Today’s recipe share is one of our youngest daughter’s favorite meals and what she requested for her back-to-school dinner last week – Easy Cheesy Beef Enchiladas.
Easy Cheesy Beef Enchiladas
Easy Cheesy Beefy Enchiladas have been a go-to family favorite for almost two decades. With just four ingredients and under an hour from start to finish, these cheesy, beefy, saucy enchiladas are a cinch to make, always a hit! Easy to adapt too.
Read rave reviews from people who tried this recipe on Pinterest (photos)
WHAT YOU NEED
Lean ground beef, soft flour tortillas (or corn for traditional enchiladas), red enchilada sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
*Traditional enchiladas call for corn tortillas – for this shortcut recipe, I use flour tortillas. To use corn tortillas, follow this great tip!
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY BEEF ENCHILADAS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, then pour 1/2 can of enchilada sauce in the baking dish, coating the bottom evenly.
In a large non-stick skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, stirring occasionally until fully cooked. When ready, drain excess fat, then add the remaining 1/2 can of enchilada sauce to the beef and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and stir well.
Spoon approximately 1/4 cup of meat mixture down the middle of a tortilla, wrap tightly and place seam down in baking dish (see photo below). Repeat until baking dish is full. Depending on the amount of beef used, you can make between 8 and 10 enchiladas. *I often stuff two extra ones on the side.
Last, pour the remaining can of enchilada sauce evenly over enchiladas, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for approximately 20 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and melted and enchiladas are heated through.
Of all the meals I make, this is my daughter’s friends’ favorite! Whenever I make this dish, she sends over a plate to her best friend. Funny how the easiest recipes end up being favorites.
This shortcut enchilada recipe has been around forever (google to see all the different variations) and is easy to adapt. If you are not a fan of beef, you can sub with ground chicken or turkey. If you like enchiladas hot and spicy, use hot enchilada sauce, add chopped green chilies and/or hot sauce.
PINNABLE IMAGE
Please Note – This is NOT a sponsored post. I have no affiliation with any of the products used in this recipe.
Easy Cheesy Beef Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 cans (10 ounces each), red enchilada sauce (I use mild)
- 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese (you can use a Mexican blend)
- Package of flour tortillas, 6 inch, soft taco size, need 8–10 tortillas (or use corn tortillas, see tip below)
Toppings (optional)
Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, chopped onions, hot sauce, sour cream, guacamole, olives
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, then pour 1/2 can of enchilada sauce in the baking dish, coating bottom evenly.
In a large non-stick skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat, stirring occasionally until fully cooked. When ready, drain excess fat, then add the remaining 1/2 can of enchilada sauce to the beef and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and stir well.
Spoon approximately 1/4 cup of meat mixture down the middle of a tortilla, wrap tightly and place seam down in baking dish. Repeat until baking dish is full. Depending on the amount of beef used, you can make between 8 and 10 enchiladas. *I often stuff two extra ones on the side of the baking dish.
Last, pour the remaining can of enchilada sauce evenly over enchiladas, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for approximately 20 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and melted and enchiladas are heated through. Remove and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve with your favorite Mexican toppings and side dishes – corn, Spanish rice, Mexican sweet corn cake, cilantro lime rice, refried beans, cornbread, chips, salsa and guacamole.
Tips
- This recipe is super easy to adapt to your taste. You can add refried beans, black beans, green chiles, jalapeños, etc. You can also use ground chicken or turkey if you are not a fan of beef.
- For corn tortillas, follow this method for rolling enchiladas.
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers!
Rosemary Hamann
I never .made enchiladas in my life and I’m 68. It is definitely easy meal and was very delicious. It will on my dinner menu again. Except I’m going to mild enchilada sauce not. HOT!!!
mike benveniste
I like shredded beef enchiladas. can you put the option for people who normally prefer shredded beef enchiladas ?
Pete Serene
I add a small can of Green Chillies too
Jannie Hoffknecht
I ran out of flour tortillas and have added corn. I have also mixed green sauce and red sauce together and love it
Robyn Forguson
I have to say these are the best enchiladas I have ever had. We topped ours with sour cream, guacamole, and pico… so good.
Whitney
Delicious, quick recipe that the whole family loved. I put them under the broiler for a few minutes so the ends got crispy and the cheese browned. Definitely a new favorite!
Dan
For enchiladas, use corn tortillas.
Jasmine
Does it matter whether you use a metal pan or glass pan to cook the enchiladas?
April
We’ve made a variation of the for 20+ years! Corn tortillas, shredded chicken, cheese, GREEN enchilada sauce, fresh green onion and cilantro. Same basic concept though!
Mary Neumann
Hi Chirstine,
This recipe has been around for decades, no where in this post does it state it’s an original recipe. You can find this recipe or very similar variations all over. It’s a great (simple as can be) recipe someone shared with me years ago. This is a recipe sharing food blog.
Brandi
Loves this I only had corn tortillas they was great. Can’t wait to try chicken version.
Mike K
My wife and I tried these a couple weeks ago and loved them! She said it was one of her favorites that I’ve made! Am making them again tonight!
Deb C
Made these for dinner tonight. Made homemade tortillas and homemade enchilada sauce as well. Very yummy!
Taylor. M
THEA BEST ENCHILADA RECIPE. It’s super simple, easy to follow and quick. So yummy!!
Amy
How do you bake these after freezing? Do you thaw First? For how long do you bake after freezing?
Kathy Mason
I tried this, and my whole family loves loves them! I made Spanish rice with it. I thought I was going to have more,I didn’t think that they we’re ever going to stop eeting.. Thank you.
Gretta7851
Won’t flour tortillas get mushy. I use corn tortillas. I wish flour ones wouldn’t get so mushy. They taste like mushy dough. Any suggestions for them not getting mushy
Chelsea
Fry them! I dip in enchilada sauce, fry each side of the tortilla for a few seconds, then roll it up. It pre-cooks the tortilla and is the only way I’ll eat enchiladas. I don’t even add sauce to the top, because you dipped the tortillas in it.
McKenzie
Have you tried freezing this before to bake later?
Mary Neumann
Yes – they freeze well.
Carmeletia
Ingredient list calls for two cans enchilada sauce; however instructions refer to only one-half can in dish and one-half can poured over enchiladas. Is there a misprint or have I not understood correctly.
Ready to try, but need to understand. Looks delicious!
Thanks.
Mary Neumann
Hi Carmeletia, 1/2 can of sauce is used on the beef after it is cooked, then drained and when the cheese it added. Hope that helps. You need two cans total. 1/2 for bottom of baking dish, 1/2 can with the cooked beef and cheese and the remaining can (full can) is poured over the enchiladas.
Abigail Hines Miller
These wer delicious! My entire family loved them. Thanks for sharing this super easy peasy dinner recipe!
Crissy Sciascia
This is how I make my enchiladas. The only difference is I add a little salsa to the ground beef. Delicious!!
Dolores
Thank you for the recipe. Add onions, black olives cut in half, and re-fried beans to the tortilla with the ground beef mixture- then roll it up and carry on as per the recipe and you have my son’s favorite-Enchiritos. Taco Bell used to make them many years ago. YUM
Kay Lusk
Taco Bell still makes Enchiritos. You ask for them they aren’t on the menu. I love them and still get them.
Carlee
I can handle 4 ingredients! These look delicious and I actually really like flour tortillas for enchiladas.