Watch everyone gather round the table for this cheesy enchilada casserole. Great for a weeknight evening and they’ll never know it was quick and easy to make!
By Sylvia Fountaine
It is the soul itself that has brought us to this difficult place in order to enlarge us,
to ask more of us than we planned on giving.
James Hollis
Here’s a quick, easy, healthy dinner idea that is warming and comforting – Mexican Enchilada Pie with Two Minute Enchilada Sauce. It can be kept vegetarian like I have it here, or for heartier appetites, “beefed-up” with added chicken, chorizo or ground meat. The flavorful enchilada sauce is simple, yet delicious, and whips up in a blender. No cooking involved. When pressed for time, this is a hearty meal that can be assembled in 15 minutes, with the oven doing the rest of the work. Top it with cilantro and avocado and dinner is ready!
It has become my go-to meal because I can pre-assemble it and did I mention how tasty it is? It’s SUPER tasty.
The recipe starts with making the Enchilada Sauce- which of course you can buy, as well. But it literally takes two minutes, so why not make it? Blend up the ingredients in a blender until smooth, and that’s it, you don’t have to cook it. In winter I use canned tomatoes, but in summer, when fresh ripe tomatoes are available, I prefer those. This would also be something really great to can or freeze for winter if you are one of those lucky ones who can grow multitudes of tomatoes.
Then begin layering the ingredients.
Repeat the whole process, with more beans (or this time add cooked chicken, rotisserie chicken, browned meat or chorizo) more corn, cheese, chilies, and enchilada sauce.
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Enchilada Casserole with 2 Minute Enchilada Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounce bottle of enchilada sauce (or make my 2 minute enchilada sauce)
- —————
- 2 minute Enchilada Sauce:
- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes (preferably fire roasted)
- ¼ cup water
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ¼–½ teaspoon chipotle powder – optional (plus more to taste, or add a canned chipotle pepper, or smoked paprika and cayenne for heat)
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 garlic cloves (or 2 teaspoons granulated garlic)
- 1 teaspoon oregano- optional (dry or fresh)
- ——–
- 8 x 6 inch corn tortillas
- 2 x 15 ounce cans seasoned black beans (like Trader Joe’s Cuban Style Black Beans Or substitute half with cooked chicken, browned ground meat, or chorizo)
- 16 ounce bag frozen fire roasted corn – or sub other cooked veggies
- 2 cups grated Mexican style cheese or blend
- 4 ounce can green chilies (preferably fire roasted (optional))
- Garnish: chopped cilantro (diced avocado, sour cream, hot sauce)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400
- Make the Quick Enchilada Sauce. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
- In a greased 9 x13 inch baking dish, spread out a third of the sauce or less– just enough to lightly coat the bottom.
- Spread out 4 tortillas on top of the sauce.
- Drain one can of seasoned beans, and spread out over the tortillas. (Drain well)
- Spread out half of the frozen roasted corn.
- Spread out 1 cup of the shredded cheese
- Scatter ½ of the canned green chilies and a little chopped cilantro.
- Then repeat with another can of drained seasoned beans (or substitute cooked chicken, chorizo or ground meat)
- Top with rest of the corn, the cheese, the chilies and cilantro.
- Drizzle with ? of the sauce and top with 4 more tortillas.
- Spread the remaining sauce over the tortillas.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover, and bake 10 more minutes, adding more cheese if you want so it melts. (I leave it off)
- Garnish with diced avocado, cilantro and sour cream.
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Mexican
Tasty! This goes on my evening comfort meal menu!