Savory Beef Enchiladas (Printable Version)

Tender spiced beef with melted cheeses in soft tortillas, topped with rich red sauce and baked until golden and bubbly.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained

→ Enchilada Assembly

12 - 8 large flour tortillas (8-inch)
13 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
14 - 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
15 - 2 cups red enchilada sauce
16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
17 - 1/2 cup sour cream

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
03 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add diced tomatoes with green chilies. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, then remove from heat.
06 - Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce over the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
07 - Lay out tortillas. Fill each with about 1/3 cup beef mixture and a sprinkle of each cheese. Roll up tightly and place seam-side down in the baking dish.
08 - Pour remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the enchiladas. Top with remaining cheese.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
11 - Garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve hot with sour cream.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Everything bakes together in one dish, meaning less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner with your family
  • The beef filling comes together in under 20 minutes, making this perfect for busy weeknights when you want something satisfying but not fussy
02 -
  • Overfilling the tortillas is tempting, but they will burst during baking and you will lose all that filling into the sauce
  • Letting the beef filling cool slightly before rolling makes the tortillas easier to handle and less likely to tear
03 -
  • Warm your tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds before filling to prevent cracking and make them more pliable
  • Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the enchiladas cleanly for serving, without dragging all the filling out