How To Make the Absolute Best Chilaquiles (2024)

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Vianney Rodriguez

Vianney Rodriguez

Vianney Rodriguez is an award-winning food blogger, recipe developer and author of The Tex-Mex Slow Cooker and Latin Twist cookbooks. Vianney was recently named one of Southern Living Cooks of the Year.

updated Oct 16, 2023

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This easy chilaquiles recipe, which consists of fried corn tortilla chips simmered in a brothy sauce, is quick, affordable, and make-ahead friendly.

Serves4Prep10 minutes to 15 minutesCook20 minutes to 25 minutes

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When I was growing up, chilaquiles (pronounced “chee-lah-KEE-lehs”) was my favorite Sunday morning breakfast dish. Crispy tortillas swimming in a rich salsa, covered with plenty of cheese? It’s simplicity at its best. Serve with a scrambled or fried egg on top, or with cheese, shredded chicken, or roasted veggies — the options are endless.

Today I’m sharing the absolute easiest chilaquiles recipe that is sure to have you in and out of the kitchen and smiling from ear to ear on Sunday morning. Vamos!

How To Make Chilaquiles In Under 30 Minutes

  1. Fry the tortilla chips until lightly brown and crisp.
  2. Transfer the tortilla chips to a baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with salt.
  3. Make the salsa roja by blending tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, and garlic in a blender.
  4. Add salsa to the skillet and cook until slightly thickened.
  5. Coat the chips with salsa and cook until heated through.

What Are Chilaquiles?

The word chilaquiles comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning chilis and greens. A traditional dish served in Mexico, the recipe hit the United States in 1898 when featured in The Spanish Cookbook, by Encarnación Pinedo.

At its most basic, chilaquiles consist of fried corn tortilla chips simmered in a brothy sauce. Not only is this dish affordable, but it’s also great for entertaining since both major components (the chips and the sauce) can be made in advance. Chilaquiles are also a great meatless option, and amazing for weeknights when you’re in need of a dish that’s ready in under 30 minutes.

What Ingredients Are in Chilaquiles?

These are the ingredients most typically used for chilaquiles

  • Corn tortillas; we don’t recommend using flour tortillas, but if you’re short on time you could skip the frying step and swap in that bag of stale tortilla chips in your pantry.
  • Jarred salsa or homemade salsa using tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and broth
  • Cooking oil
  • Garnishes such as avocado, queso fresco, crema, and a fried egg

The beauty of chilaquiles is they are completely customizable. Serve with a scrambled or fried egg on top, topped with queso fresco or cotija, shredded chicken, or roasted veggies — the options are endless. Because it’s so versatile, this dish is the perfect opportunity to use up any leftovers found in the fridge.

What’s the Difference Between Chilaquiles Verdes and Chilaquiles Rojos?

Chilaquiles verdes are made with a salsa made from tomatillos, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro (hence the “greens” in the translation). Chilaquiles rojos are made with a salsa made from tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and broth. Both are cooked using the same technique — it simply comes down to the cook’s preference on which salsa they prefer. Today I’m sharing a chilaquiles rojos.

Chilaquiles are also sometimes confused with migas, which is a more egg-forward Mexican dish consisting of diced corn tortillas, fried until golden; sautéed onion, tomato, and serrano; and served with scrambled eggs.

How Do I Serve Chilaquiles?

Chilaquiles can be topped or served with anything your little hungry heart desires. Scrambled or fried eggs, shredded chicken, sour cream, pico de gallo, queso fresco, or avocado are all great options.

I like to place out bowls of toppings so my guests can choose what they like. Mi cariño (husband) loves them topped with a fried egg, and I prefer them with a side of refried beans.

Comments

How To Make Chilaquiles

This easy chilaquiles recipe, which consists of fried corn tortilla chips simmered in a brothy sauce, is quick, affordable, and make-ahead friendly.

Prep time 10 minutes to 15 minutes

Cook time 20 minutes to 25 minutes

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the chips:

  • 1/4 cup

    vegetable oil, for frying

  • 12

    corn tortillas, cut into 8 wedges each

  • Kosher salt

For salsa roja:

  • 4

    Roma tomatoes or 2 large tomatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), chopped

  • 1/2

    large yellow onion, chopped

  • 1

    medium jalapeño, sliced (remove the seeds for a less spicy dish)

  • 2 cloves

    garlic

  • 1 1/4 cups

    low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, divided

  • 2 teaspoons

    vegetable oil

  • Kosher salt

For serving:

  • Avocado or guacamole

  • Crema

  • Queso fresco

  • Fried eggs

Equipment

  • Large skillet

  • Baking sheet

  • Blender

Instructions

Show Images

  1. Fry the tortillas. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add about a quarter of the tortilla wedges and cook, flipping once, until lightly brown and crisp.

  2. Drain the tortilla chips. Drain the freshly fried tortilla chips on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat this process until all tortillas are fried, adding more oil if needed.

  3. Make the salsa roja. Place the tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, and garlic in a blender or food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pour in 1 cup of the broth. Blend until smooth.

  4. Cook the salsa. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the salsa and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 5 to 10 minutes (the consistency of the salsa will vary depending on the size and juiciness of the tomatoes). Add additional broth to thin out the salsa, if needed. Taste and season with salt as needed.

  5. Coat the chips with the salsa. Add the tortilla chips and stir carefully to coat the chips. Cook until the tortillas are heated through, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt as needed.

  6. Serve warm. Serve warm garnished with avocado or guacamole, crema, queso fresco, and/or fried eggs, if desired.

Recipe Notes

Make ahead: The chips and salsa roja can be made in advance. Use additional chicken or vegetable broth to warm the salsa if needed.

Storage: Leftover chilaquiles can be stored for up to 1 day.

At Kitchn, we know how important it is to find recipes that are worth your time. That’s why every tutorial — like this one — features recipes that have been tried and tested by our team of developers and at-home cooks from across the country. Questions or feedback for us? Say hello: recipes@thekitchn.com.

Filed in:

Breakfast

easy

Eggs

Gluten-Free

Ingredient

mexican

How To Make the Absolute Best Chilaquiles (2024)

FAQs

Should chilaquiles be crunchy or soft? ›

The best chilaquiles (the kind we're after) aren't so much wet as moist, and aren't so much limp as "gently softened until the chips retain just a bit of crunch but dissolve in your mouth into a mix of comforting starch and hot salsa." But still, when it comes down to it, chilaquiles are essentially soggy nachos—an ...

What is chilaquiles sauce made of? ›

Chilaquiles verdes are made with a salsa made from tomatillos, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro (hence the “greens” in the translation). Chilaquiles rojos are made with a salsa made from tomatoes, onion, jalapeños, garlic, and broth.

How do you make chilaquiles not soggy? ›

Don't crowd the pan—When frying the tortillas, make sure not to crowd the pan. If the oil begins to smoke or if the tortillas are browning too quickly, lower the heat slightly. Clean plate club—Serve prepared chilaquiles immediately to maintain a slightly crunchy texture and keep them from becoming soggy.

What's the difference between migas and chilaquiles? ›

One difference is, in Migas, the eggs are scrambled and cooked with the tortilla chips and salsa. Whereas, when you have eggs with Chilaquiles, they tend to sit on top. These are Guajillo Migas & they have the best possible name: Baila con tu Mujer, which translates to dance with your wife.

How to keep chilaquiles crispy? ›

The outlet suggests cutting corn tortillas into wedges and then frying them in vegetable oil until they're puffy, crispy, and lightly browned. This extra step just might take your chilaquiles to the next level.

How are restaurant tortilla chips so thin? ›

Restaurant-style tortilla chips are usually produced from fine masa that is laminated into thinner chips. The raw tortilla pieces are usually cooled and are allowed to retrogradate for longer periods of time before frying.

What is chilaquiles called in English? ›

chi·​la·​qui·​les ˌchē-lä-ˈkē-lās. : a Mexican dish of fried corn tortilla pieces simmered with salsa or mole and typically topped with cheese and other accompaniments (such as sliced onions, shredded chicken, and fried or scrambled eggs)

Is chilaquiles sauce the same as enchilada sauce? ›

Chilaquiles (pronounced chee-lah-key-less) are a traditional Mexican breakfast made with tortilla chips simmered in sauce. Typically, they're made with green salsa (in Spanish, salsa verde, which yields chilaquiles verdes) or red enchilada sauce (chilaquiles rojos).

Why are chilaquiles so delicious? ›

Versatility. One of the reasons chilaquiles have captured the hearts of many is their remarkable versatility. They can be served with a plethora of toppings, including pulled chicken, beef, eggs, avocados, cheese, cream, and onions.

Who typically eats chilaquiles? ›

This dish is found all throughout Mexico, and at its most basic, it consists of fried tortilla chips covered with a red or green salsa, which makes the chip soft. Chilaquiles are commonly served with a side of refried beans and are eaten quite regularly in most Mexican homes.

What to eat with chilaquiles? ›

Stick to a tried and true favorite by serving a generous helping of refried beans with your chilaquiles. Refried beans are a popular Tex-Mex dish, but they're sure to please in any setting. Despite the name, refried beans aren't actually fried twice.

Are chilaquiles good for you? ›

By using lower-fat and calorie ingredients like baked tortilla chips, a light tomato-based sauce, and fresh cheese and eggs instead of heavy cream, chilaquiles can be a delicious and healthy option. They are perfect for sharing with friends as a tasty and satisfying snack or as an ideal brunch dish.

Are chilaquiles crispy or soft? ›

But the best chilaquiles perfectly straddle the line between soft and crunchy. The chips have had a moment to absorb some of the warm chile-packed sauce but still retain some of their bite.

What ethnicity is chilaquiles? ›

Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish dating back centuries to the early Aztecs.

Can you eat chilaquiles for dinner? ›

Crema, onions, and cheese are common, and some versions feature beans or a meat like shredded chicken, beef, or pork. Depending on what toppings you use, chilaquiles can easily transcend breakfast to pass for lunch or dinner.

What is the texture of chilaquiles? ›

In fact, it's perfectly possible to prefer your chilaquiles crunchy for breakfast and soft if you are having them for dinner. So, whether you prefer your chilaquiles crunchy or soft, don't let anyone tell you that there's a “right” way to eat or serve chilaquiles.

Should a quesadilla be crunchy or soft? ›

The quesadilla is crispy on the outside without being hard, and it's moist on the inside, the melted cheese providing a contrast. You need really good melting cheese and good tortillas. Aside from the flavors, you've got to pay attention to the mouthfeel: it's crispy then creamy then soft then crispy-crunchy.

Are tortillas soft or crunchy? ›

What makes a taco shell different from a corn tortilla? The most obvious difference is the consistency of a “hard” shell vs a “soft” shell (basically a regular corn tortilla). In its purest form, a hard taco shell is basically a fried corn tortilla that has been folded to make it easy to hold the ingredients of a taco.

Are tacos supposed to be crunchy or soft? ›

Some prefer the satisfying crunch of the hardshell taco while others enjoy the texture of a warmed soft tortilla. Hardshell taco diehards may proclaim that their crunchy taco shells are the superior choice while softshell taco enjoyers prefer a lighter texture.

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