Migas are a quick and easy Mexican breakfast made with crispy corn tortillas and scrambled eggs with peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Simple, satisfying, and so good!
Migas were a weekend breakfast staple growing up in my Mexican household. My mom’s version was as simple as it gets – just eggs and leftover tortillas fried until crispy. No frills, just good food. This version adds a little extra flavor with onions, tomatoes, and peppers (aka a la Mexicana and sometimes referred to as Tex-Mex) and takes things up a notch while still keeping it easy and unfussy.
If you love chilaquiles rojos, chilaquiles verdes, or huevos rancheros, you’re gonna love this!
What Are Migas?
Migas (pronounced mee-gahs) are a traditional Mexican dish made from corn tortillas that are cut or torn into small pieces, fried until crispy, and then mixed with scrambled eggs and sautéed vegetables.
They’re typically served as a breakfast or brunch dish, but honestly, they’re good any time. Migas are all about simple ingredients and big flavor, and every family has their own spin on them.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Corn tortillas: This is the heart of the dish. Try to use high-quality corn tortillas that are sturdy and don’t fall apart easily for the best flavor and texture.
- Frying oil: Any neutral frying oil is great, like canola, avocado, or your favorite vegetable oil.
- Eggs: Use large eggs and season them with a little salt and garlic powder for flavor.
- White onion, jalapeño, and Roma tomato: This trio gives the dish that classic “a la Mexicana” flavor.
- Optional toppings: I love adding queso fresco, chopped cilantro, and Mexican crema, but they’re totally optional.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full instructions and ingredients, see the recipe card below.
How to Make Migas
Fry the tortilla chips. Cut tortillas into triangles and fry in hot oil until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
Cook the vegetables. Sauté onions, jalapeño, and tomato in a little olive oil until soft.
Combine and add the eggs. Add the fried tortillas to the veggies and toss to combine. Then pour in the whisked eggs and gently fold everything together until the eggs are just set.
Garnish and serve. Give everything a taste and season with more salt as needed. Garnish with chopped cilantro, queso fresco, or Mexican crema and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
- Keep the tortillas crispy. Fry them until they’re just past golden. They may seem overcooked, but the chips will absorb some of the moisture from the egg mixture, which will give you the perfect crispy texture.
- Don’t have corn tortillas? Use store-bought tortilla chips if you’re in a pinch. They won’t be as flavorful, but they’ll save you a step. Just watch the salt. Try to use thick-cut tortilla chips to keep the migas from getting soggy.
- Don’t overcook the eggs. Take them off the heat while they’re still slightly soft—they’ll finish cooking from the residual heat.
- Customize the heat. Use bell peppers for a mild version, or a serrano if you want it spicy.
Variations and Serving Suggestions
- Add cheese like Oaxaca or Monterey Jack for an extra cheesy version.
- Add crumbled chorizo or bacon for extra flavor and protein. Try my homemade chorizo recipe!
- Add some veggies like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers to bulk it up.
- Serve migas with a side of refried beans and warm flour tortillas for a true Tex-Mex style plate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fry them until they’re almost too brown. They might seem overcooked, but they’ll soften a bit once mixed with the eggs and veggies, leaving you with the perfect texture.
I don’t recommend it. Flour tortillas will soak up more oil when fried, giving you a greasier chip. They can also absorb some of the egg mixture, which can give you soggy tortillas. Corn tortillas are thin and crispy, which will help hold their shape when mixed with the eggs and vegetables.
Chilaquiles are tossed in a salsa (either red or green), while migas are mixed with scrambled eggs and veggies – no sauce involved.
Storing and Reheating
Migas are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers and reheat them. Just know the tortillas won’t be as crispy the next day.
Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or microwave in 30-second bursts. For crispiness, pop them in an air fryer at 390ºF for 2-3 minutes.
More Breakfast Recipes
Did you make this migas recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! I love hearing about your experience, and it also helps others.
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Heat one inch of frying oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. While the oil is heating up, whisk the eggs, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and garlic powder in a medium bowl and set aside.
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Add the corn tortillas to the skillet and fry until crispy, about 2-3 minutes. You may have to work in batches depending on the size of your skillet. Transfer the fried tortilla chips onto a plate lined with paper towels to soak up any excess oil. Season with the remaining ½ teaspoon of kosher salt and set aside.
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In a separate large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, jalapeño, and tomato and sauté until soft and tender, about 5-7 minutes.
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Add the tortilla chips into the vegetable skillet and gently fold to combine the ingredients together.
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Add whisked eggs and fold them into the crispy tortillas and vegetable mix. Cook for about 2 to 4 minutes, until the eggs are fully cooked and no longer runny, gently folding to mix in the eggs.
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Remove from heat, taste and season with more salt to taste. Serve with chopped cilantro, queso fresco, or Mexican crema if desired.
- Keep the tortillas crispy. Fry the tortilla chips just until they’re almost too brown. They may seem over cooked, but the chips will absorb some of the moisture from the egg mixture, which will give you the perfect crispy texture.
- Use store-bought tortilla chips. You can make this recipe even easier by using store bought tortilla chips. They won’t have the same strong corn flavor, but will still be delicious. Just taste and adjust the salt since the store-bought tortilla chips usually come salted.
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 246mg | Sodium: 992mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 594IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published in April 2019 and has been updated with new photos and more helpful tips.
Photography by Ashley McLaughlin.