Shredded Beef Enchiladas (4 ingredients)

A casserole dish of beef enchiladas with cheese and cilantro.

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.

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.

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.

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a collage of the ingredients with closeups of beef, cheese and enchilada sauce.

Basic ingredients for shredded beef enchiladas:

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.

gathering ingredients to assemble the casserole and spreading enchilada sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.

How to assemble enchiladas

  1. Brush some enchilada sauce onto the bottom of your baking dish.
  2. Lay one tortilla flat on a work surface and spread with a little red sauce.
  3. Top with shredded beef and cheese.
  4. Fold the ends of the tortilla over the beef and cheese filling and place seam side down in the casserole dish.
  5. Continue to assemble the shredded beef enchiladas, filling the casserole and if necessary using another casserole dish.
  6. Brush more red enchilada sauce over the tortillas and top with the remaining shredded cheese.
  7. Bake until hot and bubbly.
Step by step photos showing how to fill corn tortillas for the enchilada casserole.

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:

the assembled beef enchilada casserole covered with cheese, before and after baking.

FAQ’s

Can enchiladas be made ahead of time?

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.

What’s good to drink with shredded beef enchiladas?

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

Can I freeze beef 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.

Are beef enchiladas gluten free?

Most enchilada sauce contains flour unless it 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 enchilada sauce recipe IS gluten-free and can be used in this recipe.

Are enchiladas healthy?

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.

A baked beef enchilada casserole garnished with chopped cilantro.

What side dishes goes with enchiladas?

a serving of beef enchiladas on a plate with sliced avocado on the side.

More enchilada and taco recipes you might like:

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a casserole of baked beef enchiladas with fresh cilantro garnish.
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4.29 from 7 votes

Shredded Beef Enchiladas (4 ingredients)

Homemade beef enchiladadas are easy to assemble ahead of time and can be customized to your tastes. Make this Mexican casserole for family dinners and serve with a big salad for a complete meal.
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword casserole, enchilada, shredded beef
Dietary Restrictions Egg Free
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6

INGREDIENTS:

FOR BEEF ENCHILADAS:

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:

YouTube video

NUTRITION:

Calories: 618kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 399mg | Potassium: 458mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 379IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 444mg | Iron: 3mg

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    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

  2. Edythe L Bowers says:

    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!

  3. Nola Martin says:

    5 stars
    Adding this to my list!