Description
Hearty beef enchilada casserole blends Mexican culinary traditions with comforting layers of spiced meat, melted cheese, and corn tortillas. Home cooks can easily craft this satisfying dish that delivers rich flavors and soul-warming appeal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 12 corn tortillas
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10 ounces / 284 grams) can enchilada sauce
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) to prepare for the casserole assembly.
- Sauté ground beef with diced onions and minced garlic in a skillet, breaking meat into crumbly pieces until fully cooked and browned.
- Drain any excess fat from the meat mixture, then incorporate chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper for enhanced flavor.
- Pour enchilada sauce into the seasoned meat, allowing the mixture to simmer and meld flavors for 3-4 minutes.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and create the first foundation layer using corn tortillas, slightly overlapping to cover the bottom completely.
- Spread half of the spiced beef mixture evenly across the tortilla base, ensuring consistent coverage.
- Distribute black beans over the beef layer, then sprinkle a generous portion of shredded cheese to create the first substantial tier.
- Construct a second layer of corn tortillas directly atop the previous cheese layer.
- Repeat the process by adding remaining beef mixture and black beans, ensuring even distribution across the dish.
- Top the casserole with the final cheese layer, creating a complete coverage.
- Shield the casserole with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow ingredients to meld together.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese becomes golden and bubbling.
- Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro leaves before serving hot directly from the baking dish.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with lean turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier, lower-fat version that still delivers robust flavor.
- Use corn tortillas labeled as gluten-free to accommodate celiac or gluten-sensitive diets without compromising texture.
- Toast tortillas briefly before layering to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent sogginess, creating a more crisp and satisfying casserole.
- Add diced bell peppers or jalapeños during beef cooking for extra nutrition and a spicy kick that elevates the overall taste profile.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg