Prepped and frozen in a freezer-friendly 9x13, our Beef Enchilada Casserole will be on hand for that weeknight when everyone has an activity at the same time in different parts of town. When you lift that first forkful to your lips, you’ll thank yourself.
One of my go-to dinners at any given Mexican restaurant is enchiladas. There is just something about the flavor of corn tortillas coupled with the deep chili flavor in the sauce that brings heaven to my belly. In fact, I love enchiladas so much I decided it was time to come up with a recipe of my own so I could have all that heavenly flavor right in my own home. Enter today’s recipe: Beef Enchilada Casserole.
All of the traditional aspects of enchiladas – tortillas, ground beef, beans, cheese, and scrumptious enchilada sauce – are present. What’s added, though, is a level of convenience like you’ve never known. With four kids, school, homework, and all the after school things, our house is pretty much in a constant state of chaos. I needed the ease of this recipe, and it is just too good to keep to myself.
Prepped and frozen in a freezer-friendly 9×13, our Beef Enchilada Casserole will be on hand for that weeknight when everyone has an activity at the same time in different parts of town. When you lift that first forkful to your lips, you’ll thank yourself. Trust me.
Why You’ll Love this Quick Beef Enchilada Casserole Freezer Meal
Kid-Friendly: Mild flavors means this recipe is a win for kids, which makes it a win for mom, too.
Customizable: Adding whatever toppings you’d like – sour cream, salsa, guacamole, etc. – to make it your own.
Easy: With minimal preparation, this recipe is a great option for busy evenings.
Beef Enchilada Casserole Freezer Meal Recipe
Prepped and frozen in a freezer-friendly 9×13, our Beef Enchilada Casserole will be on hand for that weeknight when everyone has an activity at the same time in different parts of town. When you lift that first forkful to your lips, you’ll thank yourself.
Label a 9×13 pan/dish according to your preferred method.
Cook ground beef in a skillet, then drain.
In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked beef, taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, onion, and bell pepper.
Spread a few spoonfuls of the ground beef mixture onto the 9×13 pan. Layer dish as follows: GF Corn Tortillas, ½ beef mixture, ½ cheese, GF corn tortillas, remaining beef mixture, remaining cheese.
Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.
Oven cooking directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Remove beef enchilada casserole from freezer and place in preheated oven, covered with aluminum foil. Cook for 40 minutes.
Uncover and cook an additional 35-40 minutes.
Remove from the oven, allowing to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Dietary Adjustments
Make this recipe: Gluten Free: Ensure Enchilada Sauce is GFUse GF corn tortillas.Dairy Free: Replace Cheddar Cheese with 1-2 cups Vegan Queso.
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Equipment Needed to make Easy Freezer Beef Enchilada Casserole
9X13 Casserole dish with a cover
1 Large mixing bowl
Aluminum foil
Ingredients for your Make-Ahead Beef Enchilada Casserole
1 lb Ground beef
2 tbsp Taco seasoning
19 oz. Enchilada sauce, can
1 can Black beans
1 cup Frozen corn
1 1/2 cups Yellow onion, diced
1 cup Frozen bell pepper, or fresh
6-9 Gluten-Free Tortillas
2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
How to Make Beef Enchilada Casserole
Prep/freezer directions
Label a 9×13 pan/dish according to your preferred method.
Cook ground beef in a skillet, then drain.
In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked beef, taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, onion, and bell pepper.
Spread a few spoonfuls of the ground beef mixture onto the 9×13 pan. Layer dish as follows: GF Corn Tortillas, ½ beef mixture, ½ cheese, GF corn tortillas, remaining beef mixture, remaining cheese.
Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.
Oven Cooking directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Remove beef enchilada casserole from freezer and place in preheated oven, covered with aluminum foil. Cook for 40 minutes.
Uncover and cook an additional 35-40 minutes.
Remove from the oven, allowing to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
What to pair with your Freezer-Friendly Beef Enchilada Casserole
Ground Turkey: Ground turkey is a great substitute for the ground beef in this recipe if you’re looking for a leaner meat option.
Riced Cauliflower: Instead of the frozen corn, try riced cauliflower. A lower carb option, it blends nicely with the flavors and other ingredients and adds a vegetable.
Additions:
Diced Sweet Potatoes: For added sweetness and a variation of texture, add diced sweet potatoes to the mix. Just roast or boil them until just tender, and then add them to the filling mix.
Spinach: A cup of fresh or frozen spinach adds color, nutrients, and a slightly earthy flavor that is complementary to the other ingredients and flavors.
How to Reheat and Store Beef Enchilada Casserole
Best way to store leftover Healthy Beef Enchilada Casserole Freezer Meal
The best way to store your leftover Beef casserole is to allow the recipe to cool completely. This prevents the build up on condensation in your storing device. Once cooled, place the leftover casserole in a airtight container or resealable bag. Make sure you label your leftovers for freshness tracking.
How long will Beef Enchilada Casserole last in the fridge?
Your leftover beef enchilada casserole will remain fresh in fridge for 3-5 days. Make sure to follow the necessary steps to properly cool and store your leftovers to ensure freshness during storage.
Can I freeze Budget Friendly Beef Enchilada Freezer meal?
Yes! Absolutely! Freezing is a great way to extend the shelf life of your leftovers. To freeze, follow the same procedure as you would to store in the fridge, allow to cool, place desired leftovers in a freezer safe container or bag, label, and store in the freezer for up to three months.
We recommend making this recipe as a raw freezer meal, prepping first, then freezing, then cooking fresh. To do this, cook your ground beef in a skillet, then drain. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked beef, taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, onion, and bell peppers. Then spread a few spoonfuls of mixture onto a 9×13 pan. Then layer the dish as follows, GF Corn Tortillas, ½ beef mixture, ½ cheese, GF corn tortillas, remaining beef mixture, remaining cheese. Then cover, and freeze for up to three months.
How to Reheat Best Beef Enchilada Casserole for Freezing?
The best ways to reheat your beef casserole would be to use the stovetop, oven, or microwave. When using the microwave, reheat in short bursts of 30-60 seconds. Stirring in between each interval.
When using the oven, preheat to 325F. Place on a oven safe plate, then for 15-25 minutes or until heated through.
If you use the stovetop for your reheating, place desired amount of leftovers into a skillet, you may want to use a splash of broth or water to prevent sticking. Then, stir occasionally until your desired temperature has been reached.
Family size Beef Enchilada Casserole Freezer Meal FAQs
What are the common mistakes when making enchiladas?
Some of the most common mistakes when making enchiladas are choosing the wrong tortillas, not frying the tortillas before assembling, using store-bought enchilada sauce, not dipping the tortillas in sauce before assembling, overfilling the tortillas, and using too much sauce. If you’re looking to impress your guests, avoid these common mistakes (and follow our recipe, of course).
How do you keep enchilada casserole from getting soggy?
If you’re concerned about tortillas getting soggy in an enchilada dish, try quickly frying each corn tortilla for about 10 seconds on each side – just enough to start crisping it, but leaving it still pliable. This will help create a barrier of sorts to keep the tortilla from absorbing too much of the sauce.
Are enchiladas better when made with corn or flour tortillas?
Corn tortillas are the traditional choice for enchiladas because of their distinct flavor. Flour tortillas are more bland, so they do not complement the flavors of enchiladas as well.
Is it better to cook enchiladas covered or uncovered?
Covering enchiladas when cooking depends greatly on how warm the filling is when you place the baking dish in the oven. If the enchiladas are assembled cold, covering the dish with foil will help keep heat in the dish and thoroughly heat the enchiladas. However, if you’ve assembled the enchiladas warm, it isn’t as necessary to cover the dish when cooking.
What is the best cheese to use for enchiladas?
Most Mexican restaurants use queso blanco for enchiladas. With a mild and slightly salty flavor, it melts well and accompanies the other flavors of the dish nicely.
Should you roll or fold enchiladas?
Traditionally, enchiladas are rolled and placed beside one another in a baking dish. However, enchiladas can also be stacked, yielding an enchilada casserole of sorts that is similar to lasagna.
What is the difference between red and green sauce on enchiladas?
The main difference between red and green enchilada sauce is the type of chili that is used. Red enchilada sauce is made with red chilies, whereas green enchilada sauce is made with green chilies, tomatillos, and, at times, jalapeños. Naturally, most green enchilada sauce is spicier than the red sauce, but both are delicious.
How do I make this recipe dairy-free?
Just because dairy isn’t a part of your dinner doesn’t mean our Beef Enchilada Casserole can’t be! If you can’t have dairy, just swap out the cheddar cheese for 1-2 cups of vegan queso.
How do I make this recipe gluten-free?
Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free, and are the most popular tortilla for enchiladas because of their texture and flavor. By using gluten-free corn tortillas and ensuring your enchilada sauce is gluten-free, this recipe will be a great gluten-free dinner option.
As a full time working mom of four, I know how hard it is to find time (or energy) to cook. That’s why I’ve spent over a decade perfecting freezer meal recipes to make sure they’re not only quick to prepare but packed with flavors the whole family will love!
