Cheesy Beef Enchiladas: My Go-To Comfort Food Recipe (Print Version)
Cheesy Beef Enchiladas: Get my easy recipe for a comforting, cheesy, and flavorful family dinner. Perfect for meal prep!
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 25 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 35 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Intermediate
Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Dietary: Contains Meat & Dairy
# Ingredients:
→ Enchilada Essentials
01 -
Corn Tortillas (12-15, 6-inch)
02 -
Red Enchilada Sauce (28 oz / 800g can)
03 -
Cheddar Cheese (2 cups / 200g, shredded)
→ Savory Beef Filling
04 -
Ground Beef (1 lb / 450g)
05 -
Onion (1 medium, chopped)
06 -
Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
07 -
Chili Powder (1 tbsp)
08 -
Cumin (1 tsp)
09 -
Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
10 -
Olive Oil (1 tbsp)
→ Fresh Finishing Touches
11 -
Fresh Cilantro (1/4 cup, chopped, for garnish)
12 -
Sour Cream (for serving)
# Instructions:
01 -
First things first, let's get that delicious beef filling going! Grab a large skillet and heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in your chopped onion and let it soften for about 3-4 minutes, until it starts to smell amazing. Then, add your ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until it's nicely browned, about 8-10 minutes. Honestly, this is where the magic starts! Drain off any excess fat – I usually just tilt the pan and spoon it out, trying not to make a huge mess. Stir in your minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Let those spices get fragrant for about a minute. Oh, the aroma! It's pure comfort already.
02 -
This step for perfect Cheesy Beef Enchiladas is so important, trust me! Cold tortillas will just crack and tear when you try to roll them, and that's a kitchen disaster we want to avoid. Briefly warm your corn tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 15-20 seconds per side, or microwave them in batches of 5-6, wrapped in a damp paper towel, for about 30 seconds. They should be pliable, not crispy. I've definitely skipped this before and ended up with a pile of broken tortillas and a lot of frustration, oops! Take your time here, it makes all the difference.
03 -
Alright, assembly time! Pour about a cup of your enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish – just enough to coat it. Now, take a warmed tortilla, spoon a generous amount of your seasoned beef filling down the center, and sprinkle with a little shredded cheese. Don't overfill, or it'll be a messy roll! Roll it up tightly and place it seam-side down in your prepared baking dish. Repeat this with all your tortillas, snuggling them in next to each other. This is where my kitchen usually gets a little messy, but it's part of the fun!
04 -
Once all your Cheesy Beef Enchiladas are nestled in the dish, pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top. Make sure every single rolled tortilla is covered! Then, sprinkle the rest of that glorious shredded cheddar cheese all over. Honestly, don't be shy with the cheese here; it's <em>Cheesy</em> Beef Enchiladas for a reason! This is the part where it starts looking like a real masterpiece. I sometimes add a little extra cheese, just because.
05 -
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly, melted, and slightly golden brown. You want those edges to be just a little crispy, hon! The smell filling your kitchen right now? Oh, it's heavenly. I always peek through the oven door, watching the cheese melt, it's so satisfying.
06 -
Carefully remove your beautiful Cheesy Beef Enchiladas from the oven. Let them rest for about 5-10 minutes before serving; this helps everything set and prevents a saucy, cheesy landslide when you try to scoop them out. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and a dollop of sour cream. Sometimes I add a few sliced jalapeños too, for a little extra kick! Serve warm, and get ready for some serious comfort food bliss. This is the moment you've been waiting for, and honestly, it never disappoints!