These Supreme Beef Enchiladas are the kind of comfort food you CAN’T LIVE without—cheesy, saucy, beefy bliss in every bite. They’re overstuffed, boldly flavored, and practically begging for a margarita on the side.


Let's Groove!
🎶 Want the whole groove? Tap the Spotify logo or “Save on Spotify” for the full playlist.
Inspirations
I’ve always liked enchiladas, but to be fair, I mostly thought of them as either cheese or chicken. Why not beef, you ask? Great question—and I’ve got no good answer. Somehow, in my mind, ground beef belonged in tacos, not enchiladas. Silly, I know. But that’s where my brain was stuck.
Now Gary? He lives for enchiladas. When we’re at a Mexican restaurant, he hardly even glances at the rest of the menu. Of course, I’d call him an enchilada aficionado—reliable, focused, and not easily swayed. But then, on a trip back to Colorado for The Struts concert at Red Rocks, he threw me a curveball.
Naturally, we’d stopped at the Morrison Inn - a lively, well-loved Mexican spot—and I asked what he was getting. “Enchiladas,” he said (of course), but then came the twist, “ground beef.” Hold up - what? In all our years together, I don’t think I’ve ever heard him order that. To be honest, I didn’t even know that was a thing.
Of course, I had to try a bite. And it was delicious—warm tortillas filled with seasoned beef, smothered in red sauce, and bubbling cheese. It also hit every note. Not only that. No frills. No fuss. Just comfort food doing what it does best. From that moment on, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
After that, the idea stuck with me. When we got back home, I started tinkering in the kitchen and ended up with these Supreme Beef Enchiladas. What's more is that I kept the recipe simple but made sure every layer delivered: bold homemade enchilada sauce, rich ground beef, plenty of cheese, and soft, fresh tortillas that soak up all that flavor.
However, I scaled it to six hearty enchiladas using one pound of beef—perfect for two people with leftovers, or dinner for three or four if you’ve got a good side dish (hello, Classic Style Refried Beans). And yes, they freeze beautifully! In fact, like good Italian food, they get better as the flavors meld. Therefore, make a double batch and thank yourself later.
In addition, let's not forget the vibe, while they stand strong on their own, don’t forget the final touch: naturally, a High Roller Margarita. Ultimately, it rounds out the whole experience and makes dinner feel like a celebration—even if it’s just a Monday night.
All in all, these enchiladas went from a spur-of-the-moment order to one of our all-time favorite meals. And now, in fact, I can say—beef belongs here. Ultimately, you really can’t live without them.

Instruments
This lineup brings the flavor and the funk:
Two sauté pans – double trouble for that stovetop groove
Measuring spoons – color-coded and ready to riff
Baking sheet – where the layering magic happens
Wooden spatula – smooth moves, no scratches
Metal spoon – for stirring, scooping, and tasting the track
Garlic press – because minced garlic deserves a headliner
Essentials
Still the same core flavors behind the beat:
Chili powder, cumin, oregano – the groove trio
Garlic and onion powder – percussion of the pantry
Smoked paprika – gives the sauce that smoky solo
Tomato paste – thick and rich like a bass drop
Flour – keeps the sauce tight
Olive oil or butter – your smooth base
Broth or water – the flow behind it all
Salt & pepper – the final mix to balance the sound



Pro Tips and Riffs
Faq: Grub Answers and Insights
Supreme Beef Enchiladas
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
These Supreme Beef Enchiladas are loaded with seasoned ground beef, wrapped in soft flour tortillas, smothered in homemade red enchilada sauce, and topped with melty cheese. Baked until bubbly and golden, this comforting classic is big on flavor, easy to prep, and guaranteed to steal the show at dinner.
Ingredients
1 batch red enchilada sauce or 19 ounces store-bought red enchilada sauce
1 pound 85/15 ground beef
1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ cup onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
¼ teaspoon coarse-ground pepper, or to taste
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded or freshly grated
6 Fresh, ready-to-cook soft taco-sized flour tortillas
Toppings: fresh cilantro, chopped red onion, diced avocado, sour cream, and/or shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (190°C).
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add ground beef, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned and fully cooked.
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes while the ground beef is browning. Cook each tortilla one at a time for about 30 - 60 seconds per side, until golden and puffed. Set aside on a large plate until all tortillas are cooked.
- Drain the grease from the beef. Add ½ cup of enchilada sauce and ½ cup of cheese to the meat. Stir to combine and cook until the cheese has melted.
- Spray the bottom and sides of a 9×9 baking dish. Spread ½ cup of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the dish. Spoon about ½ cup of the beef mixture onto one side of each tortilla, then roll tightly. Place seam-side down in the dish and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Pour 1 cup of enchilada sauce over the enchiladas, spreading evenly. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for 20 - 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Serve with your choice of toppings, such as fresh cilantro, chopped red onion, diced avocado, sour cream, and shredded lettuce.
Notes
Tortilla Tip: Fresh, soft taco–sized flour tortillas make all the difference—they’re lighter, more tender, and easier to roll. Warm them slightly before filling to avoid tears.
Filling Flavor: Use 85/15 ground beef for the best balance of flavor and richness. Want them overstuffed? Bump it up to 1¼ pounds of meat.
Enchilada Sauce: A good homemade red enchilada sauce adds way more depth than canned. You’ll taste the difference.
These freeze beautifully - perfect for meal prep. Bake straight from frozen (foil on!) or thaw overnight in the fridge. Perfect for weeknights when time’s tight.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: Mexicam


Gary Cornick says
This is absolutely one of my favorites!