Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole
Easy Tex-Mex Dish with Ancho and Chipotle Seasonings
Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole, seasoned with ancho and chipotle peppers, is a great dish to serve in the summer when your garden is bursting with fresh toppings.
Makes 4-6 Servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 16 ounce can kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
- 16 ounce can black beans (rinsed and drained)
- 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes (or equivalent)
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon adobo powder
- ½ teaspoon ancho powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 flour tortillas (6-8 inches in diameter)
Instructions
- Cook ground beef and onions in skillet until the beef is brown and the onions tender.
- Drain.
- Add the next fourteen ingredients to the skillet of beef and onion. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for ten minutes.
- In a slow cooker, layer ¾ cup of beef mixture, tortilla, then cheese. Repeat layers until casserole is complete.
- Cover.
- Cook on low for 2-3 hours or until heated through.
- Serve directly from the slow cooker or by carefully inverting it on a platter.
- Top with lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and shredded cheese (if you want more cheese).
Helpful Hints and Suggestions
- It is helpful to make sure there is a little extra sauce on the bottom to prevent the dish from sticking.
- Plan ahead! This casserole is easy to prepare in the slow cooker, place in the fridge, and wait to heat until several hours before the meal. It is a great dish to prepare for busy days. Make the dish the night before or the morning of the meal and go on with your day. At night, you will have a hot, delicious meal ready to go.
- This is a great dish to serve in the summer when your garden is bursting with fresh toppings.
Know Your Spices
The spices adobo, ancho, and chipotle, may not be familiar to some Americans. These spices can be found in most supermarkets.
- Adobo Seasoning: A traditional and popular Mexican spice mix. Not hot, but spicy and rich in flavor.
- Ancho Chili Peppers: Large, juicy, dark purple...Ancho chili peppers are the most commonly used pepper in Mexico and are the backbone of dishes such as the traditional red chili and tamales.
- Chipotle Peppers: Chipotle peppers are rich, smoky and fairly hot.
The definitions for these spices come from the Penzeys Spices catalog of seasonings, an excellent source for high quality fresh spices and herbs.
What is Tex-Mex?
Tex-Mex Definition: [TEHKS-mehks] A term given to food (as well as music, etc.) based on the combined cultures of Texas and Mexico. Tex-Mex food encompasses a wide variety of dishes such as burritos, nachos and tacos. --Copyright (c) 1995 by Barron's Educational Series, from The New Food Lover's Companion, Second Edition, by Sharon Tyler Herbst
