Taco Bell Enchirtio can be found on the Taco Bell Secret Menu. You can recreate this favorite Taco Bell recipe now with this copycat version.
The enchirito is possibly the most desired ex-menu item at Taco Bell. The enchirito is so good, you might just luck out by straight-up asking the cashier for one, even if it’s not actually on the written menu. It could be on Taco Bell’s secret menu, and the cashier might even have a button for it. Or, they might just know how to make it and just do it for you. Even if you live far away from a Taco Bell, you can recreate this favorite Taco Bell recipe at home with this copykat version.
The On and Off Enchirito Story
One of the things I love about Taco Bell is the way they come up with new ideas, and the enchirito is a perfect example of their creativity. As the name suggests, it was designed to be a combination of an enchilada and a burrito. The Taco Bell enchirito made its debut in the 1970s. Then it was advertised as a special corn tortilla filled with ground beef, pinto beans, and onions, and topped with red sauce, cheese, and olives. It was removed from the menu in 1993 and then brought back again with a couple of changes. The corn tortilla was switched to a white wheat tortilla, and they removed the olive slices from the top. This was again excommunicated from the main menu in 2013.
What Makes This CopyKat Enchirito so Special?
This is a tortilla filled with refried beans, ground seasoned beef, and red sauce and topped with cheese and chopped onions. I love to heat these up in the oven and let the cheese brown just a bit.
You won’t want to miss this delicious Taco Bell treat.
The Sauce – I think the sauce really makes the difference in this recipe. The original Taco Bell sauce has good flavor and just the right amount of spice without being overly hot. You may even want to double the portion of the sauce so you will some on hand to pour over tacos or to use with your other favorite Mexican recipes. I love to use this sauce when I make homemade nachos.
Love Taco Bell Recipes? Be sure to check out these recipes.
Taco Bell Crunchy Fresco Taco
Taco Bell Crunch Wrap
Taco Bell Breakfast Crunch Wrap
Taco Bell Sauce
Taco Bell Mexican Pizza
Taco Bell Enchirito - Copycat Recipe
Recreate this Taco Bell Classic at home.
Ingredients
Beef Recipe
- 1 1/2 tablespoons masa harina
- 4 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon beef bouillon powder
- 1 1/3 pounds ground chuck
Sauce Recipe
- 8 ounce tomato Sauce
- 1/3 cup Water
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoon minced onions
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Enchirito Ingredients
- 4 tortillas
- 1 cup refried beans
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped white onions
- olive slices (optional)
Instructions
Beef directions
Mix all the ingredients except the meat. Stir the spice mix well to make sure that all spices have been blended well. Crumble the ground beef into a large skillet (preferably nonstick) and brown, stirring well. Remove from the heat. Dump the meat into a strainer in the sink, rinse with hot water, and drain the water and grease from the beef. Return the beef to the pan. Stir in the spice mix and 3/4 to 1 cup water. Simmer on medium-low heat for 20 minutes, until most of the moisture has cooked away. Remove from heat before the meat is completely dry.
Sauce directions
Place in saucepan and stir well, simmer at a very low temperature for 15 - 20 minutes. Remove and cool.
How to essemble
To assemble the enchirito spread 1/4 of the heated refried beans into the tortilla. Add ground beef to the tortilla. Roll the tortilla, and place seam side down in an ovenproof dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Cover with enchiritos with sauce, cheese, and chopped onions. Add slices of black olives if desired.
Ruth Decker says
PLEASE don’t drain the beef grease down the drain. It can clog it completely, destroying the joy of eating this delicious meal.
Ryan T Vincent says
The onions go in the Enchirito. I worked at Taco bell. It’s also the only thing I eat there.
The sauce is missing a little of the original recipe flavor. It’s still decent though.
Sharon says
Oh my! My mouth was watering so bad by the time I removed our Enchirito from the oven, I forgot to take pictures of the final product! Thought this was SO WORTH the time to make. Maybe tomorrow evening I won’t be in such a hurry to taste the creation! Mine did look just like the picture, though.????????????
Stephanie says
I am glad you liked them!
Cindy Lou says
I made this tonight for the first time, the meat spices are spot on but the sauce is still not the same. Also was hotter than Taco Bell. I’m sure was the cyan-pepper, maybe cut back on that next time, but sill – is just missing something – can’t figure it out.
Al Hew says
What you are missing is the “flavor enhancers,” such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, MSG, other glutimates, etc.
Pamela Sichel says
Is the masa harina for thickening the sauce?
William A Turri says
Although this is an excellent recipe you can shortcut the way you make it at home.Fry up your ground beef add Taco Seasoning (I use McCormicks) open a can of Refried Beans and use a Canned Chili sauce like La Victoria and cheddar cheese add chopped onion and its very close with less hassle.Semi homemade..
Mike says
I have been making these for years. Only thing I do different (and I am pretty sure that the originals made them this way) is put the chopped onion in with the beans and beef before rolling them up.
Great recipe!
steve says
hi , may be a stupid question, but do you mix the masa harina with the hamburger?
Dianne says
In the sauce it calls for tomato sauce. Isn’t it a sauce made with red chiles instead of tomato sauce?
Stephanie says
Red chilies is definitely a component of the sauce, but it has other seasonings in it.
Doug Mathews says
I love the Taco Bell enchiritos. Next time in Taco Bell, show your age, and ask for a Bell Burger!! I say BRING BACK THE BELL BURGER!!!
sharon says
YES a 1000,s time YES
Lisa Shockey says
OMG!! The Bell Beefer!! I was explaining it to my kids the other day. It was the best thing taco bell ever had. I will NEVER understand why places gotta screw up by taking an amazing, insanely popular, money maker products and get rid of them… or turn it to crap by “improving” it. New&Improved is rarely better than what they started with….
Mary says
This looks fun to make, but you can still order it at Taco Bell even though it’s not on the menu. My husband has one for lunch about once a week.
Dianna says
In Colorado, they are taking it off the menu for good. That’s what I was told when I ordered one. Cant wait to try this Copycat. I love the fact that you have 3 cut black olives on the top just like they served them in the 70’s!!
Phil Jacobson says
Follow-up: Pretty darn awesome! I used corn tortillas in accordance with the original 70s enchirito build, and wolfed the first one down so fast I needed another to savor …come to think of it, that was my routine in high school. Huh…
Anyway, here’s a baking tip when using corn tortillas – assemble the enchirito as directed. Put it in a 400 degree oven and bake until the rolled ends of the tortilla collapse down. At that point the corn tortilla is saturated to perfection with sauce, just like the good ol’ days.
Thanks, Stephanie!!!
Stephanie says
Thank you for all of your great tips! Much appreciated.
Philip says
I used to gown to TB and order an Enchirito nearly every day at lunch when I was in high school in the late 70s. I haven’t had one since, and I’m dying to give this recipe a try! I sure hope they taste as good as I remember them being.
Cheryl says
That was my dads favorite!! I loved them as well! The Taco Bell in my area dosen’t have it on their menu
Patti says
Our Taco Bell doesn’t have it on their menus either but if you ask for one, they will make it.
Marilyn says
I fell in love with the Enchirito when it first came out! Hated when it as discontinued. So glad it’s back. I’ve made my version for years, but must try this sauce recipe!
Gloria May says
Ok it’s placed in an oven proof dish! Why? There are no instructions to bake it.
PDYSRQ says
She mentioned, in the narrative, that she likes to heat them up in the oven to melt the cheese. Clearly an optional step, but if chosen you would want it to be in an ovenproof dish.
Stephanie says
You are correct if you want to heat this up, definitely put this in an oven proof dish.
Buffy says
We live out in the sticks too!! Go to town like once a month and get what we need for the month, TB is over an hour away so this will be PERFECT for home eats! Thank You for having such a mouthwatering site to get recipes. I appreciate your work to make us happy, and I’m sure there are many more people who do too!! This recipe really made my day Bigtime 🙂
Steve Thomas says
Taco Bell discontinued these for a half-dozen years, and when they came back, it was a different item. They used a flour tortilla instead or a corn one, and they left off the black olives.
Maybe they made other changes as well. They just weren’t the same. I’m glad to see masa harina on the list of ingredients and olives in the pictures.
I have five pounds of masa harina in the cupboard, but my new tortilla press arrived broken. I’m not ignoring you, Stephanie; I’m hankering to give it a try, but as Forrest Gump said, “Well, it happens.” I’ll soon be chowing down on this.
Bri says
My sister would love this! She is always making something like this weekly. It looks so delicious and hearty.
Stephanie says
I like to add a dollop of sour cream to this! I hope you give the recipe a try.
chastity says
Seriously looks so good. I’ve never had this at TB, but would love to make this. YUM
Stephanie says
I hope you give it a try.
Kim @ Two Kids and a Coupon says
I’ve never seen this before at Taco Bell, but it definitely looks delicious and worth trying to make. Thanks for the recipe!
Stephanie says
It has appeared on and off the menu for awhile. You can request this now.
Dawn Nieves says
This looks AMAZING! My hubby loves Taco Bell so I know he’d love this! I can’t wait to make it it now.
Jennifer B says
This looks really yummy and exactly like the Taco Bell enchirito! I will be trying this recipe very soon!
Stephanie Manley @CopyKat.com says
That sauce is good for a lot of things 😉
Amanda says
Taco Bell has always been one of my favorites, but, living way out in the country we never have the opportunity to eat there anymore. I’m so excited to recreate their menu at home! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Stephanie Manley @CopyKat.com says
You know I lived out in the country too a few years back. I know a lot of people don’t appreciate the sentiment about how hard it is to get some things. Taco Bell was something that I had a craving for when they were so hard to get to.
jessica marinaccio says
YUMMY !!!! its 7:30 am and I already know where Im going for lunch…. Sending my husband to the store later to get the spices I need to make this too : ) I love mexican.