Huevos Rancheros Recipe (2024)

By Kay Chun

Updated Nov. 13, 2023

Huevos Rancheros Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(1,137)
Notes
Read community notes

Eggs “rancher’s style” is a traditional, hearty Mexican breakfast typically enjoyed after a hard morning’s work. But huevos rancheros also makes for a satisfying and comforting weeknight dinner. The simple yet flavorful homemade salsa comes together quickly and is smartly used in three ways: a quick simmer transforms the salsa into the warm ranchero sauce; it adds a zesty flavor that shines through in the smoky refried beans; and it gives a final fresh finish as a tangy topping. Any leftover ranchero sauce and refried beans make for great dips the next day.

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have

    10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers.

    Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Print Options

    Include recipe photo

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 2pounds ripe tomatoes
  • ½ medium white onion
  • 2tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1small jalapeño
  • ¼cup cilantro leaves, plus more for serving
  • 1ripe avocado
  • 2teaspoons kosher salt, such as Diamond Crystal, plus more for seasoning
  • ½teaspoon grated garlic
  • ¼cup neutral oil, such as safflower or canola
  • 2(15-ounce) cans black beans
  • ¾teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 8large eggs
  • 8(6-inch) warmed corn tortillas
  • Crumbled queso fresco, for serving

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

694 calories; 29 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 8 grams polyunsaturated fat; 79 grams carbohydrates; 24 grams dietary fiber; 9 grams sugars; 37 grams protein; 589 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Huevos Rancheros Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Dice the tomatoes, finely chop the onion, stem and mince the jalapeño, chop the cilantro and halve, pit, peel and slice the avocado. Reserve the cilantro and avocado. In a medium saucepan, combine tomatoes, onion, lemon juice, jalapeño, 2 teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon of the garlic, and mix well. Transfer 1½ cups of the fresh salsa to a bowl and set aside.

  2. Step

    2

    Cook the remaining salsa over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes soften and the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Transfer the ranchero sauce to a bowl and cover to keep warm (you should have about 2 cups).

    Huevos Rancheros Recipe (3)
  3. Step

    3

    In the same saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium. Add the remaining ¼ teaspoon garlic and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the beans (and their liquid), cumin, smoked paprika and ½ cup of the reserved fresh salsa, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently and mashing with the back of a spoon or potato masher, until the mixture is smooth and thick, about 10 minutes. Season with salt to taste and remove from heat.

    Huevos Rancheros Recipe (4)
  4. Step

    4

    In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium. Crack in 4 of the eggs and cook undisturbed until whites are set but yolks are still runny, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a large plate and repeat with the remaining oil and eggs.

    Huevos Rancheros Recipe (5)
  5. Step

    5

    Meanwhile, stir the cilantro into the remaining 1 cup reserved salsa. Divide the tortillas across 4 plates (2 per plate). Spread refried black beans on the tortillas and top each with an egg. Cover the eggs with ranchero sauce. Divide avocado on the plates and garnish with some of the fresh salsa, queso fresco and cilantro.

    Huevos Rancheros Recipe (6)

Ratings

4

out of 5

1,137

user ratings

Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.

Cooking Notes

Dave Bloch

In Yucatan, we have a unique dish called Huevos Motuleños (named for the city of Motul, where the inventor still serves them in her restaurant in the Public Market).Put 2 eggs in a frying pan and get them going. Then drop a tortilla in another frying pan. Spread some refried beans on it and heat it up. Put the fried egg on top, then some chopped-up ham and maybe a teaspoon of green peas. Grate some cheese over it all and heat until the cheese starts to melt. Plate it and top with salsa.

paula contreras

I recommend frying tortillas as well, it brings out more flavor. Don’t fry too long, 10 seconds on each side. Don’t warm in microwave, use griddle or pan.

Carla

Salsa ranchera is a basic, and descriptive, term referring to a smooth blender sauce made with raw blended tomatoes, onion, serrano chiles, and possibly garlic and cilantro. The sauce is then "seasoned" by frying in a small amount of oil and cooked about five minutes to keep the flavor fresh. True "huevos rancheros" is a simple and glorious dish of lightly fried tortilla topped with fried egg drowned in salsa ranchera. No cheese, no beans, no cream.

William Barr

When I lived in Mexico City some years back, I used to take my car in for repairs very often. I'd leave it and walk to a nearby diner on Avenida de la Independencia, where I'd order "huevos divorciados.". The dish was two eggs over easy on tortillas, one with red sauce and the other green, the two separated by a wall of refried beans. Great memories.

Pahi

There are many ways to make huevos rancheros in Mexico. The way I know it is very different than this recipe. Sauté green onions, serranos, garlic in oil. Add tomato sauce and water to thin it down and heat to a simmer. Dip heated corn tortillas one at a time and return to plates (2 tortillas per serving). Add the eggs to the pan and cover. Cook on low until sunny side up. Place eggs on tortillas and serve remaining sauce over the eggs. Not fancy, but very delicious.

Heather R.

I loved this, and since I love limes so much, I added lime juice along with the lemon to the salsa before cooking and added lime zest to the fresh salsa too. Also, used way more garlic and cilantro than was called for, and it turned out awesome. Excited to experiment and take this in more directions. Thanks for the great recipe!!

Corinna Hildegard

Some talked in the notes how a "traditional" salsa ranchera is made with the help of a blender. In the traditional Mexican kitchen electrical tools do not exist, and, quite frankly spoken, a salsa made with a blender or food processor never can be good, as the ingredients are cut way too small or not equal enough. Any true Mexican dish will never have anything in it where a blender will be used, and that is true independent of the many different regional cuisines in Mexico.

Anne B

I—not caring whether it is authentic or not—made the recipe exactly as written. It is really wonderful. The salsa is especially good and any leftover salsa makes a terrific cold soup for the cook's lunch.

Mary from Terry, MS

I appreciate your mentioning Huevos Motulenos, my favorite breakfast in Puerto Morelos where we vacation every winter. The ham and green peas are mandatory to make it taste right.

sadie

This was a dish that seemed intimidating, but then turned out to be both straightforward to make and immensely tasty.

Bazz

Huevos Rancheros police aside, this was an excellent recipe. Only change I made was to blend the ranchero sauce after it cooked because I wanted more contrast in textures between the sauce and the fresh salsa. Used pinto beans instead of black beans since that’s what I had and added some cayenne for more spice. Lightly fried the tortillas. Very filling and makes for a perfect weekend brunch dish.

eliza383

I liked this so much I used leftover beans in breakfast burritos today. Delish! Hubby is from New Mexico btw and liked this a lot, all he thinks when he hears huevos rancheros is eggs rancher style. That can mean a lot of things.

Bill

Saying "traditional" huevos rancheros is like saying "traditional gazpacho." There are countless variations of gazpacho, and of huevos rancheros, that vary from cook to cook, from region to region, and with the contents of one's larder.This version is fine as a starting point; cook it as is or tweak it if you like.If you are the exploratory type, google Tex-Mex huevos rancheros, California huevos rancheros, etc. and see if you find something else you'd like to try.

jimmi

You can make creamy frijoles negros by putting the beans with their liquid in a mixing bowl and using a hand or wand blender to turn them into the smooth black beans you get at most Mexican restaurants.Also, definitely toast or fry the tortillas to a crispy texture.

LJ

Maybe the best breakfast I’ve ever made. Absolutely delicious!

Lina

Authentic or not, this recipe came out perfectly for my taste, better than expected. I loved it and will make it for my family who are great fans of Mexican food. I agree that the tortillas are better if fried in minimal oil (when just heated in the pan they came out brittle) and I’ll use a bit more garlic too.

Tere from Mexico

One can also toast direct on the fire or on a pan the tomatoes, the onion, the chiles, before making the salsa. The additional flavor is terrific.Do not forget in the case of huevos motuleños add some fried plantain slices. It is mandatory.

Anne K

I made this for dinner tonight, and it was a hit with my family. I did not have fresh jalapeño, but used pickled jalapeño instead and it came out fine. I also "fried the tortillas", I brushed them very lightly with oil, and then heated them in a non-stick skillet before frying the eggs.

HK

Too complicated! Good ingredients but make it the easy way.

Karen Kressenberg

Where exactly to get ripe fresh (decent) tomatoes in January?? Tip for canned please??

Dragonflyfarm

I used 2 14 oz cans Muir Glen fire roasted diced tomatoes with excellent results.

PNWcook

I make this regularly with canned diced tomatoes (usually a can of roasted tomatoes with chilis). Just switch out the fresh for a couple of cans.

Richard Nathhorst

I do a single person's quick version of this breakfast recipe on a regular basis.I scramble two eggs in butter (keeping them on the creamy side of done and place on a briefly fried Corn Tortillas or toast an English muffin to serve the eggs on and top with store bought"hot" salsa. I also use refried beans if I have some in the fridge. It makse a very tasty and quick morning breakfast for one with eaten with a piece of fruit and black coffee. (I pass on the avocado for political reasons.)

Eric

How can you ever get the beans ready in 10 minutes, do you perhaps have much less liquid in US cans? I need to reduce it for an hour without lid…

djrn

Loved this recipe. Delicious and easy. Only complaint I prefer the onions to be quartered as opposed to in half. Too stringy. Cornbread crumbs were a perfect finish

Ted

I know I'm an outlier, but I prefer huevos rancheros with crispy tortillas, like a tostada. My usual version is similar to Kay's but with the crispy tortilla. I spray the tortillas with cooking spray and then crisp them in the toaster oven. Yum!

David Cherson

Why are black beans specified here for Huevos Rancheros? Huevos Rancheros are usually made with refried beans. Black beans are more common to the Caribbean. I always think of Huevos Rancheros as a Southwest/ Northern Mexico dish.

Edward Blau

The wonderful people who own "our' Mexican restaurant are from Mexico City and serve as noted below, Huevos Divorciados. The tortillas, rice, and beans are on the side.It is my favorite for lunch there.

cookie

Add bacon to the salsa.

Paul Frank

"...typically enjoyed after a hard morning’s work". Quite.

Candace

Halve the amount of beans. Use salsa Fresca recipe

Benito

+1 to some of these comments! Authentic Huevos Rancheros should have the tortilla lightly fried, or "pasada", in oil. The sauce 100% has to be blended and the flavors should come together by stir frying it in a little oil (which also helps the sauce reduce). The salsa in this recipe would pretty much never be used for Huevos Rancheros. We also pretty much never add lime (or cumin and paprika!) to salsas in Mexico AND we would not use jalapeños - serranos are our go to!

Private notes are only visible to you.

Huevos Rancheros Recipe (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6482

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.