March 28, 2024

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Chilaquiles Verdes – Averie Cooks

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Chilaquiles Verdes – Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Chilaquiles Verdes Recipe

Chilaquiles verdes are a favorite comfort food Mexican breakfast. 

Crispy tortilla chips are smothered in a spicy tangy green salsa causing them to soften a bit.

I make my own salsa verde by boiling together tomatillos, serrano chile peppers, onion, and blending them together with a bit of water and salt. It only takes 10 minutes to make!

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Although you can cheat and use store bought salsa verde if you like.

Garnishes and plenty of them are how I like to serve and devour my chilaquiles verdes.

My favorite garnishes include avocado, queso fresco, Mexican crema, cilantro, and extra onion although it’s all optional and to taste.

Fun fact: I’ve read that chilaquiles were invented as a way to use up day-old or leftover tortillas but now they are their own dish and not just a recipe to use up something else!

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Ingredients in Chilaquiles Verdes

When it comes to making these hearty and scrumptious chilaquiles verdes, you only need a handful of ingredients including the following:

  • Tomatillos
  • Serrano chiles 
  • White onion
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Tortilla chips
  • Avocado, for serving
  • Queso fresco, for serving
  • Mexican crema or sour cream, for serving
  • Cilantro, for serving
  • White onion, for serving

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

How to Make Chilaquiles Verdes with Tomatillo Serrano Chile Salsa Verde

To make these mouth-water chilaquiles verdes, follow these easy and straightforward steps:

Step 1: Make tomatillo serrano chile salsa by boiling together the tomatillos, serranos, onion, and garlic.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Step 2: Transfer the tomatillos, serranos, onion, garlic, water, and salt to a blender and blend to make your salsa verde.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Pour the salsa verde into a large skillet and heat until simmering.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Step 4: Add the tortilla chips and coat them with the salsa.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Garnish with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, white onion (all optional and to taste) before serving.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Do I Have to Make Homemade Tomatillo Serrano Chile Salsa Verde for Chilaquiles Verdes?

Part of the allure to me with this recipe for chilaquiles verdes is the homemade salsa made with tomatillos and serrano chile peppers. And being that it’s easy and ready in 10 minutes, why not?

But, if you want to save time and don’t care so much about salsa, most any store bought green salsa will work.

They come in many heat and spiciness levels so choose one that’s in line with your taste preferences for heat. 

In fact, in my recipe for Salsa Verde Chicken Chilaquiles I rely on store bought salsa verde. 

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Are Chilaquiles Verdes Spicy?

These chilaquiles verdes do have a fair amount of spiciness.

However, if you’re not a fan, here’s how you can tone down the heat:

  1. I use 3 serrano chile peppers. Use 1 or 2 serranos for less spiciness.
  2. I don’t scrape out the seeds of the serrano chiles. Remove the seeds to reduce the heat.
  3. Use jalapeno peppers instead of serranos because they are far less spicy.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

What Kind of Tortilla Chips are Best for Chilaquiles Verdes?

For the best tasting chilaquiles verdes, I recommend using the Mexican hard tortilla chips which are found in most Mexican stores.

I do not recommend using regular tortilla chips because they are thinner, more delicate, and tend to get very soggy. 

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

If you cannot find the hard chips, you can make your own hard tortilla chips:

  1. Simply cut corn tortillas into wedges.
  2. Heat 2 inches of vegetable or another oil in a deep pan. 
  3. When the oil is nice and hot fry a few chips at a time. 
  4. Drain on a paper towel lined plate. 
  5. You will need about 3 or 4 cut tortillas per person.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Serving Suggestions for Chilaquiles Verdes

Chilaquiles verdes are a classic and versatile Mexican breakfast (or lunch or snack) and are wonderful served with:

  • Scrambled eggs
  • Place a fried egg on top of each person’s portion of chilaquiles verdes
  • Refried beans are great alongside chilaquiles verdes
  • I love them topped with extra onions, cilantro, and avocado
  • Queso fresco adds a great touch to your chilaquiles
  • Mexican crema (or sour cream thinned with a bit of milk) complements the green salsa
  • Shredded chicken is also great for Chicken Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

How to Store Leftover Chilaquiles Verdes

Chilaquiles are one of those foods, like nachos, they for me are definitely best fresh and hot.

Although extra chilaquiles verdes will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days. Note that as time passes, they will get soggy, but they are still delish.

To combat sogginess, you can store your homemade green salsa separately in the fridge for up to 1 week.

And only add the salsa to the amount of tortilla chips you plan to consume and right before you plan to serve them.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Tips for the Best Chilaquiles Verdes

If you’re not familiar with tomatillos, they are green tomato-looking things and tend to come with paper husks. When buying them, open the paper husks to check and make sure the tomatillos are firm and green.

When you’re boiling together the tomatillos and serranos, make sure to cover with enough water so that the chiles are well submerged because they float up.

Ingredients such as avocado, queso fresco, Mexican crema or sour cream, and cilantro are all optional.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Add them to taste or omit them if desired. However for me, they really take the flavor of the chilaquiles verdes to the next level and so I never omit them.

As written the chilaquiles verdes recipe is both gluten-free and vegetarian.

To keep the chilaquiles on the vegan side of the equation, omit the queso and crema or use vegan-friendly cheese and sour cream.

Chilaquiles Verdes - Tortilla chips are smothered in a homemade tangy tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde before being garnished to the max with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and onion! EASY and ready in 20 minutes! They have the perfect amount of spiciness to keep you wanting just one more bite!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds tomatillos, husk removed and washed
  • 1 to 3 serrano chile peppers (use less and/or use jalapenos to make less spicy)
  • 1/4 of a medium white onion, peeled and left as one piece
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 12 ounces hard Mexican corn tortilla chips*
  • 1 avocado, sliced; optional for garnishing
  • 1/2 cup queso fresco, optional for garnishing
  • 1/2 cup Mexican crema (or 1/2 cup sour cream thinned with a bit of milk), optional for garnishing
  • 1/4 cup finely minced cilantro, optional for garnishing
  • 1/3 cup thinly slice white onions, optional for garnishing

Instructions

  1. To a large saucepan, add the tomatillos, serranos, onion, garlic, cover with enough water to make sure the serranos don’t rise up, and boil on high for 10 minutes.
  2. Using a tongs, transfer the ingredients to the canister of a blender, discarding the cooking water.
  3. Add 1/2 cup fresh water and salt to the canister and blend on high speed for about 2 to 3 minutes, or as desired until the salsa is as smooth as desired.
  4. Transfer the sauce to a high-sided wide skillet and heat over medium-high heat until simmer, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. Add the tortilla chips, and pour the sauce over the chips, tossing and stirring to coat as necessary. Make sure all chips get coated. You may not need to use all the chips.
  6. Optionally garnish with avocado, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, and white onion as desired and to taste. Chilaquiles are best fresh but will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days, noting they will become soggy as time passes. To combat sogginess, only coat the chips you plan to consume and save the rest for later. Any extra tomatillo serrano chile salsa verde will keep airtight and store separately in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Notes

*For the best tasting chilaquiles verdes, I recommend using the Mexican hard tortilla chips which are found in most Mexican stores. I do not recommend using regular tortilla chips because they are thinner, more delicate, and tend to get very soggy. 

If you cannot find the hard chips, you can make your own hard tortilla chips:

  1. Simply cut corn tortillas into wedges.
  2. Heat 2 inches of vegetable or another oil in a deep pan. 
  3. When the oil is nice and hot fry a few chips at a time. 
  4. Drain on a paper towel lined plate. 
  5. You will need about 3 or 4 cut tortillas per person.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:

Calories: 463Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 725mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 9gSugar: 8gProtein: 9g

More Easy Salsa Verde Mexican Recipes:

Salsa Verde Chicken Chilaquiles — An EASY comfort food recipe with just FOUR main ingredients and ready in 30 minutes!! Green chilaquiles are made with layers of corn tostadas and juicy chicken smothered in salsa verde and melted pepper Jack cheese! Great for breakfast, dinner, snacks, a party appetizer or anything in between!!

Salsa Verde Chicken Chilaquiles — An EASY comfort food recipe with just FOUR main ingredients and ready in 30 minutes!! Green chilaquiles are made with layers of corn tostadas and juicy chicken smothered in salsa verde and melted pepper Jack cheese!

15-Minute Salsa Verde Chicken with Avocado — Fast, EASY, one skillet recipe!! Juicy chicken with salsa verde, lime juice, cilantro, and creamy avocado has so much Mexican-inspired FLAVOR the whole family will LOVE!! Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping!!

15-Minute Salsa Verde Chicken with Avocado - Fast, EASY, one skillet recipe!! Juicy chicken with salsa verde, lime juice, cilantro, and creamy avocado has so much Mexican-inspired FLAVOR the whole family will LOVE!! Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping!!

Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken – The EASIEST salsa verde marinade keeps this chicken so juicy and tender!! Melted pepper Jack cheese on top takes an already awesome piece of chicken and makes it that much BETTER!!

Grilled Salsa Verde Pepper Jack Chicken - The EASIEST salsa verde marinade keeps this chicken so juicy and tender!! Melted pepper Jack cheese on top takes an already awesome piece of chicken and makes it that much BETTER!!

Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas — EASY juicy enchiladas with so much flavor from the salsa verde and TONS of melted CHEESE!! Ready in 30 minutes, are made with just a handful of ingredients, and will be an instant family favorite!!

Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas - EASY juicy enchiladas with so much flavor from the salsa verde and TONS of melted CHEESE!! Ready in 30 minutes, are made with just a handful of ingredients, and will be an instant family favorite!!

15-Minute Salsa Verde Chicken, Rice, and Beans — Fast, EASY, one skillet recipe!! Between the salsa verde, lime juice, and cilantro mixed with juicy chicken, rice, and beans, you’ll be hooked! Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping!!

15-Minute Salsa Verde Chicken, Rice, and Beans - Fast, EASY, one skillet recipe!! Between the salsa verde, lime juice, and cilantro mixed with juicy chicken, rice, and beans, you'll be hooked! Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping!!

 

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