Welcome to the most delicious food fusion you’ll try all year! This Pizza Enchiladas Recipe is where the cheesy, savory goodness of pizza meets the comforting, roll-up satisfaction of enchiladas. Imagine all your favorite pizza toppings—seasoned ground beef, spicy pepperoni, and gooey mozzarella—all wrapped up in a soft tortilla and baked in a rich pizza sauce. It’s an incredible weeknight dinner mashup and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for hectic weeknights, lazy weekends, or a fun game day food idea. Get ready to ditch the delivery menus, because this easy, customizable, and unbelievably tasty dish is about to become a staple in your home. This ultimate pizza enchilada casserole is about to change your dinner game!
Why This Recipe is a Game-Changer
- The Best of Both Worlds: This innovative stuffed tortilla recipe beautifully combines two all-time favorite foods into one epic casserole, offering the ultimate comfort food experience.
- Insanely Easy: With simple, straightforward steps, this is a perfect recipe for cooks of all skill levels. It’s truly an easy pizza enchiladas creation.
- Family-Approved: A total hit with both kids and adults, making it a truly family friendly dinner recipe. Say goodbye to dinner-time complaints!
- Completely Customizable: Easily swap proteins, add veggies, or change up the cheese to make your own unique enchilada style pizza. Your kitchen, your rules!
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Make this dish ahead of time for a stress-free dinner later in the week, enjoying delicious pizza enchiladas whenever you need them.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s break down the simple components that come together to create this magnificent pizza casserole with tortillas. We’ve organized them by their role in the dish for clarity.
For the Savory Pizza Filling:
- Lean Ground Beef: The hearty base of our filling, ensuring a robust flavor for our ground beef pizza enchiladas.
- Diced Yellow Onion & Green Bell Pepper: The aromatic foundation that adds classic pizza flavor and texture.
- Pizza Sauce: The heart of the recipe! Use your favorite brand to ensure a rich base for your enchilada recipe with pizza sauce.
- Seasonings: A simple mix of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper is all you need to elevate the flavors.
- Pepperoni: Mini pepperonis are great for even distribution, but you can chop regular ones too for a classic pepperoni pizza bake feel.
For Assembling the Enchiladas:
- Flour Tortillas: Large (fajita-size) tortillas are best for holding all that delicious filling without tearing.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Can you even call it pizza without mozzarella? We’ll be using it generously in the filling and on top for maximum gooeyness in these cheesy beef enchiladas.
For the Topping & Garnish:
- More Pizza Sauce & Mozzarella: For that classic saucy, cheesy enchilada top, creating a beautiful golden crust.
- Optional Toppings: Sliced black olives, mushrooms, more mini pepperonis for decoration, or fresh parsley for a pop of color and freshness.
Step-by-Step Instructions: How to Make Pizza Enchiladas
Follow these simple steps for perfect pizza enchiladas every time. This guide on how to make pizza enchiladas will ensure a delicious outcome for this creative dinner recipe.
1. Cook the Beef and Veggie Filling
Start by browning the ground beef with the diced onion and bell pepper in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and the veggies are tender. Drain off any excess grease thoroughly. This step is crucial for a non-greasy, flavorful filling that is the foundation of our pizza enchilada casserole.
2. Create the Pizza Filling Mixture
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in 1 cup of pizza sauce, all the seasonings (Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper), half of the pepperoni, and one cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese into the skillet with the beef mixture. Simmer for a few minutes to let the flavors meld together beautifully. Your kitchen should be smelling incredible right about now!
3. Assemble Your Pizza Enchiladas
Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread a thin layer of the remaining pizza sauce on the bottom. This prevents the tortillas from sticking and adds moisture. Warm your tortillas slightly in the microwave (about 15-20 seconds per stack of 5) to make them more pliable and easier to roll without cracking. Spoon the beef mixture evenly down the center of each tortilla, roll it up tightly, and place it seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
4. Sauce, Cheese, and Bake!
Pour the remaining pizza sauce evenly over the rolled tortillas. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella cheese generously over the top. Add your remaining pepperoni and any other desired toppings like sliced olives, mushrooms, or extra bell peppers. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden brown. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the casserole to set, making for cleaner slices of your incredible pizza enchiladas.
Pro Tips for Recipe Success
- Don’t Skip Warming the Tortillas: A quick 15-20 seconds in the microwave makes them flexible and prevents tearing when you roll them, ensuring your stuffed tortilla recipe comes out perfectly.
- Avoid Overstuffing: It can be tempting to pack the tortillas full, but this leads to messy rolling and potential breakage. A generous but not overflowing amount is key for neat pizza enchiladas.
- Grease Your Baking Dish: A thin layer of cooking spray or olive oil on the bottom, coupled with a layer of sauce, prevents the enchiladas from sticking and becoming dry, which is important for any pizza casserole with tortillas.
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can prevent it from melting as smoothly. For the ultimate, gooey cheese pull, grate a block of low-moisture mozzarella yourself.
- Let it Rest: Allowing the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after it comes out of the oven lets it set up, making it much easier to serve clean, intact portions of your delicious cheesy beef enchiladas.
Fun Variations & Customizations
This Pizza Enchiladas Recipe is a fantastic canvas for your culinary creativity. Here are some ideas to make this creative dinner recipe your own:
Protein Swaps:
- Spicy Italian Sausage: Swap the ground beef for Italian sausage (hot or mild) for an extra kick of flavor in your pepperoni pizza bake style dish.
- Shredded Chicken: Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken tossed in a little pizza sauce for a super-fast filling.
- Vegetarian Pizza Enchiladas: Replace the meat with a hearty mix of sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, and onions. You could also use a plant-based ground meat alternative for a fulfilling vegetarian pizza enchiladas experience.
Topping & Filling Ideas:
- Supreme Style: Elevate your tortilla pizza bake by adding sautéed mushrooms, black olives, and bell peppers directly to the filling mixture.
- Hawaiian Twist: For a sweet and savory vibe, add diced ham and pineapple to the filling.
- Meat Lover’s: Combine ground beef, Italian sausage, and bacon bits in the filling for an ultimate meaty treat.
Low-Carb / Keto Option:
- To make this a more keto-friendly meal, simply use low-carb tortillas and opt for a sugar-free pizza sauce. This makes it a delicious low carb pizza enchiladas option without sacrificing flavor.
What to Serve with Pizza Enchiladas
While this is a hearty, all-in-one meal that functions as a fantastic family friendly dinner recipe, a fresh side dish can round it out perfectly, enhancing your comfort food casserole experience.
- Simple Green Salad: A crisp Caesar salad or a simple garden salad with Italian vinaigrette cuts through the richness of the casserole, offering a refreshing contrast.
- Garlic Bread or Breadsticks: Lean into the pizza theme and serve with a side of warm garlic bread or breadsticks for dipping into any extra sauce.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted broccoli, zucchini, or asparagus adds a healthy and delicious component to the meal, complementing the rich flavors of the pizza enchilada casserole.
Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Instructions
This dish is just as good, if not better, the next day! Making it perfect for leftover pizza ideas and meal prepping. Here’s how to handle leftovers of your pizza enchiladas:
- Storing: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: For best results, reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through. Alternatively, place the entire baking dish (covered with foil) in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes, or until bubbling and hot.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions (Make-Ahead Meal): Assemble the enchiladas completely in a freezer-safe dish but DO NOT BAKE. Cover tightly with both plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. To bake from frozen, remove the plastic wrap, cover with foil, and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 45-50 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 10-15 minutes to allow the cheese to brown and melt perfectly, creating a delicious easy pizza enchiladas meal later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use corn tortillas instead of flour for this Pizza Enchiladas Recipe?
You can, but flour tortillas are generally recommended for this recipe. They are more pliable and create a softer, more casserole-like texture that mimics pizza crust better. If you opt for corn tortillas, you’ll need to warm them briefly in hot oil or a damp paper towel in the microwave to make them rollable without cracking, especially for an enchilada style pizza.
How do I prevent my Pizza Enchiladas from getting soggy?
The key is to not oversaturate them with sauce on the inside. Most of the sauce should go on top of the rolled tortillas just before baking. A thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan prevents sticking but won’t make them soggy. Also, ensure your ground beef mixture is well-drained after cooking to avoid excess liquid.
Can I make Pizza Enchiladas vegetarian?
Absolutely! It’s a very easy swap to create vegetarian pizza enchiladas. Omit the ground beef and pepperoni and load up the filling with your favorite veggies like sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, zucchini, and black olives. Sauté them until tender before mixing with the pizza sauce and cheese for a flavorful, meat-free option.
What’s the best cheese to use for this Pizza Enchiladas Recipe?
Low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella is the classic choice for that perfect pizza cheese pull and golden-brown top. However, a blend of mozzarella and provolone would be delicious, offering a slightly sharper flavor. You could also add a sprinkle of Parmesan on top for extra salty, nutty flavor, enhancing your cheesy beef enchiladas.
📋 The Best Pizza Enchiladas Recipe
Ready to make the ultimate comfort food mashup? Find the full, printable Pizza Enchiladas Recipe with exact measurements and detailed instructions in the recipe card below. Don’t forget to leave a comment and a rating if you try it! Your feedback helps other readers and us. Enjoy this fantastic game day food idea or weeknight delight!
For more daily recipes and tips, follow us on Facebook!
Click here to join our community!