Migas (Eggs, Green Chile and Tortillas)

Breakfast, Green Chile, Vegetarian Entrees
Southwestern style migas is a dish that consists of scrambled eggs, green chile, and fried corn tortillas

Migas (Spanish for “crumbs”) is one of those dishes that is different in different countries. In the southwest, it is a simple scrambled eggs dish with, at the very least, some fried corn tortillas (the “crumbs”) and chile pepper. Southwestern and Tex-Mex migas are basically the same dish with a variety of possible ingredients. Sometimes you’ll see additional ingredients like onions, cheese, tomatoes, chorizo or avocado. Here in New Mexico, you’ll still find different versions of migas, but the one constant is, yes – you know what it is – New Mexico green chile.

Today I’m sharing the southwestern style migas I have been making for years. I normally fry my own tortilla strips but have been known to use store bought tortilla chips, especially when I’m hungry and I don’t want to spend the time frying the tortillas. The ingredients and process for migas are simple and the final dish goes great with a side of beans, Spanish rice, or potatoes. The migas below are being served with leftover Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. If you feel like jazzing the eggs up even more, I’ve provided you with a list of additional ingredients or toppings. Experiment, have fun, and eat well.

Migas (Scrambled Eggs with Chile and Tortillas)


Southwestern style migas is a dish that consists of scrambled eggs, green chile, and fried corn tortillas

Southwestern Migas Recipe
Prep
20 mins
Cook
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Scrambled eggs with chile, corn tortillas and cheese.  A hearty and tasty breakfast or brunch.


“*” See Kitchen Notes for more information or links to special ingredients.

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Southwestern
Yields: 2 servings
Recipe Author: MJ of MJ’s Kitchen
Ingredients
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. cream, half and half, or milk
  • ¼ tsp. dried Mexican oregano, crumbled
  • Dash of salt
  • Two generous dashes of ground pepper
  • Enough butter to coat the skillet
  • 2 Tbsp. minced onion or green onions with tops
  • 2 Tbsp. minced bell pepper, any color
  • ¼ – ½ cup roasted green chile*, chopped (amount depends on heat level)
  • ¼ cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 2 corn tortillas*, stripped and fried (instructions below)
Alternate ingredients / toppings
  • Tomatoes
  • Cilantro
  • Avocado
  • Salsa*
  • Sour cream
  • Guacamole
  • Mexican Chorizo*
Instructions
To fry the corn tortillas
  1. To a small skillet, add about 1 cup oil (canola or vegetable oil). Heat over medium heat until a small piece of corn tortilla starts to sizzle vigorously when dropped into the hot oil.
  2. While the oil is heating, cut the corn tortillas into ¼” strips, then halved.
    Fried corn tortilla strips preparation
  3. Fry the strips in small batches. The tortilla strips are ready when the sizzling decreases considerably.
    How to fry corn tortilla strips
  4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a flat paper bag to drain.
To make the migas
  1. In a bowl, whisk the eggs with the cream, oregano, and salt and pepper. Set aside.

  2. Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. When the butter has melted, add the onion and bell pepper. Saute for 1 minute.

  4. Add the eggs, green chile, and the corn tortillas. Using a spatula, move the eggs around in the skillet, spreading the chile and the tortilla through the eggs.
  5. After about 1 minute, add the cheese and continue to cook, gently stirring and flipping until the eggs are done, about 1 more minute.
  6. Divide between 2 plates and top with more green chile or other toppings, if desired.

Kitchen Notes

Corn Tortillas – The recipe calls for 2 corn tortillas, but I usually fry up 4 or 5 because we eat at least half of them before I’m ready to put them in the eggs.  Since frying the corn tortillas is the most time-consuming process of this dish (about 10 minutes), you could choose to fry up even more tortillas and save some to be used in another dish, like Butternut Squash Soup with Apple and Red Chile.  Or, bypass the process altogether and break up store bought tortilla chips into the eggs.

 

Cheese – A mild cheddar is our favorite  for cheese migas but, aged or sharp cheddar work just fine, as do Monterey Jack, mozzarella, or feta.

 

Toppings – Some restaurants choose to pile on the toppings, so if you choose, go for it.  Add more green chile or even red chile for that matter, add a dollop of sour cream or guacamole, or some chopped tomatoes and lettuce, or a scoop of chile de arbol salsa.  It’s all good!

 

Green Chile – If you don’t have New Mexico green chile, you can substitute with roasted, peeled and chopped poblano peppers, chopped jalapeno, chipotle adobo, or your favorite salsa.  It you do use salsa or even tomatoes, be sure to wait until the eggs are almost set before adding, otherwise you’ll end up with watery, gummy eggs.  If you don’t have any chile peppers at all, then throw in some chile pepper flakes or chile powder.

 

Mexican Chorizo

 

 

In the southwest U.S., migas is a breakfast dish made with scrambled egg, green chile and fried corn tortillas

I just got hungry for the Southwestern breakfast! How about you? 🙂

Below are some other southwestern style breakfasts you will enjoy. There are plenty more in my kitchen, so if you want to explore, check out my Breakfast category.

77 Comments

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  6. Delicious recipe MJ, thanks for sharing with Hearth and Soul blog hop.

  7. I’ve never had Migas, MJ, and I was really interested to learn so much about them. They sound delicious and I love how you can vary the recipe for different flavours. I really like the idea of the contrast between the crispy tortilla strips and the soft, creamy eggs as well as all the fabulous flavour options. Thank you for sharing this post with us at the Hearth and Soul hop.

  8. These sound like a lovely breakfast. I love scrambled eggs but don’t usually put as many things in with them.

  9. Roasted green chiles sound like the perfect way to warm up in the middle of winter, MJ! I love the the sound of this dish and the homemade crispy fried tortillas sound fantastic.

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  11. Living alone I eat a lot of eggs. This is easy and different. I have never heard of putting the friend tortillas in the eggs. Wow a whole new world!

  12. This is a really nice take on the traditional egg dish. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  13. The more I read your blog, the more I realise that New Mexican cuisine is so similar to Mexico’s. I grew up eating migas but didn’t really know the name (other than eggs with tortillas) until a few years ago. Your migas are making my tummy hungry and love the use of NM green chile!

  14. Lovely! Good for anytime of the day!

  15. Bun acest punct de vedere, sunt fericit ca l-am descoperit si citit. Multumesc pentru subiect individual ce detine necesitate de grija.

  16. Oh beautiful dish, MJ! Anytime I’ve ever made myself scrambled eggs….I’ve always wished for some texture! I think the tortilla chips would give me just that! And the roasted green chiles would certainly jazz these up for me! And great ideas for variation! Oh how I want to come have breakfast with you! : )

    • Thanks Anne! Oh yes – the recipe really does provide texture as well as flavor to scrambled eggs. You know that you are welcome here any time my friend! 🙂

  17. I’m going to pass on this recipe to my other half in hopes that it appears at our brunch table this weekend.. 🙂 Can’t wait!

  18. I love breakfasts like this! It looks so good and very filling/hearty! I would love for someone to make it for me this weekend 🙂

  19. How is it possible that you can even make scrambled eggs look amazing?!?

    HOW?!?

  20. Holy moly wow. I think I could eat this all day and not get sick of it. This looks fantastic!

  21. This is a nice early morning stater dish

  22. Great looking breakfast, MJ! I love eggs with a lot of stuff in them. I also love fried tortillas but I’ve never had them in eggs. Sounds delicious! You always inspire me toward southwestern flavors! Hope you guys have great holidays!

    • Thanks so much Bill! It’s amazing the flavor and the texture that the corn tortillas imparts on the eggs. So good! Hope you guys have a great holiday as well!!!

  23. I learn so many new dishes from your blog MJ…and how can I not mention your wonderful ‘notes’ section!

  24. Wow, this would be so good for lunch, so filling and comforting!

  25. Love this version of scrambled eggs with tortillas. Shall try them for the breakfast tomorrow.

  26. That’s a gorgeous gluten free lunch for me. I too add tortilla strips or polenta scraps in my scrambled eggs.

  27. Ok! That sounds like the perfect breakfast. I was going to make an omelet but that sounds so lame compared to this. It’s minus 30 and eggs, chilies and tortillas sounds wonderful.

    • thanks so much Frances! Oh yes – these are much better than an omelet in my opinion, unless of course the omelet has green chile in it. 🙂

  28. “yes – you know what it is – New Mexico green chile.” LOL!! Love it MJ. The defining moment in the scramble :).

    This sounds utterly delicious and I like the idea of inter-mingling the corn tortillas with the egg which would be both unusual and welcome here — a fun treat and different way to enjoy from our usual. Your eggs look so pretty next to the fingerling potatoes too – so colourful and inviting. Lovely dish.

    • Caught that did you? 🙂 The corn tortillas truly make this dish! Even though store bought chips are good, it’s best with home fried tortillas. The potatoes were one of those pleasant accidents. I needed a side and there they were in the fridge, just waiting for something to go with. 🙂 They worked great in the picture and tasted fabulously with the migas.

      Hope you’re having a great weekend Kelly!

  29. What a great recipe for a spicy kind of day… simple, perfect brunch food!

  30. When my Archie makes his breakfast, he loves to make scrambled eggs and he always pours green chilli sauce all over them. He loves his breakfast but it doesn’t look as elegant as yours! I think he’d love your recipe xx

  31. I love all of the Southwest cooking that you are doing because they are hearty and makes the tummy happy. They are just great-down-to-earth comfort food. This dish is one of them and it looks very delicious and hearty breakfast. Have a nice weekend MJ! 🙂

    • Thanks Ray! Southwestern cuisine and to me, New Mexico cuisine, is genuine comfort food. 🙂 So glad you’re enjoying it. Hope you’re having a nice weekend as well!

  32. For me it’s such an unusual dish while for you it must be an everyday staple 😉 I love everything with eggs playing an important role, so this definitely is something I would enjoy, especially since it looks and sounds incredibly good. (I say it’s unusual but apart from Mexican origan I can buy everything here!). Talking of green chile, I usually don’t like stuffed olives, but recently a nearby shop started to sell green olives stuffed with jalapeños and they are really delicious (though not even medium hot… just slightly). It’s a nice change from plain olives.

    • Thanks so much Sissi! Well, it’s not an everyday, but it is an every week staple. 🙂 Oh I love jalapenos stuffed olives, but if you really want HOT olives, see if you can find habernos stuffed olives. OMG! So good, but so hot!

  33. This sounds so good. Totally brand new dish to me, yet I’m already in love. Very interesting combination with eggs, chilies and fried tortillas! Sounds amazing spelling them out! 😀

  34. My daughter made something like this but without all these lovely ingredients. I’ll have to show this one to her, it’s so awesome to have a new idea for breakfast and this is one they can take on the go as well!

  35. I just had American sausage and biscuits for breakfast but now I want this! I’m sure I have room left. Love it.

  36. Looks absolutely heavenly!! I have a ton of tortillas in my fridge…. this must make an appearance for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 🙂

    • Well, it sounds like you need to start frying up some of those tortillas. I know how you eat, so I know you will love these! Thanks!

  37. I love making scrambled eggs in different ways, and this one would be a great addition. Spicy and filling too. Lovely!

  38. This looks great and a nice change for a plain scrambled egg. Very adaptable too. And roasted fingerling potatoes are a great side for this…for any meal of the day!

  39. I love egg dishes like this–especially when they could easily be used for dinner!!!! 🙂

  40. Migas are good stuff! I haven’t had this dish is a good half year or more – I definitely need to again! I often use salsa, and you make such a good point that you need to add it towards the end. It’s still good, but as you say, the eggs get really runny otherwise! Terrific dish – thanks.

    • Thanks John! So glad I was able to remind you of a good thing that you need to make. 🙂 I think we cook so much and are always trying new things that sometimes we forget about the oldie but goodies. 🙂

  41. Yum! What a tasty breakfast, MJ, great for guests in over the holidays too. Love all the flavors.

    • Thanks Judy! Oh yes – guests love it, especially those that don’t live in the southwest and are eating them for the first time.

  42. YUM my family would love this for breakfast, lunch or dinner. These eggs are exploding with flavor. Hmm gives me an idea for dinner this evening. Great recipe!

  43. Simple and delicious…that’s my kind of supper!

  44. Hello Ms MJ,

    Just wanted to tell you that I love everything about your blog…the recipes, the virtual literal steps, and the visual pics that make just want to grab your dish and eat it right there and now :))

    As for Migas, this was one of the first dishes I learned to prepare as a child from my mother. Your version reminded me so very much of hers except for the fact that she would also add diced tomatoes when you added the onions.
    Looking back, I think one of my favorite versions of migas was to add papas, chorizo, spinach, rajas de pasilla, and green onion.

    Thank you for helping me remember good eats and good ol’ days with mi mama.

    • OH Isa, thanks so much for the nice comments! I’m so glad I was able to send you down memory lane thinking of the good ole days with your mother. Sounds like some great memories! What a great version of Migas! I’ve added chorizo at times, but usually put the potatoes on the side. Thanks again and hope to hear from you again!

  45. Looks interesting dear…

  46. Mj, so glad to find the recipe that you mentioned in the comment on my blog, and you are right this is so similar to my Chilly Parotta!!

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