Ground Beef Enchiladas (Gluten Free)

These gluten free Ground Beef Enchiladas make a flavorful dinner! They're made with refried beans, cheese and baked with red enchilada sauce.

These Beef and Bean Enchiladas are a great weeknight meal. They're full of flavor, hearty and provide just the right amount of that homey comfort food we all love.

Enchiladas are total comfort food. They're great because they can be stuffed with any variety of meats, vegetables, cheeses, and fillings. Enchiladas are then smothered in some kind of sauce and topped with cheese until hot and bubbly. Each version is delicious in its own way.

This version is made with ground beef that's sauteed in a skillet along with garlic, onions, bell peppers, and frozen corn and flavored with Southwest spices. The beef is then placed in tortillas along with refried beans and shredded cheese and the whole thing is baked in a casserole dish with red enchilada sauce.

This dish is hearty and perfect any time of the year. It can be enjoyed for dinner and makes great leftovers. These enchiladas are tangy, smoky, earthy, and a little spicy.

They can be garnished with your favorite toppings like Queso fresco or Cotija cheese, cilantro, avocado, and a squeeze of lime juice and paired with your favorite side dish or salad for a complete meal.

Jump to:

• How To Season Ground Beef For Enchiladas?
• Ingredients For Ground Beef Enchiladas
• Is Enchilada Sauce Gluten Free?
• Which Tortillas Are Best For Enchiladas?
• How To Make The Filling
• How To Make Ground Beef Enchiladas
• How Long Do Enchiladas Take To Bake?
• What To Serve With Enchiladas
• How Long Do Enchiladas Last In The Fridge?
• Can They Be Frozen?
• Ground Beef Enchiladas (Gluten Free)

How To Season Ground Beef For Enchiladas?

Enchiladas are flavorful because the filling itself is seasoned as well as the sauce that's poured over the top. The toppings and garnishes add extra color, freshness, and flavor as well.

This recipe is made with ground beef, which gives the dish a deep and earthy flavor. To bump up the flavor of the ground beef, it's sauteed in a skillet along with minced garlic, onions, and bell peppers. Frozen sweet corn is added to the filling for pops of sweetness.

The ground beef is seasoned with Southwest spices like smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin. Adding the spices helps to season the meat and gives it a smoky, earthy, and slightly spicy flavor.

I recommend using lean ground beef so that the dish does not become too greasy. 93% or 90% lean ground beef is best. Ground turkey may also be used in place of ground beef if preferred.

Ingredients For Ground Beef Enchiladas

Here's what you'll need to make them.

• 6 cloves Garlic
• 1 Onion (any color)
• 1 Bell Pepper (any color)
• 1 cup Frozen Sweet Corn
• 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil (split)
• 1 - 1 ½ lbs. Lean Ground Beef (or ground turkey)
• 2 tsp. Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp. Chili Powder
• 1 tsp. Ground Cumin
• ½ tsp. each of Kosher Salt and Pepper
• 1 16 oz. can Refried Beans
• 28-30 oz. Gluten Free Red Enchilada Sauce (or regular red enchilada sauce if not gluten free) (equals 1-2 cans or jars of sauce depending on brand)
• 2-3 cups Shredded Cheese (such as Monterrey Jack, Colby, Mozzarella, or Cheddar)
• 1-2 packages Gluten Free Tortillas of choice (or regular flour tortillas if not gluten free)
• Queso Fresco or Cotija Cheese, Cilantro, Avocado, and Limes for garnish (optional)

Is Enchilada Sauce Gluten Free?

Enchilada sauce is a thick sauce used in Mexican, Tex Mex, and Southwest cooking made with pureed, dried chili peppers, a liquid such as chicken broth, and spices like garlic, cumin, and Mexican oregano. It's often thickened with a roux made with flour.

The use of flour means that most enchilada sauce is not gluten free. However, there is a great variety of gluten free enchilada sauces on the market today, which means that this classic dish can be made without gluten.

Enchilada sauce may be green or red, depending on the type of chilis used. This recipe calls for red enchilada sauce, which is savory, smoky, tangy, and robust.

My favorite brands of red enchilada sauce are Siete and Old El Paso. This recipe calls for 28-30 oz. of red enchilada sauce and that means that you may need to purchase 1-3 jars or cans of sauce depending on the brand used.

Make sure to check the ingredients on the label if gluten is an issue for you.

Feel free to use mild or spicy red enchilada sauce depending on your preference.

Alternately, you can make your own gluten free red enchilada sauce.

Which Tortillas Are Best For Enchiladas?

The other ingredient used to make enchiladas that is not gluten free are the tortillas. Tortillas are often made with flour, which means that they are not gluten free.

Fortunately, there are lots of gluten free tortillas on the market these days. You can use your favorite brand of gluten free tortillas to make these Ground Beef Enchiladas.

I love the tortillas from Ole Xtreme Wellness. They have a great texture and taste just like a flour tortilla. You can also use the gluten free tortillas or wraps from Mission, BFree, or the almond flour wraps from Siete.

Corn tortillas may be used in place of tortilla wraps, as corn tortillas are gluten free. However, corn tortillas break easily when rolled, which can make them a frustrating choice.

If using corn tortillas, wrap a stack of them in a damp paper towel and microwave them for 30 seconds or so to make the tortillas more pliable, so that they don't break when rolling.

The amount of tortillas needed to make these enchiladas will vary depending on the brand used. I recommend 1-2 packages of your favorite tortillas to make sure there are enough for all of the filling.

How To Make The Filling

The process of making the filling for these enchiladas is easy and all of the ingredients are sauteed in a skillet on the stove top before rolled up the tortillas and baked in the oven.

The refried beans are warmed at this point as well. Feel free to use your favorite brand of gluten free refried beans to make these enchiladas.

1. Start by mincing 6 cloves of garlic and 1 onion (any color).
2. Dice 1 bell pepper (any color). Discard the seeds and membranes.
3. Heat 1 16 oz. can of gluten free refried beans in a small sauce pan on the stove top. Set aside once heated through.
4. Place a large skillet on the stove top and heat to medium-high. Once heated, add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet.
5. Add the minced garlic, onions, and bell peppers to the skillet and sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring often.
6. Add 1 - 1 ½ lbs. of lean ground beef (or ground turkey) to the skillet. Sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until the meat has cooked through.
7. Add 2 tsp. smoked paprika, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. ground cumin, and ½ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper to the ground meat. Stir until combined.
8. Add 1 cup of frozen corn to the skillet and sauté for another 1-2 minutes, stirring to combine.

How To Make Ground Beef Enchiladas

Once the refried beans and ground beef filling are ready, it's time to fill the tortillas, roll them, and place into a casserole dish along with the enchilada sauce and cheese.

When it comes to cheese, it's best to choose a variety that melts nicely when cooked. Shredded Monterrey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby, Cheddar, or Mozzarella are all great options. I also love to add some Queso Fresco or Cotija cheese for extra flavor.

You can use cheese that is pre-grated, or grate it yourself.

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Grate 2-3 cups of your favorite melty cheese.
3. Pour 1 Tbsp. of olive oil into a casserole dish and spread evenly across the bottom (this will help to prevent the enchiladas from sticking).
4. Pour ¼ of the red enchilada sauce into the bottom of the casserole dish and spread evenly.
5. Form an assembly line with the refried beans, ground beef, grated cheese, and tortillas.
6. Spread some of the refried beans in the middle of a tortilla. Spoon some of the ground beef filling on top of the refried beans and top with 1-2 Tbsp. of grated cheese.
7. Roll the tortilla tightly and place it on top of the red enchilada sauce in the casserole dish.
8. Continue with the remainder of the beans and ground beef.
9. Line the tortillas up in the casserole dish until it is full. You may need to use another casserole dish, depending on the type of tortillas used. If so, simply repeat the process with the remainder of the filling and tortillas in a second casserole dish.
10. Pour the remainder of the red enchilada sauce over the tortillas, making sure they are evenly covered. Add 1-2 cups of grated cheese over the enchilada sauce (depending on how cheesy you like your enchiladas).

The amount of filling added to each tortilla will vary on the type of tortillas used. Tortilla wraps require more filling than corn tortillas. The amount of tortillas used will also vary depending on whether the enchiladas are made using tortilla wraps or corn tortillas.

For the best results, make sure to add a proper amount of filling to the tortillas and do not overstuff them.

How Long Do Enchiladas Take To Bake?

Once the enchiladas are ready, all that's left to do is bake them in the oven.

It takes 20-25 minutes for these Ground Beef Enchiladas to bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

The enchiladas are baked covered in foil for 15 minutes and then an additional 5-10 minutes uncovered, or just until the cheese is hot and bubbly.

1. Cover the casserole dish (or dishes, depending on how many are used) with foil.
2. Place the casserole dish into the oven and bake for 15 minutes covered with foil.
3. After 15 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
4. Remove the casserole dish from the oven and set aside.

Love Southwest flavors? Check out these recipes!

• Chipotle Chicken Tacos
• Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos with Pico de Gallo
• Sweet Potato Tacos
• Vegetarian Fajita Bowl
• Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
• Slow Cooker Barbacoa Tacos
• Southwest Sweet Potato Frittata

What To Serve With Enchiladas

A great thing about dishes like this one is that you can dress them up any way you like. I love to garnish these enchiladas with some sliced avocadoes, fresh cilantro, Queso fresco cheese, and a squeeze of lime juice.

The cilantro and the lime juice add some fresh flavor and brightness that helps to balance out the earthy and smoky notes of the enchiladas.

You can garnish them any way you like. Here are some great topping ideas:

• Sour Cream or Mexican Crema
• Pickled Onions
• Radishes
• Pico de Gallo
• Guacamole or Poblano Avocado Sauce
• Cashew Cilantro Sauce
• Salsa
• Sliced Jalapenos
• Shredded Lettuce

Meals like this one are perfect with a side of Cilantro Lime Rice, Spanish Rice, Southwest Chipotle Coleslaw, Cilantro Lime Kohlrabi Slaw, or Black Bean Corn Salad. A bright and tangy salad complements the deep flavor of the enchiladas nicely.

How Long Do Enchiladas Last In The Fridge?

Any leftovers should last for 2-3 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Make sure to allow the dish to cool completely before transferring to the fridge or freezer for storage.

Can They Be Frozen?

Yes! Enchiladas make a great freezer meal.

How To Freeze

1. Bake the enchiladas as directed in a freezer-safe casserole dish (leaving off any garnishes or toppings), remove from oven, and allow to come to room temperature.
2. Once cooled, cover tightly with plastic wrap and top with aluminum foil (they can also be baked in a disposable aluminum pan), label with the date, and store in the freezer up to 3 months.

How To Thaw

1. Transfer to the refrigerator and allow to thaw overnight.
2. Place the dish in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 20-25 minutes covered with foil, or until the completely heated through.
3. Garnish with desired toppings.

Love enchiladas? Check out these recipes!

• Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole
• Quinoa Enchilada Casserole
• Enchilada Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers

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