Baked Beef Enchilada Casserole (Printable)
Layers of seasoned beef, corn tortillas, and two cheeses smothered in enchilada sauce and baked until bubbly.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meat & Protein
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 small onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup corn kernels
→ 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 Steps:
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. Layer 4 tortillas over the sauce, overlapping as necessary.
06 - Spoon half of the beef mixture over the tortillas. Top with 1/3 of the shredded cheeses. Pour 1/2 cup enchilada sauce over the beef layer.
07 - Place the remaining four tortillas on top. Spread the rest of the beef mixture over them, followed by another 1/3 of the cheeses.
08 - Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the casserole and top with the remaining cheese.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
11 - Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with cilantro, tomatoes, jalapeños, and sour cream as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything bakes together in one dish so the flavors marry and the tortillas soften into something that tastes like they've been simmering in sauce for hours
- You can assemble it ahead of time and bake whenever you're ready, making it perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd
02 -
- If your tortillas are stiff from the package, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds before layering to prevent cracking
- The resting period isn't optional if you want clean slices, but if you don't care about presentation, dig in immediately
03 -
- Place your baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet before baking to catch any bubbly overflow in your oven
- For extra flavor, mix a tablespoon of the enchilada sauce into the beef mixture while it cooks