Minimal Ingredient Beef Enchilada Casserole With Corn Tortillas Recipe

Minimal Ingredient Beef Enchilada Casserole: Your Ultimate Comfort Food 🌮🥩🔥

1. Introduction

Craving a hearty, flavorful meal, but dreading spending hours in the kitchen? Look no further! This Minimal Ingredient Beef Enchilada Casserole with Corn Tortillas is the perfect answer. This recipe brilliantly simplifies the classic enchilada dish, transforming it into an easy enchilada bake that even beginner cooks can easily master. Forget complicated recipes; using just a handful of readily available ingredients, you can create a truly satisfying and delicious quick beef casserole that’s absolutely perfect for a weeknight family dinner or even a potluck gathering with friends. The comforting combination of perfectly seasoned ground beef, warm and soft corn tortillas, and a rich, flavorful enchilada sauce makes this corn tortilla casserole a guaranteed crowd-pleaser every single time. Let’s dive right into making this incredibly simple, yet surprisingly flavorful dish!

2. Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Recipe

This particular beef enchilada casserole truly stands out from the crowd for several compelling reasons:

• Minimal Ingredients: One of the best parts! It requires only a few key items, making it incredibly budget-friendly and undeniably convenient, especially on busy days.
• Quick and Easy: From prep to table, it’s ready in under an hour, which makes it genuinely perfect for those hectic weeknights when time is of the essence. For another equally quick and delicious meal, try this Quick and Simple Chicken Boursin Cheese Pasta!
• Highly Customizable: It’s easily adaptable to perfectly suit your own individual taste preferences; feel free to add extra veggies you enjoy, experiment with different cheeses to find your favorite combination, or easily adjust the spice level to your liking.
• Ultimate Comfort Food: It delivers a warm, satisfying, and wonderfully familiar flavor profile that everyone, from kids to adults, will absolutely enjoy.

3. Ingredients You’ll Need to Gather

Here’s exactly what you’ll need to make this absolutely delightful beef enchilada casserole:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 (10 ounce) can enchilada sauce
• 12 corn tortillas
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

4. Essential Equipment Needed

• Large skillet
• Microwave
• 9×13 inch baking dish

5. Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Beef

Begin by browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once browned, carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet. Next, add the taco seasoning packet directly to the cooked beef and meticulously follow the specific instructions provided on the packet. Typically, this involves adding a specified amount of water and allowing the mixture to simmer gently for a few minutes, ensuring that the beef is thoroughly and evenly coated with the flavorful taco seasoning. This process will efficiently create the perfectly seasoned beef filling for your easy enchilada bake. If you’re looking for more dinner ideas, explore the dinner category!

2. Soften the Corn Tortillas

To prevent any unwanted cracking or tearing during the layering process (which is essential for a good casserole!), it’s crucial to soften the corn tortillas beforehand. There are a couple of easy ways to do this effectively. The most common method is to wrap the stack of tortillas in a slightly damp paper towel and microwave them for approximately 30-60 seconds, or until they become noticeably pliable and easy to bend without breaking. This critical step ensures that your final corn tortilla casserole layers beautifully and holds its shape properly during baking.

3. Layer the Casserole

Begin by preheating your oven to a moderate 350°F (175°C). While the oven is heating, spread a thin, even layer of the enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. This will help to prevent sticking and add flavor to the bottom layer of the casserole. Next, carefully arrange 6 of the softened corn tortillas to completely cover the bottom of the dish, slightly overlapping them if necessary. Then, spread approximately half of the seasoned ground beef mixture evenly over the layer of tortillas. Sprinkle generously with one cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, ensuring that the beef is well covered. Repeat these layers: another layer of tortillas, the remaining ground beef, and the final cup of cheese. This meticulously layered approach is what makes this quick beef casserole so incredibly satisfying and ensures that every bite is packed with flavor and texture.

4. Bake and Serve

Carefully pour the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the very top layer of cheese, making sure to cover as much of the surface as possible. Next, tightly cover the baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil. This will help to keep the casserole moist and prevent the cheese from burning during the initial baking period. Bake the covered casserole in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, carefully remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown on top. Once baked, remove the beef enchilada casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. This resting period allows the casserole to set slightly, making it easier to cut and serve neatly. You could also try these variations of ground beef enchilada casserole.

6. Essential Tips and Delicious Variations

• Add Vegetables: For added nutrition and a boost of fresh flavor, sauté diced onions, bell peppers (any color!), or tender zucchini along with the ground beef as it cooks.
• Spice It Up: If you enjoy a bit of heat, use a hotter variety of enchilada sauce or add a pinch of fiery cayenne pepper directly to the beef mixture while it’s simmering.
• Cheese Variations: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of cheeses to find your perfect blend! Monterey Jack, spicy pepper jack, or a pre-shredded Mexican cheese blend all work wonderfully. If it involves cheese, it will be good!
• Add Beans: For extra heartiness and fiber, mix in a can of drained and thoroughly rinsed black beans or creamy pinto beans right in with the seasoned ground beef mixture.
• Make it Vegetarian: Easily adapt this recipe to be vegetarian by simply substituting the ground beef with cooked lentils, crumbled tofu, or a commercially available vegetarian ground beef substitute.

7. Serving Suggestions for the Perfect Meal

Serve this comforting beef enchilada casserole with these complementary toppings and sides:

• A dollop of cool sour cream or creamy Greek yogurt
• A sprinkle of freshly chopped cilantro
• Diced avocado
• A side of flavorful Mexican rice and savory refried beans. If you are looking for other side dishes, consider this Simple Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe, especially if you like fried green tomatoes!

8. Storage Instructions for Leftovers

Refrigerate: Store any leftover beef enchilada casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a maximum of 3 days to maintain optimal freshness and flavor.

Reheat: Reheat individual portions conveniently in the microwave until heated through, or reheat the entire casserole in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through and bubbly.

9. Final Thoughts

This Minimal Ingredient Beef Enchilada Casserole with Corn Tortillas is truly a fantastic way to effortlessly enjoy a remarkably flavorful and undeniably satisfying meal without any of the usual fuss or complicated steps. Its inherent simplicity, along with its incredible adaptability, makes it an absolute staple for busy weeknights when time is short, and its undeniably delicious taste will have everyone at the table eagerly asking for seconds (and maybe even thirds!). So, whether you’re specifically looking for an easy enchilada bake, a quick beef casserole that comes together in a snap, or simply a hearty and comforting corn tortilla casserole that the whole family will love, this recipe has you completely covered. Enjoy every single bite!

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