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Red Chilaquiles

A vibrant Mexican breakfast featuring crisp tortillas coated in a smoky guajillo-tomato sauce, topped with eggs, cheese, and fresh garnishes.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the sauce

  • 2 pieces guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed Toast briefly
  • 4 pieces Roma tomatoes, tops cut off Roast until blistered
  • 1/4 piece white onion Plus extra chopped onion to garnish
  • 2 cloves garlic Roast until softened
  • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon Substitute with vegetable bouillon for vegetarian option
  • Water Just enough to simmer the chiles and tomatoes

For the chilaquiles

  • 20 pieces corn tortillas, cut into 8 triangles each
  • Oil for cooking Cooking oil spray for baking, or 1–2 cups neutral oil for shallow-frying
  • Salt For seasoning
  • 1 piece fried egg Per serving
  • Cotija or feta cheese Crumbled, for topping
  • Chopped cilantro For garnish

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Toast the guajillos: Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast each guajillo for 10–20 seconds per side until aromatic but not blackened. Remove and set aside.
  • Roast the vegetables: In the same skillet, lay Roma tomatoes cut-side down and cook until blistered and soft, about 5–8 minutes. Add the 1/4 onion and garlic cloves to the skillet and roast until softened and slightly charred in spots.
  • Simmer the sauce base: Put toasted chiles, roasted tomatoes, onion, and garlic into a pot. Add just enough water to cover the ingredients and stir in the chicken (or vegetable) bouillon. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 8–10 minutes so flavors meld.
  • Blend and strain: Transfer the mixture to a blender and purée until smooth. Push the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl to remove skins and chile bits for a velvety texture.

Cooking

  • Crisp the tortillas: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) if baking. Arrange tortilla triangles on baking sheets, spray lightly with oil, and bake for 10–15 minutes until crisp and lightly golden. Alternatively, shallow-fry in 1–2 cups neutral oil in batches until golden, then drain on paper towels and salt lightly.
  • Warm and season the sauce: Return the strained sauce to the pot and simmer gently for 3–5 minutes. Taste and adjust salt (or more bouillon) as needed. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to loosen.
  • Toss chips with sauce: In a wide skillet, add a single layer of chips and spoon warm sauce over them—toss gently so chips are coated but still retain some crunch. Work in batches if serving multiple plates.
  • Fry the eggs: In a nonstick pan, fry eggs sunny-side up or to your preferred doneness. Season with salt.

Serving

  • Plate and garnish: Place sauced chips on each plate. Top with a fried egg, sprinkle with crumbled Cotija or feta, scatter chopped white onion and cilantro, and serve hot.

Notes

For optimal texture, cook eggs just before plating and toss chips with sauce shortly before serving. Store leftover sauce and chips separately.
Keyword Breakfast Tacos, Chilaquiles, Crispy Tortillas, Guajillo Sauce, Mexican Breakfast