There are a couple of ways to make an “Enchilada Casserole”.  

#1 – use up leftover enchiladas

#2 – just use tortillas and the other ingredients for enchiladas

If you do not have any leftover enchiladas the simplest way to make the casserole is #2.  Either way you make it, it is going to taste the same.  The last Enchilada Casserole I made was of the second variety.  My husband thinks he doesn’t like Chicken whereas I love Chicken if it is cooked properly (that is, fried, or roasted with lots of garlic, etc.)  My husband Ev loves Turkey whereas I think Turkey can be pretty tasteless except at Thanksgiving.  Anyways, my Go To Poultry is Chicken whereas Ev’s is Turkey.  In between we also like Cornish Hens and Ev loves Duck and Turkey, neither of which are my favorites.

To get back to the Enchilada Casserole, here we go.  First of all you are going to need some Enchilada Sauce.  You can either buy it canned (usually too spicy for my husband) or make it yourself.  If you use canned sauce and it is too spicy, just tame it down with a little Tomato Sauce or Tomato Juice.  You can also add a bit of sugar to it.

The photo in the picture was made via the second version.  So, here goes.  Usually I make my own Sauce but this time it was a jar of Enchilada Sauce purchased from Whole Foods.  It turned out that this was going to be a little too spicy for my Husband, so I tamed it down with Tomato Juice.

#1 – Choose a baking dish that is going to be large enough to hold a whole tortilla.  12 x 12 or a 12″ round casserole should do it.

#2 – Cover the bottom of the Baking Dish with a small amount of Enchilada Sauce.

#3 – Pour about 1/4″ to 1/2″ of Enchilada Sauce into a 12″ Frying Pan.  Heat it up until it becomes warm and then soften the Tortillas, one at a time in the Sauce.  I usually do just then as needed in the assembly.

#4 – Place the softened Tortilla in the Baking Dish.  Scatter some of your Protein (this can be diced Chicken, ground Beef or even Shrimp) on the Tortilla.  Add some Enchilada Sauce, some shredded Cheese, diced Olives, minced Cilantro, sliced Green Onions, etc.  (Whatever choice of ingredients that you like)

#5 – Add another softened Tortillas and proceed as in # 4.  I usually make it to be about 3 or 4 layers and then put more shredded Cheese on top with sliced Olives, minced Cilantro, etc.

#6 -If you want your Casserole to be spicy add some chopped Jalapenos or the Pepper of your choice.

$7 – Bake in a 350 degree oven until the casserole is hot and the cheese on top is melted.  This will take about 20 – 30 minutes depending on your oven.

Serve Hot with Crema (Sour Cream).  You can add Mexican Rice and/or a Salad to go along with the Casserole.

This recipe should serve   2-4 people depending on appetites and other dishes served with it.  i usually add a Salad to the meal.  You could also serve it with Mexican Rice.

Enjoy!