Cheesy, saucy, crowd-pleasing comfort
These oven-baked beef enchiladas are the kind of cozy, satisfying dinner that everyone gets excited about. Tender flour tortillas are filled with savory seasoned ground beef, beans, and green chiles, then baked under a blanket of melty Mexican-blend cheese and rich red enchilada sauce. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, casual family dinners, or even meal prep because it comes together quickly and reheats beautifully. If you’re searching for an easy beef enchiladas recipe that delivers bold flavor without complicated steps, this one checks every box. It’s hearty, comforting, and guaranteed to disappear fast.
Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Servings: 6–8
Ingredients List
- 1 batch red enchilada sauce or 15 ounces store-bought red enchilada sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
- Fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
- 8 large flour tortillas
- 3 cups Mexican-blend shredded cheese
- Optional toppings: fresh cilantro, chopped red onions, diced avocado, sour cream, crumbled cotija cheese
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Large skillet
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- 9×13-inch baking dish
Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant .
- Add ground beef and cumin. Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up, until fully browned. Season with salt and pepper.
- Mix in beans and green chiles. Cook 2 more minutes until heated through. Remove from heat.
- Assemble enchiladas: Spoon beef mixture down the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and place seam-side down in the baking dish.
- Pour enchilada sauce evenly over the tortillas, then sprinkle generously with shredded cheese .
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
- Rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with your favorite toppings and serve .
Pro Tips
- Make ahead: Assemble enchiladas up to 24 hours in advance and bake when ready.
- Freeze friendly: Wrap tightly and freeze before baking for up to 2 months.
- Spice it up: Add jalapeños or hot enchilada sauce for extra heat.
- Serving idea: Pair with Mexican rice or a crisp green salad.
Nutrition Table
| Serving Size | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fiber | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 plate | 420 | 18g | 35g | 22g | 4g | 6g |
Oven-Baked Beef Enchiladas
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
These oven-baked beef enchiladas are cheesy, saucy, and perfect for busy weeknights. Made with seasoned ground beef, beans, red enchilada sauce, and melty cheese, this easy enchiladas recipe is family-friendly, freezer-friendly, and full of bold flavor.
Ingredients
-
1 batch red enchilada sauce or 15 ounces store-bought red enchilada sauce
-
1 tablespoon olive oil
-
1 small white onion, diced
-
4 cloves garlic, minced
-
1½ pounds lean ground beef
-
1 teaspoon ground cumin
-
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
-
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
-
Fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
-
8 large flour tortillas
-
3 cups Mexican-blend shredded cheese
-
Optional toppings: fresh cilantro, chopped red onions, diced avocado, sour cream, crumbled cotija cheese
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
-
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft and translucent.
-
Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant .
-
Add ground beef and cumin. Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up, until fully browned. Season with salt and pepper.
-
Mix in beans and green chiles. Cook 2 more minutes until heated through. Remove from heat.
-
Assemble enchiladas: Spoon beef mixture down the center of each tortilla, roll tightly, and place seam-side down in the baking dish.
-
Pour enchilada sauce evenly over the tortillas, then sprinkle generously with shredded cheese .
-
Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
-
Rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with your favorite toppings and serve .
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
