How to Make Beef Enchiladas with Red Sauce

Beef enchiladas with red sauce are a beloved Tex-Mex comfort food that are easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser. This cheesy baked dish combines seasoned ground beef, beans, and cheese wrapped in tortillas then smothered in a rich, tomato-based red enchilada sauce With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a flavorful Mexican-inspired meal the whole family will love

Ingredients Needed

To make beef enchiladas you will need

Ground beef – Lean ground beef is best around 90/10 lean to fat ratio. You can use beef chuck, sirloin, or round.
Onion and garlic – Sautéed with the beef to add flavor.
Cumin, chili powder, oregano – Tex-Mex seasonings for the beef filling.
Beans – Black or pinto beans are commonly used. Drain and rinse canned beans.
Green chiles – Adds heat and smoky flavor. Use diced canned green chiles.
Cheese – Shredded Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack, or cheddar.
Tortillas – Flour or corn tortillas. Flour is more common for Tex-Mex style.
Enchilada sauce – Mild red sauce made with tomatoes, chile peppers, spices.
Toppings – Chopped onions, cilantro, avocado, shredded cheese, etc.

How to Make Beef Enchiladas Step-By-Step

Follow these simple steps for easy homemade beef enchiladas:

1. Make the Red Enchilada Sauce

You can use store-bought enchilada sauce, but homemade has superior flavor.

In a skillet, sauté onion, garlic, flour to make a roux.
Add broth, tomato sauce, spices like cumin, oregano, chili powder.
Simmer 15 minutes until thickened to your liking.

2. Cook the Ground Beef Filling

In another skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
Add diced onion and garlic. Sauté 3-5 minutes until softened.
Stir in beans, green chiles, and seasonings like cumin and chili powder.

3. Soften the Tortillas

Place tortillas between damp paper towels and microwave 30-60 seconds until pliable.
Or fry lightly in oil 10 seconds per side.
Dip tortillas in the warm enchilada sauce to soften further.

4. Assemble the Enchiladas

Lay tortilla flat and add 2-3 Tbsp beef filling down the center.
Top with shredded cheese, about 2 Tbsp.
Roll up tightly and place in a baking dish seam-side down.
Repeat assembly with remaining ingredients.

5. Bake the Enchiladas

Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the filled tortillas.
Sprinkle with more cheese.
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

6. Add Toppings and Serve

Garnish with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, etc.
Sour cream, guacamole, and salsa make great additions.
Serve immediately while hot. Enjoy!

Tips for Making the Best Beef Enchiladas

For extra flavor, make the enchilada sauce from scratch. Simmer chili peppers, spices, broth, and tomatoes.
Let the tortillas soak in the warm enchilada sauce for enhanced texture.
Don’t overfill the tortillas or they will tear and unwrap. Less is more.
For best results, use freshly grated cheese instead of pre-shredded which has anti-caking agents.
Bake the enchiladas open-faced at first for crispy edges, then tent with foil to melt the cheese.
Make-ahead: Assemble unbaked enchiladas completely and refrigerate up to 2 days before baking.
Freezing: Let cool completely before freezing. Thaw overnight in fridge before baking.

Variations for Beef Enchiladas

There are many ways to customize beef enchiladas:

For spicier beef enchiladas, use hot sauce and sliced jalapeños.
To make vegetarian, use beans, roasted veggies or meatless crumbles instead of beef.
For gluten-free, substitute corn tortillas. Use gluten-free flour in the enchilada sauce.
For dairy-free, use vegan cheese or omit cheese and increase veggies.
Mix up the fillings – try shredded chicken, pork, turkey or fish.
Make green enchiladas with tomatillos, cilantro and green chiles.
Top with unconventional garnishes like pineapple, mango, bacon, etc.
Bake stuffed peppers instead of tortillas for a fun twist.

What to Serve with Beef Enchiladas

Serve beef enchiladas with traditional Tex-Mex sides:

Spanish Rice – Fluffy seasoned rice with tomato.
Refried Beans – Well-seasoned pinto beans, fried until creamy.
Chips and Salsa – Tortilla chips with tomato salsa.
Guacamole – Avocado dip with lime, onions, tomatoes, cilantro.
Salad – Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cilantro lime dressing.

For an easy full meal, pair beef enchiladas with Mexican rice and refried beans. Homemade tortilla chips and guacamole also complement the cheesy enchiladas perfectly.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days. Reheat in microwave until hot.
Freeze baked enchiladas up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat.
Assemble unbaked enchiladas and freeze raw. Bake frozen for best texture.
For make-ahead, assemble raw enchiladas then refrigerate for up to 2 days before baking.

Loaded beef enchiladas with red sauce make an amazing family dinner or fun meal for entertaining. The hearty ground beef filling and melted cheese wrapped in tortillas smothered in tomato-based sauce is pure comfort food. With little active time required, just assemble and bake for a crowd-pleasing Tex-Mex dish. Customize with your favorite fillings and garnishes. Enjoy this flavorful recipe!