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Wonderful beef enchilada recipe – Two flour tortillas filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, and cheese smothered in enchilada sauce and baked for just 20 minutes! A quick and easy single serving meal.

two beef enchiladas in a red baking dish.

This easy beef enchilada recipe is one you’ll want to keep on hand to use when you want to get dinner on the table quickly. It’s filled with flavor and takes very little time to make.

Why This Recipe Works

  • So delicious: These enchiladas are so incredibly delicious. The ground beef is seasoned with simple spices and we use jarred enchilada sauce for convenience.
  • Tested and perfected: This is a scaled down version of the recipe I’ve used for years.
  • Easy: It is an easy recipe which will yield 2 fabulous enchiladas!

Ingredients

ingredients needed to make beef enchiladas labeled and on a brown cutting board

Ingredient Notes

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

  • Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this small batch beef enchiladas recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It’s my favorite type of olive oil to use but you may use a lighter olive oil instead.
  • Ground beef: For a lighter version, feel free to use ground turkey instead.
  • Onions and garlic: Chopped onions and garlic add quite a lot of flavor to this dish, definitely don’t leave them out.
  • Spices: Use chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper.
  • Cheese: I recommend using shredded cheddar cheese but you can use your favorite type.
  • Tortillas: I prefer using flour tortillas because they’re soft and flexible. Use store-bought or homemade.
  • Enchilada sauce: For convenience, I use jarred enchilada sauce. You can find cans or jars in the International or Mexican foods aisle in most grocery stores. My favorite brands to use are La Victoria and Rosarita. Choose from mild, medium, or spicy varieties.
  • Optional toppings: Chopped green onions, black olives, and sour cream.

How To Make This Recipe

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  1. In a 10″ skillet over medium heat, heat oil 30 seconds. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook an additional 1 minute. Add ground beef, salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown, about 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat and transfer cooked ground beef to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
  2. Spread 2 tablespoons of enchilada sauce over bottom of a small baking dish.
  3. Warm tortillas by placing the tortillas on a plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 10-15 seconds so they are pliable. Place 1 tablespoon of cheese in the center of each tortilla, then divide meat evenly between each tortilla.
  4. Roll up each tortilla tightly, then arrange in a baking dish.
  5. Pour 1/3 cup of enchilada sauce over tops of the tortillas and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
  6. Bake in a preheated 350 F oven for 20-25 minutes or until cheese has melted.
six photos showing the steps involved in making beef enchiladas.

Expert Tips

  • If you want to increase the heat level in the beef filling add some freshly chopped jalapeños or serrano chilis.
  • If you’d like to make a double batch, just double the ingredients and use a larger baking dish.
  • Consider adding chopped fresh tomatoes, cilantro, black olives, and sour cream as beef enchilada toppings.
  • Use green enchilada sauce for a different twist as we did in our Enchiladas Verdes recipe.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this beef enchilada recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

two beef enchiladas in a red dish with a fork on the side of the dish filled with ground beef.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Corn Tortillas?

Yes! You can use either flour or corn tortillas in this small beef enchilada recipe. Be sure to warm the tortillas first to make them easier to handle.

What Should I Serve With Enchiladas?

Any of these single serving side dishes would be perfect with beef enchiladas:
Pico de Gallo
Queso
Margarita
Guacamole

Can I Freeze Enchiladas?

You can! Make the enchiladas as directed in the recipe. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months.

To bake, remove the plastic wrap and cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Uncover; continue to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until cheese has melted and the enchiladas are completely cooked through.

What Size Baking Dish Is Used In This Recipe?

In the photos shown, we are using a 6.5 x 4.9 x 1.8 – inch baking dish. For best results, use a dish of similar size.
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
To see examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.

If you’ve tried these beef enchiladas or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!


Your Cooking For One Source
Because you’re worth it

Recipe

Beef Enchiladas For One

4.85 from 19 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Two flour tortillas filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, and cheese smothered in enchilada sauce and baked for just 20 minutes! A quick and easy single serving meal.

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 ounces ground beef
  • ¼ cup chopped onions
  • 1 clove garlic , peeled and minced
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • teaspoon chili powder
  • teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 (8-inch) flour tortillas
  • cup plus 2 tablespoons enchilada sauce
  • Optional: chopped green onions, chopped tomatoes, sliced black olives, and/or sour cream.

Instructions 

  • Heat oven to 350°F (177°C).
  • In a 10" skillet over medium heat, heat oil 30 seconds. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook an additional 1 minute.
  • Add ground beef, salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin and cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown, about 8 minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat and transfer cooked ground beef to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
  • Spread 2 tablespoons of enchilada sauce over bottom of a small baking dish.
  • Warm tortillas so they are pliable. Place 1 tablespoon of cheese in the center of each tortilla, then divide meat evenly between each tortilla. Roll up each tortilla tightly, then arrange in a baking dish.
  • Pour ⅓ cup of enchilada sauce over tops of the tortillas and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cheese has melted. Enjoy hot.

Video

Notes

Expert Tips
  • If you want to increase the heat level in the beef filling add some freshly chopped jalapenos or serrano chilis.
  • If you’d like to make a double batch, just double the ingredients.
  • Consider adding chopped fresh tomatoes, cilantro, black olives, and sour cream as beef enchilada toppings.
  • Use green enchilada sauce for a different twist as we did in our Enchiladas Verdes recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 2enchiladas, Calories: 774kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 40g, Fat: 39g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Cholesterol: 130mg, Sodium: 1133mg, Potassium: 448mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1100IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 418mg, Iron: 4mg

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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25 Comments

  1. I love this recipe for beef enchiladas. I’ve made it quite a few times now. I especially like that I don’t have to make a whole casserole dish of it. I’m actually getting ready to make it again tonight for dinner.

    1. No. Assemble the enchiladas, cover the dish, or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil and freeze. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed in the recipe.

  2. This recipe was easy to assemble and had the taste I was looking for. Next time I might try and add a little Taco seasoning instead of the chili powder and cumin. I will make this again soon.

  3. This was so good! Usually your recipes are enough for two, but I went back for seconds! YUM 😋 Definitely will be making again.