How To Make Huevos Rancheros

When it comes to breakfast (or any meal, let's be honest), I am pretty much always in the mood for Mexican food, from my Freezer Breakfast Burritos to these Breakfast Tacos to Breakfast Quesadillas. I am always on the hunt for quick and easy Mexican-inspired breakfasts to make for my family.

Huevos Rancheros (Rancher's Eggs) have always been a favorite dish of mine. It's made with warm corn tortillas, eggs, fresh avocado, queso fresco, and homemade ranchero sauce. Huevos Rancheros dish is everything you could ask for in a savory Mexican breakfast dish.

Serve this dish as is or add a thin layer of refried beans for a ton of added flavor. I've made this Huevos Rancheros recipe for family and friends alike, with the same resounding waves of approval every time.

If you love Mexican breakfasts, don't miss these Huevos a la Mexicana and Machaca con Huevo recipes.

What Is Huevos Rancheros?

Huevos Rancheros is a traditional Mexican breakfast dish that translates to "rancher's eggs." It typically consists of fried corn tortillas topped with sunny-side-up eggs and smothered in a lightly spicy tomato-chili sauce. It's often finished with toppings like queso fresco, avocado, and cilantro.

Before You Get Started

Here are some things you should know before making this recipe:

• Make the sauce: The secret ingredient to making drool-worthy Huevos Rancheros is making your own sauce from scratch right in the blender! Store-bought sauce (or salsa or enchilada sauce) works in a pinch, but if you have the time, I highly recommend making your own. All you need is tomatoes, onions, garlic, chipotle peppers, jalapeno peppers or serrano peppers, and some spices like cumin and oregano. It takes 10-15 minutes.
• Cook the eggs differently: While Huevos Rancheros are traditionally made with eggs that are cooked sunny side up, feel free to cook your eggs however you like. This dish will taste great with scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and everything in between.

How to Make Huevos Rancheros

Making Huevos Rancheros at home is so easy! Here's a quick breakdown:

1. Fry the Tortillas

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tortillas one at a time, frying for a few seconds on each side until puffed and lightly browned. Set aside.

2. Cook the Eggs

In the same skillet, cook the eggs however you like. Sunny side up is traditional, but scrambled or over-easy works too.

Tip: Make sure to salt and pepper the eggs. You want to make sure the egg yolks are runny for an authentic approach.

3. Build the Plate

Lay two tortillas on a plate. Top with the eggs and spoon over warm ranchero sauce. Add sliced avocado, crumble on queso fresco, and sprinkle with cilantro.

Recipe Tips and Variations

Huevos Rancheros is the perfect dish for first-timers and home cooks alike. If you're looking for ways to make this dish your own, here are some of my top tips and variations:

• Add some beans: Beans are a flavorful and nutritious way of taking this Mexican breakfast dish to the next level. Personally, I recommend adding black beans or some Quick Refried Beans.
• Switch up your tortillas: Not a fan of corn tortillas? No problem! You can easily swap them out for flour tortillas instead.
• Swap your herbs: For those of you who aren't fans of cilantro, you can leave these out and use fresh chives or parsley instead.
• Add some extra protein: Shredded chicken tinga, carnitas (pork), or beef machaca would all make delicious additions to this dish if you're looking for something even heartier.
• Add vegetables: This dish is delicious with some sauteed spinach, fajita vegetables, roasted sweet potato, or butternut squash.

Huevos Rancheros Topping Ideas

This is one of those classic breakfast dishes that is great for mixing up and making your own! To get you started, here are some of my favorite topping recommendations:

• Salsa: To add some extra flavor, try topping your Huevos Rancheros with fresh salsa. Some of my top choices include Pico de Gallo, Corn Salsa , and Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde.
• Sauce: While this recipe calls for ranchero sauce, you can switch it up based on your flavor preferences and what you have at home. Try this Creamy Chipotle Sauce or some Jalapeno Ranch Dressing.
• Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes are a flavorful and nutritious topping for this breakfast dish. Chopped cherry tomatoes or Roma tomatoes will work great.
• Cheese: This delicious Mexican cheese tastes amazing in this dish. If you can't find any, you can swap it out for queso cotija, feta cheese, or shredded Mexican cheese.
• Hot sauce: For some extra heat, try drizzling some sriracha or your favorite hot sauce over the dish just before serving it.
• Sour cream: The refreshing creaminess is the perfect way to balance out the strong and bold flavors of the dish.
• Greek yogurt: For a lighter alternative to sour cream, try adding some of this for a creamy touch.
• Lime juice: A squeeze of fresh lime juice is the perfect way to brighten up the dish.
• Guacamole: If you'd rather top your plate off with a dollop of guacamole — instead of sliced avocado — go right ahead! Like I said, this is the ideal breakfast dish for customizing to suit your preferences.

How to Store Huevos Rancheros

Because this dish only takes 15 minutes to prepare, I highly recommend eating it fresh. Cooked eggs don't store well, but the sauce can be stored in the fridge.

I don't really recommend freezing this dish; however, you can absolutely store the homemade ranchero sauce in the freezer. To store, simply transfer the extra sauce to an airtight bag or container and freeze it for up to 3 months.