Beef Enchilada Casserole Cheese (Printable)
Layered Tex-Mex casserole with ground beef, enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, and melted cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 can diced green chilies, 4 ounces
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Sauce & Assembly
11 - 2 cups red enchilada sauce
12 - 8 corn or flour tortillas, 6-inch
13 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
14 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
15 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
16 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
17 - Sour cream for serving
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook 2–3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat.
04 - Stir in diced green chilies, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook 1 minute to blend flavors. Remove from heat.
05 - Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange 4 tortillas over the sauce, overlapping slightly.
06 - Top tortillas with half of the beef mixture, 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese. Drizzle 3/4 cup enchilada sauce evenly over the layer.
07 - Repeat with remaining tortillas, beef mixture, and cheeses. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle with any remaining cheese and black olives.
08 - Cover baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
09 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden on top.
10 - Let casserole stand 10 minutes before serving to set. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve with sour cream if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The layers of melted cheese and seasoned beef create that perfect comfort food harmony that makes everyone go back for seconds
- It feeds a crowd with minimal effort and tastes even better as leftovers the next day
02 -
- Frying the tortillas in hot oil for 30 seconds per side before layering prevents them from getting mushy
- Letting the casserole rest for at least 10 minutes after baking is what gives you clean slices instead of a sloppy mess
03 -
- Mixing in a can of refried beans with the beef stretches the meat and adds creaminess that everyone loves
- Room temperature ingredients layer more evenly so take everything out about 20 minutes before starting