Beef Enchilada Casserole (Small Family Recipe)
This hearty Beef Enchilada Casserole is perfectly portioned for small families and comes together in under an hour. It’s budget-friendly, easy to prep, and layered with corn tortillas, saucy seasoned ground beef, and plenty of melty cheese.
Budget-Friendly, Small Family Meal
We all feel the pinch at the grocery store these days but sticking to a budget doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or quality. Recipes like this beef enchilada casserole prove that you can serve something hearty, wholesome, and satisfying without overspending.
With simple pantry staples and just a few fresh ingredients, this dish keeps things affordable and stress-free. No long shopping lists or fancy extras, just real comforting food your family will love. It’s the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table without breaking the bank.
This recipe is also portioned for a smaller family so if you don’t care for a ton of leftovers, this is your meal to try!
What You’ll Need
- Ground beef– You’ll need a half pound of lean ground beef.
- Black beans
- Enchilada sauce– We use mild but if you want it spicier use medium or hot.
- Veggies– Onions, bell peppers (any color) frozen corn.
- Taco seasoning
- Corn tortillas or use your favorite kind of flour tortilla.
- Cheese– Any good melty cheese or use a Mexican cheese blend.
Simple Step By Step Enchilada Casserole
- Step 1. Brown ground beef in a small skillet.
- Step 2. Sauté onions and bell peppers with cooked beef.
- Step 3. Stir in taco seasoning and enchilada sauce.
- Step 4. Assemble casserole by layering some enchilada sauce in your baking dish followed by corn tortillas, half of the meat mixture, and third of the cheese. Repeat one more time then finish with a layer of corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, and remaining cheese.
- Step 5. Bake in the oven covered until hot and bubbly, then bake uncovered for a few minutes. Top with fresh tomatoes and green onion slices before serving.
Variations To Try
- Make it vegetarian by swapping the beef for more beans or other veggies you enjoy.
- Use rotisserie chicken for an easy twist, or swap the beef for ground turkey.
Topping Ideas
We all know the best part of a dish like this is piling on the fresh toppings. We kept it simple with diced tomatoes and green onions, but feel free to get creative! Try setting out a few of these crowd-pleasers and let everyone customize their plate!
- Shredded lettuce
- Black olives
- Avocado or guacamole
- Cilantro
- Sliced jalapenos
- Salsa
- Sour cream
What To Serve With Beef Enchiladas
My favorite thing to serve with any Mexican meal is my Mexican Rice. For something a little lighter try Avocado Corn and Tomato Salad for a fresh side or my Classic Pico de Gallo with a side of tortilla chips.
Beef Enchilada Casserole
Equipment
- 6×9 baking dish half the size of 9×13
- small skillet
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced any color
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning, low-sodium
- 1/4 cup frozen corn
- 3/4 cup black beans from a can rinsed and drained
- 1 (10) ounce can mild enchilada sauce, divided
- 6 (6) inch corn tortillas
- 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded and divided
- fresh chopped tomatoes optional
- sliced green onions optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°. Spray baking dish with non-stick spray
Make ground beef mixture
- In a small skillet over medium high heat crumble and brown ground beef until cooked through. Remove excess grease if you have any.
- Add onions and bell peppers and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning, 1/2 of the enchilada sauce, corn, and black beans. Continue to cook for 2 more minutes to heat everything through.
Assemble casserole
- Spread about 3 tablespoons of enchilada sauce in the bottom of your baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Layer two corn tortillas, then spread half of the beef mixture, and a 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat with two more corn tortillas, the remaining beef mixture, and 1/3 more cheese. The final layer is the last two tortillas, the rest of the sauce, and the remaining cheese.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 20-minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10-15 minutes. Allow to rest 10-minutes before slicing. Top with fresh tomatoes and green onions if desired and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
More Small Family Meals To Try
Looking for more ideas to feed your small family? Try these next! Easy Ranch Chicken Tacos, Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup, One-Skillet Salmon with Orzo, One-Pan Ground Beef and Potatoes, Mississippi Pot Roast, Easy Chicken Fajita Casserole, and Ground Turkey Power Bowls.
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