Description
These quick and easy Beef Enchiladas are a delicious and satisfying Mexican-inspired dish that features seasoned ground beef rolled in tortillas, smothered with enchilada sauce, and baked with melted colby jack cheese. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this recipe yields tender, flavorful enchiladas with a comforting cheesy topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade taco seasoning)
- 1/4 cup water
Tortillas and Sauce
- 8 tortillas – corn tortillas or taco-size flour tortillas
- 2 cups enchilada sauce
Cheese
- 16 ounces shredded colby jack cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray; set it aside for later.
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the lean ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook and stir frequently until the beef is fully browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Season Beef: Stir the taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water into the browned beef in the skillet. Continue cooking over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often to incorporate the seasoning well. Remove the skillet from heat once done.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Spread about 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Assemble Enchiladas: Lay out the tortillas on a flat surface. Spoon an equal amount of the seasoned beef mixture onto the center of each tortilla, arranging it in a straight line.
- Roll Tortillas: Roll each tortilla tightly around the beef filling to form enchiladas and place them seam side down in the baking dish.
- Add Sauce: Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the rolled enchiladas to keep them moist and flavorful.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded colby jack cheese evenly over the top of the enchiladas, covering them generously.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve hot, optionally with your preferred toppings such as sour cream, chopped cilantro, or diced onions.
Notes
- You can substitute colby jack cheese with cheddar or a Mexican cheese blend for a different flavor profile.
- For extra spice, add chopped jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef mixture before assembling.
- Leftover enchiladas can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use corn tortillas and ensure the taco seasoning is gluten-free.
