These Homemade Easy Beef Enchiladas are Mexican comfort food done right! Homemade enchilada sauce makes these extra special. They’re perfect for Cinco de Mayo!
Hi guys! Have I got a treat for us today!
Cinco de Mayo is just a few short days away, so I’m sharing one of my all-time favorites to celebrate the holiday, these Easy Homemade Beef Enchiladas.
It’s a Mexican comfort food dish that I could eat on repeat, holiday or no holiday.
To tell ya the truth, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to share them here at the BHK. I’m comforted in the thought that I think you’ll forgive me once you’ve tried them.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
I love the added refried beans to these enchiladas, so I hope you will too.
I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but well, yes I do actually….my homemade enchilada sauce for these enchiladas makes ALL the difference!
It takes no time to make and it’s so much better than store-bought. It’s thicker than your average canned sauce and the flavor is spot on!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- olive oil
- all-purpose flour
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- oregano
- salt and pepper
- tomato paste
- vegetable stock
- ground beef
- yellow onion
- green chiles
- refried beans
- cheddar jack cheese
- enchilada sauce
- flour tortillas
What Does the Filling Consist of?
The filling is a SUPER delicious combo of ground beef, onions, green chiles, refried beans, cheese and a bit of the enchilada sauce.
The addition of the refried beans and shredded cheese make the filling! They give it such a creamy texture.
Step-By-Step Instructions
The first step is to make your homemade enchilada sauce, which couldn’t be easier.
You’ll heat the oil over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion powders, oregano and salt. Stir to combine.
Slowly stir in the vegetable broth and the tomato paste and whisk until smooth and well combined. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 10-12 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Next up will be to make the filling for your enchiladas.
Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onions, green chiles, salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat, until meat is no longer pink, about 4-5 minutes. Drain fat. Add 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup enchilada sauce and the refried beans and mix until well combined.
The last step is to divide filling evenly among the 8 10-inch tortillas, placing the filling on the bottom half of the tortilla. Add 1/3 cup enchilada sauce to the bottom of a 9×13 dish. Roll up each tortilla and then place in the prepared baking dish, seam side down. Pour about 1-1 1/4 cups of the enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. Top with desired amount of shredded cheese. (I used about 3/4 cup) Bake for 10 minutes covered with foil and then 10 minutes uncovered.
I don’t over cheese the top of the enchiladas. Just a sprinkle, but if you’d enjoy more, go for it.
These easy enchiladas are the ideal way to jazz up your routine Taco Tuesday. And they’re perfect for Cinco de Mayo too!
Please let me know if you give the recipe a try. And if you have any questions about the recipe, just drop a comment below. Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for Easy Homemade Beef Enchiladas
I used 10-inch size flour tortillas for this recipe, but I have also used the 6-inch size.
Using the 10-inch size will yield 8 enchiladas. While using the 6-inch will yield 10 enchiladas.
As I mentioned above, I don’t over cheese the top of the enchiladas since I’ve also added cheese to the beef filling. If you enjoy really cheesy enchiladas, by all means add more to the top.
More Delicious Mexican Recipes to Enjoy
Mexican Street Corn Quinoa Salad

Homemade Easy Beef Enchiladas
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
Beef Enchiladas
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 4.5-oz. can chopped green chiles
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup refried beans
- 1 1/4 cups cheddar jack cheese, shredded and divided (you can add more on top, if desired)
- 2 cups homemade enchilada sauce, 1/3 for bottom of pan, 1/3 added to beef filling and roughly 1-1 1/4 cups to top enchiladas
- 8 10-inch flour tortillas
Instructions
Homemade Enchilada Sauce
- In a medium sauce pan, heat oil over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Add chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion powders, oregano and salt. Stir to combine. Slowly stir in the vegetable broth and the tomato paste and whisk until smooth and well combined. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened, about 10-12 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Beef Enchiladas
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add 1/3 cup enchilada sauce to the bottom of a 9x13 dish.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onions, green chiles, salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat, until meat is no longer pink, about 4-5 minutes. Drain fat. Add 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup enchilada sauce and the refried beans and mix until well combined.
- Divide filling evenly among the 8 10-inch tortillas, placing the filling on the bottom half of the tortilla. Roll up and then place in the prepared baking dish, seam side down. Pour about 1-1 1/4 cups of the enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. Top with desired amount of shredded cheese. (I used about 3/4 cup) Bake for 10 minutes covered with foil and then 10 minutes uncovered.
Notes
- I used 10-inch size flour tortillas for this recipe, but I have also used the 6-inch size.
- Using the 10-inch size will yield 8 enchiladas. Using the 6-inch will yield 10 enchiladas.
- I don't over cheese the top of the enchiladas since I've also added cheese to the beef filling. If you enjoy really cheesy enchiladas, by all means add more to the top.
















Oh yes, I forgive you for not sharing this before ;) I am going to make these tomorrow night – My Mum is coming over and she loves Mexican!! xx
Yay! Hope you and Mum enjoy them Alex!
I get good chuck beef, and ‘brown it down’ slowly in the skillet, instead of pouring out fat – otherwise, this is a gr8 recipe
It’s one of our favorites! Thanks for giving it a go John!
A treat indeed! We love enchiladas in our home, but haven’t had in forever! This looks like the perfect excuse to whip up a batch soon! These sound and look absolutely wonderful, Mary Ann! Pinned :) Happy weekend ahead!
Tom LOVES these Dawn! The homemade enchilada sauce is so easy and so much better than store bought!
My son will love these! I think I need to surprise him, soon! I can tell they are packed full of flavor! Have a happy weekend, Mary Ann!
Hope he loves them as much as we do Annie! Happy weekend to you too!
I love everything about thee enchiladas! The filling looks perfect and that homemade sauce. I’m making this for dinner!
Thanks Kathy! Can’t beat Mexican food! Always so tasty. And that homemade sauce is soooo good!
Enchiladas are one of my favorite meals. These look SO good, Mary Ann!
Thanks so much Kelsie! Hope you give them a try.
These beef enchiladas look wonderful, Mary Ann! I can’t wait to try your homemade sauce!!
It’s so good Marissa! I love making it homemade. This is one of Tom’s favorite meals!
Love everything about this lovely dish, especially the homemade enchilada sauce! Store-bought enchilada sauce is not always easy to find in these parts, so having a delicious, homemade alternative is very welcome :)
Store bought is not nearly as delicious Jennifer! Hope you try the recipe!
It has been a while since we had enchiladas. Thank you for beautiful reminder. Will do next week….. our weatherman promised normal temperatures. Thank you and enjoy your day :-)
Yay to cooler temps Davorka! Hope you enjoy these!
The cooler weather has definitely been amazing and it’s making me crave some hearty food!! These beefy, cheesy enchiladas would totally hit the spot!!!! I love that you used homemade enchilada sauce too! I bet these taste even better than they look! Pinning to make!!
Hope you give them a try Chey! Tom just loves them! Happy weekend!
Hi!
Can’t wait to make these……Question: If I am taking over to someone’s house the next day….make them the night before? Or in the am?
Thanks!!!!!
You can make the filling the night before Lisa and add the filling to the tortillas and place in the pan, but I would top with the extra sauce the day of. Enjoy! Thanks so much for following!
Mary Ann, you seriously just do all of my menu planning for me without even trying! These are happening next week!!
Yay! Hope you enjoy them Katherine! They’re one of our favorites!
Mary Ann, I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned that my hubby is a picky eater, but you always share recipes that I know he would love! I definitely need to try your homemade enchilada sauce! I have all the ingredients in my kitchen right now!
Go for it Leanne! So much better than store bought. My husband Tom loves these enchiladas! Hope your hubby does too!
I had mushroom and cheese enchilada for lunch today and now am craving this beef version. I can see how flavor packed this might me.
They’re so incredibly tasty Kankana. I love the added refried beans and cheese in the filling! Hope you give them a try!
I make enchiladas frequently and have been wanting to use a homemade sauce – so you’ve provided me the reason to make my own – a recipe! Can’t wait to give these a try, Mary Ann! Already pinned!
You’ll love it Laura! So easy and incredibly tasty! Thanks so much for pinning.
Mary Ann, these look absolutely scrumptious! The perfect transition meal from Summer to Fall…can’t wait to whip up a batch of these! Also – PRAISES for cooler weather!!!
Enjoy Haylie!
Enchiladas don´t last long here as they are gone in no time. Love everything about enchiladas!
So do we Kevin!! Thanks!
I always make chicken or turkey enchiladas but your recipe looks so good that I might have to try your enchiladas.
Hope you enjoy them Gerlinde!
I am ALL in for homemade enchilada sauce and enchiladas! Pure comfort food Mare! It’s time for some homemade enchiladas!
Tom LOVES these Traci!
I know someone who will be over the moon when I make these – fantastic recipe to keep handy for a small gathering!
Hope you all enjoy Helena! It’s delicious! We love enchiladas!
When I buy a rotisserie chicken from the food store I use the chicken to make enchiladas so I get 2 nights dinners out of one bird and then still have some leftover for chicken salad for lunch
That’s great Carol! We love enchiladas and that’s an awesome idea to use the rotisserie chicken.
Could you make this with shredded chicken instead? And omit the beans?
Absolutely Meghan. I would use about 2 cups of shredded chicken in place of the beef. Enjoy!