Description
Layered with savory beef, homemade sauce, beans, and cheese, this casserole is hearty, flavorful, and perfect for prepping ahead or feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
1 yellow onion, chopped
¼ cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
4–6 garlic cloves, minced
⅓ cup tomato paste
3 ½ cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 (4 oz) can mild green chiles
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon sugar
Pinch of cinnamon
1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained
1 (15 oz) can sweet corn, drained
1 (6 oz) can chopped black olives, drained
½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
15 corn tortillas (cut 9 in half)
1 ½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
1. Toast corn tortillas until slightly browned.
2. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 baking dish.
3. Cook ground beef and onion until browned.
4. Add flour and all spices. Stir and cook 2 minutes.
5. Add tomato paste and garlic. Cook 1 minute more.
6. Pour in broth, tomatoes, chiles, cocoa, sugar, cinnamon. Simmer 15 minutes.
7. Stir in beans, corn, olives, vinegar. Remove from heat.
8. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce in baking dish, top with tortillas.
9. Add ⅓ of meat mixture and 1 cup cheese. Repeat layers two more times.
10. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
11. Remove foil and bake 20 minutes more.
12. Let rest before serving.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for better melting.
Toasting tortillas improves texture.
Assemble up to 1 day in advance.
Swap ingredients like turkey or black beans for variety.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Fat: 23g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Protein: 28g