Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (2024)

There are so many options when it comes to enchilada recipes. Whether you’re lookingfor enchiladas made with shredded chicken and a spicy salsa verde, creamy seafood made with shrimp and scallops, or vegetarian made with sweet potatoes and black beans, we’ve gathered all of our favorite recipes for enchiladas in one place.

What makes enchiladas so popular is the amazing palate of flavors and ingredients that can be used to make this simple dish.

For this collection, we’ve scoured the internet to find a wide range of enchilada recipes that include a diverse set of ingredients used in some very creative ways.

Enchilada Recipes

The best enchilada recipes have a few things in common. They start by describing in mouthwatering detail why their combination of ingredients is so intriguing. There are tips and tricks that make the recipe simple for a cook to use again and again. And most importantly, when the dish is made, and everything is eaten, they taste delicious!

If you want to learn how to make enchiladas check out our in-depth guide. It’s filled with interesting tidbits about their history, step-by-step instructions, choosing the right filling, and the tastiest sauces. It also breaks down the pros and cons of the flour vs. corn tortilla debate.

As a part of our research, we’ve read hundreds and hundreds of recipes from cookbooks, magazines, and the internet, and we’re still struck by how creative people are in coming up with new combinations of ingredients and ways to assemble the dish.

We’ve learned that the secret to good enchiladas is to use ingredients in the filling that complement each other and taste great with the chosen sauce. We’ve also figured out when people ask, “What is typically in an enchilada?” that the only answer we can give is everything and anything under the sun.

That spirit of creativity is why we decided to gather our favorite recipes in one place. Our goal with this collection is to make it easier for cooks to find the recipes and flavors that fit their tastes and be inspired to create their own. The recipes are organized by the main ingredient in the filling.

Chicken Recipes

There are dozens of different ways to make a chicken enchilada. Some popular ways include slowly cooked shredded chicken or sautéing cut up chicken breasts or thighs on the stove.

Shredded Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Salsa Verde

This chicken enchilada recipe is filled with plump, juicy chicken and bold flavors. This dish is topped with a creamy salsa verde sauce that infuses every bite with cheesy deliciousness.

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Tequila Lime Chicken Enchiladas

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (2)

These tequila lime chicken enchiladas feature chicken marinated in tequila, lime juice, and a “secret” ingredient, brown sugar. This flavor packed filling is wrapped in a tortilla with shredded cheese and topped with an out-of-this-world sauce made with salsa verde, crema, and more cheese.

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Healthy White Chicken Enchiladas

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These white chicken enchiladas use yogurt and green chilies to make a healthier creamy white sauce that has the same fantastic taste as the classic.

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Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

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These easy chicken enchiladas are extra cheesy and extra delicious, thanks to a homemade nacho cheese sauce. The flavors in this super cheesy dish come together while it bakes, with the cheese on top turning a golden brown.

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Beef Recipes

The best beef enchiladas use the savory flavors in beef as a complement and counterpoint to the other ingredients. A classic combination is to use ground beef or shredded beef with a tangy Red Enchilada Sauce and cheese like Cojita or Oaxaca to create contrasting textures paired with deep flavors.

Beef Enchiladas

This easy beef enchiladas recipe is one of our favorite comfort foods. The combination of homemade red sauce, melted cheese, and a filling that gets its deep, robust flavors from the two kinds of chilies and ground beef makes this dish dynamite.

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Shredded Beef Green Chili Enchiladas

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These shredded beef green chili enchiladas will rival those from your favorite Mexican restaurant. With every bite, you taste the tender shredded beef infused with green chiles and all the melted cheese you can handle.

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Beef Hatch Chile Enchiladas

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This beef enchilada recipe's flavor comes from a homemade hatch chile enchilada sauce. Hatch chilies have an incredible smokey flavor that complements the ground beef and sharp cheddar cheese filling.

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Shredded Beef Enchiladas

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (8)

Everyone will love these shredded beef enchiladas with a spicy red chile sauce! For your next Tex-Mex feast, try filling corn tortillas with succulent, tender chuck roast, Hatch green chilies, and plenty of melted cheese.

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Vegetarian Recipes

There are so many delicious combinations when it comes to vegetarian enchilada recipes. We tried to include a diverse set of ingredients to help people find the combinations they like best. Some of the more common combinations include sweet potatoes and black beans, poblano peppers and cheese, along with spinach and mushroom.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (9)

Black bean and sweet potato enchiladas are an easy way to make a vegetarian dinner with hearty black beans, corn, and plenty of cheese! The sweetness of the sweet potato pairs so well with the savory, spicy flavors in the red sauce, while the black beans and corn add protein and texture.

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Poblano Enchiladas with Verde Sour Cream Sauce

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (10)

A simple way to enjoy Tex-Mex comfort food is with a pan of roasted poblano enchiladas served with a luscious verde sour cream sauce! The crisp corn tortillas are filled with plenty of melted cheese and roasted poblano peppers for tons of smoky flavor.

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Vegetarian Enchilada Recipe

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These vegetarian enchiladas are made with almond flour tortillas and stuffed with roasted vegetables and lard-free refried beans, making them a perfect family dinner and a dream for people who are gluten intolerant.

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Chile Relleno Enchiladas

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Using a surprisingly simple process, these mouthwatering homemade vegetarian chile relleno enchiladas are easy to make entirely from scratch, from the delicious sauce to the roasted peppers and generous cheese filling.

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Mushroom Enchiladas

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Mushroom enchiladas are an excellent meat free dinner option. This recipe features the classic combination of spinach and mushrooms and is easy to make, comforting, and, most importantly, super delicious.

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Pork Recipes

There are lots of ways to use pork in enchiladas. Some of the most common methods are to use pulled pork, slow-roasted carnitas, or tangy al pastor.

Pulled Pork Enchiladas

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (14)

These enchiladas use lightly fried flour tortillas that are stuffed with pan-crisped pulled pork, roasted green chiles, green onions, cilantro, and cheese, then smothered in tangy green enchilada sauce before being topped with even more cheese.

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Chicken and Chorizo Enchiladas

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (15)

This creative enchilada recipe gets its kick from adding chorizo and pineapple to the mix, along with some chicken to connect the dots.

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Seafood Recipes

Seafood enchiladas are often made with a combination of shrimp, crab, scallops, or whitefish and served in a creamy white sauce. They can also be made with grilled shrimp, combined with all sorts of peppers and chilies, and topped with a spicy salsa verde or a smokey roja sauce.

Creamy Seafood Enchiladas

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These mild, creamy seafood enchiladas are made with a rich filling of shrimp, crab, and Monterey Jack, all topped with a decadent mornay verde cream sauce.

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Quick and Easy Shrimp Enchiladas

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This shrimp enchilada recipe uses peeled and cleaned shrimp to come together quickly. The shrimp are combined with green chilies and shredded cheese and served with a red enchilada sauce made from scratch.

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Shrimp Enchiladas with Salsa Verde

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (18)

These shrimp enchiladas are rolled in lightly fried corn tortillas and filled with buttery shrimp and a mixture of sautéed onion, bell pepper, garlic, and shredded Oaxaca. Smothered in a homemade salsa verde and baked until the cheese turns a golden brown.

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Homemade Enchilada Recipes

When it came to finding homemade enchilada recipes, we looked for dishes that could be made at home and elevated by cooks looking to make something interesting.

Turkey Enchiladas

These healthy turkey enchiladas are made with pinto beans and ground turkey to create a more sustainable, more delicious dish.

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New Mexico Hatch Chile Enchiladas

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (20)

Traditional New Mexico hatch chile enchiladas are served flat, topped with an egg. Representing the green side of New Mexico's red or green sauce debate, this recipe dives into how to use hatch chilies to create a smokey and delicious green chili gravy.

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Vegetarian Breakfast Enchiladas

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Move over breakfast burritos. These vegetarian breakfast enchiladas are stuffed with sweet potatoes, black beans, and scrambled eggs before being topped with a spicy green enchilada sauce and melted cheese.

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Enchiladas Dulces

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (22)

Treat your taste buds to the delightful combination of sweet and savory with these enchiladas dulces. Crispy tortillas are fried and then coated in a decadent chocolate sauce, resulting in an authentic Mexican dish that is simply irresistible.

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Enchilada Casserole Recipes

If you’re tired of rolling tortillas or just want your enchiladas to be a little more like lasagna, try making one of these enchilada casserole recipes. When they are made as a casserole, the corn tortillas, filling, and sauce are layered in the pan before being baked.

Vegetarian Quinoa Bake

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (23)

With this creative quinoa bake, it’s time to elevate quinoa from a side dish to a main dish. This casserole is easy to make, loaded with flavor, and perfect for Meatless Mondays!

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Vegetarian Casserole Recipe

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (24)

You don't have to be vegetarian to enjoy this vegetarian enchilada casserole recipe! It's filled with layers of spicy soy chorizo filling, tortillas, a homemade sauce, and cheese.

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Easy Layered Casserole

Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (25)

This family friendly, layered casserole is highly customizable, not too spicy, and made with ground turkey.

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Our Favorite Enchilada Recipes | Umami (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good enchiladas? ›

The most important tip for avoiding soggy enchiladas is to briefly fry your tortillas in hot oil before you fill and roll. This creates a little bit of a barrier so that the tortillas don't soak up too much of the sauce and therefore start to break down.

Why do my corn tortillas fall apart when I make enchiladas? ›

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

How do you make enchiladas crispy and not soggy? ›

Bake the enchiladas before adding sauce

Another thing you can try is baking your enchiladas after filling them until the tortillas are just be-ginning to get brown and starting to crisp. Then, add your cheese and sauce on top and bake them again until the cheese is melted.

Should I use flour or corn tortillas for enchiladas? ›

Corn tortillas are traditional for enchiladas, but flour tortillas also work. Choose 7- or 8-inch flour tortillas or 6-inch corn tortillas—they fit best in most pans. Recipes vary, but for a 3-quart rectangular casserole dish, you will need about eight flour or corn tortillas.

What makes enchiladas taste better? ›

Toppings: When it comes to enchiladas, I vote the more toppings the merrier! Any combination of chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, diced red onion (or quick pickled red onions), sliced radishes, fresh or pickled jalapeños, sour cream or Mexican crema, and/or extra cheese would be delicious!

Should I fry tortillas before making enchiladas? ›

The corn tortillas must be softened before they are rolled and baked in the casserole. Frying them gently in a little oil both softens the tortillas and also greatly enhances their flavor.

Should you cover enchiladas when baking? ›

Arrange enchiladas, seam-side down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with taco sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving.

Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

Arrange enchiladas, seam-side down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with taco sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving.

Should enchiladas be covered when baking? ›

Roll up tortillas; place seam sides down and widthwise in ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spread with salsa; sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until hot.

Do you put sauce on enchiladas before or after baking? ›

Pour extra red sauce over enchiladas. Top with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle cilantro over enchiladas before serving.

Why do you dip tortillas in oil for enchiladas? ›

First, it creates a barrier on the surface of the tortilla that allows the tortilla to absorb some sauce—but avoid completely disintegrating. Second, it adds flavor; the sugar in the tortilla starts to caramelize and the proteins brown. Finally, it adds richness from the oil.

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