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Better Made Ahead

Enchilada Casserole

Layers of corn tortillas, taco beef, beans, and cheese soaked in red enchilada sauce — and here's the secret: it's actually BETTER after a night in the cooler. This one was born to be made ahead.

FEEDS 4Half-size
foil pan
  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • Half a packet taco seasoning (about 1 tbsp)
  • 1/2 can (about 7 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 can Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
  • 14 oz red enchilada sauce (half a large can)
  • 6 corn tortillas (6-inch)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend
  • Optional at camp: sour cream, jalapeños, cilantro, avocado
  • 1 half-size foil pan with lid
FEEDS 8Full-size
deep pan
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (10 oz) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
  • 1 large can (28 oz) red enchilada sauce
  • 12 corn tortillas (6-inch)
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend
  • Optional at camp: sour cream, jalapeños, cilantro, avocado
  • 1 full-size deep foil pan with lid
🏠

At home — make it

Tuesday
  1. Brown the beef with the onion. Drain. Taco seasoning plus a splash of water, stir. Black beans and Rotel in. Off the heat.
  2. Spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce on the bottom of the foil pan.
  3. Layer: tortillas (overlap or tear to fit) → half the meat mixture → sauce → cheese.
  4. Repeat: tortillas → rest of the meat → sauce → cheese.
  5. Final layer: tortillas → rest of the sauce → rest of the cheese.
  6. Cool completely. Lid, plastic wrap, foil. Sharpie the lid: ENCHILADA — 350° / 30 MIN COVERED + date. Freeze.
🏕

At camp — heat it

Saturday
  1. Friday: freezer to fridge/cooler overnight. The tortillas drink up the sauce while it sits — this is the recipe that improves on the ride out.
  2. Saturday: camp oven or covered grill, about 350°, foil on.
  3. FEEDS 4: 25–30 minutes covered. FEEDS 8: 35 minutes covered.
  4. Foil off for the last 10 until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  5. Rest 10 minutes. Cold toppings go on at the table, not in the pan.

Notes

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