Cheesy Chilada Casserole

This easy Mexican casserole is so easy and versatile. Play around with different spices to satisfy your personal taste buds. If you like it spicy, add some jalapeno peppers to kick it up a notch! Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and additional picante sauce on the side.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 55 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 475 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried cilantro
• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
• 1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 large tomato, diced (Optional)
• 1 cup picante sauce
• 12 corn tortillas, divided
• 2 cups shredded lettuce (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Saute onion and bell pepper in hot oil until softening, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and continue to saute until fragrant, about 1 minute more.

Step 3

Break ground beef into small chunks and add to the pot; cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain grease from the pot and return to heat.

Step 4

Stir pinto beans, tomato sauce, picante sauce, cumin, chili powder, cilantro, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper into the beef mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook at a simmer until the flavors blend, about 15 minutes.

Step 5

Spoon enough of the beef mixture into the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish to cover. Arrange 6 tortillas atop the beef mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese and 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese in a layer to cover the tortillas. Arrange remaining 6 tortillas atop the cheese layer; top with remaining meat mixture. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.

Step 6

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and sprinkle the remaining Monterey Jack cheese and Cheddar cheese over the top. Continue baking until the cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting; top with lettuce and tomato.