I absolutely love making Ground Beef Enchiladas for dinner! It’s a delicious and comforting meal that never fails to satisfy. The recipe starts with browning seasoned ground beef with onions and garlic, then rolling the mixture into corn tortillas.
After arranging the enchiladas in a baking dish, I pour a rich and zesty enchilada sauce over them before topping with shredded cheese. Baked to perfection, the enchiladas come out bubbling and irresistible, ready to be enjoyed with a dollop of sour cream and fresh cilantro. Trust me, this dish is a crowd-pleaser and perfect for any occasion!
Tips for Perfecting the Recipe
Choosing the Right Ingredients: The quality of the ingredients plays a crucial role in the final taste of the enchiladas. Opt for fresh ground beef with a higher fat content for more flavor. When it comes to cheese, a blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack provides a nice balance of flavor and meltiness. For the enchilada sauce, homemade can elevate the dish, but a good quality store-bought sauce works well in a pinch.
Preparation of the Beef: Cooking the ground beef thoroughly until it’s no longer pink is essential, but so is seasoning it properly. The taco seasoning can be adjusted according to taste; for those who prefer a spicier kick, adding a bit more can enhance the flavor profile. Draining the fat after cooking the beef ensures that the enchiladas don’t become greasy.
Assembling the Enchiladas: The distribution of ingredients within each tortilla should be even to ensure every bite is flavorful. Don’t overfill the tortillas to avoid them breaking when rolled. Placing them seam side down in the baking dish helps them stay rolled up during baking.
Baking to Perfection: The oven should be preheated to ensure a consistent cooking temperature. Covering the enchiladas with foil for the first part of baking can prevent the cheese from burning, then removing the foil towards the end allows the cheese to become nicely browned and bubbly.
Ingredients Needed for this Recipe
1 pound ground beef
1 yellow onion, diced
1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
2 cups Enchilada Sauce
8 tortillas, enchilada size
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions for Making Ground Beef Enchiladas
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s ready for baking.
Cook the ground beef mixture: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, diced onion, and taco seasoning until the meat is no longer pink. This step is crucial for developing the flavors.
Drain the fat: This is important to avoid a greasy filling.
Prepare the cheese: Grate the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses and mix them together in a bowl. The combination of these two cheeses provides a perfect melt and a balance of flavors.
Assemble the enchiladas: Start by pouring about 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce into the bottom of your baking dish. This prevents the enchiladas from sticking and adds flavor to the bottom layer. Then, lay a tortilla flat and spoon the ground beef mixture down the middle. Sprinkle about 1/8 cup of the cheese mixture on top of the beef. Roll up the tortilla and place it seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat this process with the remaining tortillas.
Add the final touches: Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. This will create a deliciously gooey and cheesy top layer.
Baking: Bake the enchiladas in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges of the tortillas start to turn golden brown.