I love Tex-mex! When ever we eat out at a restaurant I always order cheese enchiladas with meat sauce; they are my favorite. So, I came up with my own homemade version. My mom always made a cheese enchilada casserole but the meat sauce was not like the one from the restaurants. So I experimented and came up with a meat sauce recipe that is very similar to the Tex-mex restaurants. This is basically my moms cheese enchilada casserole but with my meat sauce. My husband and Tex-mex loving family all agree this recipe is a winner!
One thing I really love about my recipe is no need to warm and soften the tortillas in oil before placing them in the baking pan. By lining the bottom of the pan with the meat sauce liquid it softens the tortillas while they bake in the oven.
I use gluten free all purpose flour when I cook because that’s how we roll around here. But, the recipe is the same with GF or regular flour. The flour just thickens the sauce.
- 12 corn tortillas
- 4 cups shredded cheddar or American cheese
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 Tbs minced onions
- 2 Tbs chili powder
- 2 Tbs paprika
- 1 Tbs ground cumin
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 8oz can tomato sauce
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Brown ground beef and drain grease.
- Season beef with minced onions, chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder and salt. Add the tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil. Add flour and mix until completely dissolved. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes.
- Spoon the meat sauce (try to get mostly sauce) and line the bottom of your 9x 13 pan. Fill your tortillas with a handful of cheese wrap and place in pan.
- Pour the meat sauce over the enchiladas and top with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
This post was shared on the following: Gluten-Free Wednesday, Gluten Free Recipe Round-Up, Gluten Free Fridays
Jo-Lynne Shane {Musings of a Housewife} says
June 27, 2014 at 12:20 pmYUM! These look soooo good. LOVE mexican fare!
Jo-Lynne Shane {Musings of a Housewife} says
June 27, 2014 at 12:21 pmAlso, can I use your photo on my site? I want to feature your recipe this week!
Amanda says
December 29, 2014 at 11:41 pmMade these tonight!
I live in Muskogee, OK and we have a little restaurant that’s been famous since wayyyyyyy back. They make these enchiladas and I’ve never been to another Mexican restaurant that makes them this way. So thanks for the recipe! It was really good!
rays of bliss says
December 30, 2014 at 10:01 amI’m so glad you liked them Amanda! They are a family favorite!
Dawn Keenan says
January 1, 2015 at 11:12 amThis looks awesome. Thanks for sharing. We are gonna try this.
Pam Gurganus says
January 8, 2015 at 9:13 pmThis looks and sounds amazing! My niece just found out she needs to be gluten free and I can’t wait to make this for her! Thanks for the recipe!
Katy says
January 10, 2015 at 1:56 pmI know you said to use either Cheddar or American cheese, but can you tell me the cheese you use (ie brand & kind)? Thanks!
Amber @ rays of bliss says
January 10, 2015 at 8:03 pmHello Katy, I use Kroger brand mild cheddar cheese. I buy as a block and shred the cheese with my Kitchen Aid Stand attachment.
Susan Alexander says
January 23, 2015 at 12:56 pmBest recipe for Cheeses Enchildas! Loved them!
tat2gurlzrock says
May 5, 2015 at 3:20 pmThis looks delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Brittany says
May 27, 2015 at 8:16 pmVery tasty and super easy prep. My husband loved them and so did my 3 and 5 year olds. Now THAT’S saying something!
rays of bliss says
May 28, 2015 at 8:34 amBrittany, I am so happy your family enjoyed them!
Jane Gordon says
July 8, 2015 at 9:03 amThese look amazing!!
Amber Ludwig says
July 20, 2015 at 12:23 pmOooh these sound fantastic!! My hubby loves corn tortillas so he will be excited that I include them in a dish!! The meat sauce sounds like it really makes this dish!! Can’t wait to try it!
Rosie says
August 18, 2015 at 12:09 pmI’ve never had an enchillada, perhaps at Taco Bell. But I would love to try this recipe, and seeing that you really know your enchilladas, it really makes me want to try yours!!!
jeanne says
August 31, 2015 at 6:03 pmI have been looking for a recipe for cheese enciladas with
A chili meat sauce but could not find an easy tasty version
Until yours.cant wait to try it.i will comment then
Elisabeth says
September 17, 2015 at 12:44 pmThese look sooo tasty! I have had major Mexican food cravings lately!
Angelique Ashley says
March 22, 2016 at 7:25 pmWhat do you think about substituting flour tortillas for the corn? Just trying to think of what I have on hand…I can’t wait to try these!!
Moralez12 says
August 8, 2017 at 12:54 pmThis is my go to recipe for cheese enchiladas and my husband always ask for flour tortillas. I make 1/2 corn and 1/2 flour. They’re both very tasty however I find the flour gets a bit more soggy.
Alyssa says
May 23, 2016 at 3:36 pmCurrently going to the grocery store to get a few things I need to make this for tonights dinner! I can’t wait, I’m super excited!!! Lol . Thanks for sharing! This looks scrumptious
Laurie Campbell says
August 12, 2016 at 2:35 pmI made this Chile Con Carne a couple of weeks ago for my husband’s birthday dinner. It was excellent and will definitely be my new “go to” Enchilada sauce. We prefer chili con carne over “red enchilada sauce” any day. Thanks for such a great recipe!
rays of bliss says
August 12, 2016 at 4:13 pmHey Laurie, I’m so glad you liked my recipe! I also prefer chile con carne! I appreciate you leaving a comment!
Velma Diaz says
October 17, 2016 at 10:21 pmGrew up eating these enchiladas. My dad used to make them all the time. He passed away and never gave us the recipe. Will try this recipe to see if its the same. Thank you.
Sara Dunning says
June 20, 2017 at 2:21 pmYay! I’m so happy to find a chile con carne recipe! I do not like the “red enchilada sauce” that comes in a can. Chile con carne is what I always request when I go out to eat. Thank you!
Wade says
July 9, 2017 at 6:44 pmJust make these, they are really good. Thanks.
Amber says
July 10, 2017 at 6:17 pmGlad you liked them!
Candace says
March 17, 2018 at 2:29 pmOmg thank you soooooo much for sharing this recipe. Its absolutely delicious!!!
Marcy says
May 25, 2018 at 6:38 pmMade these and they were very good. The downfall is I didn’t want to stop eating them.
Ann Burts says
July 20, 2018 at 5:40 pmI just made this recipe and That’s way too much flour
Daniel Zamarripa says
August 23, 2018 at 11:23 amGoing to try it today… Z1
Courtney Foster says
March 21, 2019 at 4:53 pmLooks great! Can you make these ahead of time? Or even just the sauce?
Denise McDermed Harvey says
September 5, 2019 at 5:04 pmThank you for your page layout. The pictures laid out chronically, and not interspersed with a lot of useless gab, are very easy on the eyes.