Description
Comfort meets Mexican cuisine in this hearty Beef Enchilada Bake, layering spicy ground beef, melted cheese, and zesty sauce. Packed with bold flavors and family-friendly appeal, you’ll savor each cheesy, satisfying bite of this irresistible southwestern-style casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade equivalent)
- ¼ cup water
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups enchilada sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 6 small flour or corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
- ½ cup canned black beans or refried beans (optional)
- ½ cup corn kernels (optional)
Garnish:
- Sliced green onions
- Fresh cilantro
- Sour cream
- Diced avocado
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until thoroughly cooked, breaking it into small crumbles.
- Drain any excess fat from the meat, then incorporate diced onions and minced garlic, sautéing until the vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
- Sprinkle taco seasoning over the meat mixture, stirring to distribute evenly, then add water and simmer until the liquid reduces and the flavors meld together.
- Fold in black beans and corn kernels, mixing gently to create a robust and hearty filling.
- Create the first layer of the casserole by spreading a thin film of enchilada sauce across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Arrange tortillas to completely cover the sauce, cutting and overlapping as necessary to create a solid base.
- Distribute half of the seasoned beef mixture across the tortilla layer, ensuring even coverage.
- Drizzle additional enchilada sauce over the meat and sprinkle a generous layer of shredded cheese.
- Repeat the layering process with another set of tortillas, remaining beef mixture, sauce, and cheese.
- Top the final layer with remaining tortillas, coating thoroughly with enchilada sauce and a thick blanket of cheese.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and heat thoroughly.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese becomes golden and bubbly.
- Allow the enchilada bake to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven to help it set.
- Garnish with chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and sliced avocado before serving.
Notes
- Customize the beef filling by swapping ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Layer tortillas strategically to prevent them from becoming soggy by using slightly overlapping edges and ensuring they’re not too thin.
- Control spice levels by selecting mild taco seasoning or adding fresh jalapeños for extra heat, letting everyone adjust to their preferred intensity.
- Enhance meal prep efficiency by preparing the beef mixture ahead of time and refrigerating, which allows flavors to develop and reduces cooking time when assembling the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg