Beef Enchilada Cheddar Casserole (Printable Version)
A comforting layered dish with ground beef, enchilada sauce, tortillas, and sharp cheddar cheese.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Spices
04 - 1 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp chili powder
06 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
07 - ½ tsp dried oregano
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp black pepper
→ Sauces & Liquids
10 - 2 cups red enchilada sauce
11 - ¼ cup water
→ Tortillas
12 - 8 small (6-inch) flour or corn tortillas
→ Cheeses
13 - 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
14 - ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
→ Toppings
15 - ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 1 medium tomato, diced
17 - ½ cup sliced green onions
18 - Sour cream, to serve
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it up with a spatula for about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add the diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
04 - Sprinkle in the cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute.
05 - Pour in 1 cup of enchilada sauce and ¼ cup water. Simmer for 3 minutes, then remove from heat.
06 - Spread ¼ cup of the remaining enchilada sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
07 - Layer 4 tortillas over the sauce, overlapping as needed. Top with half the beef mixture and 1 cup cheddar cheese.
08 - Repeat with remaining tortillas, beef mixture, and 1 cup cheddar. Pour all remaining enchilada sauce over the top. Sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese, if using.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.
11 - Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with cilantro, tomato, green onions, and serve with sour cream.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything bakes in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
- The layers soften into this perfect lasagna style texture that enchilada purists secretly love
02 -
- The resting period is non negotiable or you will end up with a messy slide instead of neat squares
- Corn tortillas need a quick warm in the pan or they might crack when you layer them
03 -
- Mix a little sauce into the beef filling before layering to keep everything moist
- Let your cheese come to room temperature for more even melting