Description
Hearty Mexican-inspired beef enchilada bake delivers a spicy symphony of flavors dancing across your plate. Melted cheese, tender beef, and zesty sauce create a comforting meal that brings family and friends together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 large bell pepper, any color, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Pantry and Dairy Ingredients:
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can chili beans
- 1 (15 ounces / 425 grams) can red enchilada sauce
- 12 corn tortillas
- 12 ounces (340 grams) Mexican blend shredded cheese
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Cilantro, for garnish (optional)
- Sour cream, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) to prepare for baking.
- In a large skillet, sauté chopped onion and minced garlic in olive oil until translucent and fragrant over medium heat.
- Add diced bell pepper and cook until slightly softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet and cook thoroughly, breaking meat into small crumbles until no pink remains.
- Drain any accumulated fat from the meat mixture.
- Incorporate chili beans, salt, pepper, and ground cumin, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Pour half of the enchilada sauce into the beef mixture and mix completely.
- Create a thin sauce base in a baking dish by spreading some enchilada sauce across the bottom.
- Construct the first layer by arranging corn tortillas over the sauce, covering the entire surface.
- Distribute half of the seasoned beef mixture across the tortillas, ensuring even coverage.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese over the beef layer.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining tortillas, beef mixture, and cheese.
- Drizzle the final portion of enchilada sauce over the top layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Shield the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden.
- Optionally garnish with fresh cilantro and a dollop of sour cream before serving hot.
Notes
- Drain beef thoroughly to prevent a soggy casserole and ensure crispy, delicious layers.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a healthier, leaner protein option.
- Use low-fat cheese and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to reduce calories without sacrificing flavor.
- Customize heat levels by selecting mild, medium, or spicy enchilada sauce based on personal preference.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 439 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg