This Southwestern Breakfast Pileup was originally shared with my good friend, Swathi of the Zesty South Indian Kitchen who invited me over to share one of my southwestern dishes. The Southwestern Breakfast Pileup is a delicious, spicy and hearty dish that one can find on the menus of many New Mexican restaurants. Because it is so easy to make, I make it a lot at home for breakfasts, brunches, and suppers. It’s extremely versatile in that you can change it up to fit your mood. You can add meat or go meatless, use pretty much whatever vegetables are in your crisper, and top it with with your choice of chile or salsa.
You’ll find this Southwestern Breakfast Pileup recipe below, but you’ll also find the recipe and more information about the pileup over at Swathi’s. So before you leave today, be sure to check out the post over at Swathi’s, as well as many of her personal Indian creations. Here are just a very few of my favorites.
Southwestern Breakfast Pileup
A classic southwestern breakfast pileup with potatoes, vegetables, a protein, and an egg, smothered in red chile.
“*” See Kitchen Notes for more information or links to special ingredients.
- 2 Tbsp. oil (olive or an infused oil such as garlic or chile)
- 2 medium to large yellow potatoes, scrubbed and cut into ½” cubes
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- ½ medium red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and pepper
- ½ – 1 cup of your favorite salsa, red chile sauce or green chile sauce, or chopped roasted green chile peppers*
- 1 cup cheddar cheese*, grated
- 1 to 2 eggs per person
- 1 ½ cups black beans or pinto beans, drained
- ½ pound Mexican chorizo
- 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
- 1 – 2 cups chopped, cooked meat (chicken, beef or pork)
- Guacamole
- Avocado slices
- Sour Cream
- More salsa or chile
- Chopped Green Onions or chopped regular onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Chopped Green Chile or Green Chile Sauce
- Heat the oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat.
- Add the potatoes. Toss and spread potato cubes into a single layer.
- Cover and cook 5 minutes. Flip cubes.
- Cook, uncovered for another 5 minutes. Potatoes should be starting to brown at this point.
- Salt and pepper taste.
- Add the onion, garlic and bell pepper.*
- Continue to cook the potatoes and vegetables, stirring occasionally another 5 minutes or until they begin to soften.
- Add the beans, bacon or cooked meat, toss and heat through for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the chile sauce or salsa and top with the cheese.
- Place under the broiler until the cheese has melted and is starting to brown.
- Fry the eggs in a touch of butter or bacon dripping, over easy or sunny side up. Do not overcook. You want the yolks runny.
Divide vegetable and meat mixture between two bowls.**
- Place one to two eggs on top of each bowl. Top with your choice of the additional toppings.
- Serve and enjoy!
- *If you are using an uncooked meat like sausage, add it with the vegetables.
- **You could divide the mixture up into two skillets before adding the cheese and broil the servings individually. This way you could just serve in the skillets as many restaurants do.
Chile – The amount of red chile sauce or salsa you use depends on the heat of the sauce and how hot you like it. The type of chile is dependent on what you have available. I’m not picky with red or green chile sauce. I like them both. Some people will also go the Christmas route and use both red and green chile. Of course if you have neither red nor green chile, don’t hesitate to use your favorite salsa or enchilada sauce.
Proteins – The pileup in the pictures is a vegetarian version. Protein is the black beans, but you could also use pinto or bolita beans. My favorite protein combination is black beans and bacon. However, we also like it with Mexican chorizo and no beans.
Cheese – Cheddar is the best in my book. However, Monterey Jack always is a good substitute as well as Feta cheese.
Vegetables – In addition to the traditional pileup vegetables used in this recipe, you could add a little broccoli, squash, or corn for variety.
As you can see, a Southwestern Pileup is more than just potatoes and chile. Play with the ingredients and create your own. I know you’re going to love it!
Here are some other dishes you might enjoy that are similar to the pileup.
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This dish looks amazing, truly!!! The flavors stand out. I have made this with other flavors (didn’t add salsa though), and I can’t wait to try it with salsa. Yumm!!
Thanks Minnie! We’ve been making this dish for years and I haven’t really tried it with salsa either. We always used either red or green chile sauce. 🙂
Just wanted you to know that your recipe is being featured on foodie friday today. Stop by and get your featured button. Thank you again for sharing it with us.
Thanks so much Diane!
Anything with an egg on top is a perfect meal to me. Love the flexabilty of this recipe. I’m pinning it. Thanks for sharing it on foodie friday.
Southwestern Pile-up…what a great name for the dish! Love that you used comforting & everyday ingredients to build the ‘pile’. Gotta try it with eggs when we make ‘pile-up’ next time. I like adding something more hearty into our typical lighter versions for dinner, so it can carry us through midnight:) Thanks for introducing us to Swathi’s site too..She does have some really creative dishes which caught my attention right away. Have a lovely week, MJ!
MJ, the pot looks so good!! I am bookmarking it. It’s making me drool all over the keyboard.
Hi MJ! I just stopped by and wow what a fantastic recipe. I could eat your pile up for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Yum:)
Everything with egg on it is welcome, hahaha. Thank you for introducing us to Swathi’s recipes 🙂
Ohhh I need to check out the recipe. With reduce in heat my family will definitely enjoy this dish on weekend! I have a weak spot especially for a dish with fried egg on top. Now that makes it a must dish to try!
Yay for pile-ups!!!! They are one of my absolute favorite New Mexican dishes. I was actually planning on making one this week, haha. Your pileup looks absolutely delicious, I love all the flavors you’ve used. I can definitely do the bacon and chorizo, gonna have to try your version. Thank you MJ!
Thanks Renee! Like you, we do make this quite often – mostly for a Sunday brunch. I love it with chorizo! During the fall when I have lots of roasted green chile, I love smothering it in green chile sauce. 🙂
Your gorgeous food photography is making me extremely hungry! 🙂 What’s not to love about this dish – for breakfast, for lunch, or for dinner! 🙂
This is a beautiful photo MJ! I am a big fan of Mexican and this sounds and looks like something I would definitely enjoy eating!
Now that’s my kind of pileup! ;-). (Gorgeous photo MJ!). Thank you for sharing some of Swathi’s delights – love the idea of a pineapple lentil soup and those crackers are fabulous! Will head over to Swathi’s to check out your post…
I never heard of a pileup before MJ, though I can tell by the photo I’d like it hehe 🙂 Will stop by and check it out!
I love it when you guest post. You never disappoint your readers, and friends. You are one amazing cook my friend. And this pileup is really making me drool. In my book, you are the authority when it comes to Southwestern dishes. Really amazing, MJ!
Very colourful and probably flavourful dish Peach Lady.
That’s a very tasty looking dish. I haven’t heard of it before but the combination of flavours and textures looks wonderful xx
Oh MJ your southwestern pileup looks so delicious, I have to save the recipe from swathis page. I hadn’t heard of this dish before and you know I like to check out and try dishes with character. ^.^
This dish looks amazing, MJ!
This looks like a really good breakfast. Nice dish to start a day.
This has got my name all over it, what an indulgent, totally satisfying dish for Sunday brunch!
Lovely recipe MJ! I never heard of a pileup before… Great dish and gorgeous photos!
Yummy pile-up.. Wish to eat this right now.. 🙂
So, this just shows me how much I do NOT know about NM cuisine. Heading over there directly to check it out.
This pileup looks wonderful! When I was living in California, I used to get this type of breakfast all the time. Your post is making me miss San Diego. It’s just not the same here. I’m off to Swathi’s blog to check out the recipe! 🙂
Now this is one pile up I want to get under (and eat my out). What a fun dish. Off to check it out at Swathi’s blog. 🙂
I just love the name. I agree with you about Swathi! Off to check it out.
Loved the pileup recipe & the simplicity in which it is prepared.
Thanks Humi! Nice to meet you and thanks for dropping by!
I love the idea of a pileup as a meal 😀
Yum!
Cheers
CCU
That pileup looks like a wonderful hearty meal
Heading over to check it out
What a hilarious name, MJ! And it looks terrific. Do I see beans? fried egg? potatoes? I am hopping to Swathi’s blog not only because I am dying to see the detailed recipe but also because I love Indian cuisine and am always happy to meet an Indian blogger.
PS I have just bought a bag or black beans, the first in my life! I’m very curious about the taste (you will not believe me but I have never even tasted black beans…).
Thanks Sissi! Wow! Black beans! You’re going to love them! Are you going to slow cook them or pressure cook them? Some of your spicy sauces will go quite well with them. Let me know if you need recipe suggestions.
Haha! I have neither slow cooker nor pressure cooker. I am trying to limit the kitchen gadgets and appliances to the minimum, my kitchen is quite big (although nothing to do with your ballroom 😉 ) but it’s already bursting…
I will cook them in a normal pan but still wonder which recipe to use. It’s so kind of you! If you have a suggestion, I would be very grateful (something hot, maybe with tomatoes/tomato sauce? I have been recently in need of tomatoes).
Well, even in my ballroom of a kitchen, you won’t find a slowcooker, but I do have a 37 year old pressure cooker. 🙂 Tonight or tomorrow, I’ll send you a couple of my favorite recipes with black beans and “something hot”. 🙂
This is very interesting to me, as I have been to India! I love “pileup” meals, a little of everything! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jane! I’ll have look up an Indian version of the pileup.
Thanks Mj for doing guest post for my blog. I love all the flavors you put it together. I thoroughly enjoyed having you in my kitchen.
Thanks my friend! You made it very easy. 🙂
Sounds great! On my way to check it out . . .
Mj, that looks yum…heading over to Swathi’s space.
The pileup looks very tasty!
I love having breakfast for dinner about once a week and this looks delicious!
Dear
my family lives in Texas ,and I am a south India
Thank you .love to get your mail .
blessings
Nice to meet you Susanna. Thanks for stopping by.
I am a great fan of Swathi’s as well your blog, MJ!! Lovely guest-post! Just stopped by her blog and saw it! Wonderful and delicious! 🙂
http://www.rita-bose-cooking.com/
Thanks Rita! She is great isn’t she? Thanks for stopping by.