I love eggs and a lot of my quick-fix dinner recipes revolve around them. I have such comforting memories from when I lived in Brazil and the locals would serve a late dinner of black beans and rice with a fried egg on top. It seemed like a strange combination to me at first, but since then I’ve come to absolutely love eggs with things other than the traditional breakfast combos. So this is my take (emphasizing the word my) on the classic Latin dish, Huevos Rancheros. I’ve purposely kept this recipe amazingly flavorful, while at the same time keeping the calorie count low. It’s a great light meal, whether you whip it up for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and with a good mix of both protein and carbs, it’s quite filling as well.
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
- Pan salsa – This is a quick homemade salsa that cooks up on the stovetop. You’ll be amazed at how flavorful this is, with just a few simple ingredients.
- olive oil
- fresh onion
- fresh garlic
- jalapeño – This adds a nice kick, but isn’t too spicy. If you really don’t want any spice, you could use some canned green chilies instead.
- cumin
- salt and pepper
- canned fire-roasted tomatoes – You can always use plain canned tomatoes, but the fire-roasted variety adds a great smoky flavor.
- Small tortillas – I like La Tortilla Factory White Corn, which is actually a blend of corn and wheat. Use whatever tortillas you like, or Make Your Own Tortillas.
- Refried beans – Whatever variety you like.
- Eggs – You’ll need Fried Eggs or Poached Eggs. You can make Poached and Fried Eggs in the Oven as well. That recipe is hands off and makes it easy to do 6 at a time!
- Feta cheese – Cotija or queso fresco would also work, I just always have feta around and I like the tang it adds. Pepper jack or cheddar would be great as well.
- Additional toppings – As desired. It doesn’t need anything else, but it is delicious with a squirt of lime and some avocados as well!
How to Make Huevos Rancheros
- We’re going to start by mixing up a quick pan salsa. Finely mince some onion, jalapeño, and garlic. Mince small so they cook quickly. Sauté those ingredients for a few minutes, then sprinkle in some cumin, salt, and pepper, and a can of fire-roasted canned tomatoes, juices and all. Let that simmer for a few minutes and it’s ready to use.
- Next you’ll warm up a can of refried beans.
- Warm your tortillas in a hot pan.
- Cook your eggs (you can do Poached Eggs, Fried Eggs, or Make Them in the Oven, which is great for feeding multiple people at once).
- To assemble, Just spread the beans on tortillas and top with an egg. After that, spoon the salsa mixture over the top and sprinkle with a little chopped cilantro and a little feta. You don’t need to try and wrap it up like a burrito, just eat it with a knife and fork.
Storing and Other Tips
- This meal is best eaten fresh. If you have leftover ingredients, store them separately in the fridge until ready to use again. For ingredients like the salsa and opened refried beans, they are best enjoyed within 4-5 days.
- Planning ahead? Make your salsa and store in the fridge, or even the freezer, so you always have some on hand!
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but they definitely give this meal some staying power. You could always sprinkle a few black beans over the top instead, or skip the beans completely.
Definitely. Use corn or almond flour tortillas if you need to avoid gluten. For dairy-free, simply leave off the cheese or use your favorite dairy-free cheese substitute. Double check your tortilla ingredients just in case, but most tortillas are dairy-free already.
Sure, but if you have the time, I highly recommend trying out the pan salsa!
Huevos Rancheros
Ingredients
Pan Salsa
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup finely minced onion
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
- 1 jalapeno seeds and membranes removed, finely minced (click here for how to)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt more to taste
- 4-6 cracks black pepper
- 14.5 ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes
Huevos Rancheros Assembly
- 6 small tortillas I like La Tortilla Factory White Corn
- 16 ounce can refried beans heated according to directions on can
- 6 eggs fried, baked, or poached
- 6 tablespoons feta cheese
- chopped cilantro and lime wedges for garnish and serving
- avocado sliced or diced, optional
Instructions
Pan Salsa
- Heat a medium sized skillet to medium heat. When hot, add olive oil and then onion, garlic and jalapeno. Sauté, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes. Add cumin, salt and pepper and stir. Add tomatoes (including juices) and bring mixture to a simmer. Stir while simmering for about 5 minutes, using a spatula to scrape bottom of pan to release browned vegetables. Set salsa mixture aside.
Huevos Rancheros Assembly
- Heat a clean non-stick skillet and spray with non-stick spray. Heat tortillas one at a time until bubbly and golden brown. Spread about 1/4 cup beans on each tortilla and top with a fried egg. Spoon about 1/4 cup salsa over the top and sprinkle with cilantro and feta. Serve with lime wedges if desired. Serves 6.
Notes
- This meal is best eaten fresh. If you have leftover ingredients, store them separately in the fridge until ready to use again. For ingredients like the salsa and opened refried beans, they are best enjoyed within 4-5 days.
- Planning ahead? Make your salsa and store in the fridge, or even the freezer, so you always have some on hand!
Questions & Reviews
Looks so yummy! I am a Texas girls, so I love some spice! Thanks for sharing your recipe with cannot-really-cook-so-need-a-recipe people like me!
I LOVE huevos rancheros. My favorite twist on them is ALWAYS done the morning after we do a pork shoulder in the crock pot. I use the leftover pork and mix it in with some green enchilada sauce to do a cheater’s chili verde. Otherwise, Everything else is the same as this one, minus the pan salsa. Yum!
Just made this for my lunch….so yummy! I made the breadsticks from your first cookbook last night and can’t wait to buy your new book this weekend!
I am pregnant & just got put on bed rest yesterday. I am already going crazy!! I have been hearing so much about you guys so I decided to look up your website…..bad idea!! I can’t wait to get up & make these recipes!! 🙂 A few months ago I wanted to make fruit roll ups without adding sugar or using a dehydrator so I googled it & it pulled up your recipe 🙂 They were so yummy!! Thank you for the time you spend putting this all together 🙂
You two are so busy and I can’t imagine you would actually have time to read this, but THANK YOU so much for the wonderful message you shared at TOFW in Denver this weekend. I have been cooking approximately 5 out of 7 meals a week from your blog. You two have really impacted my life for the better. It was such a fun experience to see you in person and hear you speak. I am excited to try this recipe. I am all about fast and easy AND healthy now that school is back in session. Thanks again
We read every comment! You’re so sweet Jaime, thanks so much for coming to TOFW!
Please won’t you be my neighbor? Seriously… then I can borrow stuff, like food, really good food. Starving now. *grin*
Why can’t I see the print recipe button? Did it move? I guess I will have to go old fashion and write it down. Thanks for another yummy, easy, dinner dish!
This recipe looks amazing. I am super excited about the trying the White Corn Tortillas. I am going to make it for dinner tonight.
I wish I could come to the book signing on Friday night but I am a nurse and I have to work. 🙁 Would be a pleasure to meet you!
Those tortillas look awesome. I’ll have to look for them at all my various grocery stores to see if anyone carries them. And the recipe looks way better than the scrambled eggs with salsa that my dad calls huevos rancheros!