🌯 The Irresistible Enchirito: Grandma's Secret Recipe

This is the ultimate comfort food—a cross between an enchilada and a burrito that is so tender you have to eat it with a fork. It’s famous for being the one dish Grandma asked for seconds of!

🥘 Ingredients

The Meat Filling

1 lb Ground Beef (80/20 for flavor)

1 Small Onion, finely diced

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Cumin

1 tbsp Chili Powder

Salt & Pepper to taste

The Essentials

6-8 Large Flour Tortillas

1 can (15 oz) Refried Beans (warmed)

1 can (10 oz) Red Enchilada Sauce

2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Optional toppings: Diced onions, sliced black olives, sour cream

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Sauté the Filling

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onions. Drain the excess fat. Stir in the garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 2 minutes until fragrant.

2. Prep the Tortillas

To prevent cracking, wrap your tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds. This makes them pliable enough to roll without breaking.

3. The "Grandma" Assembly

Lay a tortilla flat.

Spread a generous stripe of warm refried beans down the center.

Top the beans with a scoop of the seasoned beef.

Fold in the sides and roll it up snugly (like a burrito).

4. The Sauce & Cheese Bath

Place the rolled enchiritos seam-side down in a baking dish.

Pour the red enchilada sauce over the center of each roll, leaving the very tips of the tortillas dry for a bit of texture contrast.

Smother the sauce with a heavy hand of shredded cheddar cheese.

5. The Melt

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and starting to turn golden at the edges.

💡 The Secret Success Tips

The "Double Sauce" Trick: If Grandma likes it extra saucy, put a thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the baking dish before adding the rolls.

Olives are Non-Negotiable: Traditionally, an Enchirito is topped with exactly three or four sliced black olives. It’s the "vintage" look that makes it taste better!

Let it Rest: Give it 5 minutes out of the oven before serving. This allows the beans to set so the filling doesn't slide out when you cut into it.

“It’s not just a meal; it’s the reason Grandma keeps coming back to your house for dinner!”