Easy Beef & Bean Enchilada Casserole
Make ahead dinners are some of my favorite ways to cut time in the middle of a busy week and with all the continued renovations, gardening, and canning that has been going on lately I need to find ways to cut down on time wherever I can. One of the ways I get some time and sanity back is by making a make ahead dinner and throwing it in the fridge until it is time to bake and enjoy! That is where this Easy Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole steps up to the plate. Not only is it a time saver on a busy night, but it is also packed full of flavor!
Make Ahead Dinners
Make ahead dinners are such a great time saver mid week. However, sometimes I forget to make it ahead of time… (can anyone else relate??) Then it is nice to still be able to lean on a good ol’ casserole that can be quickly thrown together on the fly or prepped ahead of time.
That is why I love a good casserole. They are typically easy to assemble, taste great, and can be made ahead to save time on busy nights. Most of them can even be frozen!! Mind blown with the midweek time savings!
I don’t remember eating a lot of casseroles growing up, but as a busy mom of three with a full time job and farm, casseroles are my new best friend for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! They are quick and easy and best of all can be prepped ahead (as long as I remember).
I am a big supporter of quick and easy weeknight dinner ideas. I know it can be hard to come up with new ideas on the fly, so we have put together some really delicious options for you to check out here on the blog. Check them out here! We also have some great breakfast options as well because dinner isn’t the only important meal!
Mexican Night
We love Mexican night at the house, but we typically fall into the same routine of tacos salads, Tostitos and cowboy caviar. While all are delicious, week after week they can become a little mundane, not to mention our version is not very authentic. To mix it up, we are throwing Enchiladas into the mix in this super easy Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole.
This Enchilada Casserole is packed with great flavor and layers and layers of cheesy goodness that your family will adore. Top it with a little sour cream and your favorite salsa and you have a winning dinner that even your pickiest eater will love.
Easy Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole
Mexican Night
We love Mexican night at the house, but we typically fall into the same routine of tacos salads, Tostitos and cowboy caviar. While both are delicious, week after week they can become a little mundane, not to mention our version is not very authentic. To mix it up, we are throwing Enchiladas into the mix, in this super easy Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole.
This Enchilada Casserole is packed with great flavor and layers and layers of cheesy goodness that your family will adore. Top it with a little sour cream and your favorite salsa and you have a winning dinner that even your pickiest eater will love.
Easy Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole
A lot of the enchilada recipes I have tried in the past have come up lacking in the flavor department, so I took matters into my own hands to create this flavorful and meaty casserole.
First you will start by browning your ground meat with salt. Once your meat is browned, drain off any excess fat and add in your spices and a can of diced green chilis. I used medium since the kids don’t like spicy, but if you like to turn up the heat go with the hot!
Once your meat is browned, you are pretty well there. Now it is just the assembly! Again this casserole can be made ahead and stuck in the fridge up to two days or you can freeze it for up to two months before baking. I actually recommend letting the assembled casserole sit for at least a few hours before baking as it helps all the flavors marry, but it is not an end all be all. You can make and bake in one fell swoop if you want.
Assembly Time!
I use a glass 13 inch casserole dish sprayed lightly so that nothing sticks. Create a light layer of your enchilada sauce to give the corn tortilla something to soak up. Then start by layering on your base layer of corn tortillas. You can use flour tortillas, but I prefer the taste and texture of the corn tortilla. Next up is another thin layer of sauce (just enough to coat the tortillas).
Refried beans are next. I use a can of our favorite refried beans to save on time, but you can totally make you own as well! I use the whole 16b oz can on this one layer! Then top a quarter cup shredded cheese, followed by another layer of corn tortillas and sauce. Then add a little more cheese!
I do the beef in two layers, so half the beef will top the cheese you just added followed by more cheese, tortillas, and sauce. Do this again, pushing down gently after each addition of tortillas to help compress everything together. Add you last layer of tortillas on top and pour the remaining sauce evenly over the top. Add cheese again!
This is where you can pop it in the fridge to hang out. When it is time to bake, 350 for 1 hour until the cheese is melty and the sauce is hot and bubbly. Serve with your favorite enchilada toppings and enjoy!
What’s Your Go to Weeknight Dinner?
What is your favorite casserole or easy weeknight dinner??? We would love to hear from you. Share your favorites in the comments below. Don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest for more recipes like this!
Easy Beef and Bean Enchilada Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 4oz Diced Green Chilis
- 15 Corn Tortillas
- 16 oz refried beans
- 2 cups shredded Cheese
- 1 tsp cumin
- 19 oz Red Enchilada Sauce
Instructions
- In large skillet brown meat. Drain off excess fat.
- Add cumin and green chilis. Salt to taste
- Meanwhile gather remaining ingredients and spray a glass 13 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray
- Apply a thin layer of sauce to the bottom of the casserole dish and begin building casserole with a layer of corn tortillas. top with another thin layer of sauce.
- Next add layer of refriend beans and cheese. Top with a layer of tortillas and press lightly
- Add another light layer of sauce then half the beef followed by another layer of cheese then tortillas and a thin layer of sauce.
- Add remaining half of beef followed by another layer of cheese then tortillas. Press lightly.
- Pour remaining sauce evenly over the top and top with remaining cheese. Set in fridge or bake right away at 350 for 1 hour.
2 Comments
Sarah
Ooh this looks delicious! I love makehead dinners too but when those aren’t possible, quick and easy dinners are definitely good! This one looks very tasty.
hacketthillfarm
Thanks so much Sarah! It is one that definitely got rave reviews from the family and gives us a little reprieve from the traditional taco Tuesday.