Spicy Mexican Beef Bake

This hearty Mexican casserole features layers of Ground Beef, black beans, vegetables and corn tortillas.

Cook Mode

Ingredients:

  • 1-1/2 pounds Ground Beef (95% lean)
  • 3 cans (10 ounces each) mild enchilada sauce, about 3-3/4 cups, divided
  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed, drained
  • 3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1/3 cup diced celery
  • 1/3 cup diced onion
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 15 corn tortillas (6 to 7-inch diameter)
  • 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend
  • Reduced-fat dairy sour cream (optional)

Cooking:

  1. Heat oven to 400°F. Combine enchilada sauce and brown sugar in large bowl, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Set aside.
  2. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 1/2-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings, if necessary.
  3. Cook's Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.
  4. Stir in 2-1/2 cups sauce mixture, beans, bell pepper, celery, onion and cumin; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Spray 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spread half of remaining sauce mixture over bottom of baking dish. Arrange 5 tortillas over sauce in dish, overlapping slightly; top with 1/2 of beef mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Repeat layers once, using all remaining beef mixture, 5 tortillas and 1/4 cup cheese. Top with remaining 5 tortillas and sauce mixture, spreading sauce evenly to moisten tortillas. Reserve remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
  6. Cover dish with foil. Bake in 400°F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through and bubbly. Remove foil; sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand, uncovered, 10 minutes. Cut into 8 servings. Serve with sour cream, if desired.

Nutrition Information

The Essential Ingredients

Safe Handling Tips

FAQs

Beef Checkoff

Bourbon Blueberry & Brie Bacon Cheeseburger

Brian Capps of Louisville, KY, has been crowned the 2021 Derby Burger Champion in the 10th Annual Derby Burger Challenge. Capps’ burger, made with 100% Kentucky Cattlemen’s ground beef is packed with flavor. The patty is topped with brie, thick-cut bacon, a blueberry bourbon sauce and arugula - all on a brioche bun.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef
  • 4 Slices Bacon, thick sliced
  • 1/4 inch Sliced Brie Cheese, rind removed
  • 1 pint Fresh Blueberries
  • 1 Lemon, halved
  • 1/8 cup White Sugar
  • 2 tsp. Cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Bourbon
  • 2 Brioche Buns
  • 2 Tbsp. Salted Butter
  • Arugula 
  • ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
  • ¼ tsp. Black Pepper

Recipe

1. Form Two Patties and Set Aside.

2. Preheat your skillet over medium high heat. Add butter, and sliced buns. Cook until golden brown, set aside.

3. Salt and pepper both sides of the burger patty, cook over medium high heat. Cook until internal temperature of 160°F (USDA recommended), add cheese before taking off heat until melted.

4. Add blueberries, sugar, and lemon juice into a small pot. Cook on medium to low heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry. Slowly add your slurry mixture to thicken blueberry sauce. Remove mixture from heat and stir in your bourbon.

5. Build your burger. Place your burger patty with melted cheese, cooked bacon, blueberry sauce on the bottom bun. Top the burger with arugula and add the top bun.

6. Enjoy!

Find more delicious recipes and other ways to be involved in the Derby Burger Challenge HERE!