These Entomatadas de Carne Molida (ground beef entomatadas) are a comforting, classic Mexican dish made with lightly fried corn tortillas, a savory beef filling, and a rich tomato sauce. They're hearty, budget-friendly and a hit with adults and kids alike. If you love authentic Mexican meals, then you must give this a try.
Entomatadas were a staple in our home growing up, but no one loved them more than my younger brother Javier. From a young age, I remember him asking our mom to make them all the time. Even as adults, he'd still request them and ask her for the recipe.
Now I make them for my own family, and they've become one our favorite weeknight dinners. They're so full of flavor but made with simple ingredients. If you're a fan of lightly fried tortillas smothered in a tasty sauce, like Enchiladas Rojas or Chicken Enchiladas Suizas, this recipe is right up your alley.
Let me show you how to make them.
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For more delicious ground beef recipes, check out Open-Faced Ground Beef Tortas, Sopes de Picadillo, or Tostadas de Carne Molida.
What are Entomatadas?
Entomatadas are a classic Mexican dish made with lightly fried tortillas covered in a silky tomato sauce, unlike enchiladas which use a chile-based sauce. The name entomatadas comes from the word tomato (tomato) and literally means "covered in tomato." While some variations are filled with cheese, beans or chicken, this version is filled with flavorful ground beef.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This recipe is made with simple ingredients like corn tortillas, ground beef, tomatoes, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, shredded cheese, and spices. I recommend using a Mexican cheese that melts well such as asadero, Chihuahua, or Oaxaca, but mozzarella or Monterey Jack can also work.
See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Make Ground Beef Filling: Brown the ground beef in a skillet, then add garlic, onion, cumin, salt and pepper. Finish browning the beef, taste and adjust seasoning, then set aside.
- Boil Tomatoes: Boil the whole Roma tomatoes in water until soft (about 10 minutes).
- Blend: Blend tomatoes, with tomato sauce, salt, pepper, oregano and chicken broth until smooth.
- Simmer Sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a saucepan and add tomato sauce. Simmer until thickened and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Fry Tortillas: Heat half an inch of oil in a skillet. Fry each tortilla for 30-45 seconds per side until softened, then drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Dip Tortillas: Dip each tortilla in the tomato sauce.
- Add Filling: Fill each of the tortillas with ground beef.
- Roll: Carefully roll the tortillas.
- Add to Baking Dish: Place the entomatadas seam side down, side by side, on a 9×13 baking dish.
- Finish and Bake: Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the entomatadas and top with shredded cheese. Bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted.
How to Serve
Serve with a side dish such as:
Storing and Reheating
Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, cover and warm them in the microwave or bake at 350ºF until heated through. You can also reheat them on the stovetop in a covered skillet over low heat.
I hope you enjoy! If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment with a star rating below. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to stay in touch, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Entomatadas de Carne Molida (Entomatadas with Ground Beef)
Equipment
- Cast-Iron Skillet or pan
- Wooden Spoon
- saucepan
- 9x13 Baking dish
Ingredients
Ground Beef Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 diced garlic clove
- ¼ diced onion
- ⅛ teaspoon cumin powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Tomato Sauce
- 3 medium Roma tomatoes
- 8 oz low sodium tomato sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or light-tasting olive oil
Entomatadas
- 14 corn tortillas
- ¼ cup oil for frying such as avocado oil
- 1 cup shredded white Mexican cheese such as asadero, Chihuahua or Oaxaca cheese
Instructions
Ground Beef Filling
- In a medium pan or skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until almost browned.
- Add the diced garlic clove, diced onion, a pinch of cumin powder (about ⅛ teaspoon), and salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook until fully beef is fully browned. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.
Tomato Sauce
- While the beef cooks, boil the whole tomatoes in a covered pot with water until soft (about 10 minutes).
- Once soft, blend the tomatoes with the tomato sauce, salt, black pepper, oregano and chicken broth until smooth.
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil.
- Carefully pour the sauce into the saucepan and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
Assembling Entomatadas
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Fill a medium cast-iron skillet or pan with a ½ inch of oil. Heat the oil over medium heat until hot, but not smoking.
- Using tongs, fry each of the tortillas 30-45 minutes per side until soft and pliable. Set tortillas on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
- Once all the tortillas are fried, dip each one in the tomato sauce, fill with ground beef (about 1-2 tablespoons) and roll. Place them seam-side down, side by side, in the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining tomato sauce over the entomatadas. Top with 1 cup of grated white cheese.
- Bake for about 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve alongside Mexican rice or your favorite side dish.
Notes
- Pour ¼ cup of the tomato sauce to the bottom of the baking dish.
- Fill and roll the lightly-fried tortillas without dipping them into the sauce first, then place them seam-side down into the baking dish.
- Pour the remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
Nutrition
Originally published April 14, 2020. Updated photos and post May 2025.
Fernanda
Entomatadas with ground beef?! Yes! So much more filling and delicious than with just cheese.
Gemma
Hi Fernanda, I know, I love the ground beef too!
Lola
Love the idea of adding ground beef to entomatadas. I’ve only ever had them with cheese and these are great!
Gemma
They taste great and are so filling!
Jaymey
These are FANTASTIC!!!! made then tonight, we added some spicy tomato sauce as well. This is definitely a repeat dish!
Gemma
Hi Jaymey, yes I love these too! I am so glad you liked them. Thank you for trying them and for the comment!
Laura
I haven’t heard of this dish and made for my family tonight. They loved it! It was delicious and full of flavor. Definitely will make it again. Thank you!
everydaylatina
Hi Laura, I am so glad your family loved it! Entomatadas are super common in Mexico but made in so many different ways, this is definitely my favorite.
Kelly Gegg
This sounds AMAZING! I will definitely be trying this for my family! I'm trying to start cooking more and using less frozen stuff! Thanks for sharing!
everydaylatina
Hi Kelly, thank you so much. Let me know if you try it out. Hope you like it!
Gloria D.
Just made these for the family and they are delucious!! I will definitely be keeping this recipe.
everydaylatina
Hi Gloria, I am so happy you gave these a try and that everyone in your family liked them. Thank you for the comment, I so appreciate it!