Inspired by a viral TikTok recipe, these Lazy Enchiladas With Taquitos combine the convenience of frozen taquitos with the irresistible flavors of classic enchiladas, creating a simple 20-minute recipe that is great for busy days or when you're looking for a tasty, no-fuss meal.
Recipe: $9.18 | Per Serving: $1.84 | Servings: 5
Delicious enchiladas made with taquitos are a fusion of Tex-Mex flavors that are sure to satisfy your cravings. This inventive dish combines the convenience of frozen taquitos with the rich and zesty appeal of enchiladas.
This TikTok recipe is so quick that you can prep it while the oven preheats. Plus, you can whip up fast side dishes like Easy Salsa Rice or Refried Beans while these lazy man enchiladas bake.
Whether as a creative weeknight dinner or a fun party appetizer, these easy enchiladas with taquitos bring a playful twist to traditional enchiladas.
Bring these frozen taquito enchiladas to the table on Taco Tuesday for a crowd-pleaser, and if you're looking for similar recipes, check out my Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice, Taco Mac and Cheese, and Air Fryer Tortilla Chips.
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- They're fast to make. Enjoy a speedy and hassle-free dinner with this taquito bake. You can have a piping hot meal on the table in less than 30 minutes, making it an excellent choice for those bustling evenings when time is of the essence.
- Minimal ingredients. With just three items, these lazy enchiladas offer the perfect canvas to get creative with your favorite toppings, promising a mouthwatering and personalized dining experience.
- They're versatile. This recipe allows you to experiment with various combinations, such as opting for beef taquitos with red enchilada sauce or choosing chicken taquitos with green enchilada sauce. For added variety and to please everyone's tastes, why not prepare a pan featuring both options?
🥘 Ingredients
Ingredient Notes:
Boxed Frozen Taquitos: You can use a box of beef or chicken flavor (any flavor works) but a 20 count box fits perfectly within a 9x13 baking dish. You will NOT need to thaw the taquitos for these frozen taquitos enchiladas.
Enchilada Sauce: Use red or green. I like beef taquitos with red sauce and chicken taquitos with green sauce.
Cheese: I like to use storebought shredded because it saves time, but shredding cheese yourself will make it more melty and gooey.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🌮 Topping Suggestions
Flavorful topping ideas include sour cream, sliced black olives, jalapeños, fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, and pico de gallo or salsa. Creamy avocado or guacamole adds richness, while chopped green onions and shredded lettuce provide freshness. Add sliced onions and lime wedges for savory and citrusy touches. Complete with grated cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese.
🔪 Instructions for Lazy Enchiladas With Taquitos
Step 1: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2: Grease the inside of a 9x13 baking dish to prevent sticking.
Step 3: Place your frozen taquitos in the baking dish, make sure they are arranged in a single layer to promote even cooking.
Step 4: Lightly spray the tops of the taquitos with non-stick cooking spray.
Step 5: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.
Step 6: After removing from the oven, evenly spread the enchilada sauce over the taquitos, followed by sprinkling shredded cheese on top.
Step 7: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 8: Once done, serve the enchiladas warm, and garnish with your preferred toppings.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy your delicious taquito enchiladas with your favorite toppings.
🍴 Recipe Tips
- Getting Ready: Before you start, make sure to spray the baking dish with cooking spray. This will help prevent sticking and make cleanup easier later. Don't forget to spray the tops of the taquitos too. This step is important for making them crispy before adding the sauce.
- Cooking Method: To make your taquito-based enchiladas taste better, you need to bake the taquitos twice. First, bake them on their own to warm them up. Then, bake them again with the sauce and cheese on top. If you bake them all together at once, they won't turn out as good. Also, arrange the taquitos in the dish evenly for even cooking. It's okay if they overlap a little!
- Improving Texture: It's important to have crispy taquitos. Baking them before adding the sauce and cheese helps keep them crispy, even after they're cooked again.
- Making Cleanup Easy: By spraying the baking dish with cooking spray, you'll make cleaning up much simpler. This step helps prevent messes and ensures you can enjoy your meal without worrying about the cleanup afterward.
👩🏻🍳 Storage
- Refrigeration: Leftovers can be stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. Individual containers work well, especially for kids' portions. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or oven when ready to eat.
- Freezing: If you plan to freeze the enchiladas, assemble them, cover the baking dish, and freeze for up to 2 months. Ensure to thaw them before baking when you're ready to serve.
- Maintaining Moisture: Enchiladas may feel dried out after storing and reheating. Having extra sauce or wet toppings like sour cream or queso on hand is recommended to enhance the moisture and flavor.
🍳 Reheating
- Oven Reheating: Leftovers for this taquitos enchilada recipe can be reheated in the oven until warmed through. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for about 10 minutes.
- Microwave Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave for a quicker option. Microwave for 1-2 minutes, depending on the quantity you're reheating.
- Air Fryer Reheating: Another option is to use an air fryer for reheating. Place the leftovers in an oven-safe baking dish, such as an 8-inch cake pan, and heat at 400 degrees F for about 3-4 minutes.
💭 Recipe FAQs
You can use any brand that you would like or that you already know and love. I personally enjoy the Aldi store brand but you can use any of them.
Enchiladas are usually served with other Mexican side dishes like rice and beans or chips and guacamole, but you can also switch things up by doing grilled veggies, corn salad or black bean salad.
I recommend Guacamole Without Cilantro, Jiffy Banana Cornbread, or Jalapeno Cheddar Beer Bread.
By swapping out the flavor of taquitos, cheeses, or sauce you can really make a lot of variations with simple changes. With all of the different combinations available, it could take you hundreds of tries before finally trying them all!
❤️ More Delicious Dinner Recipes
If you tried these Lazy Enchiladas With Taquitos, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Lazy Enchiladas With Taquitos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 box 20 count frozen taquitos, (beef or chicken) ($4.98)
- 1 can (10oz) enchilada sauce (red or green) ($1.98)
- 8 ounces shredded cheese (Mexican blend, Cheddar, or Monterey Jack) ($2.22)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Grease the inside of a 9x13 baking dish.
- Arrange the frozen taquitos in a single layer in the baking dish.
- Spray the tops of the taquitos with cooking spray.
- Bake for 10 minutes and then remove from the oven.
- Spread the enchilada sauce evenly over the tops of the taquitos, then sprinkle with shredded cheese.
- Bake in the oven for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve topped with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, sour cream, cilantro, etc.
Notes
- Follow the steps in order to ensure crispy taquitos and even cooking.
- Pre-cooking the taquitos alone helps crisp the skin and warm the centers. Adding everything at once may result in soggy or undercooked taquitos.
- For reheating, microwave taquitos on a plate for 1-2 minutes, adjusting time based on quantity.
- Any brand of taquitos can be used, but sticking with your preferred brand is recommended for best results.
Tim says
Hi Nicole-
I have gone red & green and loved the simplicity of this recipe both times.
Cheryl B says
So easy and so good! Family loved it. Used Chicken Taquitos (flour) and Green Enchilada Sauce. Next time I'll try with corn Taquitos to see which we like better. Too easy! Did a side of Mexican Rice with it.
Nicole says
That sounds delicious. So glad your family enjoyed the recipe!
Diane says
Perfect! So easy & taste great. Your tip about baking taquitos first was what this recipe needed. Getting to old to make all meals from scratch!
Thanks for sharing. Keep up the good cooking!
Nicole says
I'm so glad you liked them! 🙂
Anne says
I used chicken taquitos, mild red enchilada sauce & put black olives & green onions on top before putting in oven foil covered. I absolutely loved this! It was fast & tasty! 375 for 25 minutes. Garnished with sour cream, mild salsa & shredded lettuce when done :). I will make again!
Nicole says
Ah yes, I'm so glad to hear it. That sounds delicious!
Melissa Huffman says
I can't wait to try this. I love enchiladas and I typically spend hours making them, well my crockpot anyways to cook the meat. I'm always looking for fast or easy meals so I'm definitely going to try this out!
Nicole says
Making enchiladas the traditional way can really take a lot of time out of your day, that's one of the perks to this recipe 🙂
Debbi Hook says
A great weeknight meal. I was surprised at how good it was! Thanks for sharing.
Nicole says
So glad to hear you liked it!
Dale says
I’m going to try this soon.