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Restaurant-Style Red Cheese Enchiladas are an old family favorite recipe that is simply the best!! They are cheesy, saucy, and so yummy.
Serve these enchiladas with Pinto Beans, Spanish Rice, or maybe even some Beef Empanadas to make an entire tasty meal that is sure to be a family fav!!
The Best Cheese Enchiladas
We’ve made cheese enchiladas my decades, and they are INCREDIBLE!!
I am so grateful for my Hispanic heritage and am so happy to have been surrounded by amazing cooks my whole life. This recipe was first handed down from my great-grandma Bean Burro down to my grandma, then to my mom and now to me.
We love these cheese enchiladas for so many reasons:
- Simple. Even making a homemade enchilada sauce, this recipe comes together quick and is no-fail!
- Delicious. The flavors and spices and cheese make these enchiladas to die-for!
- Perfect for parties. Whether it’s for Christmas or fiesta, these enchiladas (along with our Chicken Enchiladas) are the star on the menu.
Ingredients
- vegetable oil
- all-purpose flour
- Gebhardt Chili Powder – our favorite chili powder!!
- garlic powder
- oregano
- salt
- cumin
- chicken broth
- Corn Tortillas
- Mexican Blend Cheese – “Mexican blend cheese”, is what is typically used in restaurant enchiladas. It is a blend of cheeses usually consisting of Monterrey Jack, Cheddar or Colby Jack, and cheeses that melt easily such as asadero and oaxaca (also known as quesadilla cheese).
How to Make Cheese Enchiladas
- BEGIN SAUCE. To make these enchiladas, you have to begin with the enchilada sauce. This is made by adding oil to the pot and heating on Medium heat. Pour in flour and create a roux by whisking together for 1-2 minutes.
- SPICES. Add chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and oregano and mix until clumpy.
- BROTH. Pour in chicken broth, whisking the entire time and until there are no more clumps. Heat for about 15 minutes or until sauce is thickened.
- ASSEMBLE. Get your pan close to your sauce, along with a bowl of shredded cheese, and your tortillas. Dip each tortilla into the sauce until soft and put into the greased dish.
- FILL + ROLL. Add 1/4 cup cheese and roll up and push to the end of the pan.
- BAKE. Continue doing this with your tortillas until your pan is full. From there, you will pour the excess sauce over your tortillas. Sprinkle the top with more cheese, then bake (uncovered) at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
PRO TIP
Flash frying your tortillas in some oil for a few seconds on each side before dipping them or warming them in the microwave or in a pan for just a few seconds can also help them stay together better when you roll them up.
REcipe tips
A handful of toppings can really take this dish from great to AMAZING! Here are some of our favorite toppings to use:
- Fresh vegetables: sliced avocado, sliced black olives, diced tomatoes, diced green onions, diced jalapeno peppers
- Salsas: Pico de Gallo, Homemade Salsa
- Dairy and cheese: sour cream, cotija cheese, queso fresco
Can I add meat to cheese enchiladas? Yes, any kind of meat you like! We’ve added rotisserie chicken, Shredded Chicken, Pork Barbacoa, and even shredded beef (our Beef Enchiladas are basically this recipe with the addition of beef).
Storing
MAKE AHEAD OF TIME. These can made ahead of time, covered and refrigerated for 24 hours in advance.
STORE in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
FREEZE by making a disposable tray, covering tightly with foil and placing in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
For More Enchilada Recipes:
Cheese Enchilada
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp Gebhardt Chili Powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 2 cups chicken broth
- Corn Tortillas
- Mexican Blend Cheese
Instructions
- Add oil to pot and heat on Medium. Pour in flour and whisk together and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt and oregano and mix until clumpy. Pour in chicken broth, whisking the entire time and until there are no more clumps. Heat for 15 minutes or until thickened.
- After you have made your sauce, you will want to dip your corn tortillas in the sauce until they are soft and immediately put it into a greased 11×7 pan.
- From there you will add cheese (I use the Mexican Blended Cheese), roll it up and push it to the end of the pan.
- Continue doing this with your tortillas until your pan is full. From there you will pour the excess sauce over your tortillas. Sprinkle the top with more cheese. (You can also prepare this in advance and refrigerate until ready to cook).
- Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this recipe last night And they were a big hit! Thank you for sharing 🙂
You are so welcome!! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
I am very confused! Is there supposed to be tomato sauce in this cheese enchilad recipe or not? If not, what makes the sauce red? Thanks in advance for your help!
No tomato sauce. The chili powder gives it the red color 🙂 They are delish!
What about the tomatoe sauce?
No, tomato sauce in this recipe 😉
i LOVED THIS RECIPE WITH THE CHILI PUREE AND i CANNOT SEE THAT ONE NOW. i DO NOT HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE PUREE HERE. uNFORTUNATELY i CANNOT USE THE NEW RECIPE AS WE HAVE A CHICKEN PROTEIN ALLERGY AND i DID NOT LOVE IT WITH THE VEGETABLE BROTH. IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN SEND ME THE OLD RECIPE SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY THESE?
Sorry I could not tell my caps lock was on! I was not trying to yell lol!
Hi Kara, We love the chili purEe recipe. If you get the info can you pLease Email to me @ monickDlr1@gmail.com Thank you
OK, Where’s the tomato sauce??
No tomato sauce in this recipe 🙂
Could i sub vegetable broth for chicken brOth?
I haven’t tried, but you sure could 🙂
We do like mexican food! Its tuff to say what our favorIte is but for me it would be red enchilAdas. Actually anything with red sauce. Its a great dish to make ahead and put in the oven whEn ready.
This looks insanely, incredibly good. Yummy!
They are our favorite!! Hope you try them! Thank you!
I used tomato paste on accident in the new recipe, and it was a hit. I tried it without the next time I made it, and my kids did not care for it. I am making it again tonight and will go with the tomato paste. My kids like spicy foods, but I think the tomato paste made it a little less hot and overall more familiar in taste.
Thanks for sharing that!! I am glad your kids like it 🙂 That makes me happy to hear!
This recipe was very close to authentic restaurant style cheese enchiladas; however the enchilada sauce was not red as the pictures indicate!