Description
Turn weeknight dinner into something crave-worthy with these Irresistible Beef Enchiladas With Green Sauce. Tender tortillas are rolled around a juicy, spiced ground beef filling, then smothered in tangy green enchilada sauce and plenty of melted Monterey Jack cheese. Finished with crunchy corn, fresh cilantro, jalapeño, and a squeeze of lime, this easy recipe delivers all the flavor of your favorite Mexican restaurant at home. It’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing option for quick dinner ideas, meal prep, or weekend entertaining—perfect when you’re searching for an easy recipe, new dinner ideas, or just fresh food ideas for the whole family.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion finely diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup canned black beans drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn thawed and divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro divided
2 cups green enchilada sauce divided
10 ounces canned diced green chiles drained
8 8-inch flour tortillas
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese divided
1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco or additional Monterey Jack
1 jalapeño thinly sliced
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
Nonstick cooking spray or a little extra oil for the baking dish
Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or a thin film of oil. Spread about 1/2 cup of the green enchilada sauce over the bottom of the dish to coat it evenly.
2. Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely diced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds more, just until fragrant.
3. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a spatula, for 6 to 7 minutes or until no pink remains. Sprinkle in the cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir well so the spices coat the beef evenly. If there is a lot of excess grease, carefully spoon some of it off.
4. Stir the drained black beans and 3/4 cup of the corn into the seasoned beef mixture. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until everything is warmed through. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in half of the chopped cilantro.
5. Add about 1 cup of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese and all of the drained diced green chiles to the beef mixture. Stir until the cheese is partially melted and the filling looks cohesive. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper if needed.
6. If the tortillas feel stiff, wrap them in a clean kitchen towel and microwave for 20 to 30 seconds until warm and pliable. Place one tortilla on a work surface, spoon a generous 1/2 cup of the beef filling down the center, then roll it up snugly. Lay the enchilada seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
7. Pour the remaining green enchilada sauce evenly over the rolled tortillas, making sure every tortilla is coated. Sprinkle the remaining shredded Monterey Jack cheese over the top in an even layer.
8. Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly golden in spots.
9. Let the enchiladas rest for 5 to 10 minutes so they set slightly and are easier to serve. Sprinkle the top with the remaining corn, crumbled queso fresco, the rest of the chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeño, and diced red onion.
10. Serve warm with lime wedges on the side so everyone can squeeze fresh lime juice over their enchiladas just before eating.
Notes
For extra flavor, lightly toast the spices in the skillet for 30 seconds before adding the beans and corn—this blooms the seasonings and deepens the overall taste of the filling.
You can swap flour tortillas for corn tortillas if you prefer. Just warm corn tortillas well and dip each one briefly in warm enchilada sauce before filling to keep them from cracking.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 enchilada
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 23
- Cholesterol: 75
Keywords: beef enchiladas, green enchilada sauce, Mexican dinner, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, casserole, enchilada recipe