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Home » Recipes » Vegetarian » Mexican Molletes

Mexican Molletes

Last Updated May 17, 2021. Originally Posted May 17, 2021 By Maggie Unzueta

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Molletes are a classic Mexican breakfast, lunch, or quick snack. They are an open-faced sandwich consisting of toasted bread and topped with refried beans, melted cheese, and pico de gallo.
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A collage showing molletes plated and eating.

A hand holding a mollete.

Molletes (pronounced moh-yeh-tehs) are what you make when you want food on the table FAST.

They always remind me of my mom. She used to make them for us when we came home from school.

Refried beans and salsa were always in the fridge. So, this was a super quick and super tasty snack to put together.

Let me show you how to make this simple yet delicious Mexican recipe…

The ingredients to make molletes laid out on a wooden surface.

These are the ingredients you’ll need.

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.

Three Mexican bolillos topped with refried beans.

  • 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.

More Mexican Sandwiches


Torta de Milanesa
Torta de Jamon
Tortas Ahogadas
Pambazo

Three Mexican bolillos topped with cheese.

  • Add shredded cheese.
  • Place under the broiler until the cheese has melted.

Put a good amount of cheese on the bread. Who doesn’t love melted cheese?!

Types of cheese to use:
Monterey Jack
Manchego Cheese
Oaxaca
White Cheddar

Basically, use any type of cheese that melts well.

The ingredients to make pico de gallo in a Mexican clay bowl.

  • Dice up the tomato, jalapeno, and onion.
  • Place in a large bowl.

While the cheese is melting, make the Pico de Gallo. In short, it’s a fresh tomato salsa.

Try to make this ahead of time, if you can. The longer it sits, the better it tastes.

Although, freshly made salsa is good too.

A collage showing how to make pico de gallo.

  • Add the lime juice.
  • Add the salt and cilantro.
  • Mix to combine.

Such an easy salsa recipe! Set this aside.

Pro Tip:


You don’t want to top the bread with the pico de gallo until you’re ready to eat the sandwich.

OR, it will make the bread soggy.

A mollete served on a white plate.

Can you see why these open-faced sandwiches are often called Mexican bruschetta?

This is the most traditional Molletes recipe, but feel free to change it up!

You can add chorizo, minced chipotle, scrambled eggs for breakfast, even chopped up carne asada. Yum!

Mexican Snack Recipes:


Mexican Fruit Cups
Mexican Charcuterie Board
After School Mexican Cookie Snacks
Frijoles Puercos

A plate with three molletes surrounded by cilantro and a decorative Mexican napkin.

Molletes are ideal as a tasty after school snack, lunch, or breakfast.

They’re 100% yummy, quick-to-make, and always a hit with the kiddos and grown ups alike.

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Did you make this recipe? Please rate the recipe below!

A plate with three molletes surrounded by cilantro and a decorative Mexican napkin.

Mexican Molletes

Molletes are a classic Mexican breakfast, lunch, or quick snack. They are an open-faced sandwich consisting of toasted bread and topped with refried beans, melted cheese, and pico de gallo.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 12 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 353kcal
Author: Maggie Unzueta

Ingredients

  • 2 bolillo or bread
  • 1 cup refried beans
  • 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese shredded
  • 2 tomatoes diced
  • 1/4 onion diced
  • 2 lime juice
  • 1 jalapeno finely diced
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp 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.
  • Set oven to Broiler.
  • Place the prepared boillos on a sheet pan.
  • Place the bolillos under the broiler for 7 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
  • 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.

Notes

In case, you can't find bolillo, you can use french bread or any type of sandwich roll instead.
Types of cheese to use: Monterey Jack, Manchego Cheese, Oaxaca, White Cheddar
Pro Tip: You don’t want to top the bread with the pico de gallo until you’re ready to eat the sandwich. OR, it will make the bread soggy.

Nutrition

Calories: 353kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 1097mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1049IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 479mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!

This post was recently updated. You might remember the previous picture. Molletes served on a decorative Mexican clay plate.

Filed Under: Breakfast, Mexican, Vegetarian

About Maggie Unzueta

Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Krysten

    March 16, 2017 at 11:30 am

    I have never heard of a mollete, but it has everything on it that I love. I mean it, I am a huge fan of refried beans and pico!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:18 pm

      Yup! Hard not to love once you know what’s in it.

      Reply
  2. Ryan | A Polished Palate

    March 16, 2017 at 11:35 am

    This looks so good! You had me at manchego cheese! 🙂

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:18 pm

      I love manchego cheese. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Stacey Lynn

    March 16, 2017 at 1:27 pm

    5 stars
    LOVE LOVE (a billion times love!), this recipe! I might not have even been enticed to click on the link in my email but the pictures paired with your description made it unbearable to skip over! I am going, right now, to my kitchen to try these, as I have everything except the Mexican cheese ready. How true that it’s so hard to find Mexican cheese in America!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:13 pm

      I’m glad you clicked over! Hope you like this dish. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Michelle

    March 16, 2017 at 2:14 pm

    That looks so good, I need to make that

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:17 pm

      You so should! Easy and yummy is always a good combo.

      Reply
  5. Kristen

    March 16, 2017 at 3:52 pm

    how have I never heard of this before? this looks incredible!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      Never too late to learn new foods. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Cindy

    March 16, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    These sound yummy, my mom used to make something like this but she added black olives. I can remember her grating 3 kinds of cheese over a bowl at the dining table.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:17 pm

      Mmm.. olives sounds like a great addition.

      Reply
  7. Crystal // Dreams, etc.

    March 16, 2017 at 8:29 pm

    These look so good! I’ll have to try this recipe soon!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:17 pm

      Hope you enjoy. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Cait Weingartner

    March 17, 2017 at 9:16 am

    How I wish I had one of these delicious looking sandwiches right now! This recipe looks so good, and I just may need to make one for lunch tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:16 pm

      Thank you! I need one of these right now too. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Poonam

    March 17, 2017 at 11:12 am

    I can’t believe Ive never tried this. This sounds amazing. I will def. be making this soon! I love a good sandwich.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:16 pm

      Hope you do. You’re going to love it.

      Reply
  10. Sara

    March 17, 2017 at 11:28 am

    That looks delicious! Bolillo rolls make everything good!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:16 pm

      So true! I love bolillo. Then again, who doesn’t? 🙂

      Reply
  11. Stephanie

    March 17, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    I’m in the same boat as Kristen, I’ve never heard of this before but it looks and sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      March 20, 2017 at 2:16 pm

      Thank you! This is a go-to on my busy days.

      Reply
  12. Alexandra

    May 20, 2021 at 7:27 pm

    5 stars
    Love how tasty this is!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      May 25, 2021 at 12:14 pm

      It so is! Super tasty.

      Reply
  13. Aditi Bahl

    May 21, 2021 at 1:10 am

    5 stars
    Made these for a small get-together with friends and it was a hit. Everyone loved the flavor.

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      May 25, 2021 at 12:14 pm

      That’s awesome! Sounds like your friends know good food. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Enriqueta E Lemoine

    May 23, 2021 at 6:39 pm

    5 stars
    In Venezuela, my home country bolillos are known as pan francés. I made your molletes with pan francés and they were simply delicious. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      November 2, 2021 at 10:46 am

      Yum! I had no idea they were made in other countries. Thank you for teaching me!

      Reply
  15. Jamie

    May 23, 2021 at 11:23 pm

    5 stars
    I remember having this at a restaurant back home but never knew how to make it until now! I’m so excited to give this a try as I’ve craved these in the past. They look so good!

    Reply
    • Maggie Unzueta

      October 11, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      Yes, they are. Hope you try them. This is a really easy recipe!

      Reply
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iBienvenidos! I'm Maggie. Welcome to my blog! My passion is authentic Mexican food and traveling throughout Mexico to bring you the very BEST in culture and cuisine.

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