Cheesy Beef Enchilada Skillet
Cheesy Beef Enchilada Skillet is a one-pan dinner that combines seasoned beef, enchilada sauce, chopped tortillas, and melty cheese into a saucy, family-pleasing meal ready in about 30 minutes.
Servings 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion , diced (about 1 cup)
- 4 ounces canned mild green chiles
- 2 tablespoons mild taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 28 ounces red enchilada sauce
- 2 or 3 soft flour tortillas (“soft taco” size), cut in 2” squares*
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded quesadilla cheese**
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 green onions , thinly sliced
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up the clumps as you go.
- Add the onions and green chiles and saute until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the taco seasoning, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, and salt over the mixture and stir well to incorporate.
- Pour the enchilada sauce over the meat mixture and stir. Let the mixture come up to a light simmer (small bubbles breaking the surface). Increase the heat slightly if you need to.
- Spread the tortilla pieces over the sauce, and fold in gently to coat all of the pieces with the enchilada sauce. Let the mixture cook for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheeses over the top, followed by the cilantro and green onions. Cover with a lid (if the skillet doesn't have a lid, you lay a large baking sheet or piece of foil over it). This traps the steam and helps the cheese to melt.
- When the cheese is melted, it's ready to serve!
Video
Notes
* Why flour tortillas cut into pieces? First, it’s amazing - don’t skip. Second, the pieces of flour tortillas puff up slightly during cooking and become these little pasta-like dumplings that are absolutely irresistible. When I first tried it, I immediately thought, “it’s the Mexican version of Italian pasta.” It has the flavor of tortillas with the texture of pasta, and for me, pushes this skillet dish above actual enchiladas.
** In the states, quesadilla cheese is sometimes strangely named. The brand most widely available where I live is packaged “Queso Quesadilla Cheese.” Queso means cheese in Spanish, so the name is redundant, like Chai tea (chai = tea). Regardless, queso quesadilla is wonderful and melty and mild, similar to Monterey Jack.