Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (2024)

Buy simple ingredients for Trader Joe’s Red Sauce Enchiladas, an easy main dish with ground turkey to serve for any Mexican feast!

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (1)

Friends, we hosted a “Family Dinner” with our church this past Sunday night and served theseTrader Joe’s Red Sauce Enchiladas!

Table of Contents

Red sauce enchiladas

Family Dinners occur when different people in the church sign up to host a potluck dinner for however many they can accommodate! It’s a fun way to get to meet new people! (You may also remember my Bread and Wine post, here.)

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (2)

Last week we hosted 14 and had a blast.

I made three pans of my famous Trader Joe’s Red Sauce Enchiladas, a recipe I’m sharing with you today.

Trader Joe’s Red Sauce Enchiladas

Need a quick, delicious enchilada recipe? If you have a Trader Joe’s, it’s just one stop, grab the groceries, and then run home to assemble.

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (3)

How do you make a quick red sauce?

  • Grab two bottles of Trader Joe’s Enchilada Sauce
  • Two tubs Trader Joe’s Homestyle Salsa Especial, mild (but you can buy their “hot” if you want them spicy!)
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock

This makes the BEST sauce, guys!

Assemble and bake right before the guests arrive!

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (4)

Hosting a Church Family Dinner

Now, it takes a little risk to say “I’ll host,” not knowing who your guests will be. But this is what I love about hospitality—it is risky sometimes, but oh, so worth it.

It always works out when your heart is in the right place.

We enjoyed every minute with our wonderful guests and everyone hung around the table for a long time!

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (5)

How to plan a church family dinner

This time I received the “guest list” of who was coming (remember people sign up through the church) a few days ahead of time.

I quickly emailed our guests and told them what to bring.

Honestly, I’ve been hosting for a long time now, and I always try to think of how to make a process more efficient.

A sign-up list would mean a lot of going back and forth, and I’m not into that.

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (6)

I also don’t ask about food allergies and diets anymore with a large group. I figure if people sign up to come to a “potluck, ” they will take care of their own dietary needs. It’s not up to the host to make a special menu for just one person.

I’d love to hear from readers on this issue, if you feel inclined.

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (7)

It all works out – every time. I’ve had every kind of diet in my home, believe me, and I’m always amazed by how mature and unassuming our guests are.

It’s all about grace and taking care of ourselves, right?

Now, for a smaller party, I have told my guests ahead of time that I’m cooking salmon. Rarely does someone have an allergy to salmon, but it has happened. In that case, I changed the menu. No problem!

It’s dicey.

Hospitality and menu planning. LOL

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (8)

Set the table

I set the table for 14.

Made my usual “chips and salsa board” for the appetizer.

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (9)

Guests brought salads, beans, and rice.

The bottom line as a host, friends, is to do your best. Things will not be perfect, but you learn to go with the flow with a joyful heart.

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (10)

Oh, and two of our guests showed up at 4 pm, when the party started at 5 pm! Oops! It happens, we’ve all been there, on both sides. You are gracious, give your guests a job to do, or send them out on a walk.

Whatever works for you!

More enchilada recipes to try:

Change up enchiladas and try these recipes: Sweet Potato Collard Green Enchiladas with Adobe Beef,Vegetarian Sweet Potato Bean Enchiladas, Best Enchilada Sloppy Joe Recipe [Taste and Tell], andInstant Pot / Pressure Cooker Shredded Beef Enchiladas [Pressure Cooking Today].

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (11)

3.57 stars (23 reviews)

Leave a Review

Get the Recipe:

Trader Joe’s Red Sauce Enchiladas

Makes 3-4 9x13 pans (depending on whether you like to squish your enchiladas together or not). Easy to cut the recipe in half.

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Resting: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Yield: 16

Print RecipePin RecipeSave Recipe

Ingredients

  • Olive oil
  • 2 large white onions, diced
  • 3 pounds ground turkey
  • 2 Tbsp. chili powder
  • 3 Tbsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 packages Trader Joe’s Corn & Wheat Tortillas, 36
  • 2 12 oz bottles Trader Joe’s Enchilada Sauce
  • 2 12 oz tubs Trader Joe’s Homestyle Salsa Especial, mild
  • 1 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 2 15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
  • 2 15 oz can black beans, drained
  • 6-8 cups white cheese, or Mexican cheese mixture, grated

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  • Heat a large saute pan to medium heat; add olive oil and saute the onions for 5 minutes, until clear and cooked. Add the ground turkey and cook for another 5-7 minutes, until cooked through. Add the spices; season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook through and set aside.

  • In a medium saucepan add the enchilada sauce, salsa, and chicken stock. Stir and cook on medium heat until hot; turn off heat and set aside.

  • Drain the corn; drain and rinse the black beans.

  • In a very large bowl, add the meat mixture and the corn and beans. Gently stir.

  • Prepare 3-4 9x13 pans with cooking spray. Use 3 pans if you like to squish the enchiladas together, or 4 if you like them more spread out.

  • Place 3/4 cup of red sauce at the bottom of each pan.

  • Preheat 12 tortillas at a time (wrapped in a damp paper towel in the microwave) for about 45 seconds. This will make them hot and soft and easier to roll.

  • Dip each tortilla into the sauce, place a handful of cheese where?, then about 1/4 cup of taco meat mixture. Roll and place the enchiladas seam side down in the pan. Fill the pans with enchiladas. Pour the remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

  • Cook the enchiladas for 25 minutes, until bubbly and hot. Remove from oven and allow to sit for about 5 minutes, or cover with foil until you are ready to serve.

  • Serve with sour cream, cilantro, extra salsa, and guacamole, if desired.

Cuisine: Mexican

Course: Main Course

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (12)

Related Posts:

  • Mexican Ground Turkey Olive Pasta Bake
  • Apple Cider-Brined Turkey with Savory Herb Gravy
  • Ground Turkey Stroganoff Baguette Sandwiches
  • BEST Mexican Slaw Dip Recipe
Simple Trader Joe's Red Sauce Enchiladas (2024)

FAQs

How do you doctor up canned red enchilada sauce? ›

Here are a few canned enchilada sauce flavoring suggestions. Add fresh ingredients - Onion, garlic, and peppers are obvious additions. I like to finely chop or mince these ingredients when adding them to enchilada sauce, giving them a quick saute in butter (or bacon grease) beforehand.

Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

It isn't necessary to cover enchiladas while baking. All of an enchiladas components are cooked and you are just heating them through when you bake them. Ideally your ingredients will be room temperature, not ice cold, when you assemble the enchiladas.

Do you put sauce on enchiladas before or after baking? ›

Easy Cheese Enchiladas Recipe

Happy to report it couldn't be easier. Step 1: Make 10 minute homemade red enchilada sauce using fridge and pantry staples. Step 2: Sprinkle shredded Mexican blend cheese into the centers of corn tortillas then roll and place inside a casserole dish. Step 3: Cover with red sauce then bake.

What can I add to red sauce to make it taste better? ›

Briny ingredients like olives or capers are another way to brighten up your pasta sauce while also introducing texture and depth of flavor. Roughly chop a handful and stir them into your sauce while it's heating up on the stove.

What can I add to canned sauce to make it better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Canned Spaghetti Sauce
  1. 1 - Extra virgin olive oil. Adding a good amount of a flavorful olive oil will go a long way in infusing flavor into your sauce. ...
  2. 2 - Fresh garlic. ...
  3. 3 - Meat. ...
  4. 4 - Hot pepper flakes. ...
  5. 5 - Red wine. ...
  6. 6 - Fresh or dried herbs. ...
  7. 7 - Cheese. ...
  8. 8 - Cream and/or butter.
Feb 26, 2018

How do you make enchiladas crispy and not soggy? ›

To prevent your tortillas from tearing or becoming soggy, quickly fry each corn tortilla in any oil you like for about 10 seconds on each side, until it starts to get crispy but is still pliable. This will add a barrier that will keep the tortilla from absorbing too much sauce, and also adds a little extra flavor.

Can you pre make enchiladas or will they get soggy? ›

If you would like to make a pan of enchiladas in advance, follow the recipe instructions through step 3 (assembling the enchiladas). Wrap the pan tightly with foil. Then you can either refrigerate the enchiladas for up to 3 days, then bake as directed.

How do you know when enchiladas are done baking? ›

Top with 10 ounces of cheese (or however much cheese you desire) and two cups green sauce. I usually use two cups sauce for eight enchiladas. Bake until the sauce is bubbling and cheese is beginning to brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Is it OK to use flour tortillas for enchiladas? ›

This particular chicken enchilada recipe probably most closely aligns with Tex-Mex and New Mexican styles of enchiladas, especially being made with flour tortillas (although you are welcome to use corn tortillas), filled with green chiles and soft shredded cheese, and made with a tomato-free red chile sauce.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

Which sauce is better for enchiladas? ›

Las Palmas makes the best green enchilada sauce at the grocery store. It's a little tangy, super savory, and it tastes very fresh, even though it's canned enchilada sauce. If you're a green sauce lover, you will be thrilled with this premade enchilada sauce. You won't just want to stop at enchiladas!

Why do you cover enchiladas with foil? ›

Foil Covering: Most enchiladas are covered with foil while baking. This helps to trap steam and heat, ensuring that the enchiladas cook evenly and stay moist. The foil is typically removed towards the end of the baking time to allow the cheese on top to melt and develop a golden brown crust [1].

What is the best Mexican cheese for enchiladas? ›

Queso fresco comes from Jalisco, in the western part of Mexico. It has a mild, slightly tangy flavor and crumbles and shreds easily, making it makes a fantastic topping for Beef and Cheese Enchiladas or sweet-tangy Grilled Corn.

How do you fix Las Palmas enchilada sauce? ›

Shop around to get a brand you favor, but if the can you just purchased isn't quite to your liking, there's an easy fix. Before you assemble your enchiladas, heat the sauce up and whisk in a little flour and sugar to taste. The flour will neutralize some of the bitterness and thicken the sauce a bit in the process.

What makes enchiladas taste better? ›

Toppings: When it comes to enchiladas, I vote the more toppings the merrier! Any combination of chopped fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, diced red onion (or quick pickled red onions), sliced radishes, fresh or pickled jalapeños, sour cream or Mexican crema, and/or extra cheese would be delicious!

What can you use canned enchilada sauce for? ›

People across the globe eat hot, spicy food year-round, but there's something about cold weather that makes soup the perfect choice. Canned enchilada sauce is an excellent addition to a spicy, savory soup or stew, with nearly infinite variations. Start as you would any delicious soup by sautéing onions and garlic.

How do you tame down enchilada sauce? ›

Add dairy.

Dairy is great at counteracting spiciness and can add a nice cooling effect. You can add milk, sour cream, or even a dollop of plain yogurt over each serving, but beware of adding and then cooking the dairy over higher heat, as it may curdle.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 5656

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.