Do you need to feed a small crowd of people? This is your recipe! It’s the perfect dish for a potluck meal or a family dinner. Made with layers of ground beef, tortillas, a creamy enchilada sauce mixture, and cheese, this easy layered beef enchilada casserole recipe is just the ticket.
We hosted a small group at our house the other night, and I made this casserole dish. It fed everybody and some people even went back for seconds.
Another great thing about this enchilada recipe is that it can be made ahead of time. I cooked the meat and assembled the casserole the night before. On the day of the small group meeting at our house, I just popped it in the oven right before the guests arrived.
In addition, I made no-soak pinto beans in the Instant Pot to go with this casserole and they were delicious! If you saw my Instant Pot Beef Tipspost, then you know that I left my Instant Pot in a box for a year because I was intimidated by it! Now I use it weekly. In fact, I am about to cook a whole chicken in it today and will share how I do that. But you can go from dry beans to perfect and flavorful pinto beans in about an hour!
How to make beef enchilada casserole:
Cook chopped onion in a little olive oil for 2-3 minutes then add ground beef.
Brown ground beef and then drain off any fat.
Once the meat is cooked, add the rest of the liquid ingredients and simmer for thirty minutes, stirring occasionally.
Grease a 13X9 casserole dish.
Tear or cut corn tortillas into forths and add one layer in the dish.
Pour half of the meat mixture on the tortillas.
Sprinkle half the grated cheese on the meat mixture.
Add another layer of tortillas.
Pour the remaining meat mixture on the tortillas.
Top with the other half of the cheese.
Bake in the oven at 350 for 35-40 minutes until the casserole is thoroughly heated and the cheese is melted.
In a large skillet, add 1 TBSP olive oil or butter and cook chopped onion for 2 to 3 minutes
Add 2 pounds of ground beef to the onion and cook until done
Add all the rest of the liquid ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
Grease a 13X9 casserole dish
Cut tortillas into fourths and add one layer in the bottom of the dish
Pour half of the meat mixture on top of the tortillas
Add half of the grated cheese on top fo the meat mixture
Repeat with a layer of tortillas, meat mixture, and top with reamaining cheese
Put in a preheated 350° oven
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes
Recipe Note
You can also make this casserole in two 8X8 dishes. This is usually what I do and I either freeze the other one or share with a friend. Optional: You can add some chopped pickled jalapeno peppers to the meat mixture if you want some extra kick.Also, I buy mild taco sauce and mild enchilada sauce because my kids don't like it too spicy.
