Crowd Pleaser Beef Enchiladas

Tex-Mex beef and bean enchiladas with homemade chipotle sauce, melted cheese, and fresh toppings. A hearty, flavourful dish perfect for feeding a crowd.

By Ricky Robinson Updated October 22, 2022

These beef enchiladas take their cue from Tex-Mex cooking, where big flavours and hearty portions are the main event. Minced beef and beans get wrapped in soft tortillas, then baked in a homemade enchilada sauce spiked with chipotle paste for a bit of smoky heat. It's the kind of meal that fills you up properly and keeps everyone coming back for seconds.

The sauce is simple to make. You start with a basic roux of garlic oil and flour, then whisk in chicken stock and passata along with chipotle paste, tomato puree, and oregano. It cooks down into a thick, savoury sauce that coats the tortillas and filling nicely. The filling itself is straightforward: minced beef cooked with onions, peppers, garlic, and chilli, plus cumin for depth. Refried beans and black beans add substance, whilst tinned tomatoes and beef stock keep everything moist and flavourful. Once you've assembled the enchiladas, they bake until the cheese on top is melted and bubbling, then you finish them with spring onions, jalapenos, pineapple chunks, and sour cream for freshness and contrast.

Crowd Pleaser Beef Enchiladas recipe image
Crowd Pleaser Beef Enchiladas

You don't need to stick with beef if you'd rather not. Swap it for chicken if you prefer poultry, or use a mix of vegetables like courgettes, peppers, and sweetcorn for a vegetarian version. The method stays the same, and the sauce and toppings work just as well with different fillings.

The chipotle paste gives the sauce its smoky backbone, but you can adjust the amount to suit your heat tolerance.

This is good for feeding a group. The quantities are generous, and you can prepare most of it ahead of time if you're planning a gathering. Just assemble the enchiladas, cover them, and refrigerate until you're ready to bake. It means less stress when people arrive, and you get a proper meal on the table without too much last-minute fuss.

Crowd Pleaser Beef Enchiladas

Total Time 1 hr 5 min
Servings 6 servings
Calories 520 cal
Protein 32g

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Large Pan
  • Whisk
  • Baking Dish
  • Oven
  • Pan
  • Foil

Instructions

  1. 1
    Start by making the enchilada sauce. Put the garlic oil into a pan over a medium heat and once warm add the flour. Cook, while stirring, for 5 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock slowly, whisking as you go to avoid lumps. Add in the chipotle paste, tomato puree and oregano and stir everything together. Add in the passata and bring to the boil, lower the heat and let the sauce bubble away for 10-15 minutes. Set the sauce aside for now and get on with the filling.
  2. 2
    For the filling, heat the garlic oil in a large pan or casserole. Add the onion, garlic, chilli and peppers. Cook for 15 mins, stirring now and then until the peppers have softened. Add in the cumin, then fry for 1 minute. Next stir in the chipotle paste and cook for another minute.
  3. 3
    Add the beef and cook for 5 minutes, breaking it up as you go. Stir in the oregano. Next add in the refried and black beans, tomato puree, pour over the tinned tomatoes and add the stock cube. Turn the heat up, mixing everything well, and cook for 5 minutes.
  4. 4
    Now it's time to assemble the enchiladas, pour some of the enchilada sauce to cover the bottom of your baking dish.
  5. 5
    Spoon some sauce onto a tortilla and spread out like you would sauce on a pizza base. Add the filling on the lower third of the tortilla and sprinkle over some cheese. Roll up then place in the baking dish, seam side down. Repeat with remaining sauce, filling and tortillas.
  6. 6
    Pour the rest of the sauce and filling over the top of the rolled-up tortillas, sprinkle with the rest of the cheese, cover with foil and pop into the oven for 15 minutes, then 10 minutes uncovered.
  7. 7
    Take out of the oven and top with spring onions, jalapenos, pineapple, and sour cream.
Ricky Robinson - Recipe Author
Ricky Robinson

Home cook sharing delicious recipes with a focus on flavour and simplicity.

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or the whole dish in the oven at 180°C for 15-20 minutes until heated through.

Serving Suggestions

Serve hot with extra sour cream, guacamole, and a simple green salad. Tortilla crisps on the side work well too.

Crowd Pleaser Beef Enchiladas recipe image

Rate & Review

4.7 3 reviews

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