Cheesy Ground Beef Pizza Enchiladas Step-by-step instructions

Before you start

Before starting, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) so it is ready to bake the assembled casserole immediately. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or a thin brush of olive oil.

Measure out your pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices. Finely chop the fresh parsley for the final garnish and set it aside. Keep the flour tortillas wrapped in a damp paper towel to maintain their moisture until you are ready to roll them.

Instructions

Cooking the Meat Filling

1. 1Brown the Beef
   Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Cook the meat, breaking it apart into small crumbles with a wooden spoon, until it is completely browned and no pink remains.
   Look for The meat is browned and fragrant.
   Tip Drain any excess grease from the skillet to keep the filling from becoming greasy.
2. 2Sauce the Filling
   Lower the heat to medium. Stir 1/2 cup of the pizza sauce into the browned beef. Cook for 2 more minutes to combine, allowing the flavors to meld. Ensure the ground beef reaches a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) before removing the skillet from the heat.
   Look for The meat is evenly coated and saucy.
   Safe temperature 160°F (71°C) internal temperature (ground meat)
   Tip Use a meat thermometer to guarantee food safety.

The ground beef should be completely browned with no pink remaining, and any excess grease drained from the skillet. Once the pizza sauce is stirred in, the meat filling should look moist, rich, and deeply aromatic, holding its shape without being overly runny.

Assembling the Enchiladas

3. 3Prepare the Baking Dish
   Spread 1/2 cup of pizza sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Warm the flour tortillas in the microwave for 15 seconds to make them pliable and easy to roll.
   Look for The tortillas are soft and warm.
   Tip A damp paper towel over the tortillas keeps them from drying out.
4. 4Roll the Enchiladas
   Lay a tortilla flat, add a generous scoop of the beef filling down the center, and sprinkle with a tablespoon of mozzarella cheese. Roll the tortilla up tightly and place it seam-side down in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
   Look for The tortillas are packed snugly in a single layer.
   Tip Keep the rolls tight so they do not open while baking.

The tortillas should be rolled tightly around the beef and cheese filling and arranged snugly in a single layer, seam-side down, in the baking dish. They should be evenly spaced and ready to be covered in the remaining sauce and toppings.

Baking to Golden Perfection

5. 5Top with Sauce and Cheese
   Pour the remaining pizza sauce evenly over the arranged enchiladas. Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese over the top, then arrange the pepperoni slices in an even layer across the cheese.
   Look for The enchiladas are fully covered with toppings.
   Tip Overlap the pepperoni slightly as they shrink during baking.
6. 6Bake and Garnish
   Bake in the preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling. Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
   Look for The cheese is golden brown and bubbling.
   Tip Letting the dish rest makes it much easier to slice and serve.

The casserole is finished when the mozzarella cheese is completely melted, bubbling vigorously around the edges, and dotted with golden-brown spots. The pepperoni slices should be slightly cupped and crispy around the edges, releasing a delicious savory aroma.

Common mistakes

One common mistake is overfilling the tortillas, which makes them difficult to roll and causes the savory filling to spill out during baking. Keep the portions moderate and roll them tightly. Another error is skipping the warming step for the tortillas; cold tortillas are stiff and will split open when rolled.

Lastly, avoid using too much sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, as this can make the bottom of the enchiladas unpleasantly soggy. A thin, even glaze of sauce is all that is needed to prevent sticking while keeping the texture perfect.

How to tell it’s done

To determine if the dish is fully cooked and safe to eat, ensure the ground beef filling reaches an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) during the initial skillet cooking phase. When baking, visual cues are your best guide.

The cheese should be fully melted, bubbling energetically, and turning a beautiful golden-brown color. The pepperoni slices must be crisp and slightly curled at the edges.

Let the baked casserole rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before slicing to allow the cheese and sauce to set, making it much easier to serve clean portions.

• Ground meat: 160°F (71°C) in the thickest part