Thisย Beef Enchilada Casseroleย is cheesy, saucy, meaty, Mexican comfort food at its most craveable that readers call, โYUMMM,โ โWords can not express how delicious this turned out,โ and โwhole family approved!โ
As a San Diegan expert in creating flavor-packed, foolproof Mexican inspired ecipes, this recipe is elevated by the BEST bold, smoky, quick, and easyย homemade enchilada sauce, deeply seasoned beef, and creamy, cheesy layers that meld together perfectly in every bite. With step-by-step instructions, expert tips, and customizable options, you can trust this casserole will become a go-to family favorite!
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how to make enchilada casserole video
Beef Enchilada Casserole Recipe
This Enchilada Casserole is one of our family favorites!ย It is adapted from readers’ favorite Mexican Lasagna to bring you the ultimate tried-and-true recipe!ย Here’s why will be a new family tradition/obsession/delight:ย
Beef Enchilada Casserole Ingredients
Let’s take a closer look at what you need to make this recipe (measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):ย
Homemade Enchilada Sauce Ingredients
This Beef Enchilada Casserole is all about the sauce.ย And letโs be honest, not all sauces are created equal; store-bought sauces are all too often bland, watery, too tomato-y, and lacking depthโbut not this sauce!
Itโs bursting with bold, rich smoky south-of-the-border depth with a hint of mole flair. The ingredient list might look lengthy, but they are pantry friendly, dump and simmer ingredients.ย
The sauce is not only spectacularly tasting, but quick, easy, make ahead and freezer friendly.ย You will need:
CAN I USE VEGETABLE BROTH INSTEAD OF CHICKEN BROTH?
You may use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth but it doesnโt deliver the same level of flavor. If you do decide to use vegetable broth, make sure to use low-sodium vegetable broth and salt to taste.
WHAT TORTILLAS ARE BEST for enchilada casserole?
Enchiladas can be made with corn or flour tortillas but for this Beef Enchilada Casserole, you will want to use corn tortillas. Their sweet corn flavor is a delectable complement to the smoky enchilada sauce. More importantly, corn tortillas hold up better layered in between the sauce.
For all of my taco recipes, I highly recommend La Tortilla Factory corn tortillas because they are thicker and donโt tear, but for this Beef Enchilada Casserole, however, I find them a little too thick. Instead, save your money and quality tortillas for when theyโre not smothered in sauce and use any less expensive corn tortillas from your grocery store.
How to Make Beef Enchilada Casserole with Corn Tortillas
There are a lot of ingredients in this recipe, but please donโt be intimidated!ย As you can see by the instructions to follow, most of the ingredients are just dumped into the pan. Hereโs how to make the recipe (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
STEP 1 โ CHAR TORTILLAS
STEP 2 – COOK BEEF AND MAKE ENCHiLADA SAUCE
STEP 3 โ simmer the sauce
STEP 4 โ add the beans
STEP 5 โ ASSEMBLE ENCHILADA CASSEROLE
STEP 6 โ BAKE
CAN I MAKE ENCHILADA CASSEROLE IN ADVANCE?
Yes!ย This Enchilada Casserole is the perfect make-ahead meal to either assemble and bake within 24 hours or to bake and freeze.ย
โข Assemble and refrigerate:ย Assemble, tightly cover and refrigerate (without baking) for up to 24 hours.ย When ready to cook, bake according to recipe directions, increasing the baking time (with the foil on) by approximately 10 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and completely heated through.ย Note, that the longer the enchiladas are refrigerated, the softer the tortillas will become so it is a good idea to char the tortillas first.
โข Make meaty enchilada sauce: ย Make the meaty sauce complete with all the add-ins up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate or freeze for up to 3 months.ย If you use cold sauce in your casserole, you will need to bake it an addition 10 minutes or so with the foil on.
โข Prep toppings: Chop and store toppings in airtight containers or baggies in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
WHAT TOPPINGS FOR ENCHILADA CASSEROLE?
This Enchilada Casserole is even better with ย toppings! ย Itโs fun to create a topping bar and then let everyone pile on their favs.
Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole Recipe Tips
enchilada casserole RECIPE VARIATIONS
Please note that while you can omit any add-ins, you canโt add more ingredients without swapping them for another ingredient or the sauce ratio will be off.ย ย For example, you canโt just add zucchini, but you can swap zucchini for corn.ย
WHAT SHOULD I SERVE WITH ENCHILADA CASSEROLE RECIPE?
This Enchilada Casserole recipe is the main event and doesnโt need much of a supporting cast, but I always love serving it with a green salad and some sort of fruit. Here are a few side ideas:
Enchilada casserole side ideas
How to Store Beef Enchiladas Casserole
Enchilada Casserole should be tightly covered in plastic wrap or foil or transferred to an airtight container. When stored correctly, it’s good for up to 5 days. Of course, always use your best judgment.
HOW TO REHEAT ENCHILADA CASSEROLE?
This Beef Enchilada Casserole reheats exceptionally well both in the oven and in the microwave.
โข OVEN: cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
โข MICROWAVE: reheat individual servings in the microwave by transferring to a microwave safe plate and microwaving for 60 seconds. Continue to microwave at 20 second intervals until heated through.
CAN I FREEZE ENCHILADA CASSEROLE?
Yes, you may freeze this Beef Enchilada Casserole, just be aware that the tortillas will become much softer.ย It is a good idea to char the tortillas or use thicker tortillas like La Tortilla Factory if you plan on freezing.
1. Let enchilada casserole cool completely (or freeze before baking).
2. Wrap casserole securely with plastic wrap, then with aluminum foil.
3. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
4. When ready to eat, cover tightly with foil and bake from frozen at 425 degrees F for 60 minutes, uncovered and bake an additional 15-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
FAQs for this Beef Enchilada Recipe with Corn Tortillas
This Enchilada Sauce recipe is not spicy, just flavorful.ย Even with the cayenne pepper it should be just fine for little ones.ย If you know you love heat then increase the cayenne pepper or pass around the hot sauce.
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Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole Recipe (with Corn Tortillas)
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Ingredients
BEEF FILLING
- 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1/4 cup flour
- 3 tablespoons chili powder (NOT cayenne pepper)
- 1 tsp EACH ground cumin, garlic powder, ground coriander, salt
- 1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (will not make it spicy)
- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 3 1/2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
- 1 14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 4 oz. can can mild chopped green chiles
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- pinch of cinnamon
ADD LATER
- 1 15 oz. can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15 oz. can sweet corn, drained
- 1 6 oz. can chopped black olives, drained
- 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
LAYERS
- 15 corn tortillas (cut 9 in half)
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Monterrey Jack cheese
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- OPTIONAL: char tortillas over the flame of a gas burner or in a cast iron skillet until lightly charred in spots.
- PREP: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a deep 9X13-inch baking dish; set aside. Toss cheeses together; set aside.
- COOK BEEF: Brown beef and onions in a Dutch oven or very large saucepan until almost cooked through. Sprinkle in flour and seasonings and cook for two minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the tomato paste and garlic and cook for one minute.
- FILLING INGREDIENTS: Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, green chiles, cocoa powder, sugar and cinnamon. Bring the sauce to a simmer and continue to simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 15 minutes. After the sauce has thickened, stir in beans, corn, olives and apple cider vinegar then remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste (I add ยฝ teaspoon salt, ยผ teaspoon pepper).
- ASSEMBLE: Spread 1 cup of meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan (layer will be thin). Place 2 whole tortillas in the middle and surround them by by 6 tortilla halves (see photos) to cover. Top evenly with โ of the remaining meat mixture (about 2 cups), followed by 1 cup of cheeses.
- Repeat with another layer of tortillas, โ meat mixture, and 1 cup cheeses. Finish with final layer of tortillas, remaining mixture and remaining cheeses.
- BAKE: Cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 20 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and casserole is heated through. Garnish with fresh tomatoes, olives, avocados, cilantro and sour cream if desired.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks
- Use corn tortillas. Do not use flour tortillas or they will be soggy/mushy.
- Use inexpensive corn tortillas.ย Save your favorite La Tortilla Factory corn tortillas, they are actually tooย thick for this recipe.ย
- Pre-measure seasonings.ย Measure out the seasonings before you start cooking so you can add them all at once.
- Donโt skip cocoa!ย The sugar, cocoa powder and the cinnamon (simulating Mexican chocolate) really enhance the authentic enchilada sauce recipe so please donโt skip them!
- Grate your own cheese.ย Please use freshly grated cheeses because pre-shredded packaged cheeses use anti-clumping chemicals which prevent them from melting as well.ย
- Customize ingredients.ย You can customize the add-ins โ see post for ideas.
Prep ahead
- Assemble and refrigerate:ย make and assemble the entire Enchilada Casserole in advance, tightly cover and refrigerate (without baking) for up to 24 hours.ย When ready to cook, bake according to recipe directions, increasing the baking time (with the foil on) by approximately 10 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and completely heated through.ย Note, that the longer the enchiladas are refrigerated, the softer the tortillas will become so it is a good idea to char the tortillas first.
- Make meaty enchilada sauce: ย make the meaty sauce complete with all the add-ins up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate or freeze for up to 3 months.ย If you use cold sauce in your casserole, you will need to bake it an addition 10 minutes or so with the foil on.
- Prep toppings: chop and store toppings in airtight containers or baggies in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
HOW to store and reheat
- To store: tightly cover or transfer the enchilada casserole to an airtight container.ย Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To freeze: it is a good idea to char the tortillas or use thicker tortillas if you plan on freezing.ย Either way, be aware that the tortillas will soften once frozen and thawed. ย To freeze, wrap the cooled casserole securely with plastic wrap, then with aluminum foil.ย Freeze for up to 3 months.ย ย When ready to eat, cover tightly with foil and bake from frozen at 425 degrees F for 60 minutes, uncovered and bake an additional 15-30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- To reheat in the oven: cover the pan with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
- To reheat in the microwave: reheat individual servings in the microwave by transferring to a microwave safe plate and microwaving for 60 seconds.ย Continue to microwave at 20 second intervals until heated through.
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Leave a Review, I Always Love Hearing From You!
Susan Melchior says
Do you use the rotel tomatoes with chili or a not so spicy one. Love your recipes
Jen says
I don’t use Rotel. I use fire roasted diced tomatoes without chilies or extra spices. Enjoy!
Ekta says
Words can not express how delicious this turned out. I had to make it with a few substitutions because I did not want to wait till I went grocery shopping next, ground chicken instead of beef, tomato paste instead of fire roasted tomatoes and it was still so YUMMM.
Jen says
YAY! Thank you so much Ekta, I’m thrilled you loved it so much!
Marsi Friend says
This recipe looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it. I keep Abuelita’s in the pantry. Is that the Mexican chocolate you were referring to?
Jen says
Yes, that is perfect!
Marsi Friend says
Thank you! I am off to make this right now. Can’t wait!
Jen says
Awesome, I hope you love it!
Nikki says
Hi Jen. Iโm allergic to cocoa (itโs ridiculous!). You said not to exclude it. Assuming the dish will still be delicious without it? Should I make any other changes if I exclude it?
Jen says
Hi Nikki, the cocoa adds a mole flair but you can absolutely make it without it if you’re allergic!
Ellie says
Made this today for a mama with a new baby as well as our family and whole family approved! My four and two year old had clean plate clubs
You never, ever disappoint!
Jen says
That’s so nice of you, thanks Ellie! I’m so pleased it was another hit!
Sarah says
This was really good! All of the flavors worked so well together. In the future I will make this on a weekend because 90+ minutes in the kitchen on a weeknight is way too long. Itโs easy to make, just takes forever from start to finish. Thanks for the recipe!
Jen says
Hi Sarah! I’m so glad that you liked it! Week nights can be tricky days when you definitely don’t want to be too long in the kitchen! You can check out some of my 30-minute dinner recipes if you want to make something delicious in a shorter amount of time! Thank you for trying out my recipes!