Easy Beef Enchilada Recipe

This ground beef enchilada recipe came about when we just wanted a different take on taco night. So we took all our taco ingredients and turned them into a rich satisfying pan of enchiladas!

We think this easy ground beef recipe will become a regular in your home when you need to feed a crowd or just want some TexMex comfort food! 

Ingredients

Seasonings.

Traditional Taco Seasoning. SpiceTopia’s Traditional Taco Seasoning is a savory spice blend without any of the extra additives you’ll find in grocery store mixes. You will notice the garlicky flavor right away, and that is followed by a warmth which is then complemented by the spicy taste of the cayenne. 

If spicy isn’t your thing, start with just 1 tablespoon of Traditional Taco Seasoning. Taste and add more to create a spice level that you enjoy.

Since this is a salt-free taco seasoning, be sure to taste your taco filling for salt.

Pacific Flake Sea Salt. SpiceTopia’s Pacific Flake Sea Salt is an all-natural kosher flake sea salt, expertly produced from the crisp, clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. This unrefined salt is our everyday go-to salt.  

Since our Traditional Taco Seasoning is a salt-free seasoning blend, don’t forget to salt the filling. 

Find all these spices and over 100 more at SpiceTopia.

Vegetables. This recipe calls for onion and bell peppers. We’ve also enjoyed adding cooked butternut squash, zucchini, spinach, and/or corn to this recipe. Just make sure your vegetables are cut into bite-sized pieces. 

Ground Beef. Use your favorite ground beef. If you prefer other ground meat or even ground meatless beef, those also work well in this recipe. If you prefer to make this vegetarian, two cans (four cups) of pinto or black beans can be substituted for the meat. 

Tortillas. Use the tortillas you like. Flour tortillas will create a softer enchilada, while corn tortillas hold up better in the sauce. It’s really up to your taste preference. 

We prefer flour tortillas and that is what is pictured, but make the recipe your own and use what you enjoy the most. 

Cheese. The recipe calls for sharp cheddar and pepper jack cheeses. We like the robust tangy flavor of sharp cheddar cheese, and the pepper jack cheese adds a smoothness with a bit of spice. 

Again, make this your own with your favorite cheese, but do make sure to shred your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has added starches to keep it from clumping together. That starch can also prevent cheese from melting well. 

Enchilada Sauce. The enchilada sauce in this recipe adds a lot of flavor to the final dish, so if you haven’t made Homemade Enchilada Sauce (link to blog post), now is the time! You’ll be hooked on the flavor and it’s easy to make while your filling cooks. 

How to Make Enchiladas

While enchiladas do have several steps, none of them are difficult. 

Start by preheating the oven to 375°F.

Next, create your filling. In a large frying pan, saute your vegetables until about half way tender. Then add the ground meat. Cook until no longer pink. Drain any excess oil. Add the Traditional Taco Seasoning and water. Cook until the sauce thickens up. 

While the filling is cooking. Make your enchilada sauce and shred the cheese. 

After the filling and sauce is ready, set up your assembly line in the following order:  

1.  First the enchilada sauce in a skillet or other wide shallow container
2. Then the the plate of shredded cheese 
3. Third is the pan of ground beef filling 
4. Next to the ground beef filling is the oven-safe pan the enchiladas will bake in

Start by spreading about 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish. Be sure to evenly coat the pan.

Next, place a tortilla on a large plate. Starting at the beginning of the assembly line, dip the tortilla in the enchilada sauce to coat it with sauce. 

Sprinkle a few tablespoons of shredded cheese on the tortilla. Placing the cheese on the tortilla first actually creates a barrier that helps to keep the juices of the meat from making the tortilla soggy. 

Next, spoon about ⅓ cup of filling in a row down the center of the tortilla. 

Roll up the tortilla with the filling, and place in the 9x13" baking dish. Repeat until you have filled the baking dish. 

Then pour the remaining sauce and sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the pan of enchiladas. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the center is bubbly.

There you have it – a delicious comfort meal! 

Looking for a plant-based Enchilada recipe?  Black Bean Butternut Squash Enchilada Recipe

Let’s Get Cooking!