August 23, 2023

Enchilada Casserole

Name: Enchilada Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 3 tablespoons chili powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock; ¼ teaspoon sea salt; 1 pound 90/10 ground beef; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper; 1 small yellow onion, diced; 1 medium red bell pepper, diced; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1 (7-ounce) can diced green chiles; 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed; 2 cups corn (canned or frozen); 12 (6-inch) corn tortillas; 1½ cups shredded pepper jack cheese; 1½ cups shredded medium cheddar cheese; Pico de gallo, for serving (optional); Pickled onions, for serving (optional); Sour cream, for serving (optional)

Layers of corn tortilla, cheese, and a tasty bean and beef filling get the royal homemade enchilada sauce treatment in this easy enchilada casserole recipe.

Easy Enchilada Casserole

Instead of Taco Tuesday, we’re going for Enchilada Everyday. Once you bake up this rich and cheesy enchilada casserole you’ll want to eat it every day, too. Enchilada casserole is an opportunity to lay out all of the toppings and sides. We recommend serving Pickled Onions, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, Restaurant Style Salsa, and Mexican Rice because this is really a maximalist meal.

ingredients for enchilada casserole in prep bowls: ground beef, spices, onion, pepper, chiles, black beans and corn

Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Homemade Enchilada Casserole

Enchilada sauce – We call for our Homemade Enchilada Sauce, but store-bought will work, see note below on amount.
Onion, bell pepper, garlic, green chiles – This is what gives the enchilada filling flavor.
Ground beef – We call for ground beef, but vegetarian and chicken versions are tasty too!
Canned black beans – No need to cook beans from scratch unless you have Instant Pot Black Beans you need to use!
Canned or frozen corn – Either works perfectly!
Cheese – This is the foundation upon which this great layered enchilada casserole is built. What enchilada dreams are made of. Don’t hold back.

oil, flour, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, and tomato paste in a pot to make enchilada sauce

chicken broth being added to a pot with oil, flour, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano & tomato paste

enchilada sauce in a pot spiced with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano & tomato paste

enchilada sauce being poured over ground beef, onion, peppers, chiles, corn and black beans in a skillet

How to Make The Best Enchilada Casserole

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
Brown the ground beef.
Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until softened. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
Stir in the green chiles, beans, corn and enchilada sauce and cook until warmed through.
Build the casserole layers. Dip half of the tortillas in the enchilada sauce, then arrange in a single layer on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Top with half of the beef filling and half of the pepper jack and cheddar. Dip the remaining tortillas in the remaining enchilada sauce and arrange in a single layer on top of the cheese. Top with the remaining filling and remaining cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and uncover. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

corn tortillas being dipped in homemade enchilada sauce

corn tortillas dipped in homemade enchilada sauce laid in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish

corn tortillas dipped in enchilada sauce topped with ground beef enchilada mixture in a casserole dish

enchilada casserole topped with shredded cheese in a casserole dish read to be baked

How to Store Beef Enchilada Casserole + Tips + Variations

Make ahead enchilada casserole: Before baking, cover and seal in a freezer safe casserole for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, cover with foil and bake it at 350 for 90 minutes, or until warmed through. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Make a vegetarian enchilada casserole! Just double down on your veggies or add mushrooms in their place. Or substituting Shredded Chicken for ground beef is also a great option.
If you’re looking to keep it light, only use half the amount of cheese for the top layer.
Homemade is always best, but if you're short on time, store bought enchilada sauce is great in a pinch! Just use two cups. Add your personal touch to this recipe with homemade Enchilada Sauce and Homemade Corn Tortillas.

enchilada casserole in a baking dish made with ground beef, black beans, corn, peppers, onions, chiles and cheese

A Few Great Enchilada Recipes From The Modern Proper