Recipe: Slow Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas (2024)

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Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen

Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories

updated May 2, 2019

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Recipe: Slow Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas (1)

An easy recipe for slow cooker enchiladas with black beans and cheese. Vegetarian.

Serves6 to 8

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Recipe: Slow Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas (2)

This dish might not win any beauty contests, but I’ll say this: it’s seriously good. The tortillas get soft and chewy during cooking, absorbing some of the salsa and becoming the perfect vehicle for beans, corns, and lots of melted cheese. (And isn’t it all about the melty cheese, really?)

These slow cooker enchiladas are one of my go-to meals when I’m out of ideas and have some bits and leftovers to use up, and they always hit the spot.

I also like that this is a classic dump-and-cook slow-cooker recipe. It only requires you to mix the filling and roll up the tortillas before plugging in the cooker and walking away. The onions soften during cooking and the flavors have plenty of time to meld. It’s perfect for times when I don’t want to dirty a lot of dishes or deal with an extra step of pre-cooking vegetables.

Tester’s Notes

These enchiladas are a personal favorite. They’re not the kind of thing I’d serve to guests — things get a bit messy and less-than-photogenic when served from the slow cooker — but they are most definitely the kind of thing I adore eating when it’s just me, my husband, and a good movie to watch on the couch.

Some of you who’ve made this recipe over the years describe it as “mushy but delicious,” and I have to agree with that assessment. Using tortillas that are a few days old and a little stale helps with this situation, and flour tortillas hold up better than corn tortillas. But, to be completely honest, I kind of love that slightly mushy, chewy quality! It sounds like such a negative, I know, but this feels like comfort food to me. These enchiladas are the perfect meal to scoop onto a plate and take to the couch. From your comments and feedback, I know many of you agree!

On the other hand, if you’d prefer more classic enchiladas (and I respect that), I recommend baking this recipe in the oven instead of the slow cooker. There are instructions for this at the end of the recipe below.

Either way, I do hope you enjoy this recipe. Pick a night when the weather keeps you inside and you have a good movie that’s waiting to be watched. Enjoy!

Emma, March 2015

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Slow-Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas

An easy recipe for slow cooker enchiladas with black beans and cheese. Vegetarian.

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    small yellow onion (or 1/2 large onion), diced small

  • 1

    sweet bell pepper, diced small

  • 1

    (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

  • 1 cup

    frozen corn kernels

  • 2 teaspoons

    chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon

    ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 cups

    shredded Monterey Jack, colby, or other melting cheese, divided

  • 2

    (16-ounce) jars salsa, any kind

  • 12 to 15

    medium (6-inch or so) flour tortillas

  • Optional: 1 cup leftover meat or extra veggies — chicken, pork, hamburger, beef, baked tofu, or roasted vegetables

Instructions

  1. Place the onion, bell pepper, black beans, corn, chili powder, cumin, salt, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and meat (if using) in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Spread about 1 cup of the salsa over the bottom of a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker, enough to evenly coat the bottom with a bit of sauce.

  2. Fill each of the tortillas with about 1/3 cup of the filling, roll them up as tightly as you can, and pack them seam-side down in a single layer into the bottom of the slow cooker. Don't worry if some filling falls out — just tuck it back in once you've set the tortilla down.

  3. When you complete the first layer (you will make 3 layers), spread about another cup of salsa over the top and sprinkle with about 1/2 cup of the remaining cheese. Continue rolling the remaining tortillas with the remaining filling to make one more layer; if you have leftover filling, sprinkle this over the top. Finish by pouring the 1 cup of the salsa evenly over the top of the enchiladas. Reserve the last 1/2 cup of cheese to add later.

  4. Cover and cook on HIGH the setting for 2 to 4 hours. In the last 15 minutes of cooking, sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over the top, re-cover the slow cooker, and finish cooking. Serve the enchiladas with any remaining salsa.

Recipe Notes

Gluten-free enchiladas: Use gluten-free corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. These tortillas tend to fall apart a bit more during cooking, but I've tried them and the dish is still just as tasty!

Cooking on LOW: You can cook the enchiladas for longer (6 to 8 hours on the LOW setting), but I find that the tortillas in the middle start to get very mushy while the ones touching the sides of the cooker get crispy. Still tasty, though!

Oven-baked enchiladas: To cook these enchiladas in the oven, layer the rolled tortillas in a 9x13-inch baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese, and bake uncovered for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the dish is bubbling.

Smaller slow cookers: To make this recipe in a smaller (3-quart or so) slow cooker, halve the recipe and make 3 layers instead of 2.

Doubling the recipe: If your slow cooker is large enough, you can also double the recipe. Just continue creating layers in the slow cooker and bake as usual.

Storage: Leftovers will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Filed in:

beans

Canned Goods

Casserole

Cheese

Cooking Methods

easy

Recipe: Slow Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good enchiladas? ›

Fry each of your tortillas in hot oil before adding in your enchilada filling. This will help keep the tortillas from soaking up too much of your sauce too quickly, which can also cause them to break apart.

How do you keep enchiladas from getting mushy? ›

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.

How do you keep enchiladas from falling apart? ›

Before frying your tortillas, spread about a cup of sauce lengthwise down the center of your baking sheet. After frying the tortillas, dip each side in your sauce to coat the whole surface. This method will ensure even distribution—and less sauce means your tortillas are less likely to fall apart.

Can you cook beans in a slow cooker? ›

Drain soaking liquid from beans; place them in a slow cooker. Stir bacon, onion, ketchup, water, brown sugar, molasses, mustard, and salt into beans until well mixed. Cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours; stir occasionally if possible.

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!

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!

Should enchiladas be covered when baking? ›

Arrange enchiladas, seam-side down, in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with taco sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, until cheese has melted, about 20 minutes. Let cool briefly before serving.

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.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

Enchiladas are laden with sauce and fillings, and you need a tortilla that will hold up to all the moisture, so you should always opt for corn over flour.

What kind of cheese do Mexican restaurants use in 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.

Is it OK to use flour tortillas for enchiladas? ›

A simple, quick, easy beef enchiladas recipe. Ground beef and onion are wrapped in flour tortillas, topped with Cheddar cheese and black olives, then baked. This is also great with leftover chicken, shredded beef, or turkey. Serve with a green salad or beans and rice.

Which beans should not be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

Turns out cooking dried red kidney beans and cannellini beans in your slow cooker can make you sick. Find out how to eliminate the toxin that can make you ill and how to safely prepare and cook these commonly used legumes.

How long can you leave beans in a slow cooker? ›

Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours: Cover the pot and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. If this is your first time cooking beans or you're cooking an unfamiliar kind of bean, begin checking the beans after 5 hours and then every 30 minutes until they are cooked to your liking. Beans generally finish cooking in 6 to 8 hours.

Why are my beans still hard in the slow cooker? ›

There are three primary reasons why dried beans do not soften despite extensive cooking time: 1) they are old; 2) hard water; or 3) the presence of an acid.

Do enchiladas taste 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.

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.

Should you bake enchiladas covered or uncovered? ›

Most enchiladas are baked and covered with foil until heated through. Oven temperatures and baking times vary per recipe, but on average they cook in a 350°F oven for about 25 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the enchiladas after they are heated through.

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