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Easy Beef Enchilada Casserole Bake – Crowd-Pleaser Dinner

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This Enchilada Casserole Layer Bake is a comforting dish that combines all the beloved flavors of traditional enchiladas into a simple, layered bake. Perfect for weeknight dinners or potlucks, it’s a hearty meal that’s sure to please everyone at the table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10–12 medium-sized corn tortillas or 8–10 medium-sized flour tortillas
  • 28–30 ounces red enchilada sauce (or two 15-ounce cans)
  • 1 to 1.5 pounds lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)
  • 2–3 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
  • 2–3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: 4 ounces canned drained diced green chiles
  • Optional: A handful of sliced black olives
  • Optional: 1 cup frozen corn kernels

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain excess fat.
  2. Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Mix in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, stirring to coat the beef evenly. Cook for another minute to toast the spices, then remove from heat.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by spreading about 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce evenly across the bottom.
  5. If using corn tortillas, dip each tortilla in the remaining enchilada sauce to moisten. If using flour tortillas, lightly warm them.
  6. Arrange 3-4 dipped corn tortillas (or flour tortillas) over the sauce at the bottom of the dish, creating an even layer.
  7. Spread half of the seasoned ground beef mixture over the first tortilla layer, then sprinkle about 1 cup of shredded cheese evenly over the beef.
  8. Place another layer of dipped tortillas over the cheese, then spread the remaining beef mixture over these tortillas, followed by another cup of shredded cheese.
  9. For the final layer, arrange the last set of tortillas over the cheese and pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top layer of tortillas.
  10. Generously sprinkle the remaining 1 cup (or more) of shredded cheese over the top of the casserole.
  11. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes until bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
  12. Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: Dipping corn tortillas in warm enchilada sauce makes them pliable and infuses flavor. For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with black beans, pinto beans, or roasted vegetables.

Find it online: https://crumella.com/easy-beef-enchilada-casserole-bake-crowd-pleaser-dinner/