Delicious & Easy Enchilada Casserole: Your New Go-To Budget-Friendly Mexican Delight
Craving a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen? Look no further than this fantastic Enchilada Casserole recipe! This delightful dish takes the vibrant flavors of traditional enchiladas and transforms them into an incredibly easy-to-make, budget-friendly casserole. The best part? You can prepare almost everything from scratch, including the rich and savory enchilada sauce, ensuring a depth of flavor that store-bought versions simply can’t match. It’s a perfect low-cost recipe that delivers immense satisfaction, and this time, we’ve included a comprehensive video to show you just how simple it is to bring this comforting casserole to life in your own home.
Experience the Unforgettable Flavor!
Enchiladas are a staple in Mexican cuisine, cherished for their versatility and hearty goodness. Traditionally, enchiladas consist of corn or flour tortillas rolled around a filling and covered with a chili pepper sauce. The word “enchilada” literally means “chili-sauced,” highlighting the importance of the sauce to the dish. While rolling individual enchiladas can sometimes be a bit time-consuming, transforming this classic into a casserole eliminates much of the fuss, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or feeding a hungry crowd. This casserole style layers tortillas with your flavorful filling and plenty of sauce and cheese, then bakes it all to bubbly perfection.
Enchilada Casserole: A Recipe for Everyone
This Enchilada Casserole recipe is designed for ease and accessibility, making it perfect for both seasoned cooks and beginners. The beauty of a casserole is its simplicity: layer, bake, and enjoy! It’s an ideal dish for meal prepping, as it can be assembled ahead of time and baked when you’re ready. This means less stress during dinnertime, allowing you to spend more quality moments with your loved ones.
Why Choose a Homemade Enchilada Casserole?
- Budget-Friendly: Making your enchilada casserole from scratch, especially the sauce, is significantly cheaper than buying pre-made meals or ordering takeout. Basic ingredients like ground beef, tortillas, corn, and cheese are economical and often on sale.
- Easy to Prepare: This recipe streamlines the traditional enchilada process. Instead of meticulously rolling each tortilla, you simply layer them in a baking dish, saving you precious time and effort without sacrificing flavor.
- Customizable: While this recipe features ground beef and corn, enchilada casserole is incredibly versatile. You can easily substitute the protein with shredded chicken, pork, black beans, or a mix of vegetables to suit your taste or dietary preferences.
- Hearty & Comforting: There’s nothing quite like a warm, cheesy casserole emerging from the oven. It’s the ultimate comfort food, perfect for a cozy family dinner or a gathering with friends.
- Freezer-Friendly: Leftovers, if there are any, freeze beautifully, making it an excellent option for batch cooking and future meals.
If you’ve made this incredibly satisfying enchilada casserole, we’d love to see your creation! Tag #byandreajanssen on Instagram or Twitter. It always brings us joy to see our recipes come to life in your kitchen. Feel free to share your culinary adventures on our Facebook channel, or pin this recipe on Pinterest to easily find it next time you’re in the mood for Mexican. Happy cooking, and see you soon!
📖 Recipe: Enchilada Casserole
VIDEO
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C
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frying pan
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oven dish
Ingredients
- 30 grams ground beef
- 400 ml Enchilada sauce
- 6 wraps
- 300 gram corn kernels
- 120 grams cheese , matured, grated
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (approximately 350°F). This ensures your casserole bakes evenly and the cheese melts perfectly.
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In a large frying pan, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until it’s thoroughly browned. Break it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once cooked, drain any excess fat.
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Return the beef to the pan (or a mixing bowl if preferred) and mix it thoroughly with your enchilada sauce. This creates a rich, flavorful filling for your casserole.
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Lightly grease your oven dish. Arrange two tortillas at the bottom of the casserole dish, overlapping slightly if necessary to cover the base.
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Spoon approximately one-third of the beef and enchilada sauce mixture evenly over the tortillas. Ensure every part of the tortilla is covered with this delicious sauce.
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Evenly spread half of the corn kernels (150 grams) over the sauce layer, followed by one-third of the grated cheese. This creates a wonderful texture and flavor combination.
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Place another two tortillas on top of the corn and cheese layer, forming your second layer of tortillas.
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Repeat the layering process: add another third of the beef and enchilada sauce mixture, followed by the remaining corn kernels and another third of the grated cheese.
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Finally, complete your casserole by placing the last two tortillas on top of the sauce and corn layer.
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Spoon the very last of the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top tortilla layer. Then, generously sprinkle the rest of the grated cheese over everything, ensuring a golden, bubbly crust.
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Bake the enchilada casserole in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Serve immediately with a side of fluffy rice and a crisp green salad for a complete and satisfying meal. Enjoy your delicious homemade Mexican feast!
Nutrition
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Tips for the Perfect Enchilada Casserole
- Homemade Enchilada Sauce: While a good quality store-bought sauce works in a pinch, making your own elevates the flavor immensely. A simple red enchilada sauce typically involves chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, flour, and broth, cooked until thickened. It’s surprisingly easy and much more flavorful!
- Don’t Overcrowd the Dish: Ensure your tortillas, filling, and cheese are layered evenly. This allows for even cooking and melting of the cheese, preventing dry spots or soggy areas.
- Spice it Up: If you love a bit of heat, add some diced jalapeños or a pinch of cayenne pepper to your beef mixture. You can also drizzle some hot sauce over the top before baking.
- Vegetarian Options: For a delicious vegetarian version, swap the ground beef for black beans, pinto beans, or a combination of sautéed bell peppers, onions, and zucchini. You can even use a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Cheese, Please!: Don’t be shy with the cheese! A good blend of cheddar and Monterey Jack works wonders, but feel free to experiment with other Mexican cheeses like Cotija or Oaxaca cheese for an authentic touch.
Serving Suggestions to Complete Your Mexican Feast
This enchilada casserole is a meal in itself, but it truly shines when served with complementary side dishes. The recipe suggests rice and a green salad, which are excellent choices, but here are a few more ideas to enhance your dining experience:
- Fresh Guacamole: Creamy, homemade guacamole with ripe avocados, lime juice, cilantro, and a touch of onion is an irresistible topping.
- Sour Cream or Mexican Crema: A dollop of cool sour cream or a drizzle of Mexican crema adds a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the casserole.
- Pico de Gallo: A fresh salsa made with diced tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and cilantro provides a bright, zesty counterpoint.
- Refried Beans: A classic side, refried beans are comforting and add another layer of traditional Mexican flavor.
- Lime Wedges: A squeeze of fresh lime juice over your serving can brighten the entire dish and bring out the flavors.
- Chipotle Crema: For an extra kick, mix a little adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers into sour cream for a smoky, spicy drizzle.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
One of the many benefits of a casserole is its make-ahead and leftover potential. If you have any remaining enchilada casserole, simply cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, you can either:
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 160°C (325°F). Cover the casserole loosely with foil and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbling. Remove foil for the last 5-10 minutes if you want the cheese to re-crisp.
- Microwave: For individual servings, place a portion on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 1-2 minutes, or until hot.
This enchilada casserole also freezes well. Assemble the casserole as directed, but do not bake. Cover tightly with foil and freeze for up to 2-3 months. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then bake as instructed, possibly adding an extra 10-15 minutes to account for the colder temperature.
What did I use to prepare this recipe?
Here are some essential kitchen utensils I’ve used to prepare this delightful Enchilada Casserole. When you follow the link, you will go to another page with a short explanation of each item. It’s also possible to order directly if you’re in need of an upgrade or new equipment.
- A good set of sharp knives (essential for preparing your ingredients efficiently and safely)
- A sturdy cutting board (to protect your countertops and for easy chopping)
- Brushes, spatulas and other cooking utensils (to mix ingredients and spread sauces evenly)
- An oven dish and roasting pan (the core equipment for baking this delicious casserole)
- A reliable frying pan (for browning your ground beef to perfection)
We hope you enjoy preparing and sharing this easy Enchilada Casserole as much as we do. It’s a wonderful way to bring vibrant Mexican flavors to your table with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness. Happy cooking!