Baked Beef Enchilada Casserole (Printable Version)
Layers of seasoned beef, tortillas, and melted cheese baked in rich enchilada sauce for an easy family dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Meat & Protein
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 small onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)
→ Spices & Seasonings
06 - 2 tsp chili powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Sauces & Dairy
11 - 2 cups red enchilada sauce
12 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
13 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
→ Tortillas
14 - 8 small corn tortillas (6-inch)
→ Garnishes
15 - Chopped cilantro
16 - Diced fresh tomatoes
17 - Sliced jalapeños
18 - Sour cream
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, breaking up with a spoon, until browned (about 5 minutes). Drain excess fat.
03 - Add diced onion to the beef and cook for 3 minutes, then stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Mix in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, corn kernels, and black beans (if using). Cook for 2 more minutes, then remove from heat.
05 - Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
06 - Layer 4 tortillas over the sauce, overlapping as necessary.
07 - Spoon half of the beef mixture over the tortillas. Top with 1/3 of the shredded cheeses.
08 - Pour 1/2 cup enchilada sauce over the beef layer.
09 - Place the remaining four tortillas on top.
10 - Spread the rest of the beef mixture over them, followed by another 1/3 of the cheeses.
11 - Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the casserole and top with the remaining cheese.
12 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
13 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
14 - Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with cilantro, tomatoes, jalapeños, and sour cream as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything comes together in one dish with layers that get everyone excited about dinner
- The leftovers somehow taste even better the next day when the flavors have had time to really become friends
02 -
- Draining the beef fat prevents the casserole from becoming greasy while it bakes
- Tortillas need to overlap or there will be gaps where sauce just pools instead of getting absorbed
- The resting period is not optional if you want clean slices instead of a mess on the plate
03 -
- Warming your tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds makes them more pliable and less likely to tear
- Mixing the cheddar and Monterey Jack together instead of layering separately creates more consistent melting