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Easiest Keto Enchiladas

This keto enchiladas recipe contains only 3 grams of net carbs (net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber), which is useful for people who are careful of their carb intake or follow a low-carb diet.

You can still enjoy enchiladas while following a keto diet by making keto enchiladas with low-carb tortillas. No one will even be able to tell that these delicious, Mexican-inspired enchiladas are low in carbs or keto!

On low-carb diets, net carbs are more important than total carbs. To calculate this, subtract the number of grams of dietary fiber from the total carbohydrates. Many keto dieters just focus on net carbohydrates.

Are Enchiladas Keto Friendly?

When you think of classic Mexican restaurant cuisine or even homemade enchiladas, high-carb tortillas spring to mind.

Keto diet enchiladas can be included in a low-carb diet as long as you replace conventional grocery store tortillas with low-carb, high-fiber tortillas that are now available on the market. While these tortillas still contain a reasonable quantity of carbs, they are compensated by extremely high levels of fiber, which are deducted from the carb count.

How to Make Keto-Friendly Enchiladas?

1. Choose keto-friendly tortillas

Traditional wheat-based tortillas are relatively heavy in carbohydrates and may not be appropriate for a strict ketogenic diet, which normally limits carb intake to 20-50 grams per day. However, there are low-carb and keto-friendly options available that can be consumed in moderation.

These tortillas are often produced using low-carb flour such as almond flour, coconut flour, or flaxseed meal, which are heavy in fat and protein. Low-carb tortillas might have as few as 3 grams of carbs per serving.

Cheese tortilla wraps are also a keto-friendly option. I used cheese wraps in this recipe. You can make them easily at home or buy them from the store. See below for details on keto cheese.

It's critical to check the nutrition label carefully and select tortillas that fall under your daily carbohydrate limit.

2. Choose a keto-friendly enchilada sauce

Keto enchilada sauce is low carb, gluten free, and low in sodium. It is a wonderful and versatile condiment that can enhance the flavor of almost any dish.

Enchilada sauce, with its rich blend of ingredients such as tomatoes, spices, and herbs, contains a high concentration of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Not only does it improve the flavor of your favorite Mexican dishes, but it also has various nutritional benefits.

To limit the amount of carbohydrates in your enchilada sauce as low as possible, either make your own homemade enchilada sauce OR use a keto-friendly sauce.

Check out how to make our easy keto red enchilada sauce!

Keto red enchilada sauce

3. Use keto-friendly ingredients to make the filling

In this recipe, I used the following ingredients:

Olive oil

Olive oil is an excellent alternative for adding healthy fats to a keto diet. It contains monounsaturated fats, which are heart-healthy and can meet your body's nutritional requirements on a low-carb, high-fat diet.

Onion

Onion is an excellent source of dietary fiber. This is what keeps the net carbohydrate count low.

Yellow, white, and purple onions are high in antioxidants. They reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system. They are also extremely beneficial to bone health! consuming onions improves bone density.

Onions also contain a plant sugar known as fructooligosaccharides. This prebiotic supports the good bacteria in your gut, promoting overall gut health.

NOTE: Although onions are generally regarded as "keto-friendly," huge amounts of them are not recommended.

Bell peppers

Despite their sweetness, peppers have very few carbs. With only 2 to 3 net carbs per 100g serving (depending on color), bell peppers are a simple addition to a ketogenic diet.

Moreover, bell peppers are an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Additionally, they have antioxidant qualities that may aid in preventing certain cancers and disorders including cardiovascular disease.

Ground beef

Ground beef is a great component for keto recipes since it is low in carbohydrates, high in protein, and has a small amount of fat. It is a fantastic source of protein, which the body needs to develop and repair its tissues. Furthermore, vital minerals and vitamins including iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 that support general health are found in ground beef.

It's critical to select fatty ground beef cuts when on a ketogenic diet in order to guarantee that your intake of fat is sufficient.

Including ground beef in your ketogenic meals has a number of health advantages. First of all, it aids in satiety, which prolongs feelings of fullness. For those who are trying to lose weight by restricting their caloric intake, this may be helpful. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid with possible anti-cancer effects and weight-loss benefits, is another fantastic fat found in ground beef. Additionally, ground beef's high protein content keeps lean muscle mass intact while losing weight.

For this recipe, I used chicken breast. Alternatively, you may use chicken breast.

Chicken breast

Chicken breast is a staple food for people following the keto diet. It offers zero carbohydrates, 31 grams of protein per 100 grams, and essential elements such vitamin B6, vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, iron, and cobalamin.

So with zero net carbohydrates, chicken breasts won't interfere with your ketogenic diet!

You may certainly u shredded chicken, or even roast chicken. Using up leftover shredded chicken makes a fantastic low-carb version of enchiladas!

Cumin

Cumin is suitable for keto. It has no harmful ingredients and has low net carbohydrates (0.7g) and total fat (0.5g) per serving. Cumin can help with blood sugar regulation and digestion, which is especially helpful for people following a ketogenic diet.

Chili powder

Chili powder contains largely healthful unsaturated fats. These fats are good for your heart and can provide a source of energy on a keto diet. Chili powder is high in potassium, a vital mineral that may be deficient in a keto diet.

Note: If you don't have cumin or chili powder on hand, you can use taco or fajita seasoning.

Shredded cheese

Cheese is not only keto-friendly, but it also has numerous health benefits, making it an excellent addition to the keto diet. It is high in vitamin D and calcium, and other elements that are needed for healthy health. Cheese is also a natural source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid renowned for its anti-inflammatory qualities and potential weight loss benefits.

For this recipe, you may use cheddar cheese or any different cheese or mix your favorites. Stick with low-carb, high-fat cheeses.

Keto enchiladas

PRECAUTON:

  • Don't use pre-shredded cheese because it contains potato starch as a binder, which adds carbs to the dish and does not melt properly.
  • Avoid processed cheese, as they frequently contain added sugars and other carbohydrate-rich components.
  • Cheese has a lot of calories, therefore it's important to limit your intake.

NOTE: If you are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy, there are numerous dairy-free cheese options that are keto-friendly, such as cashew cheese and almond cheese.

Keto enchiladas

Tips

Cooking the tortillas in a skillet with a lid on will help if you are having problems handling them or if they keep breaking. To assist the tortillas steam, you can even add a tablespoon of water to the pan. The tortillas become easier to handle when they begin to steam on top.

Top these enchiladas with sour cream and cilantro, which is high in antioxidants and vitamins. It also gives them enchiladas a wonderful taste.

Keto enchiladas

Notes on Nutritional Information

The nutritional information for the recipe is offered as a courtesy and is just an approximation. We cannot guarantee the correctness of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this website. Net carbohydrates are total carbs minus fiber.

Ratings 5 from 1 votes
Cooking Method
Cuisine
Difficulty Beginner
Time
Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 25 min Total Time: 35 mins
Servings 6
Calories 311
Dietary Keto, Low Carb
Description

You can still enjoy enchiladas while following a keto diet by making keto enchiladas with low-carb tortillas. No one will even be able to tell that these delicious, Mexican-inspired enchiladas are low in carbs or keto!

Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion (diced)
  • 1 red pepper (diced)
  • 1 pound (450 g) ground beef (or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes or leftover shredded chicken)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 cup keto red enchiladas sauce (homemade or store bought)
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded cheese
  • 6 large tortillas (homemade or store bought)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a large baking dish (or a casserole dish) and set aside.

  2. Place your saucepan or cast iron skillet on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the diced onions and peppers and sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onions are golden. 

  3. Add the ground meat, cumin, and chili powder, and stir thoroughly. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

    If you are using chicken: Add the shredded chicken, cumin and chili powder and cook for 1 minute so that the chicken absorbs the seasoning. Or: Add the diced chicken, cumin, and chili powder, and stir thoroughly. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. If you don't have cumin or chili powder on hand, you can use taco or fajita seasoning.
  4. Keto enchiladas

    Assemble the enchiladas. Put 1 tortilla in a platter. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons, or just enough, to coat the tortilla with enchilada sauce. Add some of the filling and a couple of teaspoons of shredded cheese. After rolling it like a cigar, put it into the baking dish. Continue until all of the wraps are in your baking dish.

  5. Keto enchiladas

    Pour leftover enchilada sauce over the tortillas and sprinkle the remaining cheese.

  6. Keto enchiladas

    Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese melts. 

    If preferred, garnish with cilantro and serve with sour cream, avocado, salsa, or chives.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 160 g

Servings 1


Amount Per Serving
Calories 311kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 27g42%
Sodium 543mg23%
Potassium 716mg21%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 7g29%
Protein 35g70%

Vitamin A 1564 IU
Vitamin C 32 mg
Calcium 256 mg
Iron 3 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

This recipe contains 3 g net carbs.

Keywords: Keto, Enchiladas, Mexican Food, Low Carb, Weight Loss, Diet
Dr. Meri

Hello! I am Dr. Meri, associate professor of biology, writer, and founder of DrMeris.com.

At Dr. Meri's, you will find fact-based articles supported by research on many topics including natural remedies, nutrition, houseplants, and gardening. Many of them will be answering questions that may arise in your daily life.

I write recipes that are both healthy and delicious. Before each recipe, you'll find scientific and technical information.

Let's embark on this educational journey towards a healthier lifestyle!