Weight Watchers Beef Enchiladas

Weight Watchers beef enchiladas are made with shredded carne asada and homemade red enchilada sauce for a tasty and authentic enchilada recipe. Healthy, skinny, beef enchiladas that no one will know are lightened up!

My recipe for homemade red sauce uses Colorado chilis and it’s the base for these amazing Weight Watchers Beef Enchiladas. Here in Tucson, chili pods are available pretty much everywhere but I know that’s not the case for everyone. You can purchase the Tucson chili pods online, and have them arrive just in time to bake our delicious beef enchiladas. 

My Weight Watchers beef enchiladas recipe has just a few clean simple ingredients. There are no canned ingredients in these enchiladas, and no extra oil, fat or lard. This delicious dinner comes together quickly and is perfect for any night of the week. 

There are still calories, fat, and carbs in these healthy beef enchiladas but thanks to quality ingredients and nothing processed this recipe is lighter and healthier than most! The whole family will love this incredible Mexican food recipe! 

Where’s the recipe?

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We are dedicated to providing all the information you need to know, including detailed instructions, ingredient information, healthy eating plan points, and nutritional information. If you are ready to get started without all of our helpful information, simply scroll down to the bottom where you will find our easy to print Weight Watchers Beef Enchiladas recipe. 

Ingredients in Weight Watchers Beef Enchiladas

• Corn Tortillas: Corn tortillas are the perfect tortillas for this delicious recipe. 
• Carne Asada: We prefer using our Carne Asada recipe for the enchiladas. You’re welcome to substitute any protein of choice. 
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese: We prefer to use either four cheese Mexican or colby jack. The points for this recipe are calculated using reduced-fat shredded cheese. However, if you’re okay with the extra points, you can use full fat cheese.
• Enchilada Sauce: Our homemade enchilada sauce is fresh and much better than store bought enchilada sauce. The best part about it is you can make this homemade sauce easily at home. 

Ingredients in the Carne Asada Marinade

These are the ingredients we use when we marinate our carne asada.

• White vinegar
• Coconut aminos: you can also use low sodium soy sauce or Tamari if that’s what you have.
• Lime juice: fresh lime juice really helps make this carne asada taste authentic.
• Olive oil: avocado oil would work well too.
• Orange: fresh orange juice is highly acidic, which is great for tenderizing the steak
• Garlic powder
• Chili powder
• Oregano
• Cumin
• Onion Powder

Ingredients to Make Healthy Red Enchilada Sauce

Our healthy blender enchilada sauce is super easy to make and the flavor is so much more complex than the store bought variety. 

• Dried red chili pods: you can find dried chili peppers in the Mexican aisle at your grocery store or on Amazon.
• Water
• White vinegar
• Oregano
• All spice
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder

How to Make Weight Watchers Beef Enchiladas

How to Make the Carne Asada Meat

1. Dice the skirt steak.
2. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large zippered bag or container with lid.
3. Add the diced steak to the container and mix to ensure it is completely covered by the marinade.
4. Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
5. Coat a large skillet or large nonstick skillet with olive/avocado oil and heat on high heat. When the pan is hot, scoop the meat into the skillet and dispose of the marinade.
6. Cook the meat until the desired doneness (a minimum internal temperature of at least 145°F. (approx. 5-8 minutes)
7. Remove the carne asada from the heat and warm your low carb tortillas on the hot skillet.
8. Chop the onions and cilantro.
9. Eat this by itself, with one of the recipes above.

How to Make the Enchilada Sauce

1. Add all the ingredients for the enchilada sauce into a large sauce pan.
2. Bring the sauce to a boil in high heat. Then reduce to medium heat and allow the chili pods to simmer for 15-20 minutes until the pods are soft.
3. Allow the chili pods to cool then dump all the contents on the sauce pan into a blender. Blend until the sauce is smooth.
4. Use the sauce immediately or store in the refrigerator/freezer until ready to use. The sauce will last for 5-7 day in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.

Putting it all Together – Weight Watchers Beef Enchiladas

1. Preheat your oven: 350º F.
2. Grease the bottom of the casserole dish.
3. Next, add 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce and cover the bottom of the pan. This helps to prevent the enchiladas from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
4. Roll the enchiladas: Put some cheese and your carne asada meat into the center of a corn tortilla. I use 3/4 cup of meat for two tortillas and 1/3 cup cheese for four enchiladas.
5. To make a full pan of enchiladas, you’ll need to place tortillas down one by one and fold the side over. The seam side should go down in your pan. I find it helps to place the filling slightly off center so there’s more of a “flap” to fold over the top!
6. Finally, put the last 3/4 cup of enchilada sauce on top, and then top with the remaining cheese.
7. These delicious Weight Watchers enchiladas need to bake for about 20-25 minutes. When the cheese starts looking melty and a bit crispy you’ll know they’re ready to come out. Top with fresh cilantro and serve!

Recipe Tips

• Leftover sauce is perfect with tacos, mixed with shredded meat to make a red chili, or you can include it in pretty much any other southwest dish!
• Corn tortillas crack easily if they’re not super fresh. You usually can’t even see it because the sauce covers it, but if it bothers you, find somewhere to buy super fresh tortillas or get the tortillas a little wet and microwave them for a few seconds to make them pliable.
• If you want to make these enchiladas in a hurry, just layer the ingredients! Cut the whole weight watchers beef enchilada casserole into sections so you know how much a serving will be!
• This recipe is versatile, feel free to serve with a side of refried beans or black beans. You could also modify the enchilada sauce using green chiles to make a green enchilada sauce instead. Just note that all smart points will need to be recalculated online or in the ww app.  
• If you are wanting to use sour cream on top of your enchilada, a lower point option is using greek yogurt instead. 
• These Weight Watchers enchiladas keep really well in the fridge. They reheat nicely and make a great recipe for lunch the next day.
• A pan of these beef enchiladas can be reheated throughout the week with little to no effort. You’ll have a tasty and healthy option on hand for quick meals if you choose to add this recipe to your meal plan!
• I think these are better fresh but you can freeze them if you’d like. Defrost them on the counter and then reheat in the oven on 350F for 30 minutes. Check for them to be ready every few minutes after that!

Healthy Eating Plans

Each serving of 2 beef enchiladas is 11 Blue Plan Points | 11 Green Plan Points | 11 Purple Plans Points | 11 Points on the 2023 Plan.

• The point value is calculated using reduced fat cheese.
• I don’t count the homemade red sauce for points since it’s mostly water, spices, and chili pods. Of course you can calculate this however you’d like, but I use the Weight Watchers recipe builder to figure out all of my recipes.
• Note: Our homemade red sauce is made with zero point foods but it’s blended into a sauce. If you are eating multiple portions of these healthy beef enchiladas you may wish to calculate and count the points for the sauce. In one serving, I don’t think it’s enough to count for points.
• Looking to lower the amount of WW points? I suggest subbing out the beef and making chicken enchiladas. Obviously that takes away the “beef” part of these beef enchiladas but that’s a really quick and easy way to reduce your points. You could also find a fat free cheese. Kraft makes a good one that’s usually available at Walmart. It’ll help lower your points as well. Cut back on the number of tortillas. You can have the same amount of filling in fewer tortillas for a more point friendly option! If you make this as a casserole it’s an easy way to cut down on points without sacrificing flavor and texture!

Looking for similar recipes to these WW Beef Enchiladas?

• Carne Asada Tostadas 9 points on Weight Watchers Freestyle Plan | 6 Blue Plan Points | 7 Green Plan Points | 6 Purple Plan Points | Carne Asada Tostadas are a family favorite here. We love making them and letting everyone top them with their ideal flavors. 
• WW Crockpot Pork Carnitas 3 Freestyle Smart Points | 2 Blue Plan Points | 2 Green Plan Points | 2 Purple Plan Points | 2022/2023 Points: 2 | These delicious Pork Carnitas are amazing. With just 3 Weight Watchers points per serving you can enjoy these without sacrificing any weekly points! 
• Southwest Egg Roll in a Bowl A 1 cup serving with 2 tbsp of chipotle ranch dressing is 0 Blue Plan Points, 3 Green Plan Points, 0 Purple Plan Points, and 0 Points on the 2023 Plan.
• Vegan Weight Watchers Tacos For those of you trying to cut back on meat, enjoy meatless Mondays, or just looking for a delicious dinner idea, these Quinoa Tacos are Vegan and so delicious. 3 Blue Plan Points | 6 Green Plan Points | 0 Purple Plan Points | 2023 points: 3

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Weight Watchers Beef Enchiladas

Created by: Becca Ludlum

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Approximate Serving Size: 2 enchiladas

Servings 6 Servings

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Weight Watchers beef enchiladas are made with shredded carne asada and homemade red sauce for a tasty and authentic enchilada recipe. Healthy, skinny, beef enchiladas that no one will know are lightened up!  

Equipment

• Baking Dish
• Vitamix Blender
• Kitchen Knife

Ingredients 

Ingredients in Enchiladas

• ▢ 12 corn tortillas
• ▢ 1 lb carne asada Or meat of your choice
• ▢ 2 cups shredded cheese reduced fat
• ▢ 1/2 cups enchilada sauce

Ingredients in Carne Asada

• ▢ 1.5 lb skirt steak diced into small pieces
• ▢ 1/4 cup white vinegar
• ▢ 2 tbsp low sodium tamari or soy sauce
• ▢ 1 tsp garlic powder
• ▢ 2 tbsp lime juice from 1 lime
• ▢ 2 tsp olive oil
• ▢ juice from 1 orange fresh squeezed
• ▢ 1 tbsp chili powder
• ▢ 1 tsp oregano
• ▢ 1 tsp cumin
• ▢ 1 tsp onion powder

Ingredients in Red Enchilada Sauce

• ▢ 20 Colorado (Red) Chile Pods dried, stemmed, and seeded
• ▢ 3 cups water
• ▢ 1/4 cup white vinegar
• ▢ 1 tsp oregano
• ▢ 1/2 tsp all spice
• ▢ 1 tsp garlic powder
• ▢ 1 tsp onion powder

Instructions

Instructions for WW Beef Enchiladas

• Preheat your oven: 350º F.
• Grease a casserole pan lightly, the bottom only.
• Use 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce and cover the bottom of the pan after it is greased.
• Rolling the enchiladas: put some cheese and your carne asada meat into the center of a corn tortilla. Mine are made with 3/4 cup meat for two tortillas and 1/3 cup cheese for four enchiladas. 12 corn tortillas, 2 cups shredded cheese, 1 lb carne asada
• To make a full pan of enchiladas you'll need to place them down one by one and fold the side over. Seam side should go down in your pan and I find it helps to place the filling slightly off center so there's more of a "flap" to fold over the top!
• The last 3/4 cup of enchilada sauce goes on top, after that is done you can top will the remaining cheese as well!
• These delicious Weight Watchers enchiladas need to bake for about 20-25 minutes. When the cheese starts looking melty and a bit crispy you’ll know they’re ready to come out. Top with fresh cilantro and serve!

Instructions for Carne Asada

• First thinly slice or dice the steak.1.5 lb skirt steak
• Next combine all the marinade ingredients in a large zippered bag or container with lid. 1/4 cup white vinegar, 2 tbsp low sodium tamari, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp lime juice, 2 tsp olive oil, juice from 1 orange, 1 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp onion powder
• Then add the diced steak to the container and mix to ensure it is completely covered by the marinade.
• Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
• Coat a large skillet with olive oil or avocado oil and heat on medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, scoop the meat into the skillet and dispose of the marinade.
• Cook the meat until the desired doneness (a minimum internal temperature of at least 145°F. (approx. 5-8 minutes)
• Remove the carne asada from the heat and set aside until you’re ready to assemble your enchiladas.

Instructions to make the enchilada sauce

• Add all of the enchilada sauce ingredients into a large sauce pan. 20 Colorado (Red) Chile Pods, 3 cups water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp all spice, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder
• Bring the sauce to a boil over high heat. Then reduce the temperature to medium heat and allow the chili pods to simmer for 15-20 minutes until the pods are soft.
• Allow the chili pods to cool then dump all the contents of the sauce pan into a blender. Blend until the sauce is smooth.
• Use the sauce immediately or store in the refrigerator/freezer until ready to use. The sauce will last for 5-7 day in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.

Video

Notes

Each serving (using reduced fat cheese) of 2 beef enchiladas 11 Blue Plan Points | 11 Green Plan Points | 11 Purple Plan Points | 11 Points on the 2023 Plan

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 508IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 321mg | Iron: 2mg

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