Beef Enchiladas Green Sauce (Printable version)
Shredded beef wrapped in warm tortillas, topped with zesty green sauce and melted cheese for a flavorful meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb beef chuck or flank steak
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
10 - 1/2 cup beef broth
→ Enchiladas & Assembly
11 - 8 medium flour or corn tortillas
12 - 2 cups green enchilada sauce
13 - 1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack or mozzarella cheese
14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - 1/2 cup sour cream (optional, for serving)
16 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional, for garnish)
# How to Make It:
01 - Set oven temperature to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
03 - Add beef, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Sear beef on all sides, approximately 5 minutes total.
04 - Pour in beef broth, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer until beef is tender and easily shredded, about 25 minutes. Add more broth if necessary.
05 - Remove beef from skillet and shred using two forks. Return shredded beef to skillet and combine with onions and spices.
06 - Warm tortillas until pliable to prevent cracking during rolling.
07 - Spread 1/2 cup green enchilada sauce evenly on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Fill each tortilla with shredded beef, roll, and arrange seam-side down in the dish.
08 - Pour remaining green enchilada sauce evenly over tortillas. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
09 - Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
10 - Top with chopped cilantro and sliced jalapeño. Serve with sour cream if desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The beef gets impossibly tender and pulls apart with barely any effort, making you feel like you actually know what you're doing in the kitchen.
- Green sauce has this bright, slightly tangy flavor that somehow tastes healthier than it probably is, and your family will ask for seconds without you having to convince them.
- Everything comes together in about an hour, but it tastes like you've been cooking all day.
02 -
- If you skip the braising step and try to use raw or quickly cooked beef, you'll end up with something chewy and disappointing—the 25 minutes of gentle simmering is what makes this dish actually work, so don't rush it or try to cut corners here.
- Warming your tortillas makes or breaks this dish; cold tortillas crack and fight you, while warm ones roll like they're made of silk, which transforms the whole assembly from frustrating to actually enjoyable.
03 -
- Don't skip the sear on the beef—that brown crust creates deep, savory flavor that simmering alone can never develop, and it only takes 5 minutes but changes everything.
- Make the beef filling a day ahead if you can; the flavors deepen overnight, and you'll have one less thing to do when you're assembling dinner.