Description
Dive into comfort with Bean and Cheese Enchilada Casserole, a delightful Mexican-inspired dish that brings layers of cheesy goodness right to your dinner table. Grab some tortillas, cheese, and beans, and get ready to create a warm, satisfying meal that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 10 corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1½ cups shredded monterey jack cheese
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (15 oz) can refried beans
- 1 (15 oz) can red enchilada sauce or cheese enchilada sauce
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 small onion, finely diced
Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Optional Toppings:
- 1 sliced black olives
- 1 jalapenos
- 1 green onions
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with cooking spray or butter.
- Combine 15 oz refried beans, 15 oz whole black beans, 1 finely diced small onion, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder in a mixing bowl.
- Pour ½ cup of enchilada sauce into the bottom of the baking dish, creating a thin protective layer.
- Arrange 3-4 corn tortillas across the sauce, cutting them to fit the dish’s dimensions completely.
- Spread half of your bean mixture evenly across the tortilla layer, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese and ¾ cup of Monterey Jack cheese over the bean mixture.
- Add another layer of tortillas, then repeat with remaining bean mixture and another 1 cup cheddar and ¾ cup Monterey Jack cheese.
- Create a final top layer of tortillas, then pour remaining enchilada sauce over the entire casserole.
- Distribute the last ½ cup of mixed cheeses across the top layer.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese becomes golden and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Optional: Garnish with sliced black olives, jalapeños, or chopped green onions.
Notes
- Replace refried beans with whole mashed beans for a chunkier texture that adds more substance to the casserole.
- Select corn tortillas instead of flour for a more authentic Mexican flavor and better absorption of enchilada sauce.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like pepper jack or queso fresco to customize the flavor profile and heat level.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate, allowing the flavors to meld together for an even more delicious dish when baked.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 353 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg