Chilaquiles
If you've got tomatillos, husked, dried chiles de árbol and day-old corn tortillas, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 70 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (5)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Cut the tortillas into triangles and shallow-fry them in the oil over medium-high heat in batches until crisp and golden, then drain on paper towels and reserve.
- Simmer the tomatillos, chiles de árbol, garlic, and half the onion in the water for about 10 minutes until the tomatillos turn olive-green and soften.
- Blend the cooked mixture with its liquid until smooth, then season the salsa with salt and pepper.
- Pour the salsa into a wide skillet over medium heat and simmer for 5 minutes to deepen the flavor, adjusting the consistency with a splash of water if needed.
- Fry the eggs in a little oil to your liking, cooking until the whites are fully set and the yolks have reached 71°C (160°F) for safety, around 3 minutes.
- Fold the crisp tortilla chips into the hot salsa just before serving so they soften slightly but keep some bite.
- Divide among plates, top each with a fried egg, the remaining sliced onion, crumbled queso fresco, and cilantro, and serve immediately.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Blender
Ingredient substitutions
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
Tips & common questions
How long does Chilaquiles take to make?
About 70 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 12 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of eggs?
Try ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Chilaquiles vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Chilaquiles is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Chilaquiles at the Grand Cantina, Windsor, Ontario, 2025-09-01 04.jpg by Chris Woodrich, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.