Easy Beef or Chicken Enchilada Skillet

You’ll love this versatile enchilada skillet recipe that can be made with chicken or beef!

You'll love this versatile enchilada skillet recipe that can be made with chicken or beef!

Hi! I’m Sheila from Life, Love, and Good Food, and I’m excited to bring you this easy dinner recipe today! I know what it’s like to be a working mom with a busy career and schedules to coordinate for busy kids. I also know how easy it is to get sucked into picking up fast food for those busy weeknights. Fast food meals can get old really fast.

Are you with me on this? Whew! Despite all that busyness, I believe it’s really important to make the effort to have home-cooked meals as often as possible, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen. That’s why I’m excited to share with you busy moms a recipe for this EASY Enchilada Skillet, with options for either chicken or beef. It can be ready and on your table in less than 30 minutes!

You'll love this versatile enchilada skillet recipe that can be made with chicken or beef!

I love all kinds of Mexican food, and I especially love enchiladas, but they can be a bit time consuming to prepare by the time you make the sauce, cook the filling, stuff and roll the tortillas, and then bake for 30-40 minutes. With this recipe, you get all the flavor in just half the time and in a single skillet — that’s a big bonus for me!

This recipe can be easily adapted for either chicken or beef and can be adjusted for your family’s “heat index” by using either HOT or MILD canned tomatoes and green chilies. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the recipe by adding jalapeños, black beans, or whole kernel corn. For my family, I like tossing in a few black beans for the beef version, but it’s totally optional with either version of this dish.

I like serving the Easy Enchilada Skillet topped with extra cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and salsa. To complete the meal, add a side of Mexican rice or chips and your favorite salsa.

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Easy Beef or Chicken Enchilada Skillet

Easy Enchilada Skillet with Beef or Chicken

You’ll love this versatile enchilada skillet recipe that can be made with chicken or beef!

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

Chicken Version

  • 3 cups shredded, cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken works well)

Beef Version

  • 1 pound ground beef cooked and drained
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 cup canned black beans rinsed and drained

Both Versions

  • 12 corn tortillas torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 10 ounces canned diced tomatoes & green chilies undrained (use mild or hot)
  • 10 ounces red enchilada sauce
  • 8 ounces canned tomato sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese divided
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 green onions sliced (for garnish)

Instructions

For the Chicken Version

  1. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add chicken and tortillas to the skillet and stir to mix well. Cover skillet and cook over medium heat for about five minutes, stirring often.

For the Beef Version

  1. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add ground beef and chopped onion and cook and stir over medium hight heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Pour off any grease from skillet and wipe clean. Return the beef mixture to the skillet and add the torn tortillas and black beans, stirring to mix well. Cover skillet and cook over medium heat for about five minutes, stirring often.

For Both Versions

  1. Add the tomatoes, enchilada sauce, and tomato sauce to the meat mixture and mix well. Sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese and cover with a tight fitting lid. Cook five more minutes or until hot. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and sliced green onions and serve immediately.
  • Author: Andi Gleeson
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Mexican Food, Poultry, Red Meat
  • Cuisine: Mexican

How about adding a dollop of this quick guacamole on top?

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20 comments

Rachel
5 years ago

I’m making tonigjt for my family of 6 I’m doubling the recipe as seems everyone loves this and easy clean up. That’s what I’m about one pan dishes for huge family. Thank you for sharing. Excited to make soon

Sherrie
6 years ago

I love this dish. It was fast , easy and delicious. My son had 3bowls. I will definitely put this is on my pintrest page. I have a question. What are the nutritional facts?

Mo K
7 years ago

Made this tonight. Thanks so much, Sheila and Andi! I fixed the beef version and added some corn from an extra cob I microwaved. I topped with crushed tortilla chips, chopped lettuce, a little salsa and a small dollop of sour cream.
So incredibly yummy, hubby had seconds and we have leftovers for tomorrow night. This is a keeper!!!

Sheila @ Life, Love, and Good Food
7 years ago

Mo, that’s so good to hear! Glad you liked the recipe and that it was a hit with your family!

Cathy Trochelman
8 years ago

This is such an awesome dinner recipe…I love that it’s all in one pot and anything else is just a bonus!

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

Thank you, Cathy! I try to avoid using more than one pot when at all possible ?

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

Thank you, Cathy!

Michelle | A Latte Food
8 years ago

Yes please! This looks incredible, and I love that you showed how versatile this recipe is with using either beef or chicken!

Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens
8 years ago

I totally agree that it’s so worth it to find solutions that allow us to make as many healthier meals as possible – and avoid grabbing unhealthy take-out just because we don’t have a better option! This recipe is so very easy – definitely a lifesaver on busy nights! And I love that you included options for both chicken and beef, and suggestions for adapting that “heat index”! Fabulous!

Sheila Thigpen
8 years ago

Thanks so much, Shelley! It’s sometimes hard to make the effort, but is always worth it!

Cooking with Crystal
8 years ago

Wow! This looks amazing. I think I want to make this for a girls night and we all just enjoy it!

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

I need to come to your girls’ nights. That sounds so good, Crystal!!

Kacey @ The Cookie Writer
8 years ago

Mexican food is my favourite cuisine and you have a winner here! I would totally make mine vegetarian but my husband and daughter would love this recipe as is :)

Sheila Thigpen
8 years ago

Thank you, Kacey! I think a vegetarian option could be very interesting!
Just think about tossing in corn, black beans, tomatoes, peppers…yum!
Great idea!

Bintu | Recipes from a Pantry
8 years ago

My best friend’s hubby LOVES my enchiladas but sometimes it’s a lot of work when I’ve been crazy busy all day. I love this one pan skillet that makes dinner and cleaning up after super easy!

Sheila Thigpen
8 years ago

Bintu, one-skillet meals are the best for busy cooks!

Vivian | Stayaliveandcooking
8 years ago

Ohhh, that looks delicious! I don’t have kids yet but I am a student who will be rather busy the upcoming weeks, so recipes like this are always welcome.

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

You definitely don’t need kids to enjoy this one. Thanks, Vivian!!

Sheila Thigpen
8 years ago

Vivian, easy recipes are definitely the best for busy people with or without kids!

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