Ground Beef and Texas Bean Enchiladas

A hearty variation of a traditional favorite! My family loves these. Looks complicated but it's really very simple especially the sauce!

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 12-15

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground beef
• 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans or 1 (15 ounce) can black beans or 1 (15 ounce) can  texas  ranch style beans
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1⁄2 cup  finely diced fresh  poblano peppers or 1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
• 1⁄2 cup  finely diced  white onions or 1⁄2 cup yellow onion
• 2  cloves  crushed garlic
• 1  cup  shredded  Mexican blend cheese or 1  cup monterey jack cheese
•  salt and pepper
• 12 -15  8-inch flour tortillas or 12 -15  8-inch whole wheat flour tortillas or 12 -15  8-inch corn tortillas

• Enchilada Sauce

• 2 1⁄4 cups hot water
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 2  tablespoons margarine or 2  tablespoons butter
• 2  tablespoons flour
• 5  teaspoons red chili powder
• 1  teaspoon cumin
• 2  teaspoons garlic powder
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Combine in large skillet ground beef, onion, garlic, salt and pepper.
3. Cook until beef is browned.
4. Drain grease.
5. Return to skillet and add tomatoes, peppers or canned chilies, and beans (I prefer the Texas beans and fresh pablano pepper here because of the added flavor).
6. Reduce heat, cover and simmer while preparing the sauce, stirring frequently.
7. Prepare the sauce by mixing all ingredients in medium bowl with a wire whisk until butter has melted.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Add about 1/2 cup sauce to meat mixture.
10. Turn off heat.
11. Dip each tortilla (the whole wheat are absolutely delicious in this recipe) into the enchilada sauce coating thoroughly.
12. Lay the soaked tortilla in your baking pan and add one serving spoon of the meat mixture lengthwise along one end of tortilla then roll it up from there (Note that there should be about 2 serving spoons of meat left when you are done with filling all tortillas).
13. When done rolling each one make sure to place it so that open end of tortilla is on the bottom to avoid spillage.
14. Repeat with all tortillas.
15. Add remaining meat mixture and remaining sauce evenly on top of enchiladas.
16. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 15 minutes.
17. Remove from oven, remove foil, cover with grated cheese and return to oven for 5 minutes uncovered, or until all cheese has melted.
18. For easiest serving, slice enchiladas in half lengthwise down the pan.
19. Serve with rice, sour cream, guacamole, and your favorite corn chips.