This Beef Enchilada Casserole is a perfect addition to your weeknight menu. Simple but flavorful ingredients are topped with a homemade cheese sauce to give you the ultimate in comfort foods.
Beef Enchilada Casserole
Ground beef is cooked down with the perfect blend of onions, bell peppers, and spices to make sure every bite is filled with ultimate flavor. That's why this is the ideal comfort food casserole for your weeknight dinner meal plan.
No longer do you need takeout or frozen dinners when you can mix up this recipe in no time and make it in less than an hour.
If you love the flavors of things like this beef enchilada casserole then you have to check out our other favorites. This Crock Pot Salsa Verde Chicken recipe and the easy Chicken Sheet Pan Fajitas meal. Both are packed with flavor and oh, so easy to make.
Can I Make This With Ground Turkey?
While ground beef brings the best flavor in this simple Mexican inspired casserole, you can use ground turkey. We enjoy ground turkey in a number of recipes (like Crockpot Turkey Chili) and while it isn't as rich in flavor, it is a great substitute.
If you are substituting it for health reasons, feel free to do so. For the instances when you think it will give better flavor, we would stick with ground beef for richness.
Our Healthy Taco Soup Recipe is a great addition to your menu that used ground turkey for protein. It packs tons of flavor and is healthier while still being satisfying.
Tip: If trying to give richer flavor to ground turkey, add an additional ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika and ½ teaspoon of Kitchen Bouquet Browning Liquid.
What Different Vegetables Can I Add to Beef Enchilada Casserole?
We like to mix in onion, bell pepper, tomato, and corn for our recipe. You can easily add more vegetables if you wish. In fact, I have seen many variations of this recipe that sounded delicious. A few are below.
- Mix in black beans, pinto beans, or chili beans.
- Add a layer of refried beans.
- Shred zucchini, carrots, or squash and add to the beef mixture before layering.
- Replace the bell pepper with jalapeno peppers.
- Stir in more diced tomatoes.
- Mix diced black olives into the beef filling.
- Add diced mushrooms into the vegetable mixture.
Can I Freeze This Casserole?
Yes! One of our favorite things about this recipe is that we know I can make a double batch and wrap for the freezer.
It freezes and reheats beautifully.
If you decide to make this as a freezer meal, you will cook down the beef and vegetables along with your cheese sauce. Layer the casserole, and then allow it to cool completely before wrapping for the freezer.
I like to wrap this casserole once completely with plastic wrap, then cover the top with aluminum foil. Make sure you always add a label with the date you prepared the casserole, the name of the recipe, and cooking directions for later.
Tip: Use disposable aluminum baking pans for freezer meals like this one so you can easily take it from the freezer to oven with no worries about shattering the glass in your favorite pan.
What Toppings Should I Add to My Beef Enchilada Casserole?
Traditional enchiladas are basic with tortilla, meat, and a sauce. The American style or Tex-Mex style enchilada is loaded with more cheese sauce and often toppings similar to what you would add on a taco. Below are some of our favorite additions to serve with this casserole at dinner.
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced red onion or green onion
- Traditional salsa, green salsa (Verde), or hot sauce
- Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- Additional shredded cheeses
- Sliced avocado
- Black olives
- Jalapeno slices
Feel free to have any of your favorite toppings on hand for your family to add to their serving of this casserole. This makes it fun for the kiddos to put together.
What Kind of Tortillas Do You Use For Enchiladas?
Corn Tortillas are traditionally used for enchiladas, but you can also use flour tortillas. We recommend using 7-8 inch tortillas for this recipe since they fit nicely in the casserole dish.
What to Serve With Beef Enchilada Casserole
One of the easiest things to serve with your Beef Enchilada Casserole is a green salad. Other great options include cornbread or black beans and rice.
Ingredients for Enchilada Layers
- Avocado oil
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Corn
- Chili powder
- Ground cumin
- Garlic powder
- Tortillas
- Tomato
- Cilantro
Ingredients for Homemade Cheese Sauce
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Worcestershire sauce
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Diced green chiles
- Salt
How to Make the Beef Filling Mixture
Step 1:
To begin, you will preheat your oven and prepare the baking dish with nonstick spray then set it aside until later.
Step 2:
Next, you will cook down your ground beef, onion, and bell pepper until beef is cooked through and vegetables are getting tender.
Step 3:
Now, mix in your spice blend, and the corn stirring for 2-3 more minutes before removing from the heat.
How to Make Homemade Cheese Sauce
Step 4:
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. You will whisk in the flour until well-combined. This should take 2-3 minutes and should begin thickening and turning a light brown.
Step 5:
At this point, turn down the heat and slowly mix in the milk and Worcestershire sauce while whisking constantly. Stir and cook for about 10 minutes or until thickened. Do not allow it to boil.
Step 6:
Remove the sauce from the heat, and add in the cheese a little at a time stirring to combine.
Step 7:
Lastly, mix in the green chiles and salt.
Layering a Beef Enchilada Casserole
Step 8:
Cover the bottom of your 13x9-inch baking dish with ⅓ of the cut corn tortillas. Next, you will pour half the beef mixture on top of that, and then ⅓ the cheese sauce.
Step 9:
Repeat this process ending with the cheese sauce on top. Add a few chopped tomatoes on top before baking.
Step 10:
When cooked through and bubbly, remove from the oven, top with cilantro, and serve.
Other Weeknight Dinner Favorites
One-Pot Veggie Mac and Cheese
Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Tips for Making Beef Enchilada Casserole
- As mentioned, you can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef if you like.
- If using ground beef with a high percentage of fat, make sure you drain it before adding your spices and corn.
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Printable Recipe
Beef Enchilada Casserole
Equipment
- 9-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- 8 corn tortillas (cut into quarters)
- 1 large onion (diced)
- ¼ cup cilantro (chopped (optional))
- 1 large tomato (seeded and chopped (optional))
- ¾ cup red bell pepper (1 medium) (diced)
- 1 cup frozen corn (optional)
- 2 tablespoon s chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Cheese Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup reduced-fat milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 4-ounce can diced green chiles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, place avocado oil and preheat the pan. Add beef, onions, and bell peppers and cook until no pink remains in the meat and vegetables are tender, 6-8 minutes. Make sure to break beef into small pieces as you cook.
- Stir in corn, chili powder, cumin, and garlic. Cook an additional minute or two until heated through, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
- Cover the bottom of your baking pan with ⅓ of the cut corn tortillas, overlapping as you go. Top with half of the beef mixture and ⅓ or your cheese sauce. Repeat layers with half of the remaining tortillas, all of the meat, and half of remaining cheese sauce. Top with remaining tortillas and cheese sauce and chopped tomato.
- Bake until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
- Top with cilantro and serve!
Cheese Sauce
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk until fully combined, 2-3 minutes. It should be thick and turn light brown.
- Turn down heat to medium and slowly add the milk and Worcestershire sauce whisking constantly. Continue stirring and cook until the mixture is thick about 10 minutes. (do not boil)
- Remove from heat and add the cheese a little at a time, stirring to combine. Stir in green chilis and salt.
Notes
- As mentioned, you can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef if you like.
- If using a higher percentage fat ground beef, make sure you drain it before adding your spices and corn.
Tara
So glad I made two batches of this -- one for dinner and one for the freezer. My kids loved it!
Erin Henry
Great idea to make 2 batches, Tara! It's always better to cook once and eat twice!! Our family likes to eat this once a week!
Krissy Allori
This casserole was so so good. My whole family loved it. We'll be making it again for sure.
Erin Henry
So glad your family liked it Krissy! It's a family favorite around our house, too!
Katie
This casserole looks sooo tasty. I know my husband is going to love it! Can't wait to try!
Erin Henry
Kids and husbands love this Mexican recipe! Enjoy!
stephanie
These were the most delicious beef enchiladas ever and were so simple to make. Will definitely be making these again.
Erin Henry
It's also a great recipe to make ahead and then freeze, Stephanie!
Sally
This looks lovely and I keep all the main ingredients in my store cupboard!
Erin Henry
Great! Sounds like you can make it whenever you're craving a good Mexican recipe!