This Beef Enchilada recipe is easy, family-friendly, and at all times hits the spot. Prime with my saucy home made crimson enchilada sauce and you may by no means make floor beef enchiladas every other method. They reheat tremendous nicely too!

I’m by no means not craving my crimson enchilada sauce. There, I stated it. Of all of the home made variations of store-bought merchandise I’ve tackled over time, it’s my favourite as a result of all you want are a handful of components and, most significantly, it’s spoon-drink-worthy scrumptious.
I’ve used the sauce to smother each cheese enchiladas and hen enchiladas but it surely’s floor beef’s time to shine on this epic Beef Enchilada recipe you’ll make over and over!

Simple Beef Enchilada Recipe
Enchiladas could appear fancy or time-consuming, however they fall into the “casserole” class, which signifies cozy, easy, and low fuss.
- Step 1: Make the crimson enchilada sauce as much as 5 days forward of time.
- Step 2: Cook dinner the bottom beef filling as much as 3 days forward of time.
- Step 3: Assemble the enchiladas, then bake.
You’ll be able to even assemble the enchiladas as much as the purpose of baking a number of days forward, or freeze them for later! I’ll define the strategies under. However first…

Important Components Wanted
Excellent news: each the enchilada sauce and floor beef filling use 99% of the identical seasonings. That stated, I like to mix each seasoning mixes on the similar time earlier than I begin cooking. Right here’s what you’ll want:
For the Crimson Enchilada Sauce
- Dried herbs and spices: chili powder, dried oregano, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder present daring Tex-Mex taste.
- Gluten free flour mix: thickens the enchilada sauce. You’ll need to use the baking flour mix you sometimes bake with, relatively than a single flour or starch, like almond flour or cornstarch. You should utilize all-purpose flour when you don’t have to eat gluten-free.
- Tomato paste: thickens, flavors, and colours the crimson enchilada sauce.
- Rooster broth: or hen inventory for the liquid element.
For the Beef Filling
- Floor beef: after all! I sometimes persist with 90/10 or 85/15 floor beef, however actually something you may have available is okay. This is a superb recipe to make use of cooked Restaurant-Type Floor Beef in.
- Seasoning combine: the identical seasonings because the crimson enchilada sauce, plus paprika.

Beef Enchilada Ideas
Like I stated, this family-friendly floor beef casserole is inherently simple. That stated, hold the following tips in thoughts when planning for, and assembling the meat enchiladas:
- Regulate spiciness: most chili powders offered in grocery shops are medium to sizzling on the spice scale. I take advantage of McCormick Chili Powder which I’d charge as a 5 or 6/10. For those who or your loved ones are delicate to warmth, search for delicate chili powder on the retailer. On the flip aspect, be at liberty to make use of sizzling chili powder on this recipe.
- Persist with corn tortillas: I’m not the tortilla police however I extremely advocate you persist with utilizing corn tortillas for the normal enchilada expertise, vs flour tortillas (when you don’t have to eat gluten free, after all). Corn tortillas maintain up nicely to being baked in a sauce, whereas flour tortillas can develop into soggy and gummy.
- Warmth the corn tortillas: wrapping the tortillas in a humid paper towel then microwaving for 30 seconds earlier than filling will guarantee they don’t crack. In the event that they nonetheless crack, that’s okay! They’ll be smothered with sauce and cheese anyway.
- Pan measurement: this recipe makes 16-18 enchiladas, which match completely inside an 11×15″ baking pan. You should utilize two medium-size baking pans, or a 9×13″ pan plus a small baking pan as a substitute.
What to Serve with Floor Beef Enchiladas
Enchiladas are hearty and may stand on their very own, but it surely’s additionally enjoyable to serve them with restaurant-inspired sides and toppings like:

Serve with Simple Pinto Beans
How one can Make Beef Enchiladas
Step 1: Make the Crimson Enchilada Sauce.
I’m telling you, this sauce blows ANY store-bought enchilada sauce out of the water. Even the high-end/small batch merchandise which have popped up over the previous few years!
Begin by heating vegetable oil in a medium-size saucepan. Sprinkle in gluten free flour then cook dinner whereas whisking for 1 minute. Add Tex-Mex seasonings together with chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, onion and garlic powders, plus salt then whisk whereas cooking till very aromatic, 20-30 seconds. Add tomato paste then whisk whereas cooking for one more 30 seconds.

Subsequent, slowly stream in hen broth whereas whisking. Flip the warmth up barely to convey the sauce to a simmer then flip the warmth again right down to medium and cook dinner whereas whisking till the sauce has barely thickened, 2-3 minutes. The sauce will proceed to thicken because it cools.
Pour the crimson enchilada sauce right into a cup or bowl with a lip – which helps with drizzling it over the enchiladas – then set it apart to chill barely.

Recipe Tip
Make the crimson enchilada sauce as much as 5 days forward of time. Cool then retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge (glass advisable as plastic will stain). Re-warm earlier than utilizing.
Step 2: Cook dinner the bottom beef filling.
Subsequent make the seasoned floor beef filling.
Warmth a big skillet over medium-high warmth then add floor beef and let it sit within the sizzling skillet till the underside is browned. Break the meat up because it cooks then drain if obligatory and return the meat to the skillet.
Subsequent add seasonings together with chili powder, cumin, onion and garlic powders, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper, plus water, then stir to mix and cook dinner till the water has been absorbed into the meat, 2-3 minutes.

Recipe Tip
Cook dinner the bottom beef filling as much as 3 days forward of time then retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge. Re-warm barely within the microwave earlier than utilizing. You don’t need it piping sizzling – simply not tremendous chilly.
Step 3: Assemble the enchiladas.
Wrap half the corn tortillas in a humid paper towel then microwave for 20-30 seconds or till they’re heat and pliable.
One by one, lay a heat tortilla on a plate or reducing board then spoon ~2 Tablespoons of the bottom beef filling throughout the underside of the tortilla. Add a heaping Tablespoon of shredded Mexican-cheese mix then roll the tortilla tightly and switch it to a baking dish with a few of the enchilada sauce unfold into a skinny, even layer within the backside.

Proceed filling and rolling till all of the components have been used. These images present Mi Rancho Thincredible Tortillas which as you may see, don’t crack. I discover them at Complete Meals.

Smother the stuffed tortillas with the ready crimson enchilada sauce. Chances are you’ll not want all of it, however save any further so as to add when reheating the enchiladas for the reason that tortillas soak up a little bit of the sauce as they chill within the fridge.
Recipe Tip
The enchiladas don’t have to be swimming in sauce, however be certain that the tortillas are fully lined – any elements that don’t have sauce on them will develop into robust and laborious whereas baking.

Step 4: Bake the meat enchiladas.
Sprinkle extra Mexican-blend cheese on high of the sauced enchiladas then cowl with foil and bake for half-hour at 350 levels, or till the cheese has melted and the sauce is sizzling and bubbly.
Let the casserole sit and funky for quarter-hour then serve and high with all of your favourite fixins!

How one can Retailer and Reheat Leftovers
Though my husband makes it his private mission to devour each final drop of Beef Enchiladas every time I make them, when you’re fortunate sufficient to have leftovers they reheat SUPER nicely.
- To retailer: Switch leftover enchiladas into an hermetic container with a lid then refrigerate for 3-4 days. I like to recommend a glass storage container because the crimson sauce can stain plastic.
- To reheat: Reheat individual-sized parts within the microwave till sizzling.
How one can Make-Forward
Assemble the meat enchiladas as much as 48 hours forward of time then retailer within the fridge. Right here’s how:
- Assemble: the casserole as much as the purpose of protecting with sauce, as much as 48 hours forward of time. Cowl the enchiladas with plastic wrap then refrigerate individually from the sauce.
- Sauce and bake: re-warm the sauce then pour it over the enchiladas and bake in line with recipe directions.
How one can Freeze
Beef Enchiladas additionally freeze nicely. I like to recommend freezing them earlier than baking, vs after. Right here’s how:
- To freeze: Make sure the enchilada sauce is COLD, in any other case the tortillas will soak up the nice and cozy sauce, then assemble the meat enchiladas in line with recipe directions. Cowl the baking dish in plastic wrap, then foil, after which freeze for as much as 3 months. I like utilizing a disposable aluminum pan for this, vs tying up a glass or ceramic baking dish.
- To bake: Thaw the enchiladas within the fridge then take away the plastic wrap, re-cover with foil, and bake in line with recipe directions.

Whether or not you devour this Beef Enchilada recipe sizzling and contemporary or inventory your freezer with a batch for later, I hope you like each saucy, delicious chunk. Take pleasure in!

Extra Tex-Mex Favorites
- 1 lb floor beef
- 16-18 corn tortillas, Mi Rancho Thincredible Corn Tortillas advisable, see notes
- 12 oz shredded Mexican cheese mix
For the Crimson Enchilada Sauce:
For the Crimson Enchilada Sauce:
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Add the spices – chili powder by means of cumin – to a small bowl then set it apart.
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Warmth the oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium warmth then add the flour and cook dinner whereas whisking for 1 minute. Add the seasoning combine then whisk till toasted and aromatic, 20-30 seconds. Add the tomato paste then whisk the combination collectively and cook dinner for 30 seconds.
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Slowly stream within the hen broth whereas whisking to create a clean sauce then flip the warmth as much as medium-high and produce the sauce to a simmer whereas stirring slowly and consistently with a spatula. Flip the warmth again right down to medium then simmer for a further 1-2 minutes or till the sauce has barely thickened – it’s going to proceed to thicken because it cools. Pour the enchilada sauce right into a glass measuring dish with a lip/spout then cool barely earlier than utilizing. Will be made as much as 5 days forward of time, see notes.
For the Beef Filling:
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Add the spices – chili powder by means of black pepper – to a small bowl then set it apart.
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Warmth a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Crumble the bottom beef into the underside of the skillet then let it sit and sear till browned on the underside. Break the meat up because it cooks then drain if obligatory and return to the skillet. Flip the warmth right down to medium then add the seasoning combine and water. Stir to mix then cook dinner till the water has been absorbed by the meat, 2 minutes. Flip the warmth off then set the meat apart to chill barely. Will be made as much as 3 days forward of time, see notes.
To Assemble:
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Unfold 3/4 cup enchilada sauce within the backside of the 11×15″ baking dish then set it apart. For those who’re utilizing smaller baking pans, add sufficient sauce to create a skinny layer within the backside of every pan.
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Wrap half the tortillas in a humid paper towel then microwave for 30 seconds to heat them up – this helps forestall the tortillas from cracking. Don’t fear in the event that they nonetheless crack for the reason that enchiladas shall be lined in sauce and cheese anyway.
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One after the other, place a heat tortilla onto a clear, dry floor like a plate or reducing board then unfold 2 Tablespoons cooked floor beef throughout the underside half of the tortilla. Add a heaping Tablespoon shredded cheese on high then roll the tortilla tightly and place it seam side-down within the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining components, warming the second batch of tortillas when wanted. Reserve the additional shredded cheese.
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Drizzle the enchilada sauce on high of the enchiladas then unfold it round with the again of the spoon, guaranteeing the tortillas are fully lined. Any uncovered spots of tortilla will develop into robust and laborious after baking. You may not want to make use of all of the sauce. Save any leftover sauce for reheating with leftovers because the corn tortillas will soak up a little bit of the sauce.
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Sprinkle the reserved shredded cheese on high then cowl the baking pan with a chunk of foil and bake for half-hour or till the cheese has melted and the enchilada sauce is effervescent. Take away the foil then let the enchiladas cool for quarter-hour earlier than scooping onto plates and serving.
- If you’re spice-averse, remember to use a light chili powder. I take advantage of McCormick Chili Powder which I discover barely spicy.
- The enchilada sauce spice combine and beef filling spice combine have 99% of the identical components, so I like to combine them up on the similar time earlier than I start cooking.
- The crimson enchilada sauce could be made as much as 5 days forward of time. Retailer in a glass, hermetic container (plastic will stain) within the fridge. Re-warm the sauce earlier than utilizing.
- The browned floor beef could be made as much as 3 days forward of time. Re-warm barely earlier than utilizing.
- This is a superb recipe to make use of Restaurant-Type Floor Beef in.
- I like Mi Rancho Thincredible Tortillas which don’t crack after being warmed. Mission Tremendous Smooth Corn Tortillas are an incredible possibility too.
- How one can Make-Forward:
- Assemble the casserole as much as the purpose of protecting with sauce, as much as 48 hours forward of time. Cowl the enchiladas with plastic wrap then refrigerate individually from the sauce.
- Sauce and bake: re-warm the sauce then pour it over the enchiladas and bake in line with recipe directions.
- How one can Freeze:
- Freeze unbaked: Make sure the enchilada sauce is COLD, in any other case the tortillas can soak up the nice and cozy sauce, then assemble the meat enchilada recipe in line with the directions. Cowl the baking dish in plastic wrap, then foil, after which freeze for as much as 3 months.
- To bake: Thaw the enchiladas within the fridge then take away the plastic wrap, recuperate with foil, and bake in line with recipe directions.
Energy: 672kcal, Carbohydrates: 48g, Protein: 43g, Fats: 36g, Saturated Fats: 15g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 7g, Monounsaturated Fats: 10g, Trans Fats: 0.4g, Ldl cholesterol: 123mg, Sodium: 1535mg, Potassium: 832mg, Fiber: 9g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 2662IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 571mg, Iron: 6mg
Dietary values are estimates solely. Please learn our full diet data disclaimer.
Photographs by Ashley McLaughlin
