You can make beef enchilada casserole, chicken, turkey, pork, chorizo or whatever you like the most. Every enchilada bake recipe is different and equally delicious! This one is cheesy, tangy, meaty and just plain amazing!
How To Make Enchilada Casserole?
(First, preheat the oven to 350 F.) Make The Meat Sauce:
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef with the onion, bell pepper and garlic until no pink is left on it. Pour in the chunky salsa and enchilada sauce. Mix in the refried beans, cumin, coriander, black olives and jalapeno peppers. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Assemble The Casserole:
Place half of the tortilla halves in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch greased casserole dish. Spoon half of the meat mixture on top of the tortillas. Sprinkle one cup of shredded cheddar on top of the meat mixture. Repeat layers and cover the casserole with foil. Bake, covered, for 20 mins. Remove the foil and bake for 5 more minutes until the cheese is bubbly and melted.
How To Freeze Enchilada Casserole?
The best way to freeze this casserole is to assemble it, cover it with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for up to 4 months. Do not bake it before freezing it. Once you are ready to serve it, thaw it overnight in the fridge and take it out 30 mins before baking it. Bake it according to previous instructions. You can freeze it after baking it, too. It just won’t taste as fresh.
Substitutions and Variations:
If you don’t eat beef, you can use ground chicken, turkey or pork. Make a green enchilada casserole substituting the chunky salsa with green tomatillo sauce and using green enchilada sauce instead of red. I usually make it with ground chicken instead of beef. If you don’t have corn tortillas, use flour tortillas. Add more veggies like whole kernel corn, and instead of cheddar, use a Mexican cheese blend. Adding crumbled cotija cheese on top gives this casserole a great taste. Cotija cheese is crumbly, salty and delicious.
Other Beef Recipes You Might Enjoy!
Beef Meatballs Recipe Beef and Bean Enchiladas Recipe Beef Taco Casserole
