Beef Enchiladas

Easy Beef Enchiladas stuffed with a tasty filling of ground beef, onions, and garlic, and smothered in the best homemade enchilada sauce. Topped with a generous amount of shredded cheese, this recipe makes great weeknight dinners and the best leftovers for lunch the next day!

These Beef Enchiladas come together so easily, they’ve quickly become a weeknight staple in my house alongside my chicken enchiladas. They’re easy to make, extra saucy and flavorful, and are baked for only 20 minutes in the oven. They’re perfect for any night of the week, and even make a great celebratory dish for occasions like Cinco de Mayo.

This is one of those recipes that never gets old. Everyone is always happy when enchiladas are on the menu because they’re just that good! Made with only a handful of ingredients, this recipe is very flexible which makes it easy to meet your budget, serve a crowd, or please your family. Let’s get to it!

Ingredients you’ll need

Nothing says authentic flavor like making homemade sauce and tortillas for your enchiladas! Feel free to make your own, or just head to the store to keep things simple. Here’s what you need:

• Ground beef – I used a lean ground beef, but you can use extra lean or regular. Whatever you have is great!
• Onion, garlic, and jalapeño – These are used to season the beef filling. Feel free to remove the jalapeño seeds for less spice, or omit it altogether.
• Enchilada sauce – I highly recommend making your own using this easy enchilada sauce recipe or this authentic enchilada sauce recipe. If you’re short on time, use your favorite store-bought sauce.
• Flour tortillas – It’s easier to make your own flour tortillas than you think! Enchiladas are traditionally made with corn tortillas, but I love flour tortillas for beef enchiladas because the tortilla is stronger and hold up better to the beef filling than corn tortillas.
• Shredded cheese – I used a pre-shredded Mexican-blend that I bought at the grocery store made from Monterey Jack, Asadero, Cheddar, and Queso Quesadilla. But feel free to use whatever cheese you have in the fridge. Mozzarella, pepperjack, and Oaxaca cheese are great options.
• Toppings – Such as diced onions, avocado chunks, chopped cilantro, sour cream, shredded lettuce, or a dollop of avocado crema.

How to make Beef Enchiladas

First, preheat your oven to 350ºF. While that’s heating up, saute the diced onions and pepper in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes until softened and translucent.

Next, add in the ground beef, garlic, and salt. Cook for about 8 minutes until the beef is browned and fully cooked through.

If the meat released a lot of moisture and grease, discard that at this time.

Next, stir in 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce to further season the meat. Give everything a little taste and season with more salt if necessary.

Now it’s time to assemble the enchiladas! I like to lay a tortilla on a plate, spoon in some of beef mixture, top it with a little shredded cheese, and then roll it up tightly.

Place the rolled up enchiladas in a large baking dish seam side down and top with 1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce and a little more shredded cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with diced onions, chopped cilantro, and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

• Warm up the tortillas before stuffing and rolling them. I like placing them on a plate, covering them with a damp paper towel, and heating them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. The damp towel will create some steam which will prevent the tortillas from drying out.
• Make it a filling meal! Serve each enchilada with a big scoop of authentic Mexican rice and refried beans on the side.
• Assemble ahead of time. The enchiladas can be assembled up to 4 hours before baking. Just don’t add the sauce and cheese on top until you’re ready to bake! Cover the baking dish and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready.

Substitutions and Variations

• Using meat with a higher fat content? Just make sure to drain any excess grease after the meat is browned.
• Looking to add more protein? Add a can of beans, like kidney beans, black beans, or pinto beans into the filling.
• Not a fan of red sauce on enchiladas? No worries! Try making this with green enchilada sauce or even queso dip!
• If you want to use corn tortillas instead, wrap them in a damp paper towel and heat them in the microwave for 1 minute, flipping them halfway through until all of them are warm and pliable. Since corn tortillas are smaller, you’ll need more of them to use up all the filling.

Storing and Freezing

To store the enchiladas, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

To freeze enchiladas, let them cool completely in the fridge. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze. You can also wrap the enchiladas completely in aluminum foil and freeze. Leave them to thaw in the fridge overnight or bake right from frozen.

To reheat enchiladas, either microwave them for 2 to 3 minutes or bake in a 350ºF oven until warmed through (about 10 to 20 minutes).

What to serve with beef enchiladas

This easy dinner recipe is best enjoyed with lots of tasty side dishes. Try any of these for the perfect pairing next to beef enchiladas:

• Avocado Salad
• Jicama Slaw
• Instant Pot Pinto Beans
• Green Rice