Ground Beef Enchiladas

These delicious Ground Beef Enchiladas are made with a zesty homemade enchilada sauce and plenty of ooey gooey melty cheese! Your family will devour this tasty baked dish that you can have on the table in less than an hour.

Looking to shake up taco night at your dinner table? Instead of tacos or nachos, make these easy cheesy Ground Beef Enchiladas instead!

I’ll show you how to whip up a red sauce from scratch that will rival your favorite Mexican restaurant’s version. It’s rich, warm, and simple to make with ingredients you already have in your pantry, like taco seasoning and canned tomato sauce.

Then, we will fill flour tortillas with ground beef mixed with black beans and Tex-Mex seasonings, cover them with melty cheddar jack cheese, and bake until the whole thing is hot, bubbly, and amazing!

Not only does this Mexican recipe make a wonderful family meal, it’s also perfect for casual dinner parties, or to make up and deliver to a friend in need of a casserole.

The Best Beef Enchilada Recipe

• Homemade Enchilada Sauce: Sure, you can buy a can of enchilada sauce at the grocery store and have this recipe made a few minutes quicker, but I promise you that this homemade sauce is way, way tastier.
• Ready for Toppings: Just like tacos, these traditional beef enchiladas are made even better with the right toppings. And the right toppings are anything that your family loves! I like to add creamy toppings like sour cream and homemade guacamole to my plate.
• Easily Adjustable: This recipe is gently spiced, mostly with taco seasoning and a little bit of canned mild chiles, but you can adjust the spices however you like! If you like your enchiladas hot, add some hot sauce or chili powder to the meat mixture.
• Prep them Ahead of Time: I love that beef enchiladas with red sauce can be made and then kept in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to bake them. Detailed storage instructions are down below.

If you love the taste of enchiladas, you should also try my Chicken Enchilada Soup and Beef Enchilada Casserole recipes!

Key Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make the best homemade beef enchiladas:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Lean Ground Beef: While these are ground beef enchiladas, the recipe works just as well with ground turkey, ground chicken, or plant-based meat substitutes.
• Garlic and Onion: We’ll saute these with the meat to add savory flavor to the enchilada filling.
• Beans: Adding black beans to the beef mixture adds extra protein! Try this recipe with pinto beans or white beans, too.
• Tortillas: Flour tortillas are my preference for this recipe. They are soft and easy to roll up.
• Taco Seasoning: We’ll use this to add flavor to both the meat filling and the sauce. You can make up a batch of my homemade taco seasoning (a lovely blend of spices including chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder) or use your favorite store-bought blend.
• Cheese: I typically use Colby Jack or mild cheddar cheese to make this easy beef enchiladas recipe, but any type of cheese that you love will work.
• Diced Green Chiles: A small can of green chilies adds just a little bit of heat to the filling.

How To Make Ground Beef Enchiladas

1. Make a quick roux: To thicken the sauce, start by cooking olive oil and flour for 1-2 minutes in a saucepan.
2. Make enchilada sauce: Gradually add chicken stock, whisking continously to avoid lumps. Then stir in the tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning, sugar, and salt. Cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, then remove it from the heat.
3. Brown the beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the beef with olive oil, onion, and garlic until browned and cooked through.
4. Make the enchilada filling: Mix in black beans, green chiles, 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning, and a half cup of the enchilada sauce that you made.

5. Roll tortillas: Spread a half cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan. Then, start rolling the enchiladas. Divide the meat filling among your tortillas, top with a bit of cheese, then roll up tightly.
6. Fill the pan: Place each enchilada, seam side down, into the baking dish.
7. Cove with sauce: Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the enchiladas and spread it out evenly.
8. Add cheese: Top your beef enchiladas with the remaining shredded cheese. Then bake in a preheated 350°F (180°C) oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Recipe Tips

• Try green enchilada sauce: Instead of this homemade red sauce, make beef enchiladas with your favorite green chile enchilada sauce instead!
• Swap the protein: You can make this recipe with any type of ground meat. It’s also simple to add in already cooked and shredded chicken to make chicken enchiladas.
• Vegetarian enchiladas: Skip the meat altogether and replace it with more beans or sauteed veggies such as mushrooms, black olives, zucchini, or bell peppers. Want these to be vegan? Use vegan cheese!
• Make it gluten free: Use your favorite gluten-free tortillas to make these enchiladas! Instead of all-purpose flour, sub in a 1:1 gluten-free flour when making the sauce.

Storing Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Make Ahead Enchiladas

This recipe is perfect for making ahead of time, which can be a huge time saver for busy weeknights.

Fridge: Prep the enchiladas, but do not bake them. Instead, cover the dish tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When you’re ready, uncover the pan and bake as directed. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time since the enchiladas are cold.

Freezer: You can freeze the pan of enchiladas either before or after baking. Either way, they can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before baking according to the instructions.

What to Serve with Enchiladas

Enjoy these ground beef enchiladas with any of your favorite toppings and Mexican-inspired side dishes! Here are some delicious options:

• Cilantro Lime Rice or easy Mexican Rice
• Mexican Street Corn Salad
• Sour Cream or Lime Crema
• Salsa Ranchera, Pico de Gallo, or Homemade Guacamole with chips.

Recipe FAQs

Are these enchiladas authentic mexican food?

These enchiladas, filled with ground beef and cheddar jack cheese, are Mexican-inspired but probably not completely authentic. Enchiladas in Mexico are usually filled with shredded beef and queso fresco.

Can I use corn tortillas for enchiladas?

Sure! Corn tortillas can be more difficult to roll around the filling as they are less pliable than flour tortillas. It’s helpful to warm them up first before trying to manipulate them too much.

This recipe also works great with low-carb tortillas.

Easy Ground Beef Enchiladas with homemade sauce is ready to be added to your regular dinner menu rotation! Pin it for more people to enjoy too!