Spicy Chipotle Chicken Chilaquiles is a hearty, spicy way to start the day! This delicious Mexican dish is full of eggs, chicken, tortillas, smoky chipotle flavor and more!

Did you ever notice that breakfast is the only meal of the day that can be satisfied with a sweet or a savory dish? For lunch or dinner you might have dessert afterwards, but your main dish will be savory. I think that is a very civilized approach. Though occasionally I’ll opt for something sweet for breakfast, almost every time my preference is something savory, better if it’s hearty and triple A+ if it’s spicy.
I was looking for something on Boulder Locavore and noticed that this month has featured mainly Mexican or Southwestern food, margaritas, with a few desserts and travel thrown in for good measure. I hope you’ll indulge one more Mexican recipe, this time for breakfast: Spicy Chipotle Chicken Chilaquiles. I’ve been like a dog with a bone (or really a dog who saw a bone and still wants it) since I recently stayed at the Four Seasons in Santa Fe, New Mexico where they had Chilaquiles on the in room breakfast menu. As soon as I read the description I knew I had to have them. However due to one thing or another, I was not able to order them. However a friend visiting the resort when I was did have them, and I was jealous. Like I-really-wanted-them-TOO jealous. Well, maybe not jealous; but I really wanted them. I could not be satisfied until I made them myself and here they are today.

What is Chilaquiles?
Chilaquiles (pronounced chill-a-kee-les) are a layered Mexican dish traditionally served for breakfast or lunch. The star of the dish to me is a smoldering freshly made sauce in deep earthen tones that sets the spirit of the entire recipe.
The sauce is typically made with guajillo or New Mexican chilies. The base of the dish is usually home fried corn tortillas, soaked in the sauce thus softening them then they are piled high with meat, eggs (any style) and other things such as avocado, Mexican cheese, cilantro and Mexican Crema, the Mexican equivalent of a saucier sour cream or crème fraiche.

How to make Chilaquiles
I decided to cut back on the frying in the spirit of a healthier version and instead used fresh corn tortillas as the base. Once prepared, the sauce is also ‘fried’ meaning it is cooked in oil to mature its flavor; before this step it still has a bit of a raw flavor that the frying removes.
I did fry it but in half the oil. Guajillo chilies are difficult to find in some areas. Even where I live, with a large Hispanic population and stores catering to more exotic ingredients I have not had luck finding them in their whole dried form.
Instead I opted for dried chipotle chilies, loving their smokiness and heat and finding they are much easier to buy. They are spicier than guajillo chilies however so I used less in the recipe.
Chilaquiles are a great way to use up prepared chicken or rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Along with scrambled eggs (sunny side up are great too), fresh avocado slices, some chopped tomato for both a fresh taste and visual color, Queso Fresca, lime slices and some extra sauce to drizzle on top.

How to serve Chilaquiles
There is something special about foods served in individual cast iron skillets I’ve found. They are fairly easy to find and the perfect size for a dish like this.
Each skillet is layered with ingredients and may be kept in a warm oven before serving, leaving off the garnishes until serving time. Larger ramekins may also be used.
The recipe can also be converted into a one dish serve yourself option by combining the ingredients in a large 10-12 inch cast iron skillet.

Recipe

Spicy Chipotle Chicken Breakfast Chilaquiles
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Chile Sauce:
- 3 dried Chipotle Chiles (use 2 if you prefer less spicy; it will still be spicy)
- 28- ounce jar Whole Tomatoes with liquid
- 1 medium White Onion , rough chopped
- 4 large Garlic Cloves , peeled
- 1 Jalapeno Pepper; stem , seeds and inner membrane removed, rough chopped
- ½ cup fresh Cilantro
- 1/8 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 cup Water from soaking the peppers
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Kosher salt and pepper for seasoning
Ingredients for the Chilaquiles:
- 4 Corn Tortillas , cut into quarters
- 2 cups shredded Chicken
- 6 Eggs , scrambled (with a dash of milk, salt and pepper)
- 2 ripe Avocados , cut into vertical slices
- 1 cup Queso Fresca (light-flavored white Mexican cheese), crumbled
- Crème Fraiche (or Crema which is the Mexican equivalent)
- Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
- Fresh chopped tomato (garnish)
- Lime slices
Instructions
Instructions for the Chile Sauce:
- Place the dried chipotle peppers in a heatproof bowl and cover with 2 cups boiling water. Allow to sit 20-30 minutes until they begin to soften. Remove peppers and reserve 1 cup of the soaking water.
- Remove the stems and seeds of the chilies; place them in a blender. Add the tomatoes with liquid, onion, garlic cloves, jalapeno, cilantro, smoked paprika and soaking water. Blend until the ingredients combine in a smooth puree.
- In a large saucepan, add the puree and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, partially cover and simmer until the mixture thickens slightly, about 15-20 minutes. The sauce may be stored for up to 48 hours at this point or continue making the chilaquiles.
- In a large, cast iron or heavy skillet, heat the olive oil on medium-high heat until is it shimmering. Reduce heat to medium and carefully add the sauce (beware hot splattering) and stir frequently for 10 minutes at which point the sauce should no longer taste raw. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
To assemble the Chilaquiles:
- Spoon 1/2 cup of the chile sauce in each mini 6-inch cast iron skillet and spread to cover the bottom. Dip a quarter of a tortilla in the sauce, coating one side, flip it over and press it into the sauce so it is covered on the top side. Repeat for a total of 4 tortilla quarters, covering the bottom of the pan.
- Per mini skillet layer on 1/2 cup of chicken, 1/4 of the scrambled eggs, 1/2 avocado sliced, 1/4 cup crumbled Queso Fresca, a dollop of creme fraiche, some chopped tomatoes, sprinkle of chopped cilantro. Extra sauce may be drizzled on the top. Serve with a lime slice.
Adrianne says
I’ve been hooked on your recipes ever since I won the Brassicas book several years ago. I thought I had cornered the market on chilaquiles recipes until now. I love this version – thank you thank you!
Toni Dash says
Your comment made my day Adrianne, thank you!
Theresa says
This is my idea of a perfect breakfast.
Kristy says
omgosh, Toni…these are GORGEOUS!! Please, please, please submit a photo to my new site JalapenoMania.com…I would be over the moon!!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I love my Mexican cuisine but I never have tried chilaquiles before.. if I was to have this for breakfast every morning, I would be one happy person!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
If I could pick anything for breakfast today – this would be it. I often think I should eat more non-traditional breakfast items. I stopped eating cereal years ago because it just didn’t work for me. I want a bigger better breakfast and I think this qualifies. It is beautiful and I love everything about it. Thank you!!!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
This is just spectacular, I want to jump right into this breakfast party!!
NancyB says
All of your recipes this past month have made me homesick for New Mexico and this is certainly no exception, and beautiful photos, as usual! Chilaquiles have always been a favorite of mine and can’t wait to try your version, the sauce sounds amazing. I think I even remember seeing the guajillo chilies at my local grocery store when I bought ancho chilies last week. Thanks for another must try recipe!
Toni Dash says
Oh Nancy; I hope ‘homesick’ in a good way! I have not had luck finding guajillo chilies around here other than in a ground form at Whole Foods. I’ll certainly snatch them up whenever I see them now realizing they aren’t the easiest to find. I hope you’ll enjoy the recipe. It is spicy; but that’s why I love it I think. Have a great day!
NancyB says
Our little rural town in Wyoming has the chilies, lots of them! Be glad to send you some if you’d like! I was planning on making this ASAP but forgot the garlic…sigh. Back to the store! Well, maybe tomorrow…
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
What a beautiful dish and I love the individual skillets! I would love to wake up to this ๐