A fun spin on enchiladas that’s super easy to make. Layers of ground beef, cheese, and flour tortillas are baked together with red enchilada sauce. Think of it as a Mexican Lasagna!

enchilada casserole served on a white plate with a side of pickled onions

This Recipe:

costs $15.49 to make
serves 4 adults
is easier to make than traditional enchiladas
the beef filling is stretched further by corn and black beans
fantastic as left overs!

Beef Enchilada Casserole Ingredients:

Ground beef - $7.47 (half a 3lb roll at $14.94)
Mexican cheese - $2.61 (half a 16oz bag of Mexican cheese at $5.22)
Enchilada sauce - $1.98 (10oz can)
Flour tortillas - $1.04 (20 pack tortillas at $3.48)
Black beans - $0.71 (half can at $1.42)
Frozen corn - $0.59 (half a 16oz bag at $1.18)
Red bell pepper - $0.74 (half a fresh pepper at $1.48)
Yellow onion - $0.35 (half medium onion at $0.70)
$15.49 total - $3.87 per serving

Optional Toppings:

How to Make this Enchilada Casserole:

In a large pan, saute diced onion and bell pepper in oil over medium heat until softened. 3-5 minutes

onion and red bell pepper cooking a large cast iron skillet

Turn heat to medium high and add your ground beef. Stir and cook until browned, 3-5minutes. Turn heat to low and add minced garlic and salt. Stir and cook for another minute, then turn off heat.

ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and garlic cooking in a cast iron skillet

Add corn, black beans, and half of the can of enchilada sauce. Stir to combine.

corn, black beans, and enchilada sauce being added ontop a cast iron skillet filled with cooked ground beef

To assemble the casserole, first add a splash of enchilada sauce to the bottom of a 9x9 inch dish. Place two tortillas on top, overlapping in the middle.

9 by 9 inch glass dish with tortillas inside

Add more enchilada sauce and spread over the tortillas.

red enchilada sauce being spread over tortillas

Add half of your ground beef mixture. Press is down firmly with the back of your spoon, creating a nice compact layer.

ground beef mixture being layered into the casserole

Sprinkle ⅓ of the grated cheese on top.

casserole being topped with grated cheese

Add another layer of 2 tortillas with enchilada sauce, the rest of your ground beef mixture, and another ⅓ of the cheese. Top with the remaining tortillas and press down firmly. Add the enchilada sauce on top and the rest of the grated cheese.

red enchilada sauce on the top of the casserole

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes. Top with sliced black olives, jalapenos, and cilantro. Let rest for 10-20 minutes before serving.

9 by 9 baking dish with a slice of the beef enchilada casserole missing

What to serve with this recipe?

Pickled red onions, sour cream, or a fresh green salad with a lime cilantro dressing.

How to store this recipe?

Place in an airtight container or wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This dish can be kept in the freezer for up to a month. To thaw, place in refrigerator over night and reheat in the oven.

If you enjoy this Easy Beef Enchilada Casserole, then try out my Homemade Hamburger Helper and Easy Baked Rigatoni with Ground Beef!

Easy Beef Enchilada Casserole

Alexis

A fun and yummy spin on traditional enchiladas, that is super easy to make. Think of it like a Mexican Lasagna!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4 people

Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

1 9 x 9 inch baking dish

Ingredients

1 tablespoon neutral oil
½ small yellow onion diced
½ red bell pepper diced
1 ½ lbs ground beef
2 garlic cloves minced
½ cup frozen corn canned corn is fine
½ can black beans
15 oz enchilada sauce canned
6 flour tortillas medium
½ teaspoon salt

Toppings

¼ cup black olives sliced
¼ cup pickled jalapenos
1 tablespoon cilantro minced

Instructions

Add neutral oil to a large pan and heat over medium low. Saute onions and bell peppers until softened, around 3-5 minutes.
Add ground beef to the pan and turn heat to medium high. Break up the meat into small chunks and cook until browned. Around 5 minutes.
Turn heat to low, add minced garlic, stir and cook for one minute. Turn off heat.
Add corn kernels, black beans, and half the can of enchilada sauce. Stir to combine.
To assemble the casserole put 2 tablespoons of the enchilada sauce at the bottom of the dish. Place two tortillas on top, overlapping in the middle.
Add ¼ cup of enchilada sauce and spread evenly.
Add half of the ground beef mixture and compact it down with the back of a large serving spoon or spatula, creating an even solid layer.
Sprinkle ⅓ of the cheese on the beef layer.
Add two more tortillas, ¼ cup enchilada sauce, remaining ground beef mixture, and another ⅓ of the cheese.
Top with remaining tortillas, press down firmly. Add the rest of the enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until melted and lightly browned on top.
Top with sliced black olives and pickled jalapenos. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Corn tortillas work great in this recipe! You will need 10-12 small corn tortillas.
Pressing down the ground beef mixture helps the casserole not fall apart when sliced.

Keyword casserole, enchilada, ground beef