Enchilada Casserole!

Finally!  I am so sorry it has been so long since you were served any new food!  It has been busy and as you know if you follow my fan page, I was at my parents all weekend.  What fun!  I got my behind back in the kitchen though and have a long time favorite to share.

I used to teach music at this little country school called Valleyside.  When I would get to work in the morning the school cook who was also a parent *LOVE YA LORRAINE* would already be there.  She had this rule that since there were less than 20 kids in the school that kind of, whoever got to work first got to pick what was for lunch.  I always picked Thanksgiving dinner.  One day when I walked in, she said, "I swear Smith, I am not making Thanksgiving dinner AGAIN" and then told me someone else had requested this recipe first.  I decided to keep an open mind, I mean who doesn't love Thanksgiving dinner once a week?

I eventually started making this for my family, ya know, when I got one.  Ha, like I went and purchased them.  Anyway, my son quickly deemed this his favorite meal.  I could tell by the way we would have to remind him to breath and slow down constantly when he ate it.  Or perhaps it was the half a pan that was gone before I even got to give myself any!  He came home from deployment last summer, and it was his first request!  

This casserole is amazing.  SO easy, but so good.  It pleases everyone and can be changed up by its toppings in so many ways!  Everyone can top it to meet their level of deliciousness!

Here is what you need to grab outta the freezer or at the store,
2 lbs ground beef
3 cans enchilada sauce OR my homemade enchilada sauce recipe HERE.
2 bags cheddar or Mexican mix cheese
10 sm-med soft shell flour tortillas
2 pkgs taco seasoning mix

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix raw hamburger and taco seasoning together and brown.  Drain hamburger.  Spray the bottom of a 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray and lay down 3 tortilla shells.  Two of them side by side and cut one in half and flip the straight sides to the outsides of the pan in the middle.  Or do it however you like!  If you do 3 layers you will end up with 2 shells for the very top which is fine!

Layer on ground beef, 3/4 of a can of enchilada sauce, cheese and then shells again.  Do this until your ingredients have run out.  End with 2 shells, the rest of the enchilada sauce and tons of cheese!  Like this.....

When you have completed all the steps, your enchilada casserole should look like this!!

Put in the oven for 25-30 minutes.  You are just melting cheese and letting everything heat through, so it is one bunch of gooey goodness!!

Here it is, finished.....

Here are some ways you could change this up.  

Add a layer of:

Rice

Refried Beans

Onions browned with hamburger

Toppings are the best part, so here is what I suggest and almost always serve as toppings!

Tomatoes

Salsa

Lettuce

Avocados or guacamole

Sour Cream

Jalapenos

This can be made in disposable pans and frozen for later use.  It can be made ahead and just reheated by the piece or the entire pan.  It truly pleases all, because it can be tailored by each person to their taste with the toppings!

Enjoy my friends!  

Your "spicy HOT" chefwannabe

Chris

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