Craving a comforting and flavorful meal that will impress your family and friends? Look no further than the Pioneer Woman’s enchilada recipe. Inspired by Ree Drummond’s popular Food Network show, this recipe takes a classic dish and elevates it with simple yet impactful techniques that guarantee a mouthwatering result. If you’re looking to create enchiladas that are bursting with flavor and have that homemade touch, this guide will walk you through each step of the Pioneer Woman’s perfect enchilada recipe, ensuring your next Mexican night is a delicious success.
Perfect Enchiladas
What Makes Pioneer Woman’s Enchiladas Stand Out?
This isn’t just another enchilada recipe; it’s the Pioneer Woman’s take, meaning it’s packed with flavor and made with approachable methods for home cooks. Several key elements make this recipe exceptional:
- Flavorful Red Sauce: The base of any great enchilada is the sauce, and Pioneer Woman’s recipe starts with a simple roux to build a rich and deeply flavored red sauce. This homemade sauce is far superior to store-bought versions, offering a depth of taste that truly elevates the dish.
- Fried Tortillas for Texture: A signature step in this recipe is lightly frying the corn tortillas before filling and baking. This quick fry softens the tortillas, making them pliable for rolling, and also adds a subtle layer of flavor and prevents them from becoming soggy in the sauce.
- Savory Beef Filling: The recipe features a classic ground beef filling, seasoned simply to allow the flavors of the beef, onions, and enchilada sauce to shine. This straightforward filling is satisfying and hearty.
- Green Chiles for a Zesty Kick: Incorporating diced green chiles adds a wonderful zesty and slightly spicy element that complements the richness of the beef and sauce perfectly.
- Generous Cheese and Toppings: True to Pioneer Woman’s style, this recipe doesn’t skimp on the cheese! A generous amount of sharp Cheddar cheese is used both inside the enchiladas and as a topping, creating that gooey, cheesy goodness we all love. Green onions and black olives add fresh and briny notes, completing the flavor profile.
Ingredients for Pioneer Woman’s Perfect Enchiladas
Before you start cooking, gather all your ingredients. This recipe is divided into three parts: the sauce, the meat filling, and the rest of the components for assembly.
For the Enchilada Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- One 28-ounce can enchilada or Mexican red sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the Ground Beef Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For Assembly:
- Canola oil, for frying tortillas
- 10 to 14 corn tortillas
- Two 4-ounce cans diced green chilies
- 1 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup chopped black olives
- 3 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pioneer Woman’s Enchiladas
Now, let’s get cooking! Follow these detailed instructions to recreate Pioneer Woman’s delicious enchiladas in your own kitchen.
Part 1: Preparing the Homemade Enchilada Sauce
This simple sauce is the heart of the recipe, and it comes together quickly.
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Create the Roux: In a medium saucepan, heat the canola oil over medium-low heat. Add the all-purpose flour to the oil and whisk constantly to combine. Cook for about 1 minute, allowing the roux to bubble slightly. This roux will thicken your sauce beautifully.
Mixing oil and flour for roux -
Add Remaining Sauce Ingredients: Pour in the canned enchilada sauce and chicken broth. Stir well to combine with the roux. Add salt and black pepper.
Adding enchilada sauce and chicken broth -
Simmer the Sauce: Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently while you prepare the meat filling and other components. Simmering allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.
Part 2: Cooking the Ground Beef Filling
The beef filling is straightforward and flavorful, providing a hearty center for your enchiladas.
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Brown the Beef and Onions: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the finely chopped onion over medium-high heat. Cook until the beef is fully browned and the onions are softened and translucent, breaking up the beef with a spoon as it cooks.
Cooking ground beef and onion -
Drain Excess Fat and Season: Drain off any excess fat from the skillet. Add salt to the cooked beef and onion mixture and stir to combine. Set the meat filling aside.
Part 3: Assembling and Baking the Enchiladas
Now for the fun part – putting it all together!
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Fry the Tortillas: Heat some canola oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Working one at a time, lightly fry the corn tortillas in the hot oil for just a few seconds per side, until they are softened but not crispy. This quick frying step is key to the texture of Pioneer Woman’s enchiladas.
Frying corn tortillas
Draining fried tortillas -
Drain Fried Tortillas: Place the fried tortillas on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Repeat until all tortillas are fried.
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Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread about 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. This prevents the enchiladas from sticking and adds flavor from the bottom up.
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Assemble the Enchiladas: One at a time, dip each fried tortilla into the warm enchilada sauce, coating both sides.
Dipping tortillas in enchilada sauce -
Fill and Roll: Lay the sauce-soaked tortilla on a plate. Place a spoonful of the ground beef mixture down the center of the tortilla. Sprinkle with some diced green chiles, green onions, black olives, and a generous amount of grated Cheddar cheese.
Filling tortillas with beef and cheese
Tortilla filled and ready to roll -
Roll and Place in Dish: Roll up the tortilla tightly to enclose the filling and place it seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling, arranging them snugly in the dish.
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Top with Sauce and Cheese: Pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the enchiladas in the dish. Sprinkle generously with the remaining grated Cheddar cheese, and any leftover green chiles, green onions, or olives if desired.
Ready for baking -
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the enchiladas are heated through, bubbly, and the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Baked enchiladas hot and bubbly -
Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, if using. Serve hot and enjoy your homemade Pioneer Woman enchiladas!
Close up of enchiladas
Tips for Perfect Pioneer Woman Enchiladas
- Don’t Over-fry Tortillas: The key is to lightly soften the tortillas, not make them crispy. Over-frying will make them brittle and difficult to roll.
- Warm Sauce for Dipping: Ensure your enchilada sauce is warm when you dip the tortillas. This helps them soften quickly and absorb the flavor.
- Customize Your Filling: Feel free to adapt the filling to your liking. You can use shredded chicken, ground turkey, or even a vegetarian filling of beans and vegetables.
- Cheese Variations: While sharp Cheddar is classic, try Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or a Mexican cheese blend for different flavor profiles.
- Make Ahead: You can assemble the enchiladas ahead of time and store them, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a day. Bake them just before serving, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time if needed.
Serving Suggestions for Pioneer Woman Enchiladas
Pioneer Woman enchiladas are a complete meal on their own, but they are even better with some delicious side dishes. Consider serving them with:
- Lime Rice: Ree Drummond often serves her enchiladas with lime rice, a perfect light and zesty accompaniment.
- Refried Beans: A classic side for enchiladas, refried beans add extra heartiness.
- Fresh Salad: A simple green salad or a vibrant Mexican salad with corn and black beans provides a refreshing contrast to the rich enchiladas.
- Sour Cream or Guacamole: Add a dollop of sour cream or guacamole on top of your enchiladas for extra creaminess and flavor.
Enjoy making this Pioneer Woman Enchilada Recipe! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings the warmth and flavor of Ree Drummond’s kitchen to your table.
