Description
Mexican comfort meets culinary magic in these ground beef enchiladas, packed with robust flavors and zesty spices. Cheese-draped and oven-baked, you’ll savor each delicious bite of this hearty southwestern classic that brings warmth to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Tortillas and Cheese:
- 8 soft taco flour tortillas or king corn tortillas
- 1 1/2 cups Mexican cheese, shredded
Seasonings:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a toasty 375°F, preparing for a flavorful Mexican-inspired meal.
- In a robust skillet, transform the ground beef into a rich, caramelized protein by cooking over medium heat, carefully draining any excess fat.
- Introduce aromatic companions – finely diced onion, crisp green bell pepper, minced garlic, with a sprinkle of salt and black pepper – allowing these ingredients to meld and soften together.
- Integrate a generous handful of shredded Mexican cheese into the meat mixture, then remove from heat, creating a creamy, savory filling.
- Craft the enchilada sauce by heating canola oil and whisking in flour, creating a golden roux that will thicken the sauce beautifully.
- Elevate the sauce with tomato paste, warm cumin, earthy oregano, vibrant chili powder, and water, simmering until the consistency becomes luxuriously smooth and rich.
- Prepare the baking dish with a delicate layer of the freshly made enchilada sauce, creating a flavorful foundation.
- Lovingly fill each tortilla with the spiced beef mixture, rolling them into neat parcels and nestling them seam-side down in the sauced dish.
- Lavish the enchiladas with the remaining sauce, ensuring complete coverage, then crown with an additional layer of melting cheese.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven, allowing the enchiladas to transform for 20 minutes until bubbling and the cheese becomes gloriously golden and molten.
Notes
- Customize the heat level by adjusting chili powder or adding hot sauce for spice lovers who crave an extra kick.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a lighter, healthier alternative that’s equally delicious.
- Enhance nutritional value by adding diced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach to the meat mixture for extra vegetables and flavor complexity.
- Prepare enchilada sauce in advance and store in refrigerator for up to 5 days, making weeknight meal preparation faster and more convenient.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg