Make-at-home enchiladas that taste just like a dish you can order at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Packed with flavor and cheese!

A pan of cheese enchiladas, a bowl of tortilla chips and sour cream

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Below you will find tips, tricks and helpful hints for making this recipe including step by step instructions with pictures. If you would like to go directly to the recipe, scroll down to the recipe card.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Did you ever have that one restaurant as a child that you absolutely LOVED? I did. It was called Casa Melinda and I absolutely loved when my parents would take us there.

I loved the Cheese Enchiladas, the warm salsa, and the hot sopapillas with honey butter that were served complimentary after every meal.

A pan of cheese enchiladas, with a plate of enchiladas

Unfortunately, the restaurant closed and I was heart broken.

I happen to be a member of a Facebook group for residents of our town and one day someone asked if any former employees happened to have any Casa Melinda recipes.

Low and behold, a few of them posted the amazing recipes for their enchilada sauce, cheese enchiladas, and salsa!

A pan of baked restaurant style cheese enchiladas

The recipes were written for a large restaurant batch, so when I made them for my family, I had to make a few adjustments, but the result is almost identical to the enchiladas I used to enjoy with my family as a child.

I hope you enjoy this amazing recipe. By the way, my husband loves this enchilada sauce so much, he requested we put it on everything. I mean everything! Haha 😉

A jar of homemade enchilada sauce and a pan of cheese enchiladas

Ingredients

*Ingredient amounts are located in the recipe card at the end of this post.

Enchilada Sauce

Butter
Water
Tomato Sauce
Salt
Chili Powder
Paprika
Beef Bullion
Flour

Cheese Enchiladas

Corn Tortillas
Shredded Cheese
Green Onions
Vegetable Oil, for frying

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Directions

Enchilada Sauce

[1] In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.

[2] Add 4 cups of water, tomato sauce, salt, chili powder, paprika, and beef bullion.

[3] Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Bring enchilada sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

[4] Mix together the flour and the remaining water (1 cup).

[5] Pour the mixture into the sauce and whisk over medium heat until it reaches your desired thickness.

[6] Keep warm while you prepare the enchiladas.

Cheese Enchilada Assembly

[1] In a small skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.

In a small skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.

[2] Using tongs, place the tortillas in the hot oil for about 10 seconds on each side until the tortilla begins to bubble.

[3] Place the tortillas on a paper towel to drain.

Place the tortillas on a paper towel to drain.

[4] Mix 2 cups of the shredded cheese with the chopped onions, reserving some of the onions for garnish.

[5] Cover the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish with enchilada sauce.

Cover the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with enchilada sauce.

[6] Add about 3-4 tablespoons of cheese to each tortilla, roll up and place in the baking dish.

[7] Cover the enchiladas with sauce and top with the remaining shredded cheese.

[8] Bake the enchiladas at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

More Mexican Recipes to Try:

Watch the video here:

YouTube thumbnail image for Mexican Restaurant Cheese Enchiladas.

Mexican Restaurant Cheese Enchiladas with Red Sauce

Name: Mexican Restaurant Cheese Enchiladas with Red Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 12 Corn Tortillas; 4 Cups Shredded Cheese, divided; 1/2 Cup Green Onions, chopped; 1 Cup Vegetable Oil, for frying; 1/4 Cup Butter; 5 Cups Water, divided; 1 (8 ounce) Can Tomato Sauce; 1/4 Teaspoon Salt; 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder; 1/2 Tablespoon Paprika; 1 1/2 Tablespoons Beef Bullion; 1/2 Cup Flour

Yield: 12 Enchiladas

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Make-at-home enchiladas that taste just like a dish you can order at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Packed with flavor and cheese!

Ingredients

Enchilada Sauce

1/4 Cup Butter
5 Cups Water, divided
1 (8 ounce) Can Tomato Sauce
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1/2 Tablespoon Paprika
1 1/2 Tablespoons Beef Bullion
1/2 Cup Flour

Enchiladas

12 Corn Tortillas
4 Cups Shredded Cheese, divided
1/2 Cup Green Onions, chopped
1 Cup Vegetable Oil, for frying

Instructions

Enchilada Sauce: In a large sauce pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Add 4 cups of water, tomato sauce, salt, chili powder, paprika, and beef bullion.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Mix together the flour and the remaining water (1 cup).
Pour the mixture into the sauce and whisk over medium heat until it reaches your desired thickness.Keep warm while you prepare the enchiladas.
Cheese Enchilada Assembly: In a small skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Using tongs, place the tortillas in the hot oil for about 10 seconds on each side until the tortilla begins to bubble. Place the tortillas on a paper towel to drain.
Mix 2 cups of the shredded cheese with the chopped onions, reserving some of the onions for garnish.
Cover the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with enchilada sauce.
Add about 3-4 tablespoons of cheese to each tortilla, roll up and place in the baking dish.
Cover the enchiladas with sauce and top with the remaining shredded cheese.
Bake the enchiladas at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 2 Enchiladas
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 859Total Fat: 72gSaturated Fat: 22gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 44gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 810mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 23g