Enchilada Skillet

Enchilada Skillet is an easy one-pan dinner made with seasoned ground beef, beans, corn, tortillas, enchilada sauce, and melted cheese. It gives you the flavor of classic enchiladas without rolling each tortilla one by one.

This recipe is great for busy weeknights when you want something warm, filling, and simple. Everything cooks together in one skillet, so the tortillas soak up the sauce and turn soft while the cheese melts over the top.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It has all the flavor of enchiladas with less work.

• It cooks in one skillet, which makes cleanup easier.

• It uses simple pantry-friendly ingredients.

• It is filling, family-friendly, and easy to customize.

Equipment Needed

• Large oven-safe skillet or deep sauté pan

• Cutting board

• Sharp knife

• Wooden spoon or spatula

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Can opener

Ingredients List

For the Skillet

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 teaspoon chili powder

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 can black beans, 15 ounces, drained and rinsed

• 1 cup frozen corn or canned corn, drained

• 1 can red enchilada sauce, 15 ounces

• 6 small corn tortillas, cut into strips or squares

• 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

For Topping

• Chopped fresh cilantro

• Sliced green onions

• Sour cream

• Diced avocado

• Lime wedges

Timing & Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

How to Make Enchilada Skillet Step by Step

Step 1: Cook the beef
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.

Step 2: Add onion and garlic
Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Step 3: Season the mixture
Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well so the beef is evenly coated with the seasonings.

Step 4: Add beans, corn, and sauce
Stir in the black beans, corn, and enchilada sauce. Let the mixture simmer for 3 to 4 minutes so the flavors come together.

Step 5: Add tortillas
Add the tortilla strips or squares and gently stir them into the sauce. Make sure the tortilla pieces are coated so they soften evenly.

Step 6: Melt the cheese
Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Cover the skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are tender.

Step 7: Add toppings and serve
Remove the skillet from the heat. Add cilantro, green onions, sour cream, avocado, or a squeeze of lime if you like. Serve warm.

Tips for the Best Enchilada Skillet

• Use corn tortillas for the best enchilada-style texture. Flour tortillas can work, but they may become softer and thicker in the sauce.
• Do not skip simmering the sauce for a few minutes. It helps the beef, beans, and corn take on more flavor.
• Cut the tortillas into bite-size pieces so they mix easily into the skillet.
• If your enchilada sauce is very salty, reduce the added salt at first. You can always add more at the end.
• Use an oven-safe skillet if you want to broil the cheese for 1 to 2 minutes. This gives the top a lightly golden finish.
• Let the skillet rest for 5 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken slightly and the pieces will hold together better.

Variations to Try

• Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef for a lighter version.
• Swap black beans for pinto beans if that is what you have.
• Use green enchilada sauce instead of red for a different flavor.
• Add diced bell peppers with the onion for extra color and texture.
• Make it spicy with diced jalapeños, hot enchilada sauce, or pepper jack cheese.
• Use rotisserie chicken instead of ground beef for an even faster meal.

Serving Suggestions

1. Enchilada Skillet is filling on its own, but it also goes well with simple sides.
2. Serve it with Mexican rice, cilantro lime rice, a side salad, refried beans, or tortilla chips. For a lighter plate, add shredded lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and a squeeze of lime on top.
3. You can also spoon it into bowls and serve it with sour cream and salsa for an easy dinner bowl.

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

You can cook the beef mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, warm it in a skillet, then add the tortillas and cheese.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, warm leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or enchilada sauce. You can also microwave individual portions in short intervals until hot.

You can freeze this recipe, but the tortillas may become softer after thawing. For best results, freeze the beef, bean, corn, and sauce mixture without the tortillas and cheese. Add fresh tortillas and cheese when reheating.

Nutritional Facts

• Calories: 510
• Fat: 26g
• Carbs: 42g
• Protein: 31g
• Sugar: 7g
• Sodium: 980mg

Enchilada Skillet

Enchilada Skillet is an easy one-pan meal loaded with seasoned ground beef, beans, tortillas, enchilada sauce, and melted cheese. It's a hearty, family-friendly dinner that brings all the bold flavors of classic enchiladas together in about 30 minutes.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 29 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4 people

Calories 510 kcal

Equipment

• Large oven-safe skillet or deep sauté pan
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Can opener

Ingredients

  

For the Skillet

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small yellow onion diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 can black beans 15 ounces, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn or canned corn drained
• 1 can red enchilada sauce 15 ounces
• 6 small corn tortillas cut into strips or squares
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

For Topping

• Chopped fresh cilantro
• Sliced green onions
• Sour cream
• Diced avocado
• Lime wedges

Instructions

 

Step 1: Cook the beef

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.

Step 2: Add onion and garlic

• Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Step 3: Season the mixture

• Add chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well so the beef is evenly coated with the seasonings.

Step 4: Add beans, corn, and sauce

• Stir in the black beans, corn, and enchilada sauce. Let the mixture simmer for 3 to 4 minutes so the flavors come together.

Step 5: Add tortillas

• Add the tortilla strips or squares and gently stir them into the sauce. Make sure the tortilla pieces are coated so they soften evenly.

Step 6: Melt the cheese

• Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top. Cover the skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are tender.

Step 7: Add toppings and serve

• Remove the skillet from the heat. Add cilantro, green onions, sour cream, avocado, or a squeeze of lime if you like. Serve warm.

Keyword Enchilada Skillet

FAQs

Can I use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas?
Yes, but corn tortillas give a more classic enchilada taste. Flour tortillas will be softer and may make the skillet thicker.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes. Skip the ground beef and add an extra can of beans, diced bell peppers, or cooked lentils.

What cheese works best?
Mexican blend, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack all work well.

Can I bake this instead of cooking it on the stove?
Yes. After adding the tortillas and cheese, place the skillet in a 375°F oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, until hot and melted.

Conclusion

Enchilada Skillet is a simple, cozy dinner that brings together saucy tortillas, seasoned beef, beans, corn, and melted cheese in one pan. It is easy to make, easy to serve, and flexible enough for different toppings and swaps. Try it on a busy night when you want enchilada flavor without the extra steps.