Beef Enchilada Casserole With Corn Tortillas
Like a culinary symphony blending Mexican traditions, beef enchilada casserole beckons you into a world of comfort food. You'll discover a dish that transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal your family will crave. Layered with seasoned ground beef, corn tortillas, and rich enchilada sauce, this casserole promises more than just dinner—it offers a journey through flavor and technique that'll make you eager to learn every delicious detail.
Recipe Highlights
- Beef Enchilada Casserole is a layered dish featuring corn tortillas, ground beef, enchilada sauce, black beans, and Mexican cheese blend.
- The recipe involves creating multiple layers of ingredients, starting with sauce-coated tortillas and alternating with beef, beans, cheese, and additional sauce.
- Cooking requires baking at 375°F for approximately 40 minutes, with the first 30 minutes covered in foil and the final 10 minutes uncovered.
- This Mexican-inspired casserole is versatile, allowing customization with different proteins like chicken or additional vegetables to suit individual preferences.
- The dish serves as an excellent meal-prep option, with leftovers storing well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheating easily.
History
The heritage of enchiladas stretches back to ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, where corn tortillas were a staple food long before Spanish colonization.
Indigenous peoples like the Aztecs would wrap small fish or game in corn tortillas, creating early versions of what we now know as enchiladas. When Spanish conquistadors arrived, they encountered this culinary tradition and gradually influenced its evolution.
You'll find that the word "enchilada" derives from the Spanish verb "enchilar," meaning "to season with chili." Corn tortillas remained central to the dish, symbolizing a connection to ancient agricultural practices.
Recipe
Enchilada casserole is a comforting and convenient twist on the traditional Mexican dish, perfect for busy families seeking a hearty and flavorful meal. By transforming individual rolled enchiladas into layered casserole form, this recipe simplifies preparation while maintaining the delicious essence of the original.
This easy-to-assemble dish combines tender ground beef, soft corn tortillas, rich enchilada sauce, and melted cheese into a satisfying one-pan meal that will quickly become a family favorite. The layered approach ensures every bite is packed with flavor and makes serving a breeze.
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 24 corn tortillas
- 28 oz red enchilada sauce
- 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
Begin by preheating the oven to 375°F and browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain any excess fat from the meat to prevent the casserole from becoming greasy.
While the beef is cooking, prepare your baking dish by spreading a thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom to prevent sticking.
Create the casserole by layering 6 corn tortillas, followed by a third of the cooked beef, black beans, cheese, and additional sauce. Repeat these layers three times, ensuring the final layer is topped with cheese.
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
For the best results, allow the enchilada casserole to rest for 10-15 minutes after baking. This resting period helps the layers set and makes serving easier, preventing the components from sliding apart.
If your corn tortillas seem stiff, quickly warm them in the microwave between damp paper towels to increase their pliability and make layering smoother.
Cooking Steps
You'll start by browning the ground beef thoroughly in a large skillet, ensuring no pink remains and draining excess fat to create a lean, flavorful base for your enchilada casserole.
Next, you'll layer corn tortillas in your baking dish, spreading a thin coat of enchilada sauce between each level to keep the dish moist and infuse rich, tangy flavor throughout.
Finally, you'll carefully build your casserole by adding beef, black beans, and generous handfuls of shredded cheese, repeating the layers until your dish is beautifully assembled and ready to transform in the oven.
Step 1. Brown Ground Beef
Fire up your large skillet over medium heat and prepare to transform raw ground beef into a flavorful foundation for your Beef Enchilada Casserole.
You'll want to add the 2 pounds of ground beef directly to the skillet, breaking it into small, uniform pieces with a wooden spatula. Let the meat cook, stirring occasionally, until it's completely browned and no pink remains, which typically takes 8-10 minutes.
Watch for visual cues: the beef should look golden and slightly crispy at the edges, releasing moisture and developing rich, caramelized flavors.
Once cooked, carefully tilt the skillet to drain excess fat, using a spoon or spatula to press out additional grease. This step ensures your enchilada casserole won't become overly greasy, maintaining a clean, robust beef flavor that'll complement the enchilada sauce perfectly.
Step 2. Spread First Tortilla Layer
A 9×13 baking dish transforms into your canvas for layering this delectable Beef Enchilada Casserole.
Start by spreading a thin, even layer of red enchilada sauce across the bottom of the dish, which prevents sticking and adds immediate flavor.
Carefully arrange 6 corn tortillas to completely cover the sauce, slightly overlapping the edges to ensure full coverage.
You'll want the tortillas to create a solid foundation for your subsequent layers, so take care to align them neatly and uniformly.
If any tortillas break during placement, simply patch them together – no need for perfection.
The goal is a complete base that'll support the hearty beef, beans, and cheese layers to come.
Press the tortillas gently to ensure good contact with the sauce.
Step 3. Add Sauce Layer
After spreading the tortillas across the bottom of the baking dish, it's critical to create a generous sauce layer that will infuse moisture and rich flavor throughout the casserole.
You'll want to pour approximately 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce evenly across the tortillas, using a spatula or the back of a spoon to ensure complete coverage. This sauce acts as both a binding agent and a flavor enhancer, helping to prevent the tortillas from drying out during baking.
- Aim for a thin but complete sauce coating
- Use slow, deliberate pouring motions
- Check for any dry tortilla patches
- Tilt the baking dish if needed to distribute sauce
The sauce layer will create a foundation that helps meld the ingredients together, ensuring each bite is perfectly seasoned and moist.
Step 4. Add Remaining Ingredients
Layer the beef and beans across the tortillas with strategic precision, creating a hearty foundation for your enchilada casserole. Distribute the cooked ground beef evenly, ensuring each bite will have a balanced ratio of meat and black beans. Sprinkle the beans between the beef, allowing them to nestle into the tortilla layers for added texture and protein.
Next, generously spread the shredded Mexican cheese blend across the beef and bean layer. The cheese will melt and create a creamy, binding element that connects the ingredients.
Pour a generous amount of enchilada sauce over the cheese, allowing it to seep between the layers and infuse each tortilla with rich, tangy flavor. Repeat these layering steps until you've used all ingredients, finishing with a final cheese topping.
Step 5. Bake Until Golden Brown
When the layering is complete, you'll want to transform your enchilada casserole from a raw assemblage of ingredients into a golden, bubbling masterpiece of flavor. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil, ensuring a secure seal to trap moisture and help the ingredients steam and meld together.
Slide the covered casserole into a preheated 375°F oven, setting your timer for 30 minutes. After this initial covered baking period, remove the foil to allow the cheese to brown and crisp, creating those irresistible golden edges and bubbly surface.
Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes, watching carefully to prevent over-browning. The result? A beautifully caramelized top with melted cheese, promising a delicious meal that'll have everyone at the table eager to dig in.
Final Thoughts
Because Mexican-inspired casseroles are such crowd-pleasers, you'll want to keep this beef enchilada recipe in your weeknight dinner rotation. You can easily customize this dish by swapping ground beef for shredded chicken or adding extra vegetables like diced bell peppers or corn.
The layered approach makes it more forgiving than traditional rolled enchiladas, so even novice cooks can achieve impressive results. When serving, consider topping your casserole with fresh garnishes like chopped cilantro, diced onions, or a dollop of sour cream to enhance the flavors.
Leftovers will keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, making this an ideal meal-prep option. Simply reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven, and you'll have a delicious, satisfying meal ready in minutes.
