Migas Vs Chilaquiles - The important differences

Mexican breakfast dishes are a cut above traditional bacon and eggs breakfasts. Some of the traditional foods, such as migas and chilaquiles, have such a unique flavor that you can enjoy them at any time of the day.

Both are unique in their own way and at the same time very similar. Migas and chilaquiles often have the reputation of being the same food, but this is not really true.

These breakfasts have many similarities, but in the end they are also very different. It takes more than just similar ingredients for food to be the same, right?

So what is the difference between migas and chilaquiles?

The biggest difference between migas and chilaquiles is really in the way they are prepared. While migas are more of an egg scramble with fried tortilla strips, chilaquiles consist of fried tortilla strips simmered in a sauce and topped with a number of other ingredients. 

In this guide, we’ll break it down so you know exactly what the difference is between migas and chilaquiles.

By the time we’re done, you’ll be able to easily tell these two unique dishes apart and understand them well by comparison.

Read on to learn the difference between migas and chilaquiles and much more.

The difference between migas and chilaquiles

Certainly, it can sometimes be challenging to discern the differences between two dishes. This is especially true for dishes that you don’t necessarily know in detail, but also for dishes that are very similar in nature.

It is true that migas and chilaquiles contain almost all of the same ingredients. However, that is where the similarities between these two dishes end.

Those ingredients are used in very unique and different ways between these two dishes, which sets them apart considerably.

Our goal is to share with you what the differences are so that you can better understand them and be able to quickly identify what is what.

crumbs

Migas are a popular dish in Mexican, Tex-Mex, Spanish, and Portuguese cuisines.

It is a simple dish that was originally prepared to feed many people and be tasty and filling.

Originally, the Spanish used leftover bread to create the dish, but in most places this dish uses tortillas or tortilla strips instead of bread.

Although this may not seem like a big change, bread and tortillas are actually very different and can change the entire profile of a dish.

Although there are authentic migas, from Spain and Portugal, there are also Mexican and Tex-Mex versions of the recipe that have a twist.

The base of the traditional dish is fried tortilla strips and scrambled eggs. From there, other ingredients are added to give it volume and new flavors.

The Text-Mex version adds even more ingredients, which are mostly for flavoring and seasoning more than anything else.

Mexican migas are what most people know when the term is used. Remember that it is essentially the same as authentic migas, except that the base was bread instead of tortilla strips.

In most of our comparison here, we’re going to use Mexican and Tex-Mex migas, since they’re the most common ways migas are made now.

We just wanted you to know that it was classically a Spanish dish with a slightly different origin.

Crumb ingredients

Let’s talk a little about the ingredients of the crumbs. In migas, the base is a mixture of scrambled eggs and fried corn tortillas, or perhaps corn tortilla chips or strips. If a whole tortilla is used, it is often cut into strips to prepare the dish.

One thing we want to point out is that this tortilla base is usually ground up so that it simply mixes in with the rest of the ingredients in the dish when it is prepared.

This is one of the main differences that we are going to find as we continue with the details of these dishes.

Migas tend to have a softer texture when the dish is complete, compared to chilaquiles. In some cases, the tortilla strips are served on the side instead of scrambled on the plate, so this can make a big difference as well.

Here is a list of the most common ingredients found in a crumb dish. Some of them are from the traditional dish, while others are optionally added for a Tex-Mex style dish.

These are the ingredients that are usually found in migas:

• Scrambled eggs
• Fried tortilla chips or tortilla chips
• fresh chillies
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Green peppers
• Garlic
• grated cotija cheese
• Cilantro
• avocado (optional)

Of course, this can be adjusted and tailored to your liking. You can really add anything you want to the mix, like hot sauce, but these are the basics.

The traditional dish did not include cheese or avocado and sometimes used salsa instead of just tomato. For a twist that adds some sweetness to your crumbs, you can even try using special sauces like mango.

Another factor that can vary is the seasoning. In this dish, vegetables and peppers are the main flavors, but you can choose to season it to your liking. It is completely up to you.

How the crumbs are prepared

Now that we know the ingredients, let’s talk about how this dish is prepared in general. We’re not going to walk you through a specific recipe, but we do want to focus on the general way it’s made.

Originally, this dish was a way to mix up leftovers and create a hearty, flavorful dish with them. It has been slightly adapted, but the term seems to fit well.

When it comes to understanding how the two dishes are prepared, both migas and chilaquiles use chili peppers, eggs, and corn tortillas as main ingredients. However, they are prepared differently.

How to make crumbs:

1. When you make the migas, you first start by sautéing the vegetables, especially the chiles, but also the add-ins like tomatoes, onions, green peppers, and garlic that are often part of the dish.
2. While you are sautéing, you can use a mixing bowl and beat the eggs just like you would scrambled eggs. Season them with salt and pepper if you like, but the vegetables you’re sautéing are where the main flavors should come from.
3. When the vegetables are sautéed and the eggs are beaten, pour the eggs over the vegetables in the pan. Stir them until they are scrambled and almost cooked.
4. From there, add the corn chunks and cheese, if you like. We like cotija cheese, but some similar options are parmesan, feta, romano, and even ricotta cheese.
5. Stir everything until combined and the eggs are done to the consistency you prefer.

If you want to turn it into a Tex-Mex dish, you can remove it from the heat and add your fresh toppings, like avocados, cilantro, hot sauce, salsa, and diced tomatoes.

Chilaquiles

While migas are traditionally a Spanish or Portuguese dish, chilaquiles are traditionally a Mexican breakfast dish.

Like migas, it contains corn tortillas and chiles, but the preparation process is very different.

In this case, the tortillas are cut into quarters and, in fact, are often fried or even baked before preparing the entire base of the dish. This dish is usually completed by topping it with salsa or some type of red or green sauce and then simmering.

It’s not the same as just scrambling the eggs and sautéing the vegetables. The process is somewhat more complicated in general.

Of course, there is more than one way to make this dish, just like any other dish. Chilaquiles are a breakfast or even brunch dish, normally, but it is made in such a way that you could enjoy it at any time of the day if you wish.

This dish has been around for a long time. The name chilaquiles comes from a translation of a Nahuatl word that means roughly chilies and vegetables.

It is a very flavorful dish that again relies on the vegetables in it and the slow cooking process to really provide the flavor effects of the dish.

Some versions of the dish include refried beans, which is an ingredient that is not listed anywhere in migas, although they can be served as a side dish.

It is very common for chilaquiles to be covered with an egg, usually prepared upside down.

Ingredients for the chilaquiles

Now that we know the basics of the dish and its origin, let’s talk about chilaquiles. This simple dish may seem like it requires extra effort and work, but it actually goes down pretty quickly, taking about 15 minutes to prepare.

Many of the ingredients are commonly found in the fridge or pantry of many homes. It’s a simple dish, and people who grew up enjoying chilaquiles at home often crave it as a comfort food when they’re not at home anymore.

It’s a creative dish, really, but it has a unique approach and flavor that no other dish can match. It can also be done with certain variations.

Some people like it crispy, while others like it almost soggy when done.

This can make a difference in the way you prepare it, but essentially everything is prepared the same way. This dish has the same base ingredient as tortillas. However, in this dish they are sliced rather than crushed.

The chilies are also an important part of this dish, as are the migas.

These are the traditional ingredients of chilaquiles

• Fried tortillas, quartered or shredded (some people prefer old tortillas)
• Chilies
• Salsa or ingredients like tomatillos, serranos, and tomatoes to make a salsa mix
• Onion
• Cotija cheese
• Vegetable oil
• Garlic
• Mexican cream or crème fraîche
• Fresh epazote (Mexican tea)
• An egg for coverage

The ingredients you add may vary. Unlike migas, there is no real Tex-Mex or traditional dish.

These are pretty standard ingredients, although some people prefer to use prepared sauce instead of individual peppers. That totally depends on your preferences.

Again, you can add some seasoning to your liking, but the real flavor should come mostly from the sauce, the vegetables, and the red or green sauce used for the simmering process.

How chilaquiles are prepared

As with migas, we are going to share with you a practical tour of how chilaquiles are prepared in general.

This is simply to give you an overview of how they’re done so you can see the differences in the overall process.

We’re not going to walk you through a step-by-step recipe, but we’ll provide you with the general details of the process so you can understand how it varies from migas and how it works to create this delicious cultural dish.

One thing you will notice is that the process is different than for crumbs. With the migas, all the ingredients are sautéed and then scrambled, but the chilaquiles are prepared using a slow-cooking method.

This is the process for making chilaquiles:

1. For the chilaquiles, you’ll start by putting the tomatillos, serrano peppers, and chiles in a saucepan and covering them with just enough water to cover them. Bring all this to a boil on the stove.
2. Let it simmer for 8-10 minutes, or until those peppers and items start to soften. When they are soft, drain the water and put the softened ingredients in a blender to puree them. Here you can add the garlic and epazote. Blend everything until you get the consistency you prefer.
3. Now is when you really get into the process. If you want to use a ready-made sauce, you can do so and skip this first part if you prefer. You can also choose to use other peppers.
4. Heat some oil in a pan and fry the tortilla pieces in the oil. Drain after frying. Now put your sauce combination in the pan and cook it all together for about 10 minutes. You can add just a small amount of water and simmer for another 5 minutes.
5. Add the tortillas and let them cook over low heat. Simmer them longer if you prefer them soft and less time if you prefer them crispy.

Once you’ve created this base, you can add an egg, meat, or any other topping you prefer, like crème fraiche.

crumbs vs. Chilaquiles - Final Comparison

In summary, you will realize that although migas and chilaquiles include consistent and similar ingredients, they are very different dishes.

Migas are a scrambled dish in which everything is mixed. It has tortilla strips and was originally an authentic Spanish or Portuguese dish that has been adapted into a Mexican and Tex-Mex dish.

Chilaquiles, on the other hand, are a traditional Mexican dish and there are few variations. This dish is also based on the combination of flavors over low heat. It’s less of a scramble and more of a full plate.

The crumbs have scrambled eggs, while the chilaquiles can have a fried egg on top.

The main similarity between these two dishes is that they both use corn tortillas and chiles as part of the composition, but they are quite different from there, including the ingredients and the way they are prepared.