Pizza Enchiladas

This fun and flavorful dinner mashup brings together the best parts of two family favorites: hearty meat lovers’ pizza and comforting cheesy enchiladas. Rolled in soft flour tortillas, the savory beef and pepperoni filling creates a meal that is both unique and incredibly satisfying.

It is the ultimate comfort food dinner, bubbling with melted cheese and zesty pizza sauce.

Recipe Details

• Flavor: Savory and bold, featuring a classic meat lovers’ pizza taste with Italian seasoning, garlic, and rich tomato sauce.
• Texture: Soft flour tortillas surround a meaty, creamy filling, all topped with gooey melted mozzarella and slightly crisp pepperoni edges.
• Time: This recipe requires some skillet cooking for the filling followed by a baking step to melt the cheese.
• Difficulty: Easy. It involves browning meat, stirring in filling ingredients, rolling tortillas, and baking.

What You’ll Need

To make this dish, you will need a hearty filling base of lean ground beef, veggies, and chopped pepperoni. The creamy interior is created with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses mixed right into the meat. You will also need large flour tortillas for rolling, plenty of pizza sauce for topping and filling, and extra cheese and pepperoni slices to finish it off.

Ingredient Notes

• Lean Ground Beef – Using lean beef ensures the filling isn’t too greasy inside the tortillas.
• Beef Pepperoni – This recipe uses pepperoni in two ways: chopped beef pepperoni adds flavor to the filling, while slices are used for the topping.
• Ricotta Cheese – This adds a wonderful creaminess to the meat mixture that mimics a lasagna or calzone texture.
• Mozzarella Cheese – You will need divided amounts for both the filling and the generous cheesy topping. Shredding it from a block gives the best melt.
• Flour Tortillas – Large flour tortillas are best for holding the substantial filling without tearing.
• Pizza Sauce – Choose a high-quality jarred sauce or your favorite homemade version. You will use a small amount inside and the rest on top.
• Bacon – Crumbled bacon adds a smoky, salty crunch to the interior filling.

Add-ins and Substitutions

• Switch the Protein – You can substitute Italian sausage or ground turkey for the beef if you prefer specific flavor profiles or a lighter option.
• Add more Veggies – Sliced mushrooms or black olives would be delicious additions to the skillet when cooking the onions and peppers.
• Spice it Up – Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the filling or sprinkle them on top before baking for a spicy kick.

How to Make Pizza Enchiladas

1. Brown the beef. Drop the lean ground beef into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble the beef well as it cooks until it is fully browned.
2. Sauté the aromatics. Once the beef is browned, add the diced yellow onion, diced green bell pepper, and the chopped beef pepperoni to the skillet. Stir well and continue cooking until the veggies have softened.
3. Add garlic. Stir in the chopped garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, just until fragrant.
4. Make the filling. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add 1/3 cup of pizza sauce, the Italian seasoning, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and the 1/3 cup of crumbled bacon. Stir all the ingredients together until they are well combined and creamy.
5. Assemble the enchiladas. Roll up the filling inside the large flour tortillas and place them seam-side down on a baking sheet.
6. Top the dish. Pour the remaining 2 cups of pizza sauce evenly over the rolled-up tortillas. Sprinkle the 2 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese on top, followed by the beef pepperoni slices.
7. Bake. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake until the cheese is fully melted and just starting to brown around the edges.
8. Serve. Once the cheese is bubbly and golden, your cheesy baked pizza enchiladas are ready to serve.

Recipe Tips

• Don’t overstuff: Distribute the filling evenly among the 8 tortillas so they are easy to roll and fit perfectly on the baking sheet.
• Oven Temperature: While you can bake these until the cheese melts, a standard oven temperature of 375°F usually works perfectly for heating the center and melting the cheese within 15-20 minutes.
• Grate your own cheese: Pre-bagged cheese contains anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting into that perfect gooey layer.
• Broil for color: If the cheese is melted but you want more browning, you can broil the enchiladas for the last minute or two just watch them closely to prevent burning.

FAQs

• Can I use corn tortillas? Flour tortillas are recommended for this recipe as they are more pliable and hold the heavy meat and cheese filling better than corn tortillas, which might crack.
• Why use ricotta cheese? Ricotta acts as a binder and adds a creamy, lasagna-like texture to the beef filling, keeping it moist inside the tortilla.
• Can I freeze these? Yes, you can assemble the enchiladas and freeze them before baking. Cover tightly with foil. When ready to eat, bake from frozen, adding extra time to ensure they are heated through.

Serving Suggestions

• Garlic Bread: Serve with warm garlic knots or cheesy breadsticks to scoop up any extra sauce.
• Salad: A fresh Caesar salad or a simple green salad with Italian dressing helps balance the richness of the cheesy enchiladas.
• Dipping Sauce: Offer extra warm pizza sauce or marinara on the side for dipping.

Make This Recipe in Advance

• Prep: You can cook the beef and veggie filling ahead of time and store it in the fridge. When you are ready to eat, simply mix in the cheeses, fill the tortillas, top, and bake.
• Assembly: You can assemble the entire tray earlier in the day and keep it refrigerated until dinner time. You may need to add a few minutes to the baking time if the dish is cold from the fridge.
• Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until hot.

Meat Lovers’ Pizza Enchiladas

---

• Author: Samantha Brooks
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 8 enchiladas 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

This fun and flavorful Meat Lovers’ Pizza Enchiladas recipe mashes up two family favorites into one incredible meal. Soft flour tortillas are stuffed with a creamy, savory filling of ground beef, pepperoni, bacon, and ricotta cheese, then smothered in zesty pizza sauce and melted mozzarella. It is the ultimate comfort food dinner that brings a bold, cheesy twist to your weeknight rotation.

See also  crab and shrimp stuffed salmon

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Enchiladas

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 cup diced yellow onion
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 3 oz beef pepperoni, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1/3 cup pizza sauce
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup crumbled bacon
• 8 large flour tortillas

For the Topping

• 2 cups pizza sauce
• 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 oz pepperoni slices

---

Instructions

Preheat and Brown Beef
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the lean ground beef. Crumble the beef well as it cooks until it is fully browned and no pink remains.

Sauté the Aromatics
Add the diced yellow onion, diced green bell pepper, and the chopped beef pepperoni to the skillet with the cooked beef. Stir well and continue cooking until the vegetables have softened.

Add Garlic
Stir in the chopped garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, or just until the garlic becomes fragrant.

Make the Filling
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in 1/3 cup of pizza sauce, the Italian seasoning, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and the crumbled bacon. Mix all the ingredients together until they are well combined and the texture is creamy.

Assemble the Enchiladas
Divide the beef mixture evenly among the 8 flour tortillas. Roll them up tightly and place them seam-side down on a baking sheet or in a large baking dish.

Top the Dish
Pour the remaining 2 cups of pizza sauce evenly over the rolled-up tortillas. Sprinkle the generous 2 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese on top, followed by the pepperoni slices.

Bake
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.

Serve
Remove from the oven. If you prefer browned cheese, you can broil for 1-2 minutes (watching closely). Serve hot while the cheese is gooey.

Notes

Shred Your Own Cheese: For the best melt, buy a block of mozzarella and shred it yourself. Pre-bagged cheeses contain anti-caking agents that can prevent the cheese from melting into a smooth, gooey layer.

The Ricotta Factor: Don’t skip the ricotta! It acts as a binder and adds a creamy, lasagna-like texture to the beef filling, ensuring the inside of the tortilla stays moist and flavorful.

Make Ahead: You can assemble the enchiladas earlier in the day and keep the tray refrigerated. When ready to eat, add a few extra minutes to the baking time if the dish is going into the oven cold.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American Fusion

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 Enchilada
• Calories: 640
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 1450mg
• Fat: 38g
• Saturated Fat: 16g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 32g
• Cholesterol: 95mg

Keywords: pizza enchiladas, meat lovers dinner, beef and pepperoni recipe, baked enchiladas, easy family dinner, cheesy beef casserole