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Cheesy Beans and Beef Enchiladas + Enchilada Sauce

Spatula holding one cheesy enchilada tortilla.

 


 

Cheesy beans and beef enchiladas with a homemade enchilada sauce. It's comfort food filled with melting cheese, soft tortillas, bold flavors of chili, cumin and garlic, and topped with fresh sour cream and cilantro or spring onion. It doesn't get much better than that!

 

So Cinco de Mayo is coming up (note this recipe was originally published May 1st 2018), as I'm sure you've noticed by the massive amounts of Mexican food popping up on Pinterest. Cinco de Mayo is actually the celebration of the Mexican army's unlikely victory of the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, on you guessed it... May 5th. Thanks Google. Many thinks it's Mexico's Independence Day, but it is not. Anyhow, let's talk Mexican food.

 

Casserole of beef and beans enchiladas. Flatlay.

 

If I had to choose only one cuisine to eat from for the rest of my life, Mexican miight be on top. Just imagine all the tacos al pastor, guacamole, or Mexican fried rice you could justify eating.

 

However, it's pretty hard letting go of Norwegian Christmas dinners, but all in all Mexican food is just so yummy, comforting and versatile!

 

Cheesy Beef and Beans Enchiladas with Homemade Enchilada Sauce

 

So I'd begin with making the sauce, so that's what we'll do!

 

A grey plate with enchiladas. Blue background.

 

How to Make Enchilada Sauce

 

Soo.. this enchilada sauce recipe is adapted from Gimme Some Oven, but I had to make some adjustments. As mild chilis are impossible to track down here in Norway, I used regular chili powder the first time I made it. I cried my eyes out and burned my insides. It was just so, so spicy. But nevertheless, it tasted amazing! So I didn't want to let the recipe go, so I just made a few alterations.

 

Step by step as to how to make enchilada sauce.

 

Second time I made it I halved the chili amount, still too spicy. Then I reduced it further, added more paprika, mm just about right. It's something about the flour thickening that's so comforting. I loved it, so now I have definitely found the perfect enchilada sauce if all you have is spicy chilis.

 

It's actually really simple. Just heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk together for about 1 minute (2). This is to get rid of the flour flavor. This flour and fat combination is also called a roux. The roux is made to thicken the sauce and it can be used in all kinds of sauces really.

 

Add in the remaining seasonings. Gradually pour in the stock, whisking constantly to remove any flour lumps (3). Reduce heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, until it's slightly thickened (4).

 

A spatula holding one enchilada tortilla.

A grey plate with one enchilada, a dollop of guacamole and sour cream.

The Beef Enchiladas Filling

 

Enchiladas can be filled with whatever you please really, it's very tasty with chicken and salsa verde too, or just beans, or like this one, beans and ground beef enchiladas. But I think these easy beef enchiladas may be the best out there!

 

Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Brown the minced beef, about 4-5 minutes (5). Then add in chopped onion and the seasoning (6). Continue to brown until the fat has evaporated. Set aside.

 

Step by step photos as to how to brown beef and smear enchilada sauce.

 

How to Make Beef Enchiladas

 

Pre-heat oven to 400F (200C). Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish or any that can hold 8 tortillas.

 

Rinse and drain the beans. Grate the cheese. It's just that easy. Take your flour tortillas (you can also use corn tortillas if you want), spread 1 tablespoon of enchilada sauce over it (7), 2 (heaping) tablespoon of meat (8), 1-2 tablespoon of black beans (9), then a little bit of cheese (10) and roll it up. I flip the sides a little before rolling to make a tight burrito like wrap, as you can see in picture (11).

 

Step by step as to how to roll a beef enchilada tortilla.

 

Place all 8 prepared tortillas in the baking dish (12). I get 6 in a row and then 2 on the sides. Pour more of the enchilada sauce on top (13). If you have a lot to spare, then don't use it all. But most likely it's just the right amount. Spread the rest of the grated cheese on top (14).

 

Step by step photos for spreading sauce and cheese on enchiladas.

 

Bake for 10-15 minutes. Since everything really is done, all we want to is for the cheese to melt and incorporate the flavors a little. So 10-15 minutes is enough. Serve this delicious cheesy beef and beans enchiladas with some chopped cilantro (or spring onion if you're in the soapy cilantro club), a fresh salad, sour cream, and this amazing spicy guacamole!

 

Beef enchiladas taken one bite of. Closeup.

One bite of beef enchiladas on a fork.

 

It's a very easy dinner, but filled with delicious, comforting Mexican flavors. Perfect to serve on a Cinco de Mayo party!

 

If you could eat from only one cuisine the rest of your life, what would it be?

 

Comfort Me Food:

 

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A metal tong holding up noodles from vegetarian lo mein in skillet. A panko chicken burger with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Closeup of blue bowl with yellow fried rice, avocado slices and a dollop of sour cream.

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Straight view of a blue bowl with creamy sun dried tomato pasta. Nude cloth on blue background. Creamy Parmesan Pumpkin Pasta Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Apple Puffs

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I'd love to hear from you! Comment either in the comment section below, or tag me @thegingerwithspice on Instagram. And don't forget to Pin it for later!

 

In order to keep the blog up and running this post contains affiliate links, it will be at no extra cost to you, please read the disclosure for more information.

 

This recipe was originally published on May 1st 2018, but updated on June 12th 2019 for better photos and content.


📖 Recipe

Beef and beans enchiladas in a clear casserole.

Cheesy Beef and Beans Enchiladas with Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Yield: 8 people
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Cheesy beef and beans enchiladas with a homemade enchilada sauce. It's comfort food filled with melting cheese, soft tortillas, bold flavors of chili, cumin and garlic, and topped with fresh sour cream and cilantro. It doesn't get much better than that!

Ingredients

Red Enchilada Sauce

  • 2 tablespoon canola oil, or other neutral oil
  • 2 tablespoon flour
  • 3 tablespoon paprika powder, *
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups vegetable stock, 500ml. Chicken stock can also work.

Enchilada Beef Filling

  • 1 lb ground beef, or 400g
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • ½ teaspoon chili flakes
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Enchilada Assembly

  • 8 large flour tortillas, corn tortillas can also work
  • 1 cup black beans, 8 oz, 250ml. rinsed and drained.
  • 3 cups cheese of choice, 200g. I used Jarlsberg, but Swiss or Mexican cheese are also good
  • optional toppings, cilantro, guacamole**, sour cream, salad

Instructions

Red Enchilada Sauce

  1. Make a roux: Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk together. Whisk for about 1 minute to get rid of the floury taste.
  2. Simmer for 10 minutes: Add in the remaining seasonings. Gradually pour in the stock, whisking constantly to remove any flour lumps. Reduce heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, until it's slightly thickened.

Enchilada Beef Filling

  1. Brown the beef: Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Brown the ground beef, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add onion and seasonings: Add in chopped onion and the seasoning. Continue to brown until the fat has evaporated. Set aside.

Enchilada Assembly

  1. Preparations: Pre-heat oven to 400F (200C). Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Rinse and drain the beans. Grate your cheese of choice.
  2. Assemble: Take your tortillas, spread 1 tablespoon of enchiladas sauce over it, fill with 2 tablespoon of beans, 2 (heaping) tablespoon of meat, a little bit of cheese and roll it up. Place all 8 prepared tortillas in the baking dish. I get 6 in a row and then 2 on the sides. Pour more of the enchilada sauce on top. If you have a lot to spare, then don't need to use it all. Spread the rest of the shredded cheese on top.
  3. Bake: Bake for 10-15 minutes. Since everything really is done, all we want to is for the cheese to melt and incorporate the flavors a little.
  4. Serving options: Serve this delicious cheesy beef and beans enchiladas with some chopped cilantro, a fresh salad, sour cream, and this amazing spicy guacamole**!

Notes

* if you've got mild chili powder you can use more chili powder and less paprika.

** Click here for the Spicy Guacamole recipe

Sauce adapted from: Gimme Some Oven

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 481

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or tag @thegingerwithspice on Instagram, I'd love to see!

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April

Tuesday 18th of June 2019

Ahh, enchiladas. I love them to death! And every time I stumble upon a new enchilada recipe, I get really excited to try it out. Can't wait now! :-)

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Friday 5th of July 2019

Hope you'll like it! :)

Amanda

Tuesday 18th of June 2019

Ohhh, I have a serious weakness for enchiladas, and I'm drooling over these! You can't go wrong with that flavorful spice and plenty of cheese.

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Friday 5th of July 2019

Thank you, Amanda. Enchiladas are always a winner!

Jacqueline Debono

Monday 17th of June 2019

These enchiladas are mouth watering! Reading this post has made me so hungry! Wish I could make them right now but will have to do some shopping first so am going to pin for later!

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Friday 5th of July 2019

Thank you so much, I hope you enjoyed them!

Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness

Sunday 16th of June 2019

THat cheese shot though!!! My stomach literally rumbled. I have only made enchilada sauce once. This one sounds like a great version!

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Sunday 16th of June 2019

Haha I was going for that cheesy look! Thank you so much, I hope you give it a try.

Jenni LeBaron

Saturday 15th of June 2019

I love enchiladas so much! Your red enchiladas sauce sounds delicious and perfectly seasoned. This recipe would go over really well at my house - not sure there would be leftovers because we love enchiladas SO MUCH so we'd have to make a double-batch!

Stine Mari | Ginger with Spice

Sunday 16th of June 2019

Thank you so much! Super easy to make a bigger batch as long as you have larger pans!

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