This ground beef skillet enchilada dish has all the warm spices and savory flavors of classic enchiladas but requires just a fraction of the work of making traditional rolled enchiladas. It’s all made in one skillet on the stovetop, and it’s also gluten-free, high in protein, and comes together with just 15 minutes of prep time which is probably why I find myself either adding it to my weekly menu or pulling it together at the last minute on busy weeknights.
W
This post was created in partnership with Minnesota Beef Council.
Highlights: Beef Skillet Enchiladas
- Easy to make: With a prep time of just 15 minutes and a total time of less than an hour, this is one of the simplest dinner recipes for a busy weeknight
- Healthful: Made with lean ground beef, fresh veggies, black beans, and corn tortillas, this skillet recipe is a nutritionally well-rounded dish
- Reheats well: Leftovers can be quickly reheated in the oven or on the stovetop and are just as tasty as the first day it was made
- Family-friendly: Finished with all your favorite enchilada toppings, this Mexican-inspired recipe is a quick skillet dinner the whole family will look forward to eating
Ingredients To Make This Meal
Here’s what you need to make this skillet enchilada recipe today:
- Olive oil – may sub avocado oil
- Lean ground beef – we use 90-93% lean ground beef. Learn more about the different terms you see on beef labels and what they mean.
- Veggies – red bell pepper, zucchini, green onions, and frozen corn; or sub in the veggies you have on hand and want to use up
- Seasonings – this recipe calls for chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and dried oregano
- Enchilada sauce – use a purchased red enchilada sauce, or make our delicious and easy homemade version of enchilada sauce. Green enchilada sauce will also work
- Black beans – may sub pinto beans
- Corn tortillas – use gluten-free homemade corn tortillas or store-bought.
- Mexican cheese blend – may sub shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack
- Toppings – green onions, fresh cilantro, sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced tomatoes, diced or sliced avocado, jalapeño slices, red onion, tortilla strips
Find the ingredient list and nutrition information with exact measurements, kcal, carbs, cholesterol, serving size, etc. in the recipe card below.
How To Make Skillet Enchiladas
Here are the quick steps to make this skillet enchiladas recipe today:
- Preheat the oven, and place a large oven-proof or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sauté the meat and veggies. Once hot, grease the skillet with cooking spray, add oil, and swirl it around to coat the pan. Add the meat and vegetables, and cook, breaking up the beef until it is no longer pink and the zucchini is tender.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Turn off the heat, and add the seasonings, enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, and part of the shredded cheese. Stir to combine before gently folding in the tortillas.
- Bake. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, and bake until it is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish. Remove the skillet from the oven, add your toppings of choice, and enjoy warm.
Ingredient Spotlight: Ground Beef
We include a variety of ground beef recipes in our meal plans from week to week. Not only is ground beef tasty and versatile, but it’s a healthful protein choice, too, since beef contains many essential nutrients. Ground beef is also:
- a complete source of high-quality protein
- an excellent source of zinc and iron
- a good source of energy-producing B vitamins
Frequently Asked Questions
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container after they’ve cooled, and then store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Yes, freeze leftovers for up to 3 months when stored in a freezer-safe container.
We love the Siete brand red enchilada sauce as well as Old El Paso enchilada sauce. We also have a recipe for an easy homemade version made from tomato paste, broth, and simple pantry spices.
Recipe Notes From Dietitian Jess
Registered Dietitian Jess developed this recipe and she has these tips to share:
- Flour tortillas can be used in place of corn tortillas, if you don’t need this recipe to be gluten-free
- To reduce the sodium content, use no salt added canned black beans and our homemade sauce with less sodium in place of canned sauce.
- You can save time by chopping the zucchini, bell pepper, and onions ahead of time. Store the prepped veggies in an airtight container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This recipe is delicious served with fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced avocado or guacamole, and lime wedges.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
Beef Skillet Enchiladas
Get all those enchilada flavors you love, but in a recipe that takes half the time. Made in one pan, this weeknight dinner is high in protein and features so many nutritious ingredients, including lean ground beef, veggies, black beans, and corn. Plus, it’s budget friendly, gluten free, and flexible.
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- ½ teaspoon olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced small (about ¾ – 1 cup)
- 1 medium zucchini, diced small (about 1 ¾ – 2 cups)
- 6 green onions, thinly sliced, white/light green and dark green parts separated
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups (15 to 16 oz) jarred or canned red enchilada sauce*
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn (fire roasted or regular)
- 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas, each cut into 6 wedges (about 8 ounces total)
- 1 ½ cups shredded Mexican blend cheese, divided
- For garnish: green onion tops, fresh cilantro, sour cream, diced tomatoes, diced or sliced avocado
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉. Place a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, spray with cooking spray then add oil and swirl to coat. Add the ground beef, bell pepper, zucchini, and green onions (white/light green part). Break up the meat using a spatula and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is no longer pink and the zucchini is tender.
- Turn off heat. Add the chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, and ½ cup shredded cheese. Stir well to combine.
- Gently fold in the corn tortilla wedges so that the tortillas are well coated with sauce and are dispersed evenly throughout the meat mixture.
- Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup shredded cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove skillet from the oven and sprinkle with sliced green onions (dark parts), cilantro, tomatoes, and avocado. Serve with dollops of sour cream, if desired.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive so we can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Notes
*For red enchilada sauce, we like Siete enchilada sauce (1 jar) or Old El Paso red enchilada sauce (you’ll need 1 ½ 10-ounce cans). Or, you could make our easy homemade sauce, which comes together quickly from simple pantry spices, tomato paste, and broth. You can also use green enchilada sauce instead.
May use flour tortillas instead of corn tortillas, if you don’t need a recipe that is gluten free.
Nutrition Information
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 371
- Fat: 12 g
- (Sat Fat: 5 g)
- Sodium: 882 mg
- Carbohydrate: 39 g
- (Fiber: 8 g
- Sugar: 5 g)
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg
Dietary
The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.
This is a sponsored post. Although we received compensation for this post, the opinions expressed here are – as always – 100% our own. Thank you for supporting the great companies we work with thereby allowing us to continue creating high-quality recipes and content for you.
For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words. Link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!
Cayla says
This recipe was absolutely perfect! It was delicious, as is, but easily customizable for your needs. The second time I made it I added chopped tomato and chopped yellow onion, used lite Mexican cheese so that I could add more 😆 and I didn’t have tortillas so I ended up scooping it onto tortilla chips and it was amazing that way too! Definitely worthy of adding to your weekly rotation!
Jessie Shafer says
We’re so glad you loved this stovetop enchiladas recipe!
Sandra says
This recipe was so delicious. My husband loved it too he had two servings. Will make this again for sure.
Carrie says
Delicious! This is an easy and forgiving recipe that will become a staple in our house. We didn’t have zucchini so I just doubled the bell pepper and it was fine.
Stacie Hassing says
Perfect Carrie! Thank you for sharing this great feedback with us. We appreciate the 5-star review!
Jennifer says
I love this recipe and so does the entire family. It’s now in the weekly meal rotation!
Stacie Hassing says
Awesome Jennifer! We can see why this recipe is on repeat, it’s a favorite! Thank you for the feedback and 5-star review!
Julie says
So good, didn’t have red enchilada sauce so I used the green sauce that I had. Very easy and simple ingredients. Tastes great!
Jessie Shafer says
We’re so glad you loved this recipe and were able to make it from what you had on hand!
Sarah says
So good! I used ground chicken instead of beef and I folded in corn tortilla chips! It was absolutely delicious. My kids loved it too. Easy to make, lots of veggies and all in one pan!
Stacie Hassing says
Amazing Sarah! Thank you so much for this great feedback! We appreciate the 5-star review!