Simple Ground Beef Enchilada
Are you looking for a family-friendly dinner for a busy weeknight? Then you’ve come to the right place! This ground beef enchilada recipe are the ticket for a quick and delicious meal the whole family will be excited to gather around the table for. Melted cheese combined with the perfect seasoning and warm tortilla shells makes for a delicious appetite appeaser that only takes about 30 minutes to prep and cook.
Total Servings: 6
Total Cost: $21.06
Cost Per Serving: $3.51
Table of Contents
Ingredients & Costs*
1 lb ground beef ($5.93)
4 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese ($2.24)
1 onion ($1.38)
2 tbsp taco seasoning ($1.22)
3 tbsp vegetable oil ($3.97)
19 oz red enchilada sauce ($3.84)
8 flour tortillas, burrito size ($2.48)
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*Food costs may vary and can change over time. The prices listed were the current prices of these ingredients when this recipe was made for this post. Almost all our ingredients are purchased from Walmart as we live in a small town without any other options. If you notice a significant price difference, please let us know at hello@freshgains.com we can update this post.
FAQs for the Perfect Ground Beef Enchilada
Can I make this low-carb?
Yes, you can! By using your favorite low-carb or no-carb tortilla (such as Mission’s zero net carb tortillas, which can be found at Target) in place of the regular ones, you can have a lower carb friendly meal without sacrificing any taste. This is a great way to make one dish everyone loves.
Can I use a different type of meat?
You can use a variety of ground meats to help make this fit your family’s dietary needs and likes. Ground chicken, turkey, or pork can all be used in place of ground beef in this recipe. The seasonings stay the same, but the cook time may vary depending on your meat choice.
Will this be too spicy for my children?
Most families find this is a perfect blend of seasonings for all the spice preferences in the family as the spice isn’t overwhelming. But you can use mild taco seasoning and mild enchilada sauce to ensure it’s not too spicy for the little ones. The cheese also helps to keep it creamy and at a level of spice that isn’t too hot for kids.
What’s a good side dish for this recipe?
There are many side dishes that go perfectly with this meal. A few of my personal favorites are Mexican rice, black beans, refried beans, and roasted vegetables.
What sauce did you put on top of the enchilada?
I put Melinda’s Creamy Sriracha sauce on top of these enchiladas. If you’ve read the blog lately, you know that I’ve been in love with this sauce for a while now. I find that it gives the perfect amount of creaminess and hotness to ground been enchiladas.
Tips for Cooking Your Ground Beef Enchiladas
Choose lean meats: Although any ground beef will work, I would say the leaner the ground beef, the better for this recipe. This will make for a healthier meal and eliminate a lot of grease left after cooking the meat and make for easier cleanup. It’s a classic win-win!
Vary your onions: You can use any type of onion you prefer in this recipe. Hite onions are traditionally used in Mexican cuisines, but yellow onions offer a sweeter flavor that many people prefer.
Vary your cheese: While the recipe calls for cheddar cheese, you can absolutely mix it up by choosing a Mexican cheese blend, Colby and Monterey Jack blends, or your favorite quesadilla melting cheese.
Use your favorite taco seasoning: Whether you like to make your seasoning blend at home or prefer the ease of buying a pack of taco seasoning at the store, either will work for this ground beef enchilada recipe. Be sure to select whatever seasoning fits your taste preferences.
Red Versus Green Enchilada Sauce: Red enchilada sauce is made from red chiles and has an earthy flavor. Green enchilada sauce is made from green chiles and has a fresher flavor. When it comes to ground beef enchiladas, red sauce is typically used. However, if you use a different meat for this recipe such as chicken, green enchilada sauce is a more common ingredient. Both sauces range from mild to very hot, so it really just comes down to your personal flavor preference.
Up your presentation with some added garnish: You can add a little garnish to your finished dish by using some fresh cilantro or throwing some pico de gallo on the side.
Simple Ground Beef Enchilada
Equipment
- 1 Oven
- 1 9 x 13 pan
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 onion
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 19 oz red enchilada sauce
- 8 flour tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- In a large skillet, add the ground beef and chopped onion. Sauté over medium heat until the grown beef is browned. Drain grease then mix in taco seasoning.
- In a small skillet, add 1 tbsp oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the tortillas. Quickly heat each side of the tortilla. Repeat until all tortillas are warmed. Add additional oil as necessary.
- Pour 1/4 cup of red enchilada sauce to the baking pan, making sure to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Fill each tortilla with the meat mixture, then roll tightly. Place in the baking sheet, seam side down. Repeat for until all tortillas are used.
- Pour remaining red enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the tortillas, if desired.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes.
