Recipe: Huevos Rancheros Casserole
Huevos rancheros go the way of the casserole with a double layer of corn tortillas, a generous helping of beans and cheese, and the signature spicy-sweet tomato-chile sauce.
Serves6
Huevos rancheros has been one of my favorite egg dishes since I first tasted it in Mexico, nearly 20 years ago. It’s a hearty, satisfying breakfast, which means it can also hold its own for dinner.
In this version, huevos rancheros go the way of the casserole with a double layer of corn tortillas, a generous helping of beans and cheese, and the signature spicy-sweet tomato-chile sauce. Everything is stacked into a 9×13-inch baking dish and then topped with a few eggs and baked in a hot oven until the whites are set and everything is melty and delicious.
Make Your Own Ranchero Sauce or Start with Store-Bought
Huevos rancheros in any form would not be complete without pools of spicy-sweet tomato-chile sauce. This recipe starts with instructions for a quick homemade ranchero sauce that comes together on the stovetop with a mix of aromatics, canned tomatoes, and a slew of spices. But if making your own sauce doesn’t fit with your schedule, don’t worry — your favorite store-bought substitute will work just fine.
Huevos Rancheros Casserole
Huevos rancheros go the way of the casserole with a double layer of corn tortillas, a generous helping of beans and cheese, and the signature spicy-sweet tomato-chile sauce.
Serves 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the ranchero sauce:
- 1 tablespoon
olive oil
- 1/2 medium
onion, diced
- 1 medium
jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 1 clove
garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon
ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon
chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon
dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (28-ounce) can
crushed tomatoes
For the casserole:
Cooking spray
- 12 (6-inch)
corn tortillas
- 2 cups
shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 (15-ounce) cans
pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 8 large
eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt
Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Sliced avocado, for serving
Instructions
Make the sauce:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion, jalapeño, and, garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven.
Make the casserole:
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 400°F. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
Arrange 6 of the tortillas in a single layer in the bottom of the baking dish. Spread about 1/2 of the sauce over the tortillas. Sprinkle about 1/3 of the cheese in an even layer over the sauce. Add the beans and spread in an even layer. Sprinkle about half of the remaining cheese over the beans. Top with the remaining tortillas in a single layer. Spread the remaining sauce over top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Use the back of a spoon to press down into the top of the casserole to make 10 shallow divots for the eggs. One at a time, crack an egg into a small bowl or ramekin without breaking the yolk, and pour into each of the divots. Sprinkle the eggs with salt.
Bake until the egg whites are fully set, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes. Top with cilantro and avocado, then slice and serve warm.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The sauce can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Store-bought sauce: Instead of making your own sauce, you can use 28 ounces of store-bought salsa ranchera.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.