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A plate of ground beef enchiladas topped with red sauce and melted cheese.

Classic Ground Beef Enchiladas

These classic ground beef enchiladas are a comforting and flavorful meal, featuring seasoned ground beef wrapped in tortillas, covered in a rich red enchilada sauce, and baked with melted cheese.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Beef Filling
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
  • 15 ounce tomato sauce (15-ounce) can
  • 4 ounce diced green chiles (4-ounce) can, undrained
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 0.0 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Enchilada Assembly
  • 10-12 corn or flour tortillas (6-inch)
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese (or a blend)
  • 10 ounce red enchilada sauce (10-ounce) can
Optional Toppings
  • sour cream
  • chopped fresh cilantro
  • sliced green onions
  • diced avocado

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • microwave (optional)
  • dry skillet (optional)

Method
 

Prepare the Beef Filling
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  2. Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned; drain any excess grease.
  3. Stir in the tomato sauce, diced green chiles, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes to meld flavors and thicken the sauce.
Assemble Enchiladas
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Warm tortillas individually by dipping quickly in enchilada sauce or heating in a dry skillet or microwave for 15-20 seconds per side to make them pliable.
  3. Spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  4. Fill each warm tortilla with about ¼ cup of beef mixture and a tablespoon of cheese, then roll it tightly and place seam-side down in the baking dish.
  5. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the rolled enchiladas and generously sprinkle with the remaining shredded cheese.
Bake and Serve
  1. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the enchiladas are heated through.
  2. Let the enchiladas rest for 5 minutes before serving, then garnish with optional toppings like sour cream, cilantro, green onions, and avocado.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider toasting your corn tortillas lightly before filling. You can also mix a small amount of the red enchilada sauce into the ground beef mixture for a more cohesive filling. Adjust chili powder and cayenne pepper to your preferred level of spice. Enjoy with your favorite toppings!