enchilada

noun

en·​chi·​la·​da ˌen-chə-ˈlä-də 

1

: a usually corn tortilla rolled around a savory mixture, covered with chili sauce, and usually baked

2

: schmear sense 1, ball of wax

the whole enchilada

Examples of enchilada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chicken enchiladas with spicy salsa verde The lunch and dinner menus don’t have either a combination plate or beef enchiladas. —Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Apr. 2025

Entrees on the menu are a spinach enchilada casserole, a half-pound ribeye steak burger and loco moco fried rice. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025

Chicken Enchiladas These creamy chicken enchiladas are packed with flavor, thanks to a filling of shredded chicken, cream cheese, and a touch of cumin. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025

The restaurant’s lushly landscaped garden is ready to seat as many as 1,000 customers, and the aromas of cheese enchiladas and fajitas—recipes perfected over 89 years—fill the air. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from feminine of enchilado, past participle of enchilar to season with chili, from Spanish en- en- entry 1 + chile chili

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing enchilada

• the big enchilada
• the whole enchilada

Rhymes for enchilada

• arthropoda
• intifada
• theravada
• armada
• entrada
• espada
• hamada
• jornada
• kannada
• posada
• quebrada
• ramada

Kids Definition

enchilada

noun

en·​chi·​la·​da ˌen-chə-ˈläd-ə 

: a tortilla rolled around a meat or cheese filling and covered with a chili sauce

Etymology

American Spanish, derived from earlier enchilar "to season with chili"