Lunch BY: PUBLISHED: 09/30/2021  UPDATED: 03/16/2024

Mexican Molletes

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Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans, and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes!

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. Lunch or dinner that is on the table in no time.

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It is time for a different type of lunch or even dinner that is on the table in no time. Top these molletes with some salsa and you are ready to eat. So, are you ready to learn how to make Mexican molletes? Let’s get started!

What You Need For This Recipe

All the ingredients of this recipe are Mexican staples and consist of surprisingly few ingredients. Make certain you have the following ready when you start:

  • Bread rolls – this dish is made with Mexican bolillo bread rolls. These are not widely available but you can make them yourself or use French bread rolls instead
  • Refried beans – either use homemade refried beans or canned refried beans
  • Shredded cheese – use your favorite shredded cheese you can use shredded mozzarella
  • Pico de Gallo – to garnish this bread recipe we use Pico de gallo

Note that the full ingredients list, including measurements, can be found in the recipe card below.

Ingredients for making Mexican molletes.

How To Make Mexican Molletes

  1. The basis of molletes is bolillo bread rolls. You can make this yourself or buy them in the store. The first step is to toast the bread underneath the broiler.
  2. Slice the bolillos lengthwise and put them on a baking tray. Put the bread underneath the broiler for 3-4 minutes or put it in a toaster.
  3. Have a close look when you broil because it can turn brown fast. Take the sliced bread out of the oven and cover it with refried beans.
  4. Then generously sprinkle with shredded cheese like Chihuahua cheese, queso ranchero, asadero, queso menonita but you can also use hard mozzarella cheese.
  5. Put the open-faced slices on the baking tray and broil until the cheese is melted. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes. Top the bread with your favorite salsa, like tomato-roasted salsa or pico de Gallo. If you want to spice it up, just add some jalapeño or serrano peppers.
  6. Get your plates because as soon as the bread is garnished the molletes are ready to serve.

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. A different type of lunch or even dinner that is on the table in no time. Made with Mexican staples, so delicious.

Mexican Lunch Recipe

These bread rolls are super easy and more importantly very quick to put on the table. You can serve them for lunch, brunch, or as a snack.

These molletes are vegetarian as it doesn’t contain any meat. This is a savory version but there is also a mollete dulces which is a sweet molletes.

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. A different type of lunch or even dinner that is on the table in no time. Made with Mexican staples, so delicious.

What Are Molletes?

Molletes are a combination of a Mexican version of the bruschetta, a grilled cheese sandwich, and beans on toast. Even though they are not made with white beans but pinto beans.

These open-faced bread rolls are grilled in the oven and who doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich? They are made with bolillos bread buns.

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. A different type of lunch or even dinner that is on the table in no time. Made with Mexican staples, so delicious.

What Is A Bolillo?

A bolillo is the Mexican version of a bread roll like a French bread roll or baguette. This bread roll has a crunchy crust and soft fluffy bread on the inside.

You can make these bread rolls yourself or buy them in the store.

Fast, easy and simple Mexican bolillos. Mexican bolillos bread rolls require a handful of ingredients. Eat as dinner rolls or turn them into your favorite torta.

More Molletes Topping Options

You can serve molletes with salsa or pico de gallo but there are more ingredient options to choose from like:

The easiest guacamole you make in a matter of seconds. It requires only 3 ingredients to make the best dip or side dish.

What Bread Can Substitute Bolillos?

So, your local baker has never heard of bolillos you do not have the time to make them yourself.

You can substitute the bolillos bread rolls for:

  • White bread rolls
  • French pistoles
  • Hoagie roll

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. A different type of lunch or even dinner that is on the table in no time. Made with Mexican staples, so delicious.

How To Store Molletes

The best way to eat these open-faced sandwiches is freshly made but if you have leftovers, you can store them for later. Let them cool completely before storing:

  • Refrigerator – bread doesn’t store well in the fridge as it loses its freshness a bit. So, you can store the molletes in an airtight food container in the fridge for up to 2 days
  • Freezer – want to keep them longer, you can also store them in the freezer. They last longer in the freezer for up to 2 months and bread freezes well. Wrap the molletes with plastic wrap or store them in a freezer-friendly food container

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. A different type of lunch or even dinner that is on the table in no time. Made with Mexican staples, so delicious.

Reheat Mexican Molletes

You have several options to reheat your Mexican molletes

  • Oven – As the bread rolls can become a little bit soggy from the refried beans you can reheat them in the oven. Preheat your oven to 350℉/175℃ and put the molletes on a baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes until warmed through completely
  • Air Fryer – if you own an Air Fryer use it to reheat these molletes. Preheat your Air Fryer to 325℉/163℃ for 3 minutes. Add the molletes to the Air Fryer for 3-4 minutes or until warm

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. A different type of lunch or even dinner that is on the table in no time. Made with Mexican staples, so delicious.

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Mexican molletes

Mexican Molletes

Serves: 4 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Made with bolillo bread rolls, refried beans and cheese, we are making Mexican Molletes. Lunch or dinner that is on the table in no time.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Toast the bread underneath the broiler. Slice the bolillos lengthwise and put them on a baking tray
  2. Put it underneath the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes or put it in a toaster. Watch closely as the bread can turn brown really fast
  3. Take the sliced bread out of the oven and cover it with refried beans
  4. Generously sprinkle with shredded cheese
  5. Put the open-faced slices on the baking tray and broil until the cheese is melted. This takes 2 to 3 minutes
  6. Top with pico de gallo or your favorite salsa
  7. Ready to serve

Nutrition facts

Calories: 346; Fat: 21g; Carbs: 26g; Protein: 16g;

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