How to Make Perfect Enchiladas from Scratch

by Asdad Afgfa
Posted: Oct 26, 2023

Enchiladas are the ultimate comforting Mexican food. With bold flavors wrapped neatly in warm tortillas and smothered in sauce and melted cheese, they satisfy all cravings.

While you can use store-bought components, homemade enchiladas from scratch are unbeatable. This guide will walk you through:

Selecting the Best Ingredients for Scratch-Made Enchiladas
Recipe Overview and Cook Time
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
Freezing and Reheating Tips
Customizing Fillings and Sauces
Serving Suggestions and Sides
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Troubleshooting Common Enchilada Problems

With a little time and know-how in the kitchen, you can master crave-worthy enchiladas that beat takeout or freezer aisle versions any day. Let's dive into how to make these Mexican food favorites at home.

Choosing the Best Ingredients

Great enchiladas start with premium ingredients:

Corn or Flour Tortillas? Either works wonderfully. Corn offers traditional flavor while flour is less prone to tearing.

Cheese: Monterey jack, cheddar, queso quesadilla, or Mexican blend shredded cheese all melt deliciously.

Meat: Ground beef, shredded chicken, or carnitas make classic fillings.

Produce: Roma tomatoes, chopped onion, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, lime juice add freshness.

Seasonings and Sauce: Cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, salsa, canned red enchilada sauce

Splurge on the best tortillas, cheese, and meat your budget allows for maximum flavor.

Overview of Cooking Time and Steps

Prep Time: 20-30 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Main Cooking Steps:

Make filling
Make sauce
Quickly pan fry tortillas
Assemble enchiladas with filling and cheese
Cover baked enchiladas with more sauce and cheese
Bake at 375°F until melted and lightly browned

Now let's explore each component of homemade enchiladas in detail.

How to Make the Protein Filling

I prefer a mix of spiced ground beef and shredded chicken. Here's how to cook each:

Ground Beef

1 lb lean ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook beef with spices, onion and garlic until browned. Drain grease and set aside.

Shredded Chicken

2 boneless chicken breasts (1 lb)
1/2 onion
3 cloves garlic
2 cups
chicken
broth
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp oregano
S&P

Simmer chicken in broth with seasonings and onion/garlic until cooked through. Shred or chop chicken, then toss with lime juice.

How to Make the Enchilada Sauce

You'll need red sauce for simmering the tortillas and topping the baked enchiladas. Try this simple homemade sauce:

3 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
2 cups chicken or veggie broth
1 cup tomato sauce
Salt to taste

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour and spices for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in broth and tomato sauce. Simmer until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.

OR use 2 - 15oz cans red enchilada sauce instead of homemade.

Frying and Filling the Tortillas

Time to assemble!

12 corn or flour tortillas
1/2 cup enchilada sauce (plus more for topping)
Filling (beef, chicken, etc)
2 cups shredded cheese
Toppings like chopped onion, cilantro

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Quickly pan fry tortillas in oil until softened and pliable.
Dip tortillas in sauce then fill with 2-3 Tbsp filling and 2 Tbsp cheese.
Roll up and place seam side down in a 9x13" baking dish.
Top with remaining sauce and cheese.
Bake 20 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Serve with extra toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole. Enjoy!

Customize enchiladas to your taste with different fillings, cheeses, and toppings.

Freezing and Reheating Tips

Let enchiladas cool fully then freeze in a single layer separated by parchment paper to prevent sticking. Transfer to ziplock bag.
Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating.
Reheat gently in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until hot in center. Add extra sauce and cheese.
Microwaving will make tortillas gummy. Oven reheating is best for crisping.

Freezing pre-assembled enchiladas makes pulling together quick family dinners a breeze!

Additional Enchilada Filling Ideas

Shredded pork carnitas
Chopped veggies like zucchini, peppers, sweet potatoes, butternut squash
Refried or black beans
Chipotle lime roasted cauliflower or tofu
Lentils
Mashed avocado

Get creative with fillings that utilize what you have on hand!

Customizing Your Enchilada Sauce

Change up the flavor profile with additions like:

Extra cumin, oregano, garlic
Pureed chipotle peppers in adobo
Mashed avocado
Chopped green chiles
Lime juice
Cilantro
Salsa verde instead of red sauce
Mexican beer like Negra Modelo

Serving Suggestions and Side Dishes

Diced onions, cilantro, cotija cheese, crema for topping
Shredded lettuce, diced tomato
Mexican rice
Borracho or charro beans
Elote style grilled corn
Crispy tortilla chips and guacamole

Nutrition Information Per Serving

Based on the beef and chicken filling recipe, with 1 cheese enchilada per serving:

Calories: 410
Total Fat: 24g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Sodium: 730mg
Total Carbs: 29g
Protein: 24g

Pair enchiladas with a nutritious salad for a balanced meal.

Troubleshooting Common Enchilada Problems

Dry enchiladas? Add more sauce on top or simmer tortillas longer before filling.

Greasy enchiladas? Blot excess oil from tortillas before filling. Cook ground beef thoroughly.

Filling falls out? Don't overstuff. Wrap tortillas tighter. Consider toothpicks to hold shape after assembly.

Bland flavor? Season filling assertively and use homemade sauce kicked up with extras like adobo peppers.

With the right techniques and a little practice, you can achieve enchilada perfection at home! From the flavorful filling layered between tender tortillas to the gooey cheese enrobing each bite, homemade enchiladas will satisfy the entire family.

Let me know if you have any other questions on preparing or customizing this Mexican favorite! Now go enjoy the frugal yet delicious pleasures of cooking enchiladas from scratch.