What does enchilada mean?
An enchilada is a classic Mexican dish made by rolling a tortilla around a filling of meat, cheese, beans, or vegetables, then covering it generously with chilli-based sauce and baking it until hot and flavourful. The word comes from Spanish, literally meaning 'seasoned with chilli', reflecting the defining role of the sauce rather than the filling. Enchiladas vary widely across Mexico and the American Southwest, from red-sauce versions to green tomatillo varieties, and are a staple of both home cooking and restaurant menus. Beyond the kitchen, the term has entered informal English through the American idiom 'the whole enchilada', meaning everything or the entire matter, giving the word a playful second life in everyday speech. It remains one of the most recognisable names in Mexican cuisine worldwide.
nounA Mexican dish consisting of a rolled tortilla filled typically with meat, cheese, or beans, covered with a chilli sauce and baked.
- A rolled tortilla filled with meat, cheese, or beans, covered in chilli sauce, and baked.
- Informal (chiefly US): the whole enchilada — the entirety of something; the whole thing.
"She ordered a plate of cheese enchiladas smothered in green salsa verde."
"The restaurant's signature dish is a stack of chicken enchiladas topped with crema and queso fresco."
"He wanted the corner office, the company car — the whole enchilada."
The standard plural adds -s. When referring to the dish generally or as a single serving, the singular 'an enchilada' is common; menus often list 'enchiladas' collectively.
"The platter came with three enchiladas, each with a different filling."
In American slang, 'the whole enchilada' means everything — a phrase popularized by the 1980s that turned a humble Mexican casserole into shorthand for 'the complete package.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enchilada
Enchilada is borrowed directly from Mexican Spanish, where it is the feminine past participle of enchilar, meaning 'to season with chilli' — formed from en- ('in') plus chile ('chilli'). Chilli itself derives from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, so the word ultimately carries an Indigenous Mexican root. The dish entered English usage in the nineteenth century as Mexican food spread northward into the United States.
How enchilada is actually used
The plural is normally 'enchiladas' when referring to the dish served. The figurative idiom 'the whole enchilada' is informal and chiefly American, equivalent to British 'the whole shebang'.
Easily confused with enchilada
A burrito is a flour tortilla wrapped around fillings and served dry, whereas an enchilada is covered in chilli sauce and usually baked.