Beef Enchiladas with Green Sauce (Printable version)
Savory, cheesy beef enchiladas smothered in tangy green sauce, baked until bubbling. A comforting Tex-Mex favorite.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp chili powder
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Green Sauce
09 - 2 cups green enchilada sauce
10 - 1/4 cup sour cream
→ Assembly
11 - 8 medium flour tortillas
12 - 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
13 - 1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco (optional)
14 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
15 - 1/2 cup diced green onions (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Add onion and garlic to the skillet; sauté 2–3 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook 1 minute more. Remove from heat.
05 - In a small bowl, mix green enchilada sauce with sour cream until smooth.
06 - Spread 1/2 cup of the sauce mixture on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
07 - Place about 1/4 cup beef mixture and a sprinkle of Monterey Jack cheese in each tortilla. Roll up and place seam-side down in the baking dish.
08 - Pour remaining green sauce evenly over enchiladas. Top with remaining Monterey Jack cheese and crumbled queso fresco.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes, until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling.
10 - Let cool 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and green onions before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The combination of smoky beef and tangy green sauce creates layers of flavor that store-bought enchiladas can never match.
- These enchiladas actually taste better the next day, making them perfect for meal prep when you know tomorrow will be chaotic.
02 -
- Never skip draining the beef or youll end up with greasy enchiladas that break apart when served.
- Warming your tortillas for 10 seconds in the microwave before rolling prevents them from cracking and makes the assembly process infinitely easier.
03 -
- If using corn tortillas, dip them quickly in warm enchilada sauce before filling to make them pliable and infuse extra flavor.
- Keep a few tablespoons of the beef mixture separate and sprinkle it over the top cheese layer for a visual hint of whats inside.