How to Make Mexican Cheese Sauce for Enchiladas

November 30, 2021

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I think I just may have found the best way to make enchiladas: enchiladas with cheese sauce! Did you see my post about making this incredible 5 ingredient cheese sauce? I use it on all sorts of items from bread to broccoli. But, one of my favorite ways to use it is on enchiladas! Our household loves enchiladas so I'm always loving coming up with new ways to create them.

Whenever I go to a Mexican restaurant (which I LOVE to do!), I am always drawn to the menu item that lists "smothered in cheese sauce." It's something I never thought to do at home, and it's indulgent! I've always wondered how they do it, and finally figured out how to make enchiladas with cheese sauce at home!

How to make the best enchiladas with cheese sauce and ground turkey

I should note – I have a friend that never orders the "smothered in cheese sauce" item because she's always afraid it will be soggy. If you cook this properly, you'll just have amazing, delicious enchiladas and nothing soggy to worry about-the cheese crisps up the top of the enchiladas!

The most amazing enchiladas with cheese sauce

This recipe is simple to put together and using your homemade cheese sauce brings enchiladas to the next level. And if you want them extra cheesy, you can always add in some shredded cheddar or shredded Mexican cheese on top. Why not?!

The most delicious enchiladas with cheese sauce

I made these enchiladas with ground turkey, but these could easily be made with ground beef or ground chicken instead.

The best ever enchiladas with cheese sauce and ground turkey

Before the twins were born, I prepped a handful of meals so I would have something to eat on those days that were extra crazy. One of the things I made was my freezer chicken enchilada casserole. Enchiladas – in their many iterations – reheat so nicely, which is why they always top my list of freeze meals.

How to make delicious cheese enchiladas

I have some great enchilada recipes on the blog, but I realize that I have never really made traditional enchiladas. I have a list of enchilada-related recipes (below), but it was about time to create a classic enchilada.

homemade enchilada sauce
shrimp and black bean enchiladas
chicken enchilada flatbread
cheesy chicken and rice enchilada casserole

The best ground turkey enchiladas with cheese sauce

At our house, we almost always cook with ground turkey, as opposed to ground beef. So I like to think that these are slightly healthier, if you ignore the whole smothered in cheese thing. You could, of course, switch it up and use ground beef or chicken. And one of my favorite tricks that I've shared in other posts, is to use a rotisserie chicken that you can buy already made at the grocery store. Rotisserie chicken has become my best friend since my days have become exponentially more busy!

Other recipes you might enjoy:

Freezer Meal; Chicken Enchilada Casserole
5 Ingredient Shrimp and Black Bean Enchiladas
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Enchilada Casserole

Enchiladas with cheese sauce, cheese sauce enchiladas, how to make enchiladas with cheese sauce, ground turkey enchiladas

2 teaspoons olive oil or canola oil
1/2 of a large yellow onion chopped
1 bell pepper any color, chopped
1 package ground turkey about 1.25 pounds
1 Tbs cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 cup corn kernels I use frozen corn
1 can 14.5 oz enchilada sauce, to heat level of choice
1 package ~10-10" tortillas large tortillas
1 1/2 cups cheese sauce
1 large tomato chopped (for topping)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro for topping

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly spray a baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Cook onion and pepper in 1-2 teaspoons olive oil for 2 minutes
Add in ground turkey, cumin, chili powder and garlic salt and cook over high heat, breaking up turkey until cooked through and no more pink remains
When everything is done cooking, add in corn and enchilada sauce. Stir.
Roll about 2 big spoon fulls of mixture into each tortilla. Put tightly rolled tortillas into baking dish until the dish is full of rolled tortillas.
Pour cheese sauce over the top of enchiladas.
Cook at 400 for 15 minutes, until edges are slightly brown and cheese sauce is bubbly. Remove from oven.
Top with diced tomatoes and cilantro.