisp up beautifully! But you can use corn tortillas as well, and that’s what’s traditionally used.
- Refried beans: These add a creamy, hearty layer. If you’re not a fan of refried beans, mashed black beans (or even my black bean dip) are great alternatives.
- Eggs: Depending on how you like your eggs, you can make a sunny-side-up egg for that beautiful runny look or cook them over easy (or over medium).
- Ranchero sauce: This is the star of the dish! A good ranchero sauce should be bold, slightly smoky, and full of flavor, and my homemade version is just that.
- Mexican Cheese: I like Cotija cheese for a salty, crumbly finish. But queso fresco is another great option that’s a bit milder and creamier.
- Avocado: Add a few sliced pieces to garnish the plate for creamy, healthy goodness.
How To Make Huevos Rancheros
Step one: Crisp the tortilla. Heat the oil in a small to medium skillet over medium heat. Add the tortilla and cook for about 30 seconds on each side, until it’s lightly crispy but still flexible. Transfer to a paper towel to drain any excess oil, then repeat with the remaining tortillas.
Step two: Fry the eggs. In the same pan, crack in your eggs and cook them to your liking. I love sunny side up for that runny yolk, but go with whatever you prefer.
Step three: Layer the huevos rancheros. Place the tortillas on a plate, then spread a layer of refried beans on each one. Add a fried egg on top, then spoon over plenty of that warm ranchero sauce.
Step four: Garnish and serve. Season the eggs with salt and pepper, then finish with fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, and sliced avocado. Serve right away while everything is warm!
Frequently Asked Questions
They have a mild to moderate heat, depending on your ranchero sauce. My recipe is somewhere in between!
Yes! If you want a lighter option, you can brush or spray the tortillas with oil and bake them in the oven until lightly crisp. I’d recommend 400°F for about 10 minutes or so.
You can add sliced jalapeños, pickled onions (always so good!), radishes, shredded lettuce, or a drizzle of Mexican crema. I also love my lime crema for this! And if you want to make it heartier, add chorizo, shredded chicken, or even roasted potatoes on the side.
This is one of those recipes that’s really best served fresh, but you can prep the components ahead of time. I like making the ranchero sauce and refried beans in advance. Then, I can just fry the tortillas and eggs when I’m ready to serve them up. Super easy!
More Mexican Recipes
- The Best Guacamole: My #1 Mexican appetizer!
- Pozole: A shredded pork soup with smoky chile flavor.
- Carne Asada: A favorite for taco night.
- Taco Soup: The best taco flavors in a cozy meal.
- Chicken Fajitas: Best weeknight dinner!
- Or browse through my list of Mexican recipes or egg recipes for more breakfast ideas!
If you try this huevos rancheros recipe, let me know how they turn out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re looking for more healthy food inspiration, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 (6-inch) tortilla
- 1 cup refried beans, warmed
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup ranchero sauce
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons crumbled cotija cheese
- ½ avocado, sliced
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Crisp the tortilla. Heat the oil in a small to medium skillet over medium heat. Add the tortilla and cook for 30 seconds on each side, until it becomes slightly crispy. Use tongs to remove the tortilla to a paper towel to drain any excess oil. Repeat this process.
- Fry the eggs. In the same pan, crack the eggs. Fry the eggs until they’re cooked to your liking.
- Layer the huevos rancheros. Add the tortillas to a plate. Top each tortilla with a spread of refried beans and a fried egg. Drizzle the ranchero sauce on top.
- Garnish and serve. Season the egg with salt and pepper. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, and sliced avocado before serving.
Lisa’s Tips
- Make my ranchero sauce a day in advance! This will make the cooking and assembly process easy peasy.
- If you don’t like refried beans, mashed black beans, or my black bean dip are great alternatives.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally posted October 2019, but updated to include a revised recipe, new photos, and new information for your benefit!
Behind The Scenes
When I originally posted this recipe back in 2019, it was a bit of a shortcut version with black beans and pico de gallo. And while it tasted great and presented well, it wasn’t truly traditional or authentic.
Many of you know that I’m all for adapting recipes and making shortcuts at home, but for this recipe, I reallyyyy wanted to revisit it and create a version that felt true to its roots. I travel to Mexico often, and the original just didn’t quite capture that experience. But this revised recipe, it’s exactly as it should be! And nearly identical to what I enjoyed recently in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Hope you love it as much as I do!
I am Mexican and this recipe has my stamp of approval 🙌🏻🇲🇽 the cumin in the sauce it’s a game changer, i only add a few drops of
Habanero sauce at the top the eggs to add more spicy 🌶️ so yummy 😋 try it on a slow Sunday morning with some cafe de olla ( coffee with cinnamon and brown sugar).
Happy to hear this is approved by you, Pamela! Love having this with cafe de olla as well :)
This recipe is truly authentic and delicious! I made it for my family and friends, it was a delight! Make it!
Happy to hear everyone loved this huevos rancheros, Kristal!
I am excited to try these but I got a lot of compliments making the other ones you had up for awhile with black beans. Anyway you could put that one back up or email it to me as I make it for a yearly trip with friends and since I don’t have it printed out the recipe is gone. Thank you! Excited to try these as well
Hi Jessica – Just swap the refried beans for black beans and the ranchero sauce for pico de gallo. Those were the changes. But I’m glad you enjoyed the simpler, older version as well! :)
I tried to share this recipe to my Pinterest page and nothing happened.
Hi Linda — Thanks for sharing! Which Pinterest button did you use by chance? It seems to be working on our end.
Me encanta mi esposo pregunta si podemos comerlo seguido lol
This made a fantastic dinner for two! Very tasty and fulfilling!
Glad you two enjoyed this for a breakfast-for-dinner meal, Hibber!
So simple yet so delicious!
Hi Annette – Can’t beat a simple yet flavorful breakfast like this!
These were so simple, yet so delicious! I was surprised at how much flavor is in such a simple dish. I will be eating these frequently.
Hi Ginger – Happy to hear you enjoyed these huevos rancheros!
Excellent & delicious! So easy to make! I just had a late breakfast/lunch meal! I saw your recipe awhile ago and I thought it would be complicated. Well, no! I had fried black beans on hand and I just lightly fried up the tortillas (2) and the eggs. Voila! Thank you wonderful lady! Another hit! Need to make your cassava crepes soon!
They really are easy to whip up! So happy you enjoyed them, Elizabeth!
I just made this dish for dinner tonight. It was excellent, My husband & I loved it.
Happy to hear both you and your husband enjoyed this one :)
I’m sorry. Your breakfast looks nice but you shouldn’t call it Heuvos Rancheros. There is no Ranchero Sauce. Ranchero sauce is a very complex flavoured sauce. A sauce a lot of time and effort goes into. Dumbing it down and using the term huevos rancheros isn’t fair to your readers nor to the dish. Absolutely no effort went into this post. You’re just creating content. At the expense of huevos rancheros which this recipe has nothing to do with. I’m sad :(
Hi Lydia – You’re welcome to add ranchero sauce instead of hot sauce. I’ve had huevos rancheros numerous times in Mexico and it’s always been served with hot sauce or a simple salsa. But of course, feel free to tweak to your liking!
Super recipe! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed this huevos rancheros!
When I was a kid, we drove from Missouri every summer to vacation in Mexico. The best part of the trip was staying two weeks at the Rancho Atascadero in San Miguel de Allende. Every morning my brothers and I would go to the restaurant and have Huevos Rancheros. I cherish those memories and this dish.
In part because of these experiences, I became a Chef and have owned a number of successful restaurants. I now do consulting. I’m doing this dish as a special this weekend for a client. Was perusing the net for recipes and came across this one. It captures the simplicity of the dish very well; the tortillas, eggs, beans, cheese & salsa. Those 5 things make this one of the BEST breakfast dishes on the planet. Well odne!
Hi James – I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! I’ve enjoyed it on numerous trips to various cities in Mexico myself. I’m happy it brought back fond memories for you!
You’re not going to believe this but I have never had this! My mom raised me working for a Mexican restaurant too!
But by far the best Mexican dish I ever tasted was a Carnitas burrito from a hole in the wall restaurant in East LA called Los Boyos!
I guess I never thought about pairing eggs w/Mexican food unless to make the batter for Chile rellenos. ( pardon my spelling).
I can’t wait to try these eggs!
Thanks for the recipe!!
Hi Cora- You can always add a fried egg to anything :) But yes, you’ll definitely need to try this recipe if you love Mexican flavors!
Made these this morning for my husband and I and they were great! So flavorful, fresh and satisfying!
The perfect Sunday brunch recipe! Glad both of you enjoyed this dish :)
This is a great Sunday Brunch Recipe! It’s flavorful and filling! YUM!
Hi Saskia – Happy to hear you enjoyed these huevos rancheros! It’s always a great idea if you’re feeling for some Mexican flavors for breakfast :)
Yum!
Hi Jackie – Glad you loved this delicious breakfast option :)
Breakfast for 03042020~thx Lisa!
This recipe was SOO DELICIOUS! Very simple but so flavorful! This recipe also is wide open to any other changes you may like. I opted out of the cheese because I can’t have dairy and I added mushrooms and spinach to my beans.
Hi Jeniffer – This is definitely a recipe that can be adjusted to whatever you’d like to add :) Mushrooms and spinach sounds like a delicious addition!
Not really Huevos Rancheros. Authentic huevos rancheros use fried corn tortillas, fried eggs on top covered with red spicy tomato salsa, on the side fried mashed beans with tortilla chips and cheese.
Hi Rosina – I mention in the recipe that you can use corn tortillas, but as I have a sensitivity to corn I use cassava tortillas. This delicious recipe is flexible to many different preferences. :)
The dish varies widely across Mexico. yes, corn tortillas are almost always used. The rest of the dish (type of salsa, cheese, beans etc.) vary from region to region and even restaurant to restaurant. I’ve eaten this in at least 3 dozen restaurants in the Mexican interior and the details are never the same.
Extremely tasty and filling! Reminds me of early breakfast with my latinx family!
Hi Odalys – Glad you enjoyed this!
I loved these. I’m not one for beans in the morning, but this was great! So glad I tried it!
Hi Renee – You can always omit the beans if you’d like, but glad you enjoyed this recipe :)
Can’t ever have enough huevos in my life! Especially with all the sweet treats around the holiday season, I love to start the day on a savory note! These look amazing!
Hi Denisse – This breakfast recipe will definitely be a nice break from all the sweets this season :) Enjoy!
Your photography is so stunning – I really want to climb through the screen and take a seat at your table! Love me some huevos!
Hi Kiki – Thanks so much! I try my best :)
The first time I tried huevos rancheros was when I moved to the US a couple of months ago. Now I have been wanting to make it at home ever since. This looks like the most perfect recipe!!
Hi Cathleen – What perfect timing! I hope you enjoy my version of huevos rancheros :)
This recipe was absolutely delicious!! I tried it with cassava flour tortillas and it turned out great!
Hi Anjali – I’m so happy to hear that! :)
This is a delicious way to start the day. These Huevos Rancheros look so delicious.
Hi Tisha – Absolutely! It’s a hearty and tasty way to do breakfast, especially if you’re looking to add a little Mexican flair to it :)
Wow, I love how easy this recipe was to make!! And it’s got all the yummy Mexican flavors in this with the beans, cheese, and pico de gallo…. Thanks for this recipe Lisa!
Hi Emily – So glad you loved this recipe! It’s one of my personal favorites when I’m feeling Mexican flavors for breakfast :)
I’m actually on a vacation in Mexico and had Huevos Rancheros at a restaurant here this morning. The one here was not as yummy as your recipe that I’ve made in the past. When I made it, I used chunky quality store bought jarred salsa, but otherwise followed your recipe to the T. I think it does benefit from some level of sauciness that a simple fresh tomato pico de galo (or only tomatoes and cilantro) doesn’t quite give.
In the end, to me it’s all about taste, texture, and appearance. Yes, yours wins. Just needs a little sauciness.
Now we’re talking. Can’t wait to try. Thanks.
Hi Karen – Can’t wait for you to try this recipe! It’s such a simple, yet delicious and hearty breakfast :)