Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (2024)

  • Mexican
  • Fried Eggs
  • Eggs
  • Quick Breakfast

The ultimate comforting breakfast food.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated November 08, 2022

Why It Works

  • Freshly-fried tortilla chips provide the heft and crunch required to stand up to being simmered in salsa.
  • Cut wedges of soft corn tortillas are deep-fried until puffy and crisp, yet still pale golden.
  • Frying the chips just before adding them to the salsa yields the best results.

There are some words you don't normally associate with good food. Wet. Limp. Soggy. These are not descriptors you generally want to be putting in your mouth. But there are exceptions to every rule, and it just happens that one of the most delicious dishes of all time fits all three of those definitions.Chilaquilesjust happen to sound a whole lot better than "wet, limp, soggy nachos."

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (2)

Ok, I'm being a little bit unfair here. 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 excuse to eat chips and salsa for breakfast.

It's a super-simple dish to make once you have the basic ingredients ready. All you've got to do is heat up some salsa in a pan, thin it out with a little water or chicken stock, fold in some chips, and top it all with a few garnishes: Mexicancrema, crumbled cheese, sliced onions, chopped cilantro, and fried or scrambled eggs are my go-to. But there's some finesse in perfecting them.

First and foremost, youmustuse freshly-fried tortilla chips. I've yet to find a brand of store-bought chips that have the heft and crunch required to stand up to being simmered in salsa. I make my chips by cutting whole soft corn tortillas into wedges, then deep frying them in a wok until they're puffy and crisp but not yet deeply browned. Frying the chips just before adding them to the salsa will give you the best possible results.

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (3)

As for the salsa, you can use a doctored-up store-bought salsa verde or even a couple of cans of enchilada sauce with some fresh cilantro and lime juice if you'd like. But if you go through the troubleof making your own, you'll be rewarded with a breakfast fit for ajefe. Especially when it's topped with a runny egg.

September 2013

Recipe Details

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 quartsvegetable, canola, or peanut oil

  • 16 soft corn tortillas, cut into 6 wedges each

  • Kosher salt

  • 2 cups salsa verde

  • 1 cuphomemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken broth or water

  • 4 eggs

  • 1/2 cupMexicancremaor sour cream

  • 1/2 small white onion, thinly sliced

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

  • 1/4 cup crumbledcotija cheese

Directions

  1. Heat vegetable oil to 375°F (191°C) in a large wok, Dutch oven, or deep fryer. Adjust flame to maintain temperature. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Fry 1/3 of tortilla wedges, using a metal spider to agitate them as they cook. Cook until bubbling slows to a trickle, chips are pale golden brown, and are very crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet and immediately season with kosher salt. Repeat with remaining batches.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (4)

  2. Heat salsa verde and chicken broth (or water, if using) in a large straight-sided sauté over medium heat until simmering. Add chips and turn to coat. Cover and set aside.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (5)

  3. Transfer 2 tablespoons of oil to a large non-stick or cast iron skillet. Heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add 4 eggs and cook until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. Transfer to a large plate.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (6)

  4. Stir tortilla chips again and season to taste with salt if necessary. Divide between 4 warmed serving plates. Top each with a fried egg. Drizzle with crema, sprinkle with onions, cilantro, and cheese, and serve immediately.

    Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (7)

Special Equipment

Blender, wok or deep fryer, rimmed baking sheet, wire mesh spider,probeorinstant-read thermometer

Read More

  • Basic Salsa Verde (Mexican Tomatillo Salsa)
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
656Calories
38g Fat
64g Carbs
18g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories656
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g49%
Saturated Fat 11g57%
Cholesterol 219mg73%
Sodium 1360mg59%
Total Carbohydrate 64g23%
Dietary Fiber 10g36%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 16mg78%
Calcium 225mg17%
Iron 3mg18%
Potassium 714mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Chilaquiles Verdes With Fried Eggs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does chilaquiles contain eggs? ›

Chilaquiles (pronounced “chee-lah-keel-ehs”) is a Mexican dish made up of fried crispy tortilla chips, a red or green sauce, fried eggs and various toppings and garnishes.

How many calories are in chilaquiles verdes with eggs? ›

1 Order of green chilaquiles with chicken and eggs (Cheesecake Factory) contains 1610 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 21% carbs, 56% fat, and 22% protein. This is a good source of protein (161% of your Daily Value) and fiber (39% of your Daily Value).

How to 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 is the one thing you should always do when making fried eggs? ›

Crack in your eggs. You'll notice that instead of spreading out and merging with their neighbors into one giant, multi-yolk egg (as fried eggs are typically wont to do), these eggs set into perfect, distinct ovals. That's because the heated skillet immediately starts to cook them.

What is a Mexican breakfast dish with eggs and salsa? ›

A classic Mexican breakfast, huevos rancheros (translated "ranch eggs") are fried eggs served on a lightly fried corn tortillas and smothered in cooked salsa.

Are chilaquiles supposed to be crunchy or soggy? ›

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 the difference between chilaquiles verdes and rojos? ›

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.

What is the difference between migas and chilaquiles? ›

But there's a difference in that regard: migas usually feature short strips of fried tortilla, while chilaquiles use what are essentially tortilla chips. There are other distinctions too. The tortillas in migas are mixed with scrambled eggs; chilaquiles' are drenched in salsa.

What makes fried eggs taste better? ›

Start with a good egg, a hot skillet, and a generous drizzle of olive oil, and you'll end up with the most flavorful fried egg you've ever tasted. They are infinitely better than the rubbery, sulfurous eggs that come out of non-stick skillets. In fact, these are the only fried eggs I ever want to eat.

What are the mistakes for fried eggs? ›

12 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Frying Eggs
  1. Using eggs straight from the fridge. Extreme-photographer/Getty Images. ...
  2. Using the wrong fat. ...
  3. Frying at the wrong temperature. ...
  4. Not using a non-stick pan. ...
  5. Not using a lid. ...
  6. Frying for the wrong length of time. ...
  7. Not using enough fat. ...
  8. Adding eggs before the pan is hot enough.
Oct 22, 2023

Are there eggs in tortilla chips? ›

The basic and traditional ingredients to make tortilla chips are naturally vegan. These include corn flour, water, oil, and salt. Sometimes, especially at restaurants, the tortilla chips are fried in oil.

Do flour tortillas have eggs? ›

Traditional flour and corn tortillas do not contain eggs as part of their standard recipes. For individuals with dietary restrictions or allergies, it's advisable to check the ingredient list when purchasing tortillas from a store or at a restaurant.

Which of these ingredients forms the base of Mexican chilaquiles? ›

Typically, left over tortillas are the basis of the dish. Green or red salsa is poured over the crisp tortilla triangles. The mixture is simmered until the tortilla starts softening. Pulled chicken is sometimes added to the mix.

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