Shredded Beef Enchiladas (4 ingredients)
What makes these shredded beef enchiladas stand out from the rest is the well seasoned Mexican style shredded beef filling along with the smoky spicy enchilada sauce. This easy enchilada recipe makes enough for 4-6 people (depending on appetites and what you’re serving them with.) It’s a spicy, cheesy Mexican inspired dish that’s simple to make with only 4 main ingredients. The whole family comes running for this meal.
Table of Contents
skill level: beginner
There are no special skills or techniques needed to make these simple shredded beef enchiladas. It’s simply a matter of assembly. You can even get the kids to help!
Why you’ll love easy beef enchiladas
You should see my husband’s happy dance when I make these flavorful shredded beef enchiladas. I’m talking toothy grins, sing-song lyrics “we’re havin’ enchiladas” coupled with his version of a two-step and the white man’s overbite.
I think its because this enchiladas recipe is perfectly spiced, with tender chunks of Mexican shredded beef and enchilada sauce plus loads of cheese.
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For me, it’s a favorite, because it’s a quick assembly, can be made several hours in advance and baked just before serving. Plus it’s a meal the whole family loves.
Basic ingredients for shredded beef enchiladas:
- Shredded Cheese
- Tortillas
Shredded Beef – If you already have shredded beef (pr seasoned, browned ground beef) ready to go, you can use it in the enchiladas recipe, but if you need to make some, I recommend this Mexican Shredded Beef recipe. It’s well seasoned, uses just a few ingredient and it can be made in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or braised in the oven using a sturdy lidded pot or Dutch oven. Whenever I make the shredded beef recipe, I make a double batch and freeze half, so I’ve always got shredded beef ready to go for these beef enchiladas.
Red Enchilada Sauce – Spicy red enchilada sauce is what gives enchiladas their signature look and flavor. There are several good store-bought enchilada sauces you can use, but if you’ve got 5 minutes, you can also make it yourself using this smoky spicy Mexican red sauce recipe. Either one will work, though I admit to being partial to the homemade version.
Shredded Cheese – Use a good melting cheese to fill and top the beef enchiladas. I recommend, white or yellow cheddar (not too sharp as the milder styles melt gooey-er, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby Jack or a pre-grated Mexican blend.
Tortillas – Flour or corn? I admit, most of the time, I’m a big flour tortilla fan, but in this instance, I think you have to go with corn. It’s more authentic, gives a better, more robust flavor and frankly, flour tortillas get soggy and gluey in the casserole, where corn tortillas will generally hold up better in this saucy dish. Corn tortillas can be persnickety too, cracking or splitting, but what they lack in malleability, they make up for in taste.
How to assemble enchiladas
- Brush some enchilada sauce onto the bottom of your baking dish.
- Lay one tortilla flat on a work surface and spread with a little red sauce.
- Top with shredded beef and cheese.
- Fold the ends of the tortilla over the beef and cheese filling and place seam side down in the casserole dish.
- Continue to assemble the shredded beef enchiladas, filling the casserole and if necessary using another casserole dish.
- Brush more red enchilada sauce over the tortillas and top with the remaining shredded cheese.
- Bake until hot and bubbly.
If you’re a fan of good, old-fashioned Tex-Mex, this enchilada recipe is for you. Not only are they quick and easy to assemble, but the flavors are everything you’d want in homemade beef enchiladas. They’re rich, hearty and stick to your ribs good. Top them with your favorite garnishes for a homey meal that everyone loves.
Garnishes that go well with beef enchiladas:
- Shredded Lettuce
- Sour Cream
- Pico De Gallo
- Cilantro Lime Crema
- Extra Enchilada Sauce
- Diced Avocado
- Chopped Cilantro
- Hatch Chile Sauce
- Greek Yogurt (healthier)
- Avocado Tomatillo Salsa
- Chopped Black Olives
- Diced Tomatoes
- Pink Pickled Onions
- Sliced Pickled Jalapeños
- Black Bean Dip
FAQ’s
Yes. You can make them up to one day ahead of time. Just cover and refrigerate. About half an hour before you want to bake them, remove from the refrigerator to come to room temperature on the counter, then bake.
For non-alcoholic, I recommend bubbles from sparkling water with a squeeze of lime. You could also drink milk, but these enchiladas aren’t spicy enough to warrant it.
For alcoholic beverages, try a cold cerveza (beer) or for wine-drinkers, Rioja. I tend to stay away from fruity or sweet drinks with enchiladas
Yes. Make sure they’re double wrapped (plastic, then foil or freezer paper). Defrost before reheating – and remove wrapping first. Enchiladas will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer.
Most enchilada sauce contains flour, unless it specifically says it doesn’t, so be on the lookout for that. Also corn tortillas are gluten free, but obviously flour tortillas aren’t. This green chile enchilada sauce IS gluten free and can be used in this recipe.
Not really. But if you eat a normal portion size and and don’t go overboard, it’s not the worst thing you can eat.
What side dishes goes with enchiladas?
- Yellow Rice
- Black Bean and Rice Salad
- Simple Green Leaf Salad
- Refried Beans
- Mexican Chopped Salad
- Grilled Chipotle Lime Corn
- Fresh Corn and Avocado Salad
More enchilada and taco recipes you might like:
- Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas
- Tacos Carne Asada
- Chicken Soft Tacos with Fresh Tomatillo Salsa
- Pork Chile White Bean Enchiladas
- Vegetarian Black Bean Tacos
- Tinga Style Pork Shoulder Tacos
- Crispy Baked Fish Tacos
- Tangy Garlic Lime Shrimp Tacos
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Shredded Beef Enchiladas (4 ingredients)
INGREDIENTS:
FOR BEEF ENCHILADAS:
- 1 recipe Mexican Shredded Beef
- 12 corn tortillas
- 1 ½ -2 cups Red Enchilada Sauce
- 16 ounces shredded cheese can use Cheddar (white or yellow), Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Mexican Blend
GARNISHES & TOPPINGS:
- diced avocado optional
- sour cream optional
- black olives optional
- diced tomato optional
- fresh cilantro optional
- extra enchilada sauce optional
DIRECTIONS:
- I used 2 medium casserole dishes for this recipe but you can use one very large casserole (like a lasagna pan 13×9 or larger) to tuck all of the enchiladas into.
PREHEAT THE OVEN:
- Set the oven temperature to 350°.
ASSEMBLE THE ENCHILADAS
- Start with all of the enchilada ingredients ready to use, a casserole dish close by and a silicone basting brush or spoon nearby.
- Spread 1/4 to 1/3 cup of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish. (Amount will depend on how large your casserole is.) Set aside.
- Place one corn tortilla on the work surface and spread a tablespoon of enchilada sauce over the surface of the tortilla with the spoon or basting brush.
- Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of Mexican shredded beef into a line in the center of the tortilla.
- Top with 1-2 tablespoons of grated cheese and fold the tortilla over the center filling.
- Transfer the stuffed tortilla, seam side down (to avoid it opening up) to the casserole dish. Continue in this fashion until you've filled the casserole with enchiladas.
- Brush the enchiladas with remaining enchilada sauce so that the exteriors of the tortillas are covered but not soaking with sauce. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the enchiladas are hot.
TO SERVE:
- Serve enchiladas with your favorite additional toppings (mentioned above).
RECIPE VIDEO:
NUTRITION:
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I just finished assembly
I added a few things, including
I heat up the six inch corn tortillas in a small frying til almost crisp
Then I dunk them in warm enchilada sauce, I then filled them with shredded cheese and beef, started with foil lined pyrex 13 x 9 put a thickened 1/2 cup of sauce ….plac ed assemble enchiladas atop and adding a thick layer of shredder sharp cheddar atop atop and garnish with diced black olives
These look super easy to make and very yummy! I was wondering if instead of the beef you could substitute chicken or pork into the recipe? I look forward to trying this recipe soon! Thanks for your time and the recipe!
absolutely!
Adding this to my list!