The key to these low carb enchiladas with beef and beans is the easy homemade red enchilada sauce that is loaded with flavor.
Mexican food is a favorite around our house, but the tortillas, rice, and beans always create problem for those of us who want to go low-carb. In other words, me.
(All of our Mexican inspired recipes are found here.)
This enchiladas recipe offers a guilt-free way to enjoy my favorite cuisine without compromising on flavor. The homemade enchilada sauce is out of this world!
How to make homemade enchilada sauce
I’ll be the first to admit that I usually buy my enchilada sauce in a can. While delicious, canned enchilada sauce has cornstarch or flour and added sugar that make it not a good part of a low carb or keto diet.
I was shocked to find out how easy it was to make my own enchilada sauce! The base is just simple tomato sauce and when you add in garlic, chili powder, cumin, adobo sauce, and smoked paprika it becomes way better than the canned stuff. In just a few minutes of simmering the flavors all come together beautifully.
What makes these enchiladas low carb?
First, there’s the sauce. Making your own enchilada sauce cuts out the cornstarch or flour that is usually found in the can.
Then, there’s the tortillas. I spent years making my sandwiches into wraps thinking a was going low carb, but did you know most flour tortillas have 25 grams or more net carbs? Once I heard that I switched over to the low carb kind for good.
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For this recipe, I used Mission brand’s Carb Balance tortillas. They only have 4 grams of net carbs and taste just like the carby ones. La Banderita makes a Carb Counter tortilla with the same number of net carbs that are also delicious and will work just as well in this recipe.
Can I make this recipe keto?
These low carb tortillas can easily be made keto. Depending on how strictly you follow a keto diet, you may want to eliminate some or all of the beans. Just make up for it by adding more meat and onions or other veggies like spinach to bulk up the tortillas.
Otherwise the recipe is perfectly keto. Just make sure your tomato sauce has no sugar added!
Adding to your low carb/Keto recipe collection?
You’ll want to check these out, but there are lots of recipes here on B&B that just naturally fall into the low carb category. We invite you to stick around and browse a bit!
- Keto Squash Casserole
- Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Dipping Sauce
- Keto Breakfast Casserole
- Keto Parmesant Crusted Chicken
What topping should I put on my low carb enchiladas?
These low carb tortillas are delicious as is, but we love toppings around here! Here are some suggestions to jazz them up:
- sour cream
- cotija cheese
- diced tomatoes
- sliced avocados
- lettuce
- salsa
- guacamole
- cilantro
- sliced jalapenos
Low Carb Enchiladas with Beef & Beans
Ingredients
Enchilada Sauce
Beef and Bean Mixture
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 14 oz black beans drained
- 14 oz refried black beans
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- salt to taste
Enchiladas
- 8 low carb tortillas such as Mission Carb Balance
- 12 oz Monterey Jack cheese
- sour cream optional
- sliced avocados optional
- diced tomatoes optional
Instructions
Enchilada Sauce
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon of oil on medium heat. When hot, add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Lower heat to a simmer until ready to use.
Beef and Bean Mixture
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium high heat. When hot, add diced onions and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent (about 5 minutes).
- Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
Enchiladas
- Pour a little bit (about ¼ cup) of sauce in a large casserole dish and spread around the pan with a spoon.
- Assemble each enchilada by using a slotted spoon to spoon beef and bean mixture into the tortillas. Try to use about ⅛th of the mixture in each tortilla.
- Roll tortilla and place seam-down in the casserole dish in a row.
- Pour enchilada sauce over the enchiladas. If you like your enchiladas less wet, you do not need to use all of the sauce.
- Top enchiladas with cheese and put in oven for about 20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and beginning to brown on edges.
- Top with sour cream, avocados, tomatoes, etc. if desired.
Nutrition
More Mexican & Southwestern favorites
Black Bean Soup 
Spicy Mexican Rice 
Tex-Mex Dutch Baby 
Esquites 
Grilled Fish Tacos with Baja Sauce 
Jalapeno Cucumber Margaritas
Kathryn says
We loved this enchilada recipe and the beef and beans were a delicious combination! 🙂 Adding this again to our menu next week, thansk so much!
Pam says
Yay! Thanks, Kathryn.
Dannii says
Enchiladas are one of my favourite comfort foods and this low carb version looks amazing.
Pam says
They’re so good. You’ll enjoy.
Jessica Formicola says
I know it’s Taco Tuesday, but we’re making these enchiladas instead! They look so flavorful and we can’t wait to try them!
Pam says
Hope you love them like we do. Thanks, Jessica!
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Easy, delicious and hearty; my whole family loved it!
Pam says
Thanks for letting us know Sara!