Quick Mexican Beef Recipe: A Spicy Fiesta on Your Plate

Sizzling aromas of spices and tender beef dance through the kitchen, promising a mouthwatering Mexican beef recipe that will make taste buds sing.

Bold flavors burst from every bite, telling a story of rich culinary tradition.

Perfectly seasoned meat melts in your mouth, creating a symphony of textures and zesty notes.

Weeknight dinners never looked so delicious and exciting.

Home cooks can easily master this crowd-pleasing dish with just a few simple ingredients.

The combination of herbs, spices, and premium beef turns an ordinary meal into an extraordinary experience.

Get ready to embark on a delectable journey that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 1 hour 40 mins

Total Time: 2 hours

Calories: 250 kcal

Servings: 5

Mexican Beef: Ingredients That Bring the Heat

• Corn Tortillas: Authentic base for enchiladas, choose fresh and pliable tortillas without cracks.
• Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil: Essential for creating soft, slightly crispy tortilla texture, ensure oil is at correct temperature.
• Kitchen Towel: Keeps tortillas warm and soft during preparation.

• Cotija Cheese, Queso Asadero: Adds creamy, tangy finish to enchiladas, select fresh and high-quality Mexican cheeses.
• White Onion: Provides sharp, crisp contrast to rich beef, choose firm and bright white onions.

• Enchilada Sauce: Vibrant flavor foundation, select authentic red sauce for traditional Mexican taste.
• Beef: Primary protein that creates hearty filling, choose lean ground beef or shredded beef for best texture.

Must-Have Tools for Cooking Mexican Beef

• Large saucepan: Perfect for heating oil and frying tortillas evenly.
• Tongs: Essential for safely handling hot tortillas during frying and dipping.
• Comal or griddle: Great for warming tortillas and getting those delicious char marks.
• Skillet: Alternative surface for warming tortillas if you don't have a comal.
• Clean kitchen towel: Keeps tortillas warm and soft after heating.
• Cutting board: Used for slicing onions and preparing ingredients.
• Sharp knife: Needed for thinly slicing onions and preparing cheese.
• Plate: Used for stacking and assembling tortillas during various stages of preparation.

Simple Steps to Make Flavorful Mexican Beef

• Tortilla Preparation

Warm tortillas gently on a comal or skillet until they become soft and flexible with slight charring. Stack and wrap in a kitchen towel to maintain warmth.

• Oil Heating

Pour vegetable oil into a large saucepan, bringing it to a consistent medium temperature. Carefully fry tortillas briefly, ensuring they remain soft and pliable.

• Sauce Coating

Dip each tortilla into enchilada sauce, fully covering both sides. Layer coated tortillas on a separate plate.

• Filling and Rolling

Place a generous portion of beef mixture down the center of each sauce-covered tortilla. Roll tightly, creating a neat cylindrical shape with the seam facing downward.

• Garnish and Serving

Top the rolled enchiladas with fresh chopped onions and crumbled Mexican cheese. Serve immediately while warm and enjoy the rich, authentic flavors.

Spices, Swaps, and Enhancements for Mexican Beef

• Adjust the heat level by adding more or less chili powder, jalapeños, or hot sauce to match your personal spice tolerance.
• Experiment with different Mexican cheeses like manchego, chihuahua, or pepper jack for unique flavor profiles and textures.
• Incorporate additional vegetables like sautéed bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach into the beef filling for extra nutrition and color.
• Prepare the beef filling and enchilada sauce a day in advance to streamline cooking and enhance flavor development.
• Substitute beef with shredded chicken, ground turkey, or plant-based alternatives for a fresh take on the classic recipe.

How to Serve Mexican Beef in Bowls or Tacos

• Taco Night Extravaganza: Create a vibrant Mexican-themed dinner setup with colorful plates, salsa bowls, and fresh lime wedges to enhance the visual appeal and dining experience.
• Flavor Boosters: Offer additional toppings like fresh chopped cilantro, diced avocado, sour cream, and hot sauce to let guests customize their Mexican beef enchiladas with personal flair.
• Party Pairing Perfection: Serve alongside classic Mexican rice, refreshing black bean salad, or crisp green salad with a zesty lime dressing to complete the meal and provide complementary textures and flavors.
• Family-Style Feast: Arrange the enchiladas on a large platter with garnishes, encouraging sharing and creating a communal dining atmosphere that celebrates Mexican culinary traditions.

Tips to Store and Reheat Mexican Beef

• Quick Fridge Protection: Store enchiladas in an airtight container for 3-4 days, ensuring maximum flavor retention and preventing moisture loss.
• Smart Freezing Strategy: Wrap individual enchiladas tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer-safe bags. Frozen enchiladas maintain quality for up to 2 months, perfect for busy meal prep.
• Reheating Magic: Revive refrigerated enchiladas in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, covering with foil to prevent drying. Add a sprinkle of extra cheese for renewed deliciousness.
• Batch Cooking Brilliance: Prepare double the recipe and separate portions into single-serving containers. This technique saves time and provides quick, homemade meals during hectic weekdays.

Spicy Mexican Beef Recipe

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4.9 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Comforting Mexican beef stew brings robust flavors from slow-simmered meat and traditional spices. Hearty ingredients combine for a soul-warming dish that connects generations of culinary passion.

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Ingredients

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• 1 shredded beef filling (from cooking liquid)
• 2 dried ancho chiles
• 1 dried California chile (or guajillo chile)
• 1 cup (240 ml) cooking liquid from shredded beef filling
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) whole or 2% milk
• ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) distilled white vinegar
• 1 tsp (5 ml) kosher salt
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 ½ tsps (7.5 ml) vegetable or canola oil
• 1 tsp (5 ml) cornstarch
• ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) ground cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Prep Ingredients: Slice white onion into delicate, uniform strips and set aside for garnishing the final dish.
2. Tortilla Preparation: Warm corn tortillas on a comal or skillet over medium heat, rotating to develop subtle char marks and enhance pliability.
3. Oil Heating: Bring vegetable oil to precise 350-365°F in a large saucepan, maintaining consistent temperature for optimal frying.
4. Tortilla Frying: Submerge tortillas in hot oil using tongs, frying each for 10-15 seconds until softened but not crisp, then transfer to a clean plate.
5. Sauce Coating: Dip each fried tortilla completely in enchilada sauce, ensuring thorough coverage on both sides and careful layering.
6. Filling and Rolling: Distribute beef centrally on each tortilla, roll smoothly while tucking edges, and position seam-side down on serving plate.
7. Final Presentation: Garnish enchiladas generously with sliced onions and crumbled cotija or shredded queso asadero cheese, serving immediately to preserve warmth and allow cheese to melt slightly from residual heat.

Notes

• Master Oil Temperature: Use a digital thermometer to maintain precise 350-365°F for perfect tortilla texture without burning.
• Tortilla Technique: Warm corn tortillas briefly on comal before frying to enhance flexibility and prevent cracking during rolling.
• Sauce Dipping Strategy: Fully submerge each tortilla in enchilada sauce quickly to prevent oversaturation and maintain structural integrity.
• Cheese Selection Tip: Choose fresh cotija or queso asadero for authentic flavor; grate or crumble just before serving to preserve optimal texture.

• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hour 40 mins
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 500mg
• Fat: 10g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 15g
• Cholesterol: 40mg