Red Chile Ground Beef & Cheese Stacked Enchiladas

Experience a taste of traditional Southwestern cuisine with these Red Chile Ground Beef & Cheese Stacked Enchiladas. This hearty dish features layers of tender corn tortillas, savory ground beef, and sharp cheddar cheese, all smothered in rich red enchilada sauce.

The addition of chopped onions adds a fresh crunch and depth of flavor, while the optional fried eggs on top provide a classic touch that elevates this comforting meal.

Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, these stacked enchiladas offer a delicious blend of textures and flavors, embodying the warmth and boldness of Southwestern culinary traditions.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Rich Flavors: The combination of red enchilada sauce, seasoned ground beef, and sharp cheddar cheese creates a savory and satisfying flavor profile that enchilada lovers will adore. The sauce infuses each layer with a rich, spicy warmth that complements the savory beef and cheese.

Layered Texture: Stacking the enchiladas offers a delightful contrast of textures. The corn tortillas become tender yet hold their structure, while the melted cheese provides a creamy counterpoint to the hearty ground beef and crunchy onions.

Customizable: This recipe is easily adaptable to personal preferences and dietary needs. You can add other ingredients like beans or vegetables, or adjust the spice level by selecting different enchilada sauces or adding toppings like jalapeños.

Comfort Food Appeal: Enchiladas are a beloved comfort food, bringing warmth and satisfaction in every bite. This dish is perfect for cozy family meals or casual gatherings, offering a home-cooked feel that everyone can enjoy.

Optional Topping: The optional addition of fried eggs on top adds an extra layer of richness and makes the dish even more indulgent. It’s a classic touch that enhances the overall experience, making it memorable and unique.

Easy Preparation: This recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require elaborate cooking techniques, making it accessible to both novice and experienced cooks. It allows for quick assembly, especially when you need to prepare a delicious meal in a limited time.

Key Ingredients:

Red Enchilada Sauce: This vibrant and flavorful sauce is the star of the dish, infusing each layer with rich, spicy warmth that defines the enchilada experience.

Corn Tortillas: Essential for the stacked structure, these tortillas provide a tender, earthy base that holds the layers together while soaking up the delicious sauce.

Lean Ground Beef: Seasoned with salt and pepper, the ground beef adds a savory depth and hearty texture that complements the other ingredients.

Cheddar Cheese: Grated cheddar cheese melts beautifully between the layers, offering a creamy and tangy contrast to the spicy sauce and savory beef.

Onions: Chopped onions bring a fresh crunch and a hint of sharpness, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the enchiladas.

Red Chile Ground Beef & Cheese Stacked Enchiladas

Ingredients:

2 15 oz cans red enchilada sauce

12 corn tortillas

1 pound lean ground beef

8 oz cheddar cheese grated

1 medium onion chopped

salt

black pepper

8 fried eggs optional

Instructions:

Cook ground beef over medium high heat, using a spatula or chop and mix to break it up as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper and cook until no longer pink. Remove from the stove. Chop onions and grate cheddar cheese.

Heat both cans of red enchilada sauce in a cast iron skillet until hot and bubbly.

Dip a corn tortilla in the heated red enchilada sauce to heat the tortilla.

Then remove it carefully and lay it on a oven safe dinner plate. You want to heat up the tortilla until it’s just soft but not so soft that it falls apart.

Sprinkle the sauce covered tortillas with a large spoonful of ground beef, grated cheese and chopped onions.

Repeat twice more ending up with a stack of three enchiladas or more than that for a stack of four.

Place in a 350 degree F oven just long enough to melt the cheese and serve.

Optional: Serve with a couple fried eggs on top .

Enjoy !!

Notes:

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Choose the Right Tortillas: While corn tortillas are traditional, if you prefer the taste and texture of flour tortillas, feel free to use them instead. Just keep in mind that they may behave differently when dipped in the sauce.

Selecting Red Enchilada Sauce: Opt for a red enchilada sauce that suits your taste preferences. Whether store-bought or homemade, consider the spice level (mild, medium, or hot) to match your desired heat level.

Vegetarian Variation: For a meatless option, substitute the ground beef with cooked black beans, refried beans, or a meat substitute like tofu or tempeh. Ensure proper seasoning for flavorful results.

Preventing Tortilla Sogginess: To avoid overly soft tortillas that fall apart, quickly dip them in the heated sauce or warm them briefly in a dry skillet. This step helps soften them without saturating them completely.

Fried Eggs Option: While fried eggs add richness and flavor, they are optional. If using, prepare them separately and add them on top of the enchilada stack just before serving for a delicious variation.

Cheese Selection: While cheddar cheese is specified in the recipe, you can experiment with other cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Colby, or Mexican cheese blends for different flavor profiles. Use your favorite cheese or what you have on hand.

Preparation in Advance: You can assemble the enchiladas ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to bake. This is convenient for meal prep or entertaining. Simply reheat in the oven until the cheese is melted and the dish is heated through.

Use of Oven-Safe Dinner Plates: Using oven-safe dinner plates allows for easy melting of the cheese in the oven. However, if your dinner plates are not oven-safe, transfer the stacked enchiladas to a baking dish for the final melting step.

Balance of Flavors: Ensure a balanced seasoning of the ground beef with salt and pepper. The onions also contribute flavor and texture to the filling, so don’t skip them.

Enjoy the Process: Cooking is all about creativity and enjoyment. Feel free to customize the recipe to suit your taste preferences, whether it’s adding extra spices, vegetables, or toppings. Have fun experimenting in the kitchen!

Nutrition Information:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas?

While this recipe calls for corn tortillas, you can use flour tortillas if you prefer.

Keep in mind that the taste and texture may be different, but it’s a matter of personal preference.

What type of red enchilada sauce is best for this recipe?

You can use store-bought canned red enchilada sauce for convenience, or you can make your own homemade sauce.

The choice of sauce can impact the overall flavor, so you can use mild, medium, or hot sauce based on your heat preference.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, you can make a vegetarian version by substituting the ground beef with cooked black beans, refried beans, or a meat substitute like tofu or tempeh.

Ensure you season the beans or tofu well for flavor.

How do I prevent the tortillas from falling apart when dipping them in the sauce?

To prevent the tortillas from becoming too soft and falling apart when dipped in the sauce, you can quickly dip them in the hot sauce or warm them briefly in a dry skillet.

Be careful not to oversaturate them.

Are the fried eggs necessary, and when should I add them?

The fried eggs are optional and can be added as a topping if desired.

You can prepare them separately and serve them on top of the enchilada stack just before serving for a delicious variation.

Can I use a different type of cheese?

While the recipe calls for cheddar cheese, you can use other cheeses like Monterey Jack, Colby, or a blend of Mexican cheeses for a different flavor profile.

Use your favorite cheese or what you have on hand.

How do I prevent the tortillas from getting too soggy?

To prevent the tortillas from becoming too soggy, it’s important to quickly dip them in the heated red enchilada sauce just to soften them, not to saturate them completely.

This helps maintain their structure in the dish.

Can I prepare the enchiladas in advance and reheat them later?

Yes, you can prepare the enchiladas in advance, assemble them, and store them in the refrigerator.

When you’re ready to serve, you can reheat them in the oven until the cheese is melted and the dish is heated through.

Do I need to use an oven-safe dinner plate?

Using an oven-safe dinner plate is recommended because it allows you to melt the cheese in the oven.

If your dinner plates are not oven-safe, you can transfer the stacked enchiladas to a baking dish for the final melting step.