Beef Enchilada Recipe – Crowd Favourite

I’m by no means not craving my crimson enchilada sauce. There, I stated it. Of all of the do-it-yourself variations of store-bought merchandise I’ve tackled over time, it’s my favourite as a result of all you want are a handful of components and, most significantly, it’s spoon-drink-worthy scrumptious.

I’ve used the sauce to smother each cheese enchiladas and hen enchiladas but it surely’s floor beef’s time to shine on this epic Beef Enchilada recipe you’ll make over and over!

Simple Beef Enchilada Recipe

Enchiladas could appear fancy or time-consuming, however they fall into the “casserole” class, which signifies cozy, easy, and low fuss.

• Step 1: Make the crimson enchilada sauce as much as 5 days forward of time.
• Step 2: Prepare dinner the bottom beef filling as much as 3 days forward of time.
• Step 3: Assemble the enchiladas, then bake.

You possibly can even assemble the enchiladas as much as the purpose of baking a number of days forward, or freeze them for later! I’ll define the strategies beneath. However first…

Important Elements Wanted

Excellent news: each the enchilada sauce and floor beef filling use 99% of the identical seasonings. That stated, I like to mix each seasoning mixes on the identical time earlier than I begin cooking. Right here’s what you’ll want:

Beef Enchilada Ideas

Like I stated, this family-friendly floor beef casserole is inherently simple. That stated, preserve the following pointers in thoughts when planning for, and assembling the meat enchiladas:

1. Alter spiciness: most chili powders offered in grocery shops are medium to scorching on the spice scale. I take advantage of McCormick Chili Powder which I’d price as a 5 or 6/10. When you or your loved ones are delicate to warmth, search for gentle chili powder on the retailer. On the flip facet, be at liberty to make use of scorching chili powder on this recipe.
2. Persist with corn tortillas: I’m not the tortilla police however I extremely advocate you follow utilizing corn tortillas for the normal enchilada expertise, vs flour tortillas (if you happen to don’t have to eat gluten free, after all). Corn tortillas maintain up properly to being baked in a sauce, whereas flour tortillas can grow to be soggy and gummy.
3. Warmth the corn tortillas: wrapping the tortillas in a humid paper towel then microwaving for 30 seconds earlier than filling will guarantee they don’t crack. In the event that they nonetheless crack, that’s okay! They’ll be smothered with sauce and cheese anyway.
4. Pan measurement: this recipe makes 16-18 enchiladas, which match completely inside an 11×15″ baking pan. You should use two medium-size baking pans, or a 9×13″ pan plus a small baking pan as a substitute.

What to Serve with Floor Beef Enchiladas

Enchiladas are hearty and might stand on their very own, but it surely’s additionally enjoyable to serve them with restaurant-inspired sides and toppings like:

Serve with Simple Pinto Beans

Methods to Make Beef Enchiladas

Step 1: Make the Purple Enchilada Sauce.

I’m telling you, this sauce blows ANY store-bought enchilada sauce out of the water. Even the high-end/small batch merchandise which have popped up over the previous few years!

Begin by heating vegetable oil in a medium-size saucepan. Sprinkle in gluten free flour then cook dinner whereas whisking for 1 minute. Add Tex-Mex seasonings together with chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, onion and garlic powders, plus salt then whisk whereas cooking till very aromatic, 20-30 seconds. Add tomato paste then whisk whereas cooking for one more 30 seconds.

Subsequent, slowly stream in hen broth whereas whisking. Flip the warmth up barely to deliver the sauce to a simmer then flip the warmth again right down to medium and cook dinner whereas whisking till the sauce has barely thickened, 2-3 minutes. The sauce will proceed to thicken because it cools.

Pour the crimson enchilada sauce right into a cup or bowl with a lip – which helps with drizzling it over the enchiladas – then set it apart to chill barely.

Step 2: Prepare dinner the bottom beef filling.

Subsequent make the seasoned floor beef filling.

Warmth a big skillet over medium-high warmth then add floor beef and let it sit within the scorching skillet till the underside is browned. Break the meat up because it cooks then drain if crucial and return the meat to the skillet.

Subsequent add seasonings together with chili powder, cumin, onion and garlic powders, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper, plus water, then stir to mix and cook dinner till the water has been absorbed into the meat, 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Assemble the enchiladas.

Wrap half the corn tortillas in a humid paper towel then microwave for 20-30 seconds or till they’re heat and pliable.

One after the other, lay a heat tortilla on a plate or reducing board then spoon ~2 Tablespoons of the bottom beef filling throughout the underside of the tortilla. Add a heaping Tablespoon of shredded Mexican-cheese mix then roll the tortilla tightly and switch it to a baking dish with among the enchilada sauce unfold into a skinny, even layer within the backside.

Proceed filling and rolling till all of the components have been used. These photographs present Mi Rancho Thincredible Tortillas which as you possibly can see, don’t crack. I discover them at Complete Meals.

Smother the stuffed tortillas with the ready crimson enchilada sauce. It’s possible you’ll not want all of it, however save any further so as to add when reheating the enchiladas for the reason that tortillas soak up a little bit of the sauce as they chill within the fridge.

Step 4: Bake the meat enchiladas.

Sprinkle extra Mexican-blend cheese on high of the sauced enchiladas then cowl with foil and bake for half-hour at 350 levels, or till the cheese has melted and the sauce is scorching and bubbly.

Let the casserole sit and funky for quarter-hour then serve and high with all of your favourite fixins!

Methods to Retailer and Reheat Leftovers

Though my husband makes it his private mission to devour each final drop of Beef Enchiladas every time I make them, if you happen to’re fortunate sufficient to have leftovers they reheat SUPER properly.

• To retailer: Switch leftover enchiladas into an hermetic container with a lid then refrigerate for 3-4 days. I like to recommend a glass storage container because the crimson sauce can stain plastic.
• To reheat: Reheat individual-sized parts within the microwave till scorching.

Methods to Make-Forward

Assemble the meat enchiladas as much as 48 hours forward of time then retailer within the fridge. Right here’s how:

1. Assemble: the casserole as much as the purpose of overlaying with sauce, as much as 48 hours forward of time. Cowl the enchiladas with plastic wrap then refrigerate individually from the sauce.
2. Sauce and bake: re-warm the sauce then pour it over the enchiladas and bake in keeping with recipe directions.

Methods to Freeze

Beef Enchiladas additionally freeze properly. I like to recommend freezing them earlier than baking, vs after. Right here’s how:

• To freeze: Make sure the enchilada sauce is COLD, in any other case the tortillas will soak up the nice and cozy sauce, then assemble the meat enchiladas in keeping with recipe directions. Cowl the baking dish in plastic wrap, then foil, after which freeze for as much as 3 months. I like utilizing a disposable aluminum pan for this, vs tying up a glass or ceramic baking dish.
• To bake: Thaw the enchiladas within the fridge then take away the plastic wrap, re-cover with foil, and bake in keeping with recipe directions.

Whether or not you devour this Beef Enchilada recipe scorching and recent or inventory your freezer with a batch for later, I hope you like each saucy, delicious chew. Take pleasure in!

Extra Tex-Mex Favorites

Photos by Ashley McLaughlin

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