Seriously the BEST Vegan Enchiladas! Made with all whole food ingredients, including easy plant “meat”, black beans, and vegan cheese sauce.
Enchiladas are the perfect food if you ask me. I know tacos are all the rage these days (for good reason), but don’t forget about enchiladas! Corn tortillas are stuffed, rolled and drenched in red sauce and cheese. Total yum.
These really are the best vegan enchiladas, ever. They will remind you of beef enchiladas, except they are meat free, dairy free and even good for you! There are 3 important parts to making these delicious whole food plant based enchiladas: easy enchilada sauce, taco “meat”, and vegan cheese sauce.
There is no oil involved here, or store bought vegan meat or cheese. I’ve also kept the recipe as simple as possible so you can have dinner on the table ASAP!
It’s easy to make vegan enchiladas gluten free, or nut free if you need to. I’ll show you how, so read on!
This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
Can I buy pre-made enchilada sauce?
You can, but the flavor is much better if you can take 5 minutes and make your own! If you buy enchilada sauce at the store, make sure to check the ingredient list, as there is often milk added. Here is one brand that is definitely vegan: Simply Organic Enchilada Sauce.
How do you make vegan enchilada sauce?
Making enchilada sauce is really fast and easy. Gather all the ingredients, because it will go quickly. Measure all the dry ingredients (flour + spices) and place them in a small bowl. Heat a few tablespoons of water in a medium pot, then pour the flour/spices mixture on top and whisk constantly for a minute. Now whisk in the tomato paste, then slowly pour in the vegetable broth, whisking constantly. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes, whisking frequently to remove any lumps. Remove from heat, stir in the apple cider vinegar and add salt to taste.
SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR FULL AMOUNTS AND INSTRUCTIONS.
How to make the filling for vegan enchiladas:
Using a food processor, pulse your cauliflower to make cauliflower rice. Then pulse the mushrooms and walnuts a few times until they are a similar consistency as the cauliflower. You could chop them all very small with a knife if you don’t have a food processor.
Add the vegetables and walnuts to a large pan, heat to medium-high heat. Pour in the vegetable broth, spices and soy sauce. Stir well to combine everything. Continue to cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add salt to taste, then stir in the black beans.
Choices for vegan cheese:
I went with my Easy Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce, which is made super creamy from raw cashews, and is so easy to make. You only need 1/2 of a recipe, so just cut everything in half. I highly recommend it, BUT you could also use my Nut Free Vegan Cheese Sauce.
The other option is to use dairy free vegan cheese shreds, such as Daiya or another brand. You would probably need 2 bags for this recipe, and I would only recommend this if you already know of a brand you like, as some people really dislike the vegan cheeses you can buy at the store. If you can, use one of my homemade cheese sauces, they are easy to make and so much better tasting!
Can I use flour tortillas for vegan enchiladas?
Yes, you can, though traditional enchiladas are made with corn tortillas. Sometimes I like to switch things up and use flour though. You will probably need 6-8 large flour tortillas if you want to try this.
How to make gluten free:
Easy! For the enchilada sauce, use brown rice flour or a gluten free mix in place of the all purpose flour. Then, make sure to use gluten free tamari instead of soy sauce. And of course, use corn tortillas, not a corn/wheat mixture or flour tortillas.
Or nut free:
Omit the walnuts from the “meat”, and use more mushrooms or cauliflower. Use my Nut Free Vegan Cheese Sauce.
Want more vegan mexican recipes?
- Oven Baked Taquitos
- 5 Ingredient Vegan Queso
- Cashew Sour Cream
- Vegan Burritos
- Cauliflower Tacos
- Roasted Vegetable Enchilada Casserole
The Best Vegan Enchiladas
Ingredients
Enchilada sauce:
- 3 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour | gluten-free if needed
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Taco "meat":
- 2 cups riced cauliflower | 1/2 medium head cauliflower
- 4 ounces mushrooms | 1/2 package, or 4-5 mushrooms
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts
- 2 tablespoons vegetable broth, more if needed
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce | tamari for gluten free
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
The rest:
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 Recipe Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
- 12-15 corn tortillas
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Make a 1/2 recipe of Nacho Cheese Sauce. Set aside.
Make the Enchilada Sauce:
- Measure and add all the dry ingredients to a small bowl (flour, chili powder, garlic powder, cumin and salt). Have the tomato paste and vegetable broth ready and nearby.
- In a medium pot over medium heat, warm the water. Once warm, pour in the flour/spice mixture and whisk constantly for about a minute. Whisk in the tomato paste, then slowly pour in the broth, whisking constantly.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes, whisking often to remove lumps. It should thicken a bit. Remove from heat, and whisk in the vinegar. Taste and add more salt as needed. Set aside.
Make the Taco "Meat":
- If using whole cauliflower, wash, chop off the florets and place them in a food processor. Pulse, creating rice. Add 2 cups of cauliflower rice to a large pan on the stove.
- Add the mushrooms and walnuts to the food processor, and pulse until they are a similar consistency as the cauliflower. Don't over process. Add to the pan with the cauliflower.
- Turn the heat to medium-high, and pour in the vegetable broth (2 tablespoons), spices and soy sauce. Stir to combine. Continue to cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add salt to taste, and remove from heat. Stir in the black beans.
Assemble the Enchiladas:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spread 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
- Wrap 5 tortillas at a time in a damp paper towel, and microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute to soften. This will make them much easier to roll.
- Fill each tortilla with a scoop of "meat" and a spoonful of cheese sauce. Roll and place into the prepared pan. Repeat until all the tortillas are used. Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce on top, then pour the rest of the cheese on top of the red sauce.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, until bubbly. Top with chopped cilantro and serve hot.
Recipe Notes
- For gluten free, use gluten free flour in the enchilada sauce, tamari instead of soy sauce and 100% corn tortillas.
- To make this recipe easier, you could buy pre-made vegan enchilada sauce. Check ingredient list as some brands have milk in them. You could also use vegan ground "beef" instead of the plant meat, or top the enchiladas with shredded vegan cheddar in place of the nacho cheese sauce. But they taste the best as written.
- Try subbing flour tortillas for the corn if desired.
- To make nut-free, omit the walnuts from the "meat" and use my Nut Free Cheese Sauce instead of the cashew based sauce.
- Calorie calculation does not include Nacho Cheese Sauce.
Amber
By far one of the tastiest vegan dishes i’ve prepared. I made some slight changes to up the spice level of the sauce and “meat” and did my own version of queso since I’m quite in love with it (it’s a cashew and roasted sweet potato base with nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, and hatch green chiles to flavor). This will definitely become a regular in my house, and the meat is absolutely perfect for taco night on its own. I have wanted a good whole-food alternative to vegan meat crumbles and this is definitely a winner.
Nora
Your queso sounds wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed these enchiladas.
Mary Matyja
I just tried this for a late lunch today . Didn’t have all the ingredients for the nacho cheese sauce so I just used the enchilada sauce and vegan cheese. These were awesome. Will definitely make again.
Nora
Glad it was good!
David Beer
Do you add the cauliflower to a cold pan with no oil and then add nuts and mushrooms plus stock?
Nora
Yes, a cold pan with not oil, then add the nuts and mushrooms as you process them, THEN the broth. That’s when you turn on the heat. Hope that helps!
Mollie
We made these with your tofu taco filling and black beans and used the nacho cheese sauce and enchilada sauce— delicious! True comfort food!
Nora
Sounds delicious!
Megan
Everything about this recipe looks fabulous. However, my partner doesn’t care for mushrooms, cauliflower or walnuts. How do you think it would be, using a bean/onion filling instead? Thanks in advance! I have been a fan of your recipes for some time now. My first and favorite (thus far) recipe of yours has got to be your nacho cheese sauce. That stuff is heavenly and 100% helped me commit to veganism!😁
Nora
Hi Megan, thank you so much for your kind words! That makes me so happy to hear about the nacho cheese sauce. 🙂 That is totally fine to replace the “meat” with a bean/onion filling. I have even used a mixture of black beans and beyond beef substitute before, and it turned out great. Thanks!
Joanna
I’m getting ready to make this recipe and wanted to know if I could make everything ahead of time, store overnight and then bake the next day? I have kids, and preparing this dinner for a vegan family the next day.
Nora
Yes, that will work. Thank you!
Jeff
I just had the exact same question – so glad you posted it. I made these last weekend and they were easily the best thing I’ve had in my seven weeks of being vegan. Love this site and your recipes – your lentil soup is also a favorite already!
Nora
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you love the enchiladas and the lentil soup!
Heather L Hoffman
Could you make these without the mushrooms my husband is allergic!
Nora
Yes, just use a little more cauliflower or walnuts in place of the mushrooms.
Carey
My husband and I started a plant based lifestyle almost two years ago. This recipe is amazing. I have made it 3 times for my non-vegan/vegetarian friends. Everybody raved about it. Leftovers are the best. Thank you for sharing.
Nora
Thank you so much, I’m so happy you are enjoying this enchilada recipe! The leftovers of these are SO GOOD.
Parie
These enchiladas are incredibly delicious. I love the sauce, the filling & the cashew cheese sauce. I am so happy I found this great recipe. I’ve been using quite a few of your recipes lately, and they have all been great! Thank you so much!
Nora
I’m so happy you are finding so many recipes to try here! Thank you.
Monique Jackson
How long can these store in the fridge? Or left over “meat” store? I doubled the recipe and had lots left over.
Nora
They will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, and you could also freeze some. The “meat” can be frozen separately as well. Thank you!
Riki
Do these freeze well? Maybe hold the vegan cheese sauce until defrosted?
Thank you!!
Nora
Yes, they will freeze well. Yes, hold the cheese sauce if possible until defrosted. The cheese sauce freezes okay but is definitely better fresh. Thank you!
Tammi
This recipe is outstanding!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this. Not only did it look beautiful after pouring some of the cheesy enchilada sauce on top with cilantro but I could totally see this being served in a restaurant. The mix of flavors are insane and as one commenter put it, better than any omnivore enchilada I’ve had and I’m an omnivore. My roomie who is vegan absolutely loved it. It was a lot of work and time consuming (about 2 hours all told for me and I made the nut-free nacho cheese) but well worth every minute. For anyone thinking of buying store bought enchilada sauce, you MUST try Nora’s homemade version first. I am making this for my next dinner party.
Sarah
These are the best enchiladas I’ve ever made regardless of the vegan/gluten free. It took me a lot longer than 20 minutes but next time it will go much faster. For us, this made two 9×11 pans and served 3 of us a light dinner. So we had it two nights in a row. I’ve told many people how good these were.
Supriya
Probably the best vegan recipe I’ve tried in my 6 years of being vegan! Easy, whole foods , delicious, not too time consuming … and the whole family loved it. The nacho dip is outstanding. Thank you!!
Nora
Thank you so much! Glad everyone enjoyed it!
Efi
I am not a vegan, however, my stepdaughter is and she is staying with us for the weekend. I made this recipe for her, along with the nut free nacho cheese and wow… what a great recipe!! It’s really really good and the “meat” filling surprisingly has the same texture and flavor as real meat. I saved this recipe and will likely make it even if she’s not here since it has such wholesome ingredients and it’s really tasty. I also pinned your vegan lasagna recipe and will make that tomorrow. Thanks for the great recipes. They will keep my stepdaughter full and happy.
Alice Toth
Absolutely fantastic enchiladas! I used Trader Joe’s bottled enchiladas sauce because I was short on time but your filling and nacho cheese recipes were delicious! (I also added frozen corn to the filling!)
Liz
Made the enchilada sauce and cheese but used gardein meat and refried beans to stuff the enchiladas. My kids loved it, even my son who usually doesn’t enjoy my enchiladas. They didn’t seem to miss the dairy cheese, at all. I made the whole batch of cheese. I added hot sauce and more taco seasoning to the leftover cheese and had to cut my son off from dipping chips into it. Normal cheese sauce is just junk- happy to see him enjoy this much healthier version. So glad I made the whole batch to use for other meals/snacks! Thanks!
Donna
Awesome! They are the best vegan enchiladas I’ve made! Yummy:))
Nora
Yay, thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed the enchiladas!
Jenn
Simply delicious,.thank you
Jenn
Sooooo good!! Definitely will be making again!
Sheila
Do you know if these would freeze well? If so, any helpful tips on how to freeze and reheat? I’ve never froze enchiladas but could really use some freezer meals!
Nora
Yeah, you could freeze these enchiladas. You could freeze them by doing everything except the last step of baking them, then cover well with foil (or a lid if you have a large covered casserole dish.) You could also simply make the enchiladas, and freeze any of the leftovers in smaller containers for quick meals. Hope that helps!
Zory
What kind of corn tortillasdo you use? All the non gmo ones has a strong smell l can’t stand. I thought it was just me but l have met a couple of people that say the same thing. The ones without the non gmo labels don’t stink. ..l wonder why. We love enchiladas and want to make but can’t find neutral “smelling” tortillas. 😂
Nora
I know what you’re talking about with the smell. It doesn’t usually bother me, but I use a variety of corn tortillas. Sometimes I use Trader Joe’s brand, or Whole Foods, or even just mission tortillas. I also like the corn/wheat blend ones at Trader Joe’s. Not sure what’s up with that smell! 🙂
Ali
Such a great recipe! Combines some of your best recipes and creates some scrumptious and hearty and nourishing enchiladas!!