Double Duty Layered Enchilada Casserole Recipes

STACKED BEEF ENCHILADAS (AKA MEXICAN LASAGNA)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the ground beef and the baking soda. Mix with your hands until evenly combined. Let sit on the counter for 20 to 30 minutes.
• While the beef sits, prepare the sauce. Set an oven rack about 5 inches beneath the heating element and preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Toss the tomatoes, onions, and garlic with the vegetable oil directly on the prepared baking sheet. Broil until softened and charred, 12 to15 minutes (if the vegetables are browning too quickly, give them a quick stir with a rubber spatula). Transfer the vegetables and juices to a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper and pulse until just slightly chunky. Add the cilantro and pulse until the cilantro is chopped. Set the sauce aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring frequently and breaking into pieces, until just slightly pink, about 2 minutes. Add the chili powder, cumin, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes more, or until cooked through.
• To assemble: Preheat oven to 350°F and move the oven rack to the center position. Lightly oil a 9x13-in glass or ceramic baking dish.
• Set aside 1 cup of the sauce for the top of the casserole. (You want to ensure that you have enough to cover the top layer of tortillas, otherwise they won't cook through.)
• Line the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a layer of tortillas, overlapping them slightly. Spoon half of the beef (and any juices) over the tortillas. Top with half of the sauce and ⅓ of the cheese. Repeat with another layer of tortillas, the remaining beef, remaining sauce, and ⅓ of the cheese. Top with the remaining tortillas. Spread the reserved sauce over the tortillas and cover completely. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over top. Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is completely melted.
• Note: Chipotle chili powder is smoky and hot and makes this dish a little spicy. For a milder dish, replace the chipotle chili powder with ancho chili powder, which isn't as hot.
• MAKE-AHEAD/FREEZER-FRIENDLY INSTRUCTIONS: The casserole can be prepared ahead of time, tightly covered with foil, and refrigerated for up to two days or frozen for up to 3 months before baking (if frozen, defrost in the refrigerator before cooking). It can also be fully baked, tightly covered with foil, and refrigerated for up to two days or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat: defrost if necessary and heat the covered casserole in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes, or until hot. If you'd rather reheat individual servings, small portions can be zapped in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes.

BEEF ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°
• In a large skillet brown and crumble the ground beef, drain any excess grease.
• Add the onions, garlic and salt saute for about 5 minutes until the onions are slightly softened. Stir in the 3 tbsp water, 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin.
• If using the cilantro, stir it in now. Remove the pan from the heat.

LAYERED VEGETABLE ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until they're tender. Stir in the spinach and corn. Cook and stir until the spinach is wilted.
• Spread 1/2 cup enchilada sauce in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Line the bottom of the baking dish with 6 tortillas, overlapping as needed. Spread with half the remaining enchilada sauce. Top with the vegetable mixture and half the cheese. Top with the remaining tortillas and enchilada sauce.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with the cilantro before serving, if desired.

LAYERED ENCHILADA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Brown meat with onions in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Return meat mixture to skillet; stir in next 4 ingredients.
• Arrange 3 tortillas in single layer on bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish. Cover with layers of half each of the meat mixture, sour cream and cheese. Repeat layers; cover.
• Bake 40 min. or until casserole is heated through and cheese is melted, uncovering after 30 min. Let stand 5 min. before cutting to serve.

ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Stir in enchilada sauce and salsa; set aside. , Place 2 tortillas, overlapping as necessary, in the bottom of a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover with a third of the meat mixture. Top with 1 cup corn; sprinkle with 1-1/3 cups cheese. Repeat layers once, then top with remaining tortillas, meat and cheese. , Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes or until bubbly., Freeze Option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

LAYERED ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Sauté beef and onion in heavy large Dutch oven over high heat until brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Mix in chili powder and jalapeño and sauté 5 minutes. Season mixture with salt and pepper.
• Overlap 6 tortillas on bottom of prepared dish, covering completely. Spoon beef mixture, then beans evenly over tortillas. Cover with remaining 6 tortillas. Sprinkle cheese over. Pour tomatoes with their juices over cheese. Bake until casserole is heated through and bubbling at edges, about 1 hour.