Molletes are one of those wonderfully simple Mexican recipes that prove you don’t need a long list of ingredients to make something really good.
A toasted bolillo is spread with creamy refried beans, covered with melted cheese, and finished with fresh pico de gallo. That’s it! The combination of warm, crispy bread, savory beans, gooey cheese, and fresh salsa is hard to beat.
I especially love making molletes when I have leftover refried beans or pico de gallo in the refrigerator. And there’s one thing that makes a big difference: fresh bolillos.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️
- So easy to make. You only need a handful of simple ingredients.
- Perfect for leftovers. Have extra refried beans or pico de gallo? Make molletes!
- Great any time of day. Serve them for breakfast, lunch, or an after-school snack.
- Easy to customize. Add chorizo, scrambled eggs, or leftover carne asada for a heartier meal.
Family Story
One winter, I was in Durango and went to pick up my cousin from school. It was only a few blocks away, but right outside the school was a woman making molletes.
There was a long line of kids waiting for them.
I asked my cousin what all the excitement was about, and she told me they were the best molletes. So the next time I picked her up, I brought some extra pesos and bought us some.
She was right. They were so good!
What I love most about molletes is how simple they are. Bread, beans, cheese, and pico de gallo. That’s it. I’m a big fan of simple recipes that don’t require a lot of fuss.
When my son was in high school, I would sometimes have extra pico de gallo in the refrigerator. I’d grab some fresh bolillos and make him molletes as an after-school snack.
Now, whenever I make them, I think about those little everyday moments that eventually become family memories.
🥖 Ingredients
- Bolillo
- Frijoles Refritos – Refried beans
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Tomatoes
- Onion
- Lime juice
- Jalapeno
- Salt
- Cilantro
Bolillo is a type of Mexican bread that’s crunchy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. Can’t find bolillo at your grocery store? No problemo. Use French bread or any type of sandwich roll instead.
Also try the sweet version – Molletes Dulces.
Instructions
- Start by cutting the bolillo in half.
- Smear a thin layer of refried beans.
Refried beans can be made with pinto or black beans. Whichever you prefer is fine. Homemade refried beans are the best, but you can also use canned beans too.
Want to jazz up canned beans? Check out how to cook canned black beans.
- Add shredded cheese.
- Place under the broiler until the cheese has melted.
🧀 What Type of Cheese To Use
- Monterey Jack
- Manchego Cheese
- Oaxaca
- White Cheddar
Basically, use any type of cheese that melts well.
- While the cheese is melting, make the Pico de Gallo. In short, it’s a fresh tomato salsa.
- Dice up the tomato, jalapeno, and onion.
- Place in a large bowl.
Try to make this ahead of time, if you can. The longer it sits, the better it tastes.
Pico de Gallo on its own with chips makes a great after-school snack.
My son also loved Mexican Fruit Cups and Frijoles Puercos as after-school snacks.
- Add the lime juice.
- Add the salt and cilantro.
- Mix to combine.
- Set this aside until ready to use.
🌟 Pro Tip
You don’t want to top the bread with the pico de gallo until you’re ready to eat the sandwich. Otherwise, the bread will get soggy.
These are classic Mexican molletes, but they’re easy to customize. You can add chorizo, minced chipotle, scrambled eggs, or even chopped carne asada.
🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
Molletes are a traditional Mexican open-faced sandwich made with a bolillo that is sliced in half, spread with refried beans, topped with melted cheese, and finished with pico de gallo.
Traditional Mexican molletes are made with bolillos, a crusty Mexican bread with a soft, fluffy interior. If you can’t find bolillos, you can substitute French bread or another crusty sandwich roll.
Use any cheese that melts well. Monterey Jack, Oaxaca, Manchego, and white cheddar are all good options. Oaxaca cheese is especially delicious if you want a more traditional Mexican cheese.
Molletes are delicious as-is, but you can add cooked chorizo, scrambled eggs, minced chipotle peppers, or chopped carne asada. They’re also a great way to use up leftovers.
You can prepare the refried beans and pico de gallo ahead of time, but I recommend assembling and broiling the molletes just before serving. Don’t add the pico de gallo until you’re ready to eat them, or the bread can become soggy.
Absolutely! Homemade refried beans are delicious, but canned refried beans work perfectly when you want to make molletes quickly. Pinto or black bean refried beans can both be used.
🥪 Mexican Sandwiches
Molletes are one of my favorite easy Mexican meals. They come together quickly, use simple ingredients, and are a great way to use up leftover refried beans or pico de gallo.
Make a batch for breakfast, lunch, or a quick snack. And don’t be surprised if everyone asks for seconds!
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Mexican Molletes
Ingredients
- 2 bolillo or bread
- 1 cup refried beans
- 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
- 2 tomatoes diced
- ¼ onion diced
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 jalapeno finely diced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves chopped
Instructions
- Slice the bolillos in half.
- Smear 2 tablespoons of refried beans on one half of the bolillo.
- Repeat with the other bolillo halves.
- Add Monterey Jack cheese on top of the refried beans.
- Preheat the broiler.
- Place the prepared bolillos on a sheet pan.
- Place the bolillos under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Watch closely so the bread doesn't burn.
- Meanwhile, make the pico de gallo.
- Mix the tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
- Set the pico de gallo aside until the bread is ready.
- Top the molletes with the salsa.
- Serve immediately.
I absolutely love molletes such a simple yet comforting dish! Your recipe brought back memories of cozy weekend breakfasts with family. The tip about using bolillo rolls made all the difference. I recently tried adding a sprinkle of tajín on top for an extra kick so good! Thanks for sharing this delicious and nostalgic recipe.
Tajin! That sounds wonderful. I’ll have to try that next time I make molletes. Thank you for your comment.